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Colombia: Condor wounded

In

September 2000, the author was in southern Colombia, in a demilitarized zone at the time agreed with President Andres Pastrana, to make a series of reviews and reports for the peripódico Tal Cual. Here publish the first of these columns, as published at the time. ______________

• The series of reports that opens today is the result of a visit to the demilitarized zone and relaxation, just as the war tends to flare and is in fact the implementation of Plan Colombia . Today, the analysis will focus on the people of San Vicente, capital the municipality located in the department of Caquetá has served as a stage of peace talks, to give a respite to the guerrilla territory and to get close to what is, in fact, though not in law, "a municipality governed by the FARC . In successive deliveries discuss life in a guerrilla camp, will feature interviews with some commanders and will register a visit to a crop and a coca lab ___________

In San Vicente, all that it is easier to run into a guerrilla front is running into a guerrilla front. Then there are the pubs, places full of music all the time, and businesses. In that order. That decor leaves a feeling that can be likened to that of prosperity, because the spectacle of so many citizens delivered to recreation and shopping leaves no room for the smell of misery. Only that there is some boundary where happiness is confused with simple euphoria, and that is where they begin to perceive the first mismatch: a town whose bars and taverns are open (and filled) on Sunday at six thirty in the morning must be a people too happy or too eager to surrender to escape and oblivion.
For those who heard her say in Bogota, the day before that San Vicente is the safest city in Colombia, it might seem natural to that seizures in the night spots (and boy there are places in that town at night) are undertaken only by a handful of civilian police "armed" with individual wooden rollers. A closer look at things clear: even the drunk or the most libertarian of the customers allows the police and ask ¬ requisition documents pleasure only because out there, a few meters (and sometimes even inside the building) remains a squad of FARC fighters, and this and the picture changes slightly: the respect that a wooden roller sad fails to instill in the minds of anyone, infused with its mere presence of an assault rifle AK-47 Soviet-made .
But más allá del fetichismo maquiaveliano de las armas, está el hecho de que las FARC hacen las veces de gobierno en muchos aspectos de la vida que en el papel le corresponderían a las autoridades municipales. La guerrilla tiene en las afueras una oficina de Quejas y Reclamos adonde los ciudadanos llevan toda clase de denuncias: allí se escuchan casos como el del padre que no le da la pensión correspondiente a su hijo, el del empleado de la zapatería a quien botaron justa o injustamente, el del vecino que derribó una cerca y no hay querido pagarla, el del pichón de delincuente que robó o causó algún estrago. Según el caso, la guerrilla le impone al infractor una sanción que puede ser una multa o unos días de work in the field or road construction. When it comes to a gangster, a drug consumer or dealer, you are required to leave the town. The accused will have no choice, but it smells too much of blood and gunpowder. High bidder



Wednesday night August 30 at the bar El Mexicano, the most explosive prestige of the area, a small sign was a billboard: "Today, 11 pm, much streep tease, two beautiful girls including the raffle of one of them, plus a garbage can of liquor. Chip Value: 2,500 dollars. " Sudden attack of morality. Had to do something to stop this act of delivery of women-bottle, so we in the matter: buy four numbers. The night promised.
Almost 1,000 kilometers to the north in the city of Cartagena, another great raffle put on the wheel of history the fate of many Colombians, Bill Clinton gave some critical remarks as he toured the streets and pressed his hands and cheeks everywhere. Plan Colombia was, now in full swing. President Pastrana he had no smile on his face, the ball began to spin the wheel and he had in his coffers the bulk of the bet. The visit of Clinton's popularity rose from 24 to 45 percent, while the FARC should be lowered from 3 to 1.5 percent in the latest attacks. The outlook is the most interesting.
The ball leaves to turn and stops at a number. A cry ethyl ago looks back to the winner, a drunk who probably will not enjoy at all of the girl and no liquor bottle, the girl was saved the embarrassment of an interview and we have lost 10 thousand dollars. In Cartagena a plane has just taken off, its main passenger has left a bid of U.S. $ 7 billion on the table. The ball is stopped for a while and the scene is frozen, like the smile of Pastrana: everyone knows what the winning number but no one has shown the winning tile. Colombian Peace is an elusive girl with a bottle of brandy in his hand.

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deception (two chronic and media)

The set of three texts quoted below is an attempt to repair Late perhaps, of a grave error committed by the author in 1998. More precisely, is my little memorial to the young Carolina Rodríguez Fernández (1971 - 1995), and perhaps useless application of apology to his family and friends.

