It’s the j our daily newspaper O Globo which reveals it this Wednesday. A Rio de Janeiro city councilor and a member of a paramilitary militia have been accused by a police informant of ordering the assassination of black activist Marielle Franco.
According to the newspaper, an anonymous witness explained to investigators that center-right city councilor Marcello Siciliano and former police officer Orlando Oliveira de Araujo, a member of a militia and currently detained, wanted to kill the 38-year-old elected official who damaged the their interests.
Human and LGBT rights activista fervent critic of police violence, Marielle Franco, also a city councilor, was riddled with bullets on March 14. His death has aroused great emotion throughout Brazil and beyond, but so far no suspect has been arrested, even if investigators lean towards the militias, paramilitary organizations that devastate the poor neighborhoods of Rio.
The anti-drug militias are now spreading terror
These militias appeared in Rio about twenty years ago, with armed groups that were supposed to free the population from the yoke of drug traffickers. But the militias also ended up creating a reign of terror in these neighborhoods, with sophisticated extortion systems, controlling public services such as gas distribution, internet, local transport and cable television like a mafia, at prohibitive prices.
Marcello Siciliano is suspected of having ordered the assassination of Marielle Franco. AFP AFP/Renan OLAZ
The witness cited by O Globo, who agreed to confide in the investigators in exchange for the protection of the authorities, mentions in particular a compromising conversation between Marcello Siciliano and Orlando Oliveira de Araujo, which he allegedly overheard in June 2017, in a restaurant. “We should see Marielle’s situation. This woman annoys me. […] The issue must be resolved,” said the city councilor.
The accused categorically denies it
According to this witness, the numerous social projects carried out by Marielle Franco in some poor neighborhoods in the western part of Rio threatened the influence of the militias, to which Marcello Siciliano was linked. Accusations entirely denied by the interested party. “It’s a blatant lie. […] Marielle was my friend and we also had bills in common,” the city councilor said at a press conference on Wednesday. “I get slaughtered on social media because of things said by someone whose credibility is not established. I have not had any political conflict” with Marielle Franco, he assured.
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