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7/30/2019 DREAMS OF EL CARTUCHO - VIOLENCE, FEAR AND TRUST IN A BOGOT SLUM (final)
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CandidateNumber:96749
DreamsofElCartucho:ViolenceFear,andTrustinaBogotSlum
SubmittedtotheDepartmentofAnthropologyinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsfor
thedegreeof
MasterinAnthropologyofDevelopmentandSocialTransformation
atthe
UNIVERSITYOFSUSSEX
September2012
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SUMMARYViolencecanbeunderstoodinamyriadofsimultaneousandcontradictoryways.Themeaningascribedtoanact(ofviolence)issubjectivelydeterminedasitinteractswitheachindividuals,personal,webofmeanings.Thedistinctionsrelatedtoorder/disorderandlegitimate/illegitimatearethusnecessarilytheuniqueproductsofagivenperspective.Thisindeterminacypresentsachallengeforplanning,andbyextension,fortheStateitself.ThisworktakesElCartucho,asluminBogot,Colombiaasacasestudytoexplorethe
multiplemeaningsandframingsgiventoactsofviolence.
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TITLESOFCHAPTERS
PREFACE.............................................................................................................................................................4
INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................................5
CONCEPTIONSOFVIOLENCE....................................................................................................................9
BIRTHANDDEATHOFELCARTUCHO..............................................................................................12
STREETLAW..................................................................................................................................................18
MATERIALITYANDMEANING...............................................................................................................29
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................................33
BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................................................................................................................35
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PREFACE
Thisdissertationexplorestherelationsofviolencetoorder,andtheimplications
fortheState.Itwarnsagainsttheessentializationofviolence;arguingthatviolencedoes
nothaveatotalizingeffect,butrathersubjectivelydeterminedbyeachindividual.An
argumentisadvancedchallengingtheattempttoachievebroaderimpactbystandardizing
interventionsintorule-basedstructures.
MuchoftheethnographicofmaterialElCartuchocomesfromtwoworksofthe
anthropologistIngridMorrissponsoredbyBogotsmayoralofficetorecordthestoriesof
theformerresidentsofthedemolishedneighborhood:EnunLugarLlamadoElCartucho:
UnaCrnica1(2011)andaworkcoauthoredwithGermnGarznElCartucho:DelBarrio
SantaInsalCallejndelaMuerte2(2010).ThemajorityofethnographicmaterialonEl
CartuchoisonlyavailableinSpanishandsoIhavedonemybesttofaithfullytranslateinto
Englishthereferencespresentedinthisworkfromsuchmaterial.
Iwouldliketothankmydissertationsupervisor,DimitrisDalakoglou,forhis
constantencouragement,goodhumorandseeminglyendlesslistsofbook
recommendations.IwouldalsoliketothankNeilAgarwalforhisinvaluableguidance,not
onlyonthepresentwork,butthroughouttheentiremastersprogram.Lastly,Iwouldlike
toexpressmyimmensegratitudetomyfamilythathassupportedmeineverythingIhave
done.
1APlaceCalledelCartucho:aChronicle 2ElCartucho:FromtheSantaInsNeighborhoodtotheAlleyofDeath
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INTRODUCTION
Duringcolonialtimes,theneighborhoodofSantaInshadbeenahighlyrespected
neighborhoodintheheartofBogota.Butaseriesoftransformationsledtheoldfamilies
whohadconstructedtheirlargerepublicanhomestofleenorth,towhatwerethenjust
theoutskirtsofthecity.Withthepassageoftimetheneighborhoodbecamenearly
unrecognizable.Thestreetsstrewnwithtrashandtakenoverbyallsortsofsocial
undesirablesincludingthehomeless,drugaddicts,prostitutes,drugdealersandtheirhit
men.Peoplesawitasaplaceoframpantviolence,druguseanddepravation;achaotic
blackholethatsuckedpeopleintoitsworldofmiseryneveragaintoseethelightofday.