__________

The two chronicles were written down following four years and five months of temporal distance from each other. If my research skills have not failed so strongly at the time of collecting data to write the first ( Manual police traps), the first to appear should be the other ( Last tour of Caracas ). But this flaw, and other more serious, I just realized when you publish the last of the above.

happened that way. In April 1998 came to drafting a gentleman El Nacional was identified as the brother of a former municipal police officer of Baruta. The policeman, surnamed Villanueva had not only been expelled from the body in a humiliating public ceremony, but also paid the retainer Judicial condemnation of El Junquito. The version of the prisoner, and his brother, was that back in PoliBaruta had wanted harm, someone set up a "comb", a vicious trap through which made it appear that the former agent was been caught red-handed while committing a theft. Some false witnesses, officers from the Judicial Police and the victim also prepared for this purpose set up a theater that resulted in his imprisonment. The police version is that, in fact, Villanueva was robbing an apartment and therefore had been removed and then taken prisoner.

researched the basics and was fit into the classic conflict: man is charged with a crime and ensuring that he defends himself did not commit. The product of the confrontation of both versions is the story entitled Manual police traps, which was published in El Nacional on 19 April 1998. The only problem with that study was not investigated why the the bitterness that had PoliBaruta authorities against that official. We set up a trap, is true, as a journalist - researcher I should find out why they did it.

fraction Four years later, as said above, I face another task, the more relaxed if you will. The newspaper Latest News wanted to rewrite some stories about criminal cases in the recent past. I dug at random in the library and became interested in the infamous tragedy that killed a young woman named Carolina Rodriguez.

This girl disappeared from her home on December 3, 1995. After a Christmas distressing for relatives and friends, appeared on 27 December killed in one of these ravines near the Universidad Simón Bolívar. The reconstruction of events threw light on the pig reality: Carolina girl was murdered by her boyfriend, who, to get rid of the body, he sought help from a friend, police Baruta to be exact.

At the time of writing this passage, based only on what was said by newspapers of the time, I rang familiar at all the officer's name. But after publication of the chronic Latest News did begin to worry me. A few days later I discovered with great indignation and shame that he had helped her lover murder to "disappear" the corpse of his girl had been that police first chronicle, José Luis Villanueva. Does not help at all consolation, but I can not comment: the reporter and then deputy Vladimir Villegas also was or might have been deceived, and that some time intervened to get to Villanueva, already detained, you are guaranteed their fundamental rights.

The point is that this server, unaware of the murder case and Villanueva's intervention in such a sordid incident, she made no mention of this crime, or the girl murdered. Although, incredibly, Carolina made a chance to be there this somehow. Let me explain: one of the persons mentioned in the first article takes in real life the name of Charlotte. Given the facts of which he was charged could not be confirmed by the writer, I decided to protect their identity by putting another name. Carolina chose . For nothing in particular, probably because it starts with the same letters as the name of the person referred to. "Chance or intervention of some intangible item that asked me justice?

reproduce below the two chronicles, in order of publication.

_____________

The first article written by this scribbler deceived is as follows:

police traps Manual

( El Nacional, April 19, 1998)

Usually, when one sees an exchange of punches and bites on the street tends to be afar, apart from the thing - especially if there is a through-iron, but in the end the idea of \u200b\u200bstaying to see what ends this candlestick imposes its seduction. This is when one is confused with everyone involved and making dog: two teeth less, a detached rib and an eyebrow open, voyeur. The illness, hand, the morbidity. So read both the tabloid media and events pages. So many beautiful and harmless entertainment in this country and there are still engaged in reviewing rates of violence and human misery. Shame.

However, when the problem is between instinct police tuck away: it away, sir, roll the end of this week I'll find out on television. War citizens is spectacle, war between the police is a private matter. Not even think about getting into a fight of those, or to watch or to defend anyone, my people. As in the fights between husband and wife, it is more likely that the couple reconciled and you end kicked and bitten by the two actors. It is wise to stay away, not to intervene.

Now, what you guess who's got on a roll right now between the police, to hear some other versions and to write next?

stellar performance: The expelled

The original news reached the ears of the Villanueva family of unexpectedly. In Venevision suddenly appeared the announcement of a scoop that would be broadcast on the evening news, some act that was to take place at police headquarters Baruta. The event was an original: the removal of a couple of officials of that body, who had been caught stealing an apartment. Something so unusual as plausible: people were accustomed to witness promotions, acts of imposition of medals and decorations, but never one that causes removal torrid. One of the expelled turned out to be José Luis Villanueva, the other Douglas Sanchez.

