Last month I blogged about a kidnapping and robbery that took place in Lagoinha, of the man who owns Lagoinha's sole tourist attraction, a waterfall. We thought the perpetrators got caught--but it turns out that even though everyone in town knows who did it now, the police are doing nothing, because they're either too scared or they've been paid off. The waterfall owner has decided to shut down his business because he's too scared. So much for Lagoinha's sole tourist attraction!
We'd already started planning to move, but we thought we had some time to do it, as these people had just robbed $120K and would probably wait to do it again. And we thought that if anyone wanted to kidnap and rob us, we would get some warning in the form of suspicious people checking out the house and studying our movements.
On Saturday night our dogs were going crazy barking at something. We learned the next day that two men drove up to the first gate and stood staring at our house for a long time. A guy who lives by the gate overheard the men say, "This was a wasted trip." The next day, a bar was robbed, and we suspect it's the same people who found our fence and dogs too daunting that evening...or their timing just wasn't right, as they might have been hoping to find my husband and the kids playing down at the house by the gate, as they often are on weekend nights, or perhaps they were planning to stop us at gunpoint if we happened to go out and come back in through the gate.
I just have to say, Lagoinha police suck and the city council here sucks and most of all, those people who use violence and intimidation to take things that don't belong to them and ruin people's sanctuaries really, really suck. (and on top of that there's a 35% chance these people are animal rapists)
Some generalizations about why Brazil sucks, which are very negative but might be based in truth
More on Brazilian police sucking--who considers their salaries more important than human lives?
A couple random articles I read today on political control over media in Brazil--if you try to expose people they might shoot you or fine you
ARGH!
OK yeah, I can totally understand why you are feeling negative. That is some pretty spooky stuff and I agree its nonsense that the police were being paid off. Not to mention the economic impact of the waterfall predicament.
ReplyDeleteI suggest getting the *uck outta town and get somewhere where you could live at least temporarily if you still have to build your new house in the ecovila. I don't know if this is possible for you though.
It's funny. Because it SEEMS as if small town life in Brazil is generally safer than the big cities. Makes sense, right? Well I think your situation is relatively unique in the fact that Lagoinha really is tiny and is pretty rural. Maybe this fuels the bad guys.....they may know this comes into their advantage.
Please keep us updated on this....I'm sure everything will be alright, but just continue to be proactive!!!!! Stay safe!
Abraco Forte,
Alex
Small town life IS safer...unless you stand out, like we do here. We are definitely getting out! We haven't quite worked out the details, but it's going to be very soon, as I hate feeling this stressed out. Thanks for being so supportive, Alex.
DeleteUmm...when are you getting out of there? Be safe!!!
ReplyDeleteSoon! I have to clean the house first though and it's taking forever. We've made a vague plan, though, and I think things will work out...
DeleteAy yay yay. Hate this. Really stinks. I'm sorry it's happening. Safe journeys, friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks...I guess I'm thankful that we're making plans to leave before something happens rather than after...
Deleteif only the crummy people could all be shipped to an island to rape and rob and beat their fellow crum instead of people who just want to live their lives in peace. sucks that it's ruining your whole experience there:(
ReplyDeleteYeah...I think that happens in the prisons here actually! Which makes me think there are some major crum-creating factors in this culture.
DeleteAh well, I think I was overdue to leave this town anyhow...
this is severely disturbing to me.
ReplyDeleteand i don't say this to complain... not sure though what else to say.
ReplyDeleteThanks--it's a good feeling to know people do care. I think it helps create a cushion of protective energy somehow.
DeleteI feel like we'll be all right until we can leave--I think these things usually happen when we _don't_ anticipate them. It just sort of sucks being scared at night now--Lucio says it's not a problem if we're in the house before dark as we can just shoot anybody who comes here (or threaten to) with our handy "can't miss" rifle, but that's really not reassuring. Fortunately it's been raining, as I think criminals don't like to work in the rain. It's all kind of surreal, isn't it? I also hate that I've been conditioned by television and media to easily imagine violence.
I hope you pack up and move. I live in Australia, and the rule of law is pretty solid here. maybe its time to emigrate.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I've been complaining about the growing police state in the US for a while, but suddenly I realized that a LITTLE of that sort of thing can be a really good thing.
DeleteI am definitely packed up, although the move is a bit on hiatus. I'm not giving up on Brazil yet though!