TheslumthatemergedtookonthenameofElCartucho3andoveraperiodof
decades,becamethesymbolofdeath(Gongora,2008:110)andtheshameofthecapital
(Jimenez2003).Thislocalinfamyofbeingoverrunbydrugsandviolencebecomesthat
muchmoredisturbingwhenoneconsidersthatformany,Colombiaitselfissynonymous
withdrugsandviolence.Itisacountrythathasexperiencedasixty-yearinternalconflict
involvingparamilitaries,guerrillagroups,PabloEscobar,drugcartelsaswellasatrocities
inflictedbytheveryownStatemilitaryforces;whereaccordingtooneWorldBank
publication,generalizedviolencenowdominatesthedailylivesofmostcitizens.(World
Bank,2000:v)Juxtaposedwiththisimage,isthefactthatColombiaisalsohabitually
describedastheoldestdemocracyinLatinAmericaapointthatIwillreturntoatthe
endofthiswork.
3TheSpanishword,cartuchohasmanymeanings,rangingfromatypeoflilyflowertocartridge.Some
accountsclaimthatthenamedescribestheflower-likeshapeofthespacethatresemblesthisparticularlily,whereasothershighlightthecartridgedefinition,thinkingalongthelinesofgunsandammunition
whichmarkedthehistoryofthearea.
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Formany,suchplacesbegintobeseenasaperverseenigmaandpotentiallyeven
seenasinexplicable.Fromhisfamouscasestudy,StreetCornerSociety:TheSocial
StructureofanItalianSlum,WilliamFooteWhyteobservedthat[f]ormanydecades
sociologistshavebeenstudyingtheslumsintermsofsocialdisorganizationbuttheyhad
littletosayaboutthesociallifeofslumdwellers.(Whyte,1943:34)Bycontrasthe
arguedthat,bylookingwithinsuchspaces,[thesociologist]willfindmanyevidencesof
conflictandmaladjustment,buthewillnotfindthechaoticconditionsoncethoughtto
existthroughoutthisarea.(Whyte,1943:39)
Thefirstchallengethenthatisconfrontedbyanuancedexplorationofslumslike
Cornerville,andElCartuchoishowtomakesenseoftheapparentdisorganization.
MichaelTaussigdescribesinLawinaLawlessLand:DiaryofaLimpiezainColombiahow
hisroleisexpectedtobesimilartothatofastranslatorbetweentwosuchworlds.
Andthisisofcourseiswhatpeoplelikemearemeanttodo,too:findthe
underlyinglogicthatwillmakesenseofthechaos.Yourdisorder;myorder.Findthepathsthroughtheforestandoverthemountains.Talktheirlanguage.Determinetheirself-interest.Squareitoutintorealestatecalledterritory.Thendipitintoafixingsolutionlikedevelopingaphotograph.(Taussig,2005:17)Asecondchallengehoweverisexplainingwhytheorderthatemergedonlyafter
nuancedstudyappearssodisorderlytooutsiders.Centraltoclarifyingtheseenigmasare
theassociatedmeaningsandconnotationsofviolenceandorder.Forinstance,inTeresa
CaldeirasCityofWalls:Crime,SegregationandCitizenshipinSoPaulo,violenceand
crimeareconsistentlyandrepeatedlyreferredtoasarbitraryandunusual,(Caldeira,
2000:19)assomethingwhichdisruptsmeaninganddisorderstheworld,and
therefore[c]rimestoriestrytorecreateastablemapforaworldthathasbeenshaken.
(Caldeira,2000:20)
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Bycontrast,PhilippeBourgoisdescriptionofviolenceinEastHarlemamongstthe
streetleveldrugdealershediscussedin,InSearchofRespect:SellingCrackinElBarrio
presentsviolenceaspartofanorder.
Regulardisplaysofviolenceareessentialforpreventingrip-offs.upwardmobilityintheundergroundeconomyofthestreet-dealingworldrequiresasystematicandeffectiveuseofviolence.thatappearsirrationallyviolent,barbaric,andultimatelyself-destructivetotheoutsider,canbereinterpretedaccordingtothelogicoftheundergroundeconomyasjudiciouspublicrelationsandlongterminvestmentinoneshumancapitaldevelopment.(Bourgois,2003:24)
WhileBourgoismentionsherethecontrastingviewsofviolenceaspromotingdisorder
(irrational,barbaric,selfdestructive)andorder(systematic,effective,judicious),the
juxtapositionisnotsomethingstresseduponinthiswork.Infact,thewayitishere
discussed,onegetsthesensethatwhatisbeingcommunicatedisthatwhileviolenceinEl
Barrioappearsdisorderly,thereisinfactanunderlyingorderthatissimplyoutofsight
fortheobserver.