version

According to reports, originating from the PTJ and approved by the Director of Polibaruta, both agents were captured when they robbed an apartment on the sixth floor of the building Common Fund, on Avenida Urdaneta, after binding and gagging a woman who lived there. A passerby who was passing by heard screams in the building, went down to the street, approached the first police commission in his way (a couple of PTJ officials Reynaldo Sabala names and Luis Silva) and spoke of his concern. The court went up, knocked on the door, a subject opened their very rude and would not let go, but they got the hard way and found that there was a lady tied to one of the rooms. So hands up, cowards, entréguenme their weapons, and there Villanueva go to prison, Sanchez and a man whom we will call hereinafter Gerardo Soto, and who at first said he was a lawyer (his and his partner, who will call Carolina Tosta. You tell them some questions that do not we saw, so forgive us just this once the sudden attack of delicacy). The PTJ rebuilt

things in two days: the guys were raiding the apartment of the poor lady, who incidentally is the mother of Gerardo Soto, and thanks to the alert ear of a gentleman who walked down the aisle PTJ officials prevented the consummation of the fact, and on top of Baruta Police is so quick at institutional cleaning who quickly dismiss the officials involved to justice act without major obstacles.

End of the official version. Let's see what color to paint the former police box Villanueva.

The super agent

We all know how difficult it is to make a living in this country with a single wage. Was to leave you to pass this situation José Luis Villanueva set up and registered a company monitoring and research, the kind that can find you from the authenticity of a driver's license until the amount of times your husband or wife has been in Hotel Las Cumbres, on the road Panamericana. Visit it, soap is very good there.

Villanueva did what he should in such cases: registered his company, placed an ad in the paper and waits for clients to hire their services. Various jobs, some harder than others, until the telephone came a certain Gerardo Soto that he needed to carry out an eviction in La Candelaria. She met the man and his girlfriend, Carolina lawyer Tosta, who were to execute the said embargo. What do I have to do there? Nothing, man, just show your height, put bad side and if we are going to lynch sáquenos with either the problem. Okey, are 100 000 Bolivars. Deal.

The eviction took place without major problems, Villanueva did not have to disembowel anyone, that was that ... half, because Soto gave the detective agent a check for 50 000 Bs and summoned him to meet later to give the rest. In the new appointment, José Luis Villanueva came to the site and Soto agreed and was waiting, but not the other part of the payment but with a cardboard box and a new proposal.

"Brother," he said, do you remember my girlfriend, Caroline? Well, I think that is cheating on me, and I want to hire you for the watch. Take this box to building this on floor six, on Avenida Urdaneta, this is home it. There you'll pay the 50 thousand I owe you and step you will see that this perfidious and treacherous woman receives packets of another man at home. The very evil. Villanueva

heard all this with the same ease with which he had seen snow fall in Maracaibo, but considered his situation and decided to follow those instructions. Before going to the place, however, called Douglas Sanchez, a co-worker who owed him money, to accompany him, with those 50 000 would pay the friend and the way to start the new work proposed by Soto . They arrived at the apartment, knocked on the door. I opened a lady old enough. "Good. We bring something to Carolina Tosta and Gerardo Soto. " She was not, but the woman called Gary and he said: "Keep them open the door, so this is Christmas, no problem."

entered the apartment, he handed the box to the lady and she will sign a receipt. I was at it when suddenly the attorney Soto said Do you still? What is up pimp?, Flew over to the lady and I got a right of those who suffer with only remember. Horrible. The lady tried to bite an ear Tyson style but Soto's lawyer, even though it has about thirty years younger than the lady, who began to struggle and caused the slight impression that he could even win the fight. Villanueva and his friend could not allow that, so that intervened in the matter and took the lady over to impulsive lawyer. Once half

calm things down, someone started knocking on the door of the apartment. Villanueva looked out the magic eye and saw two members of the PTJ, one of them, named Reynaldo Sabala was acquaintance, and indeed a few days ago introduced him to Gary Soto and his girlfriend to help them put a complaint. Anyway, if you want to forget this detail do it, we understand that as the issue is tangled up over the account.

The PTJ came in, saw the lady half battered, used the presence of troops to accuse those cursed and, well, the rest is easy to imagine: card against the wall, entréguenme these weapons and money and let's go to Central. The next day the recall came the televised return to the PTJ and the beating of his life against Jose Luis Villanueva, who was held incommunicado, detained and tortured, fell to the cells, according to his testimony. The deputy Vladimir Villegas learned of the matter, made formal complaints and claims to at least stop to see the detainee, which was allowed to relatives for a few minutes, enough to realize that he had caused injuries throughout the body. Currently suffering from phlebitis in his leg because of the abuse.

