A huge wall of cement, with 650 meters long and three in height, will soon encircle the slum of Morro Dona Marta, in Botafogo, south zone of Rio de Janeiro, preventing its expansion. The measure, which raised great controversy and accusations of segregation, was taken by the state governor, Sergio Cabral Filho, and work should begin later this month.

Officially, the wall will be built to protect the forest which limits the slums on one side and in the official version, is being threatened by the advance of disorderly constructions of Dona Marta, which has 7,500 inhabitants and to grow. But the community leaders, who say they have not until now been heard on the issue, aware that only the press, consider the wall a symbol of segregation and have expressed their disagreement.

Employed by the police since 19 November, the Dona Marta favela is seen as the sole government of Rio de Janeiro totally free of traffickers, who were expelled and are now living hidden in the forest to the side, protecting itself in the dense tangle of trees that extends to Corcovado. And that, for many people, is the main reason the construction of the wall, which serve as a barrier between the drug traffickers and slums, limiting the movement of criminals and their actions and influence in the community.

Some people linked to social movements even fear that the wall surrounding the Dona Marta might be just the first of other surrounding other Rio slums, occupied or to be occupied by the police, which would make it, argue, further marginalized the inhabitants of these areas.