Boththenpresentviolenceasessentializedthatistheyseespecificattributesthat
areintrinsictoviolence.WhereasCaldeirasaysthatviolenceisarbitrary,Bourgoissuggests
thatwhatmightappearasarbitraryinfacthasaclearreasonbehindit.Bothaccounts
thenpresent,implicitlyorexplicitly,thisideaofsomethingcalledorderasingleregime
regulatingbehaviorwithinagivengrouporplace.Myargumentchallengesbothclaimson
thegroundsthatviolencedoesnothaveessentialcharacteristicsanditissubjectively
determinedfromtheperspectiveofeachobserver.
Thistendencytoessentializetheexperienceofviolencecanbeseenevenin
discussionsthatspecificallyaimtofleshoutthemultitudeofmeaningsthatviolencemay
takeon.IntheIntroductiontoViolenceinWarandPeace:AnAnthology,NancyScheper
HughesandPhilippeBourgoisbeginbystating,Violenceitself,however,defieseasy
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categorization.Itcanbeeverythingandnothing;legitimateorillegitimate;visibleor
invisible;necessaryoruseless;senselessandgratuitousorutterlyrationalandstrategic.
(2003:2)Nonetheless,whileviolencecanbeeverything,theirdiscussionmaintainsthat
inanygiveninstanceitisoneortheother.Scheper-HughesandBourgoisgoontosay,
Thus,inthisanthologywearepositingaviolencecontinuumcomprisedofamultitudeof
smallwarsandinvisiblegenocides(2003:19)Whatthistranslatesintoisthatviolence
maybetoounwieldyofaconcepttoeasilycategorize,butthereaderisencouragedto
believethatifviolencewerebrokendownintodiscreteevents,then,inthatcaseitwould
bepossibletocategorizeanactasviolent,legitimate,necessaryoruseless,etc.The
discussioncontinuestocreatecategoriessuchaswartimeviolenceversuspeacetime
violence,andalsotermssuchasstructuralviolence,whichfurthermorearepresented
alongacontinuumthatissociallyincrementalandoftenexperiencedbyperpetrators,
collaborators,bystandersandevenbyvictimsthemselvesasexpected,routine,even
justified.(2003:22)Byanalogythen,Scheper-HughesandBourgoispresentviolenceas
similartoachameleon,whowhileitistruemayalwaysbechangingcolor,theobserver
maydetermineatanygivenmomentwhichcoloritis;Ibycontrastpresentaviolence
morelikecircusmirror,whoseappearanceisaffectedbyendlessdistortionsdepending
upontheperspective(time,place,context,etc).
Whatismissedinthesediscussionsshowsthatthechallengeofcategorizing
violenceisnotproperlygrasped.Thestepforwardisnottocreatesubcategoriesanda
continuumofinfinitevariationsthroughtheprocessofdessentializingviolence,becausein
effect,thissimplyreproducestheessentializedviewofviolenceanditsmeaninginthe
conceptualizationofthenewlycreatedsubcategories.
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Beingunabletocleanlycategorizeviolenceoractsofviolencepresentsachallenge
totheStatesinceitreliesupontheassumedcommonunderstandingofitsactions.Thisis
anassumptionattheheartoftheconceptoftheState,asithopestomakedecisionsin
onespaceandapplythemviarule-basedinterventionsinanother.Theveryfoundationof
lawisbaseduponsharedconceptionsoforder,legitimacyandjusticepresumedtobe
universalandconstantacrossspace.
Thefirstsection,ConceptionsofViolencewillcontrastviolenceasunderstoodin
Caldeira,Bourgois,aswellaswithdiscussionsbyWalterBenjaminandJacquesDerrida.A
secondsection,TheBirthandDeathofElCartuchowillpresentthecaseofElCartucho,
fromitsemergencetoitseventualdemolishmentinaprocessofurbanrenovation.Athird
section,StreetLaw,willhighlightthemannerinwhichviolencewasusedbysometotryto
createandmaintainorderinElCartuchoalongwithadiscussionofthevariousmeanings
ascribedtotheseacts.Afinalsection,MaterialityandMeaning,willexplorethe
implicationsofsubjectivelydeterminedmeaningtotheState,supportedbyparallel
discussionsofthemeaningofrules,codesandtheGift.
