Rio Militiamen: “GatoNet Will Be Back Up in 15 Days”

Anatel techs watch GatoNet at the scene of an earlier bust of this type. Did death threats to anyone wishing to switch cable providers guarantee 100% market share? And you thought Time Warner Cable was bad.

… after the operation, a group of men went around the communities promising the underground cable service would be back up and running in 15 days.

Invertia: The business and finance section of O Dia reports today that with the closure of 9 GatoNets (pirated cable TV operations) last week in the Western Zone of Rio de Janeiro, TV antenna sales are booming in the area.

See

• Rio: “Militia” Raid Nets 9 GatoNets
• Rio: “Police Raid Zona Oeste Militias”
• Carobinha: Globo Cannot Bring Itself To Say the “M” Word

A operação da Polícia Civil sábado em Campo Grande, no Rio, acabou não só com nove centrais clandestinas de TV a cabo – conhecidas como “gatonet” – mas também com o estoque de antenas dos comerciantes da região. Desesperados porque ficaram sem sinal nos aparelhos, moradores da área correram para as lojas para comprar o objeto. Só um comerciante, que pediu para não ser identificado, contou que vendeu todo o estoque de 120 antenas logo de manhã, depois que as centrais foram estouradas.

The police operation last Saturday in Campo Grande didn’t just do away with nine illegal cable TV distribution centers — GatoNet — but also cleared out local merchants’ inventory of TV antennas …

The operation is described by O Dia as “a show of force against politicians involved in mafia and militia activity.

A operação de sábado contou com 400 homens. Ela foi desencadeada após ser descoberto plano para matar delegado-titular de delegacia especializada e das ameaças de morte a outro delegado e três inspetores. O objetivo é demonstrar força contra dois políticos, investigados por envolvimentos com a máfia do transporte alternativo e milícia. No entanto, após a operação, grupo de homens percorreu as comunidades prometendo que as centrais clandestinas voltariam a operar em 15 dias.

… The objective was a demonstration of force against two politicians under investigation for involvement in the alt.transport mafia and militias. However, after the operation a group of men went around the communities promising the underground cable service would be back up and running in 15 days.

On local politicians with alleged militia ties, see

• Rio de Janeiro: Bruce Wayne Gets Out of Jail
• Rio: “Nadinho Surrenders; Globo Online Readers Overwhelmingly Favor Militias”
• Rio: “Nextel Cell in Van War Hell”
• Rio Police: “Batman Ordered Tostes Whacked”

Bat macumba oba: The Batman shield marks protected homes and businesses in Rio’s Wastern District — and the campaign advertising of two local candidates. Source: Local TV news (uploaded to YouTube, subtitled by NMM-Tabajara Studios). I forget what station … checking …