Living and Working in Colombia
Living and working in Colombia can have some advantages despite its well-deserved reputation for violence, kidnapping, human rights violations, corruption and drug trafficking. Here we’ll continue to comment briefly on five more of what I feel are the 20 most critical problems that keep Colombia in the “Third World”.
6. Travel, especially between cities at night, can be hazardous.
There’s an expression in common use here in Spanish that goes, “No dar papaya”. It’s not referring to Papaya, the fruit, but rather to not giving opportunity to crimes of chance (or opportunity). That is to say, that many crimes aren’t planned, they happen because the wrong people see – and seize – the opportunity to “benefit” form a misadventure. Such can be the case when traveling long distances at night. Roads and highways are poorly policed, if at all, with highwaymen, guerilla and “Para-Militares”, delinquent gangs of robbers, thieves, muggers and kidnappers plying their trade among the unsuspecting travelers unfortunate enough to get caught on board.
7. There is little or no enforcement of laws.
Laws? Oh yes, there are plenty of laws presumably for the protection of all. The problem is though, they are typically NOT enforced. From running through red traffic lights, driving the wrong way on a one-way street to hit-and-run-drivers, people do essentially anything knowing they won’t be pursued, investigated, caught or punished for anything. Jails and prisons are often horrendously over-crowded or controlled by the inmates themselves. Even murder often gets a quickie, one-over pass by over-worked, under-staffed police stations. This results in part to a vigilante-style type of “justice” where common people may take the law into their own hands. Solutions to unpaid debts, major thefts or robbery, “deals” gone bad and other consumer-oriented complaints can be to murder the “offender”.
8. Criminals regularly receive impunity from prosecution or punishment.
When law-breakers are apprehended for some violation, penalties can take years to be administered, if at all. Car theft is “punishable by as little as a few hours or one day in jail. Non-violent crimes frequently carry no jail time at all with the country’s horrendously over-crowded jails and prisons. Some popular penal code theories non-withstanding, this offers little incentive to prospective or career law-breakers.
9. Human rights violations are rampant.
Crimes and human rights violations against women, children and minorities are rampant. These most vulnerable groups, when part of the poorest elements of society, are virtually defenseless before authorities or any who might wish to exploit them. There are millions of refugees throughout Colombia, displaced from their homes and lands by wars and violent conflicts, land speculation or simply by those whose goal is to obtain extended fields and land from which to operate.
10. The legal system is loop-hole-riddled and corrupt.
Colombia certainly isn’t the only country where those with enough money can “buy” justice – or lack thereof. Legal proceedings can take years to get on the docket, then drag on for years more when they do – all for the right price, of course. Almost everyone wants to be a lawyer. There are so many in fact, that there are more “lawyers” driving taxis and working other positions than there are actually practicing law. Finding a lawyer is easy. Finding a competent one though, can be another matter entirely.
In the next, part 3 of this series, we’ll continue with five more of what I feel are the 20 most critical problems with Colombia that keep it a “third world” country. Your constructive comments, opinions and feedback are welcomed. See you then.
By: Larry M. Lynch
Posts Tagged ‘Drug Trafficking’
Flowers, Sculptures And Dangers Of Medellin
November 4th, 2009
Medellin is the second Colombia’s largest city, the capital of the Antioquia Department, founded in the year 1616, 1538 meters above the sea level. In past, it was considered as one of the planet’s most dangerous cities, the city of “sikarios” (teenager bands) and drug trafficking organizations.
However, culture and arts have changed its image a lot, mostly thanks to the world famous Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero. Medellin became the place for “Botero city”, with a 30 thousand sq. m square where a museum, sculpture park, galleries, art studios and recreation zones can be found. According to the sculptor, the main aim of the project is to show the other side of Medellin as the culture and art centre, and not as Escobar’s homeland. According to the artist, the initiator of the “city’s” project was the mayor of Medellin, who suggested creating a new architectural and cultural complex on the basis of the old Antioquia museum. Botero also commented that the museum can compete not only with the best Latin American exhibitions, but also with similar complexes in the other countries.
The city, however, is populated with 3 million of friendly and cheerful people that have the reputation of the real fun-loving artists.
Medellin also offers a lot to see: Basilica de la Candelaria, Basilica Metropolitana (built in the beginning of the XX century, the largest brick church in South America), Pueblito Paisa – the exact copy of a typical local village with numerous handicraft shops, Plaza La Macarena, Plaza Botero, with lots of Fernando Botero’s works displayed there, Museo de Antioquia as well as a university, two stadiums (local football team is the leader in the national championship) and of course well-known Botanical Garden with its famous collection of orchids.
Another thing that marks Medellin the flower centre is the annual Feria De Las Flores – festival of flowers held here in the end of July and in the beginning of August. For two weeks, you can participate in truly festive events, such as various concerts, flower exhibitions, horse and old car parades as well as a beauty contest. To participate in it, people must prepare in advance. Women dress white blouses and black skirts adorned with flowers while men put on national costumes with black hats, take machetes and travel bags. This colourful holiday is opened with a parade of caballeros stalking on their horses through the whole city. Desfíle de Silleteros is the festival’s culmination, when thousands of local people walk along the slopes carrying flowers in their hands, forming a real sea of colourful bouquets and national flowers. Another local well-known event is the International Festival of Poetry that takes place in the middle of June.
As for the region’s nature, it is famous for its Aburrá Valley occupied with the Medellina city districts. The valley has a wonderful climate and warm weather, perfect for summer vacations.
By: Tatyana Kogut