CONCEPTIONSOFVIOLENCE
InaCritiqueofViolenceWalterBenjaminsuggeststhinkingaboutviolenceashaving
eitheralawmakingorlaw-preservingfunction(1978:284).Suchaframeworkpermits
conceivingtheemergenceofnew,contradictoryordersaswellastheexistenceofmultiple
simultaneousorders.ThenwhenBourgoisspeaksoftheRegulardisplaysofviolenceare
essentialforpreventingrip-offs,itcouldbesaidtohavebeenlawmaking,when
establishingthelawthatenforcednotbeingatargetforrip-offs.Andsubsequently,
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throughitsregularapplicationbecominglawpreserving,initsmaintenanceofthe
establishedexigency.
Centraltoanyconceptionoflawisitspresumedadherencewithadesiredorder,
withjustice.Derridaextendsthisanalysisbyquestioningthegroundsonwhichlawgains
itslegitimacy.
Howtodistinguishbetweentheforceoflaw[loi]ofalegitimatepowerandthe
allegedlyordinaryviolencethatmusthaveestablishedthisauthorityandthat
couldnotitselfhaveauthorizeditselfbyanyanteriorlegitimacy,sothat,inthis
initialmoment,itisneitherlegalnorillegalasotherswouldquicklysay,
neitherjustnorunjust?(Derrida,2001:234)
InlinewithJacquesDerridasForceofLaw,thepresentworkchallengesthe
possibilityofinterveninginthenameofsuchasingularconceptionofjusticeduetothe
multipleandcontradictorymeaningsascribedtoactionsbydifferentindividuals.Forsome
inElCartucho,thedescriptionofabloodyquarteringwasanimageofchaosandforothers
aconfirmationofanordertheywerealltoofamiliarwith.Theemergingspacebetween
lawandjusticedoesnotsomuchresultduetotheexistenceofthesetwoorders(Statelaw
andStreetlaw),butbythemultipleandcontradictinginterpretationsthatindividuals
ascribedtoanact,whetherundertakenbytheStateorthedruglords.
ThislinkingofviolencewithorderisdirectlyopposedtoTeresaCaldeiras
conceptionsofviolence.Shestatesthat,Evilisconceivedasbeinginoppositionto
reason(Caldeira,2000:91)andviolenceisarbitraryandunusual.(Caldeira,2000:19)
Violenceisthusseenasgeneratingdisorderandgenerallysimplybeingmeaningless.For
herorderissynonymouswithjustice,andanidealexclusivelymaintainedbytheState;
violenceiscorrespondinglinkedonlywithdisorderandcriminality.
Herdiscussionofpolicebrutalityspeaksoftheviolentandillegalmeansof
controllingthepopulation,(Caldeira,2000:139)asifviolentandillegalwere
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synonymous,inarefusaltorecognizetherolethatviolenceplaysinestablishingand
maintainingorder.Thisperspectiverefusestoimaginetheconfluenceofevilwithreason,
insistingratherontheunquestionablepowerofreasontoleadtothetruthasdetermined
fromitsownperspective.
ForCaldeira,orderistheveryabsenceofviolence,asviolencecreatesdisorder.The
Stateanditslawareseenastheverydefinitionoforder,andthereforeviolenceresults
beingseeingasanactagainsttheState.AsCaldeiraseesviolenceasabreachingofState
order,sheclaimsitservestodelegitimatetheinstitutionsoforderandlegitimatetheuse
ofprivate,violentandillegalmeansofrevenge.(Caldeira,2000:38)Asindividuals
suspectthattheStateisnotmaintainingorder,theyundertakeprivateinitiativesto
supplanttherolethattheStatewasexpectedtofill.Hereorderispresentedassomething
clearlydefinableandsharedamongstnearlyeveryoneexceptforthedelinquents.
ForCaldeira,Theexperienceofviolencealwaysprovokeschanges,(Caldeira,2000:
28)becauseitisseenasdisorderandrequiresreactionaspeopleattempttoreinstallorder
intheirlives.Bycontrast,Bourgoisshowshowthroughtheregularandsystematicuse
ofviolence,itbecomeseffectiveinregulatingthebehaviorofothers.Nonetheless,for
Bourgoistoo,thereisanorderamongstthedelinquents,clearlydefinableandsharedby
thissubgroup.
