Arcanjo Antonino Lopes do Nascimento (Pelotas, 18 November 1950 — Rio de Janeiro, June 2, 2002) was a Brazilian investigative journalist and producer for Rede Globo. Tim Lopes became most well-known in Brazil, particularly in Rio, when the media reported him missing while on assignment and it was later learned that he had been kidnapped, tortured, and killed by drug traffickers while investigating a story in a hillside slum (favela) in Rio de Janeiro. His case also received substantial attention due to it highlighting the existence of what has been termed “parallel power” within Rio - meaning criminals controlling certain areas of the city with impunity.[1][2]
Contents |
Tim Lopes was born in Pelotas, Brazil. He grew up in the Mangueira favela in Rio de Janeiro. Mangueira is home to the samba school, GRES Estação Primeira de Mangueira and is located on a hill near Maracana soccer stadium. Before his death he was co-writing a book about Mangueira samba school and his experience growing up there.[3] A consistent theme of his reporting was to show how poor populations in certain areas of the city could be subjected to terror and powerlessness under the 'law of the traffickers.’[4] He attended journalism school at the Faculdade Hélio Alonso (FACHA), Rio de Janeiro. He lived with Alessandra Wagner and had a nineteen year-old son, Bruno, from a previous marriage.
Lopes won an award in 1994 for best report of the year for a series published in the newspaper, "O Dia," entitled, "Funk: Sound, Joy and Terror" (Funk: Som, Alegria e Terror); which was the same theme he was investigating in 2002 when he was killed.
In 2001, Lopes and his team at Globo Rede received the Prêmio Esso for an investigative series entitled, “Feira das Drogas,” (Drug Fair) in which they used hidden cameras to document traffickers openly hawking drugs on the street in the slum, Favela da Grota, which is located within an area of slums known as the German Complex (Complexo do Alemão) in the north zone of Rio. Their footage also captured traffickers openly carrying automatic weapons in the neighborhood. "Drug Fair" was televised in Brazil on the program Jornal Nacional. The award they received was the first Prêmio Esso given for broadcast investigative journalism in Brazil.[3]
On June 2, 2002, in an incident which shocked the Brazilian public, Tim Lopes was tortured and murdered by drug traffickers in the slum, Favela da Grota.[5]
Earlier that evening, Lopes had been attending a type of dance party in the favela of Vila Cruzeiro. These events in Rio feature live performers singing a style of rap called Rio Funk and are known as baile funk. Using a small hidden camera to film, Lopes was investigating complaints from locals that the sexual exploitation of minors was occurring at events in Vila Cruzeiro. Lopes also wanted to capture footage similar to his report from the previous year which showed armed traffickers and drugs being sold openly.[6] A typical dance show of this type also draws crowds from other neighborhoods so Lopes' presence there would not have made him a target in of itself since his identity as the journalist who did the reporting the year before was still apparently unknown.
While attempting to obtain footage, Lopes was accosted by members of the criminal faction controlling the area. According to police they became suspicious when they noticed a small light coming from the pack at Lopes' waist where the camera was concealed.[7] Upon being confronted, Lopes stated that he was a journalist from O Globo; however it's unclear if they ever understood his specific identity. They phoned the head trafficker of the Complexo do Alemão, Elias Pereira da Silva, known as Elias "Maluco," and were told to bring Lopes by car to the top of the hill in the favela da Grota. They shot Lopes in either the foot or leg and tied his hands behind his back.[8]
According to testimony the subsequent torture and killing of Tim Lopes was conducted and carried out by Elias Maluco. The investigation also determined that another eight traffickers from his group participated in the crime. (One of the convicted traffickers who was in the car that transported Lopes claimed that there were more than twenty people present at the scene).[9] The traffickers tied Lopes to a tree and conducted a mock trial in which they pronounced a death sentence. They then proceeded to burn Lopes' eyes with a cigarette. Elias Maluco used a samurai type sword to cut off Lopes' hands, arms, and legs while Lopes was still alive.[7] Police were told that there was blood on several of the traffickers that were gathered around. The body of Tim Lopes was then placed within tires, doused with gasoline, and set on fire. A practice referred to as a "microonda" (microwave) by traffickers.[7][10][8][11]
A twelve year-old boy named Josias was told to buy diesel gasoline and bring it to the top of the hill in order to set fire to Lopes. Five years after Lopes' death this same youth, now 17 and going by the nickname "Fifty," was arrested in southern Brazil and transferred to Rio. He gave a detailed account to police about that night and spoke to a group of journalists, adding what had been said in confessions by others previously.[7]
Following an anonymous tip, on June 11, 2002, detectives discovered a secret grave site in the favela da Grota in which they uncovered the burned remains of several individuals. Through DNA testing they were able to positively identify bone fragments belonging to Lopes.[12]
On July 7, Lopes’ remains were buried at the Jardim da Saudade cemetery in the Rio suburb of Sulacap. The funeral was attended by Rio’s then Governor Benedita da Silva.[13] Elias Maluco was captured by police in the favela da Grota on September 19, 2002.[14] On May 25, 2005 he was given a prison sentence of 28½ years.[15]
Of the group of traffickers involved who were subsequently pursued, two were killed by police, and others were sentenced to prison. Since their incarceration, anger was expressed through Rio’s media when two of the traffickers were paroled on work release at which point they fled.[16][17][18] One of them has since been recaptured.
Though a prominent journalist, Tim Lopes only became nationally known after his death, a crime that shocked the country, having increased its impact largely through the influence of Globo TV as an opinion maker. The television program National Journal pursued the story, which increased the pressure on the authorities to capture the criminals involved; and the Globo newspaper also began using the term "parallel power" to define the existing criminal gangs controlling certain favelas within Rio.[19]
Tim Lopes was honored in Rio’s Carnaval procession in 2003 by the samba school, Acadêmicos do Tucuruvi with the theme "Do not shut my voice," a tribute to a free press, with lyrics such as, "the truth Tim-Tim by Tim-Tim," in reference to his nickname.[20]
A street has since been named after Tim Lopes in Rio’s west suburb of Barra da Tijuca.
On November 25, 2010, Rio's special forces battalion (BOPE) supported by other police, entered Vila Cruzeiro via transport within Brazilian Marine armored tanks to various points within the slum, and ultimately took control of the hill, and the surrounding area of Penha. This action was in response to attacks throughout Rio by the criminal faction headquartered there.[21]