REFILE-Rio de Janeiro faces Carnival under barrel of gun
Source: Reuters
(Refiles to fix typographical errors in paragraphs 2 and 7) By Elzio Barreto RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 16 (Reuters) - As revelers dress up in glittery costumes for a week of singing, drinking and dancing in Rio de Janeiro, many people will be celebrating Carnival under the barrel of a gun. Rio's Carnival, famed the world over for lascivious behavior and virtually naked beauties, takes place this year amid an explosion of criminal violence that has exposed the dark side of the "Marvelous City." The latest surge began in December, when gangs torched buses and attacked police posts. A national security force has been sent to the city and in recent days police and drug traffickers have battled in the teeming slums, or favelas. At least 15 people have been killed in the past week in clashes. The crackdown has intensified in the days leading up to Carnival, which starts on Friday, with police occupying some of the favelas that are in the grip of drug gangs and vigilante groups. The well-known leader of the Salgueiro samba school and his wife were slain execution-style after leaving a Carnival rehearsal on Tuesday. Public outrage came to a head this week after a 6-year-old boy was killed, dragged through the city under a speeding vehicle by carjackers. "For the past three years, I left the city with my family during Carnival," said Sara Castro, who designs displays for store windows. "In the past, I paraded for the Mocidade samba school but the city is too violent and we've even considered moving out once and for all." Hotels in Rio expect a decline in occupancy rates, partly because of crime fears. Carnival occupancy rates may reach 85 percent compared with 93 percent in 2006, said Alfredo Lopes, president of the association that represents Rio hotels. "The violence issue is a notorious problem. You don't need to be a genius to see it," he said. "There is a lack of manpower, lack of equipment, lack of management." SECURITY PLAN The security plan for Carnival calls for 1,000 police officers and 750 city guards to patrol the Sambadrome, where the top samba schools parade over Sunday and Monday nights in a globally televised spectacle. Some 1,200 private security guards will watch over the parade, according to the tourism promotion agency Riotur. Other police units will deploy around the favelas, whose residents ironically are the heart and soul of Carnival. The 13 top samba schools take center stage for about one hour each over the two nights, with themes this year that range from Norwegian cod fish to South African culture. They feature about 5,000 performers each, including dancers, drummers and beauty queens. "We have a blessed city with natural beauty, the hospitality of the people and the fun feeling you get when you're here is contagious," said Bruno Mattos, operations director at Riotur, putting a brave face on the situation. Riotur estimates that, despite the violence, about 700,000 tourists will visit the city during the Carnival period this year, 2 percent more than in 2006. "People won't pass up the chance to celebrate, but they will take lots of precautions," said Teresa Sofia, 42, a psychologist. "I'm tired of seeing people armed with guns in street parades." (Additional reporting by Pedro Fonseca)
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