BBC Learning English
Words in the News
20th June 2011
Rio favelas crime clampdown
Brazilian security forces occupied one of the biggest slums in Rio on Sunday. The operation
was part of a major clampdown on organised crime ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the
2016 Olympics. Paulo Cabral reports.
Authorities in Rio launched a fresh attack on organised crime by taking over the Mangueira
slum close to the city's famous Maracana Stadium.
Around 800 police and Special Forces occupied the slum without firing any shots. The vast
majority of residents co-operated fully with the authorities; they want their community
pacified and free of drug dealers.
The police had pre-announced the raid, a strategy that gives criminals the chance to leave the
area rather than being confronted in densely populated areas. Rio's authorities are making an
effort to win the trust of those living in the slums who after decades of abuse have got used
to seeing the police as their enemy.
The Mangueira is the 18th slum in Rio to be reclaimed by the authorities. But there is still a
lot to be done. With hundreds of slums known as "favelas" still in the hands of organised
criminals, drug dealers have vast areas in which to hide and thrive.
Paulo Cabral, BBC News, Sao Paulo
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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Vocabulary and definitions
an area of a city that is very poor and where the houses are
slum
in a bad condition
clampdown a sudden action taken in order to stop an illegal activity
crime committed by professional criminals working in
organised crime
large groups
brought peace to an area where there had been crime or
pacified
fighting
a strategy a plan that is intended to achieve a particular purpose
confronted dealt with a problem or difficult situation
to win the trust of to get the respect of
reclaimed taken back under control of the original owners
thrive to become and continue to be successful
More on this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13833037
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2011/06/110620_witn_favela_page.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
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