Brazilian Militias Recruiting on the Web

The regular police force in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, long ago lost control of the parallel power that rules almost every shantytown, or favela, located in the hills of the city. With a population estimated at over one million (according to the Brazilian Geography and Statistical Institute), these outcast neighborhoods are governed mostly by drug traffickers and dealers. The local and federal governments have little or no control over what goes on inside these favelas.; u3 e, O* j8 R- n! i; f

* i7 w* r# ^1 F. S( b9 K" C# c& dThe drug commerce monopoly and the weakness of the government paved the way for the formation of paramilitary militias. Composed of former cops, cops, firemen and penitentiary agents, these groups charge citizens a monthly fee to protect them from the drug traffickers. They also charge for the use of alternative transportation, such as vans and taxis, and gas.) r2 _& b/ n$ |# S5 i0 O/ N0 p( U
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Locals accept paying the price with hopes for a safer neighborhood. However, militias are considered just as threatening as drug traffickers. Their way of getting what they want is basically the same: killing the enemy. It is commonly known that once a militia takes the lead, criminals that act in the area are decimated.
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Hence, the governor of Rio de Janeiro's report on Friday: "We are dealing with illegality. Militias are a parallel power, and like drug traffickers, should be stopped," Gov. Sergio Cabral said. And he added, "Militia is not public safety policy. They establish laws that are not in the constitution. We cannot change from one parallel power to another."
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  f) w) d  J% D* c" F9 mBut the struggle to break up the militias and weaken the power of the drug dealers in Rio de Janeiro has just become a little bit more complex. Besides acting on the streets, militias have gone online.
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* O, i- X6 C& c* e* H1 I- s( o3 ~On Orkut, an online community similar to MySpace, members of Rio de Janeiro's militias and sympathizers have created groups to report their actions and teach people how to join. Using fake photos and names, they defend the militias' takeover of favelas.
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In a topic entitled "How do I join in?" community members give tips on membership in the group. One user says it is necessary to "know how to act, have lots of disposition and no pity." He also wrote, "This profession demands a lot of cold blooded, fast and precise thinking and evilness." The anonymous member suggested that it is not hard to kill somebody during a shooting.
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These Orkut communities also detail and opine about the latest events regarding conflict between militias and drug traffickers. According to one member, the regular police would support these groups during the Pan American Games. The user said that police would rather have favelas ruled by militias then by drug dealers.2 v2 y' g  E$ ]- V+ @! W/ p

* z1 f/ q4 t# x/ L4 tThe Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro reported that the content of these Orkut communities would be analyzed. If accessory to crime is proven, they will go offline. Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy in real life?