Caldeirathuspresentsconceptualequivalences(State=order;violence=disorder)
preventtheidentificationoftheStateasanagentofviolence.Thisnormative
presuppositionoftheStateastheunquestionableauthorityischallengedbyidentifying
theestablishmentofaparallelordersandtheverymaintenanceoforderasviolent.
Bourgoispresentsamorecomplicatedpicture,withtheimplicitStateorder
juxtaposedwiththeorderofthestreetleveldrugdealers.Violencedoesnotalways
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provokechange,asitmayalsobethemeasurebywhichorderismaintained.Thisdivide
excisesthenormativeperspectiveinCaldeira,butcontinuestoseeorderasemanating
fromselectcenters(Stateanddrugdealers)anduniformlyunderstoodasopposedto
orderbothsurgingfromandbeinggivenmeaningbyeachindividual.
WhattheexperienceofElCartuchowillshowisthatratherthanthesequestionsof
whetherornotanactofviolenceislegitimateornot,inducesorderordisorder,theyturn
tofocusonvariationsofthese,butforwhom.
BIRTHANDDEATHOFELCARTUCHOAsofthisyear,Bogotcansaythatitnolongerhasinitsbowelsaghetto,aninferno,a
placewhereachildoncediedinthestreets,curledup,andintwodaysnoonenoticedand
anotheroneof4yearswascastrated.Initsplacethereisaparkwherethechildrencan
onceagainbechildren;theelderlycanpeacefullysitonthebenchesunderthesunandthe
onlycartuchos4thatremainaretheflowers,aswitnessesoftheshamewithwhichthecity
coexistedfornearlyfourdecades.(Jimenez2003)
ElCartuchowasbelievedbymanytobeaviolentlychaoticplace,withoutanyrhyme
orreason.ManyofthevideosthatappearonlineofElCartuchohaveavoyeur-likefeelas
ifonewerewatchingaforeignspeciesdespitethemundaneactsdisplayedofresidents
movingabox.(Seeforinstance,VassalasColombia2009)AndphotographyofElCartucho
tendstoshowstreetscoveredwithablanketoftrash,andwithgroupsofhomelesspeople
crowdedaroundpilesofcardboardastheypickthroughwasteforobjectsthatmaybring
someremunerationatrecyclingcenters.Otherslyingontopofplasticbagssurroundedby
pilesoftrash.Barefootstreetchildren,sittingbybuildings,beggingapasserbyforsome
money.Thebuildingsaswell,fallingapart,windowlessandwithpilesofbrickswhichonce
formedpartofabuildingwall.Theentireareaseemstorepresenttheresultofaworld
4Cartuchohasmanymeanings,flower,package,bulletcartridge
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shakenandleftindisarray.TheresidentsofElCartuchoseemedtoliveinanother
dimensionforeigntoeverythingasofyetknown.Theirdailyhabits,theirappearanceas
theydriftthroughthestreetsandsiftthroughthetrashforrecyclables
Theneighborhoodhadnotalwaysbeenlikethis,infact,inlessthanthespanofa
centuryaradicaltransformationhadtakenplace,thebrilliantarchitecture,theluxurious
hotelsandeventhecentralmarketplazawerereplacedbylegendspackedwithdrugsand
blood.(Morris,2011:23)TheneighborhoodofSantaInswasoncetheenviedabodeof
theColombianelite,theneighborhoodtookonthenameofElCartuchoandbecame
consideredbymanyaviolentslum.Theextentofthefallisevidencedbya1998reporton
fromtheWorldHealthOrganizationcalledElCartuchooneofthelargest,mostviolent
andmostdangerousdrugcentersofallLatinAmerica.(Morris,2011:52)
Mostaccountstiethistransformationintolargerprocessesoffearandviolence
thatthecountryasawholewasexperiencingwhichresultedinafloodofimmigrationinto
thecapital.PeoplepouredintothecapitalthroughabusterminalinSantaInsfromacross
thecountryinsearchofworkorfleeingfromtheviolenceaffectingthecountry.Some
werefleeingtheviolence,othersbecausetheyhadnoothereconomicalternativesand
manymoreattractedbythepromisingopportunitytoemploythemselvesasdomestic
servantsinthegoodhousesofthecapital.(Morris,2011:35)
Theconvergenceofthismultitudeofreasonsledtoalargewaveofurbanizationthat
transformedthecapital,andparticularlytheneighborhoodofSantaInsbecauseofits
centrallocationandconcentrationofeliteresidents.Theneighborhoodpassedfrombeing
madeofalmostexclusivelyconservativeoldfamiliesofthecitytoamosaicofimagesfrom
acrossthecountry.