What does not fit

Villanueva's family has moved long and hard to try and get a decision favorable to the former agent, as has been said is in custody and awaiting a court decision, which will 46 issued by the criminal court. Among the things that these people "do not add up" (yes, there's more things that do not fit), they insist on pointing out the following:

* Gerardo Soto is not a lawyer, not karate or boxing. It works for clerk and a court of the republic. He issued an order detention as a material and intellectual author of attempted robbery and that car was ratified in open court. Three months after her release.

* In the initial report of the PTJ, which accounts for the arrest of three men, there is no indication of stolen property but two months later it appears another report containing a long list that includes money and jewelry.

* There is testimony from a neighbor's apartment where the incident occurred. According to that, she did not hear any kind of violence at the time of the action, and that he was in the apartment next door. Remember the bystander who allegedly listened to everything and gave each other hand to the committee The PTJ? Remember this, remember. Not that it is very important, but seems to be a guy with a very fine ear. __________________

This is the story I wrote four years later, and I should have written before or at start writing the above:

Last

Caracas tour

( Latest News, September 15, 2002)

That girl, lying there against the window in the front passenger position, there in the Ford EscortOrión burgundy. This beautiful young woman, Carolina Rodríguez Fernández, 24, an economics student, took nearly four hours drifting in erratic journey: the driver, Clemente León Patricio Bravo-Malo, was applied from 5:30 pm to wander aimlessly Caracas defined her, his ex-girlfriend. Suddenly saw fit to call a friend, an effective Baruta Police to be more precise, and that he believed would help him out of a serious problem, after all, was the same official who had helped him get into him. The police listened and, as a good cop who hears an indecent proposal, refused.

-No fuck me, Clement, what kind of favor is that.

"Well, if you do not see it as a favor. Tell me how much you charge for the service.

The police put a fee. Bravo León-Malo analyzed the number and agreed to pay a few seconds. It was 9:00 pm and had to do something urgently.

Carolina, meanwhile, remained the same: letting go, leaning against the window.

not even heard of when the police entered the back seat did not feel the smell of pine and eucalyptus will fly the vehicle to climb to bowl, not worried when her ex-boyfriend turned his course towards Sartenejas and stopped at a spot near the Universidad Simón Bolívar, and felt the dog goodbye pair of men who took off the seat and started to fly one of these ravines of God. That was his last walk in Caracas, and the two bullets that Leon Bravo-Malo had embedded in his ribs four hours ago had not been allowed to enjoy it.

Two weeks of absence

That day, December 3, 1995, Carolina was in meeting with her friend Sandra Rodriguez to travel together to the beach. Before leaving home, he left his family said he was taking the Metro, but really who would take her destination was Clemente León Bravo-Malo. This gentleman had been unbearable end her indignation and persecution: Carolina had told dozens of times he did not want to continue their relationship with him, but Leo Bravo-Malo insisted on asking him to continue trying. Any suspect that the man would continue with his scenes as he carried the girl to meet her friend, and effect.

Sandra Carolina Rodriguez waited for several hours and then decided to come down alone to the coast.

From there the family told her friend that the meeting never materialized, so the girl's parents were to report their disappearance; for the first time all night was absent from home without contact or trace, and this had worried all their relatives. Bravo León himself appeared the next day the family home with a concert of snot, tears and trembling: he was concerned about the fate of Carolina, said.

The absence of news of the girl lasted three weeks and three days: December 27, 1995, the PTJ was to build a decomposed body near the Universidad Simón Bolívar, which became the Carolina Rodriguez.

Pure despite missing

The following was the murderer, Leon Clement Bravo-Malo: none of his acquaintances saw him, even at the funeral of his father happened, cruel fate, one day after the murder of Caroline. There would be ways to catch, but how? Easy: ballistics tests shed light on the origin of the gun which was finalized with the girl, and guess what: in PoliBaruta began to look ugly to an official surnamed Villanueva. In March, the Villanueva, who had not confessed anything, was captured in an attempted robbery in an apartment on Avenida Urdaneta , and he defended himself saying that this had been an ambush to jam on the responsibility of the murder.

Days later, on April 7, 1996, Clemente Leon was arrested also in Puerto La Cruz, disguised as an Arab but pretending to be Portuguese.

Once in Caracas in perfect Castilian confessed "that he had killed the girl because she had miscarried a son," she carried in her womb "(where else, Leon Bravo-Malo, where else) and because during that final walk through Caracas, said she had loved another man.

If true that species, moves over his sacrifice, died for wanting to leave Carolina in the past a wild triple bad name error.