INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Reduced Violence in Sao Paulo Night of July 12, Bus Problems On July 13

Published: Fri 14 Jul 2006 08:08 AM
VZCZCXRO8920
OO RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #0765 1950859
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 140859Z JUL 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5397
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6483
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 3036
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 7258
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2675
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2348
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1800
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2073
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 2911
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN HQ WASHDC
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000765
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC, WHA/BSC
NSC FOR CRONIN
DEA FOR OEL/DESANTIS AND NIRL/LEHRER
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/PDA, DRL/PHD, INL, DS/IP/WHA, DS/DSS/ITA
BRASILIA FOR RSO AND LEGAT; RIO DE JANEIRO FOR RSO SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM KCRM SOCI SNAR ASEC BR
SUBJECT: REDUCED VIOLENCE IN SAO PAULO NIGHT OF JULY 12, BUS PROBLEMS ON JULY 13
REFS: A) Sao Paulo 761 and Previous
B) Sao Paulo 762
1. Sao Paulo and neighboring cities again suffered attacks the night of July 12/morning of July 13 from the organized criminal gang First Capital Command (PCC), though at a reduced level compared to the previous night. Two deaths from July 12 were reported, though apparently no one was killed in night attacks. More police stations were attacked, and assaults against civilian targets continued (buses, supermarkets, banks, gasoline station, even an ambulance). Bus burnings, which injured five persons, stranded thousands of commuters as bus companies withheld their vehicles from the streets; several of our GSO and Maintenance employees had difficulty making it to work on time. Bus transportation problems continued throughout the day of July 13, though most businesses operated normally.
2. News sources reported up to 106 attacks against 121 targets throughout the state from the night of July 11 through noon July 13. The following is the reported tally of the violence during this period:
-- Eight dead: in addition to the six deaths reported in ref A, a prison guard was shot in Campinas on July 12 while escorting prisoners and died later, and a municipal guard was shot in the head while making rounds at a school in Cabreuva. There were no reported deaths overnight.
-- At least 25 police/Municipal Guard facilities were attacked throughout the greater metro area, usually drive-by shootings.
-- At least 68 buses were burned or shot up in locations scattered throughout the greater metro area and Santos.
-- 12 bank agencies were burned (five Bradesco locations overnight).
-- Four supermarkets (two more overnight).
-- Various: three used car dealerships, a gasoline station (fortunately, the bomb failed to detonate), an ambulance (lured out with a fake distress call), and the office of the state youth corrections system; all of these attacks represent new targets for the PCC.
3. Comment: The intensity of the attacks appears to have diminished, though transportation remained problematic throughout the day. Septel will report comments made by Sao Paulo State Governor Claudio Lembo during a lunch with consulate officers. Post held an Emergency Action Committee meeting (ref B) and will continue to monitor the situation closely. End Comment.
MCMULLEN
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