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Thepeoplethatarrivedfromdifferentplacesbroughtthingstypicalfromtheir
regionsthatmadetheSantaInsalleywaysandsidewalkspicturesque.The
youththatstudiedinlocalschoolssawthetransformationofthe
neighborhoodonparwithitsgrowth;surprisedtoobservehowquicklyits
peoplenolongerfitthemoldoftheconservativecachaco[namegivento
thosefromBogot],butalsothepasa[namegiventothosefromthedepartmentofAntioquia]businessmanwithhisbriefcase,thellaneros[namegiventothosefromthesavannah]withtheirsombrerosliketheboyacenses[namegiventothosefromthedepartmentofBoyac]andothermigrantsfromalltheregions.(Morris,2011:31)
Theelitebegantofleenorthescapingthenewresidentstowhatthenwerethe
outskirtsofthecity,facilitatedbytheexpansionoflargeroadways,likeAvenue10aandla
Caracas.Whatfewoldresidentsremainedmostlylefttheareaaftertheassassinationof
presidentialcandidateJorgeElicerGaitn(1948)inthecenterofthecity.Gaitnwas
expectedtowinandhisassassinationsetoffthecitywideriotsknownaselBogotazoand
thesubsequentviolentperiodcalledlaViolencia(circa1948-1958).Therepublican
mansionswererentedtothefirstinterestedpartytheycouldfind.Whenreturningto
collectrent,manyfoundtheirbuildingsinhabitedbyothertenantsandtheirinquiries
greetedwithgunsandthethreatofviolence.(Morris,2011:59)
WiththeexodusoftheoldresidentsofSantaInsbeganthebirthofElCartuchoasa
centerofsocialandmoraldecaytakenoverbydrugs,violenceandthehomeless.The
oncerepublicanmansionsthathadoncehousedthetraditionaloldfamiliesofthecityhad
visiblydeterioratedexteriorswererunoverbydrugaddictswhousedthedifferentrooms
tosegregateconsumptionbasedupontheclientelesintendedconsumptionandcapacity
topay.(MorrisandGarzn,2010:105;108)
Withthepassageoftime,SantaInsstoppedbeingthelivelycenterthateveryone
wantedtogoto,andratherbecameaplacetoavoid.Theareawastakenoverby,
vagabondsandthosewholiveonthestreet,[thosethat]falloutsideofcivilizationandtheyhavetobecontrolled.Thiscanbeperceivedbythe
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namesusedtodesignatethem:thedirtyone,thecrazyone,Eldesechable5,theindigent,thedruggie,andtheprostitute.Asocialrepresentationof
dirtinessandchaos(GngoraandSurez,2008:129)Thisgroupofmisfitsthatfalloutsideofcivilizationwereseenassubhuman,as
inferiorandoftenasdangerous.Theywerebelievedtolackthemostbasicqualitiesof
humanity,beginningwiththeseeminglyfundamentalsenseoftimeandorder.
Withoutschedules,withoutbossesorlaws,timebecamesomethingelsefor
the[drug]consuminghabitants.Formany,theycouldspendfiveyears
aroundthreeblocksTimeandspacemeltedintoanunrecognizable
dimensionfromtheperspectiveoftherestofsociety.(MorrisandGarzn,2010:102)
TheresidentsofElCartuchoweredescribedaswastingawaytheirlivesinadrugged
outstateofnearunconsciousness.Whencashwaslow,thebodyservedasasubstituteto
beusedasnecessaryforaccessingthenextfix.Girlsfrom7yearsoldandup,
adolescents,women,andeventheelderlyparticipatedinprostitutionsuchthatthe
activitycouldbeclassifiedasonemoremeansofsubsistence.(Morris,2011:57)
Thisperceptionoftