Rio plans walls to shield roads from stray bullets

RIO DE JANEIRO - State legislators have approved the construction of two metre high walls along some main roads in crime-ridden Rio de Janeiro to protect motorists from the cross-fire of gangster shoot-outs.

The measure was taken in response to frequent shoot-outs near the roads in which stray bullets have killed or wounded people in passing cars.

In the latest, a gun battle on May 24 between police and drug traffickers in the Mare slum, which overlooks the Red Line expressway, caused chaos as frightened motorists abandoned their vehicles or sped away in reverse. During the shoot-out, which lasted several hours, authorities shut that road and the neighbouring Avenida Brasil.

The Rio state legislative assembly approved a bill on Wednesday night calling for the walls to be erected in areas considered as dangerous. Governor Rosinha Matheus has 30 days to approve it.

Police said such walls would not guarantee motorists' safety as they cannot prevent robberies of drivers and passengers stranded in traffic jams.

Other critics said the walls were a way to segregate "favela", or slum, dwellers from the rest of the comfortable beach front city.

"I believe the construction of walls does not distance the favela (slum) from the city, it just tries to prevent acts of banditry," the assembly's Constitution and Justice Commission head, Paulo Melo said.

Last year, deputy state governor Luiz Paulo Conde caused a furore when he suggested that a three-metre high wall be built around the slums.

Known for its sunny beaches, lush jungle-covered mountains and hedonistic Carnival bash, Rio is also infamous for crime. The city has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with more than 40 killings per 100,000 people a year.

- REUTERS