Consular Warning

When you register as an ex-pat with the US Consulate in Brazil, you are placed on their mailing list to receive Consular Warnings. These notices come out from time to time with cautionary advise when trouble is perceived to be imminent. Here's the one I received today:

U.S. Consulate Sao Paulo, Brazil
May 11, 2007

Security Alert Regarding PCC Anniversary

This warden message serves to alert American Citizens resident in Sao Paulo that this Mother's Day, Sunday May 13th will mark the one year anniversary of the First Capitol Command (PCC) violence that plagued Sao Paulo one year ago. The PCC was responsible for three major attacks in Sao Paulo since May 2006. The attacks involved widespread violence throughout the city and the State of Sao Paulo and disrupted public transportation. Public buses, government buildings, banks and gasoline stations were amongst the targets of attack. Although there is no indication at this time that there will be any repeat occurrences of these acts this weekend, the potential and the uncertainty surrounding the PCC's activities continue to exist and the potential to be in the wrong place at the wrong time can occur at any moment.

U.S citizens should be cognizant of potential police activity in their areas with respect to checkpoints and roadblocks and exercise caution especially when using ATM machines. These incidents in particular highlight the importance of insuring that you have good communication at your disposal, including cell-phones.

The incident they are referring to happened just before we left Brazil. It was probably the most notable security-alert situation we encountered during our 2 year stay. The violence erupted when the leader of the PCC (a ruthless Brazilian prison gang - think Bloods or Crypts, only not as nice) was placed in solitary confinement after causing some kind of ruckus - apparently involving a denied request for TVs for the prisoners to watch the upcoming World Cup. The PCC inside, contacted their PCC brethren on the outside (they had cellphones in jail), and what amounted to a mini-war broke out. PCC were shooting police, even off-duty in their homes or out to dinner with their families. Police were shooting PCC members on sight. Tons of buses were burned (they allowed the bus riders to get off first). Burning tire barricades were erected. All the major highways in and out of Sao Paulo were empty - an eerie sight for roads which are normally some of the most congested in the world. Even the malls in SJC were empty.

The violence was mainly centered in Sao Paulo (the city), but it was contagious and soon spread throughout Sao Paulo State. SJC had it's share of incidents as well, and we would all gather around the "Nescafe" espresso machine the next morning to review them. I remember a story of a school teacher in SJC who was killed while walking home from school - just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

We were moderately concerned for a weekend or two. Since we were in a gated community, I think we convinced ourselves the chances were low anything would happen to us, but that was perhaps a bit naive. We limited trips to the Carrefour to a minimum and otherwise kept a low profile.

After it was all over with and the burning busses were extinguished, by the following weekend, things seemed pretty much back to normal. We even ventured our to Sao Paulo a few more times.

More information:
What is the PCC?
News article from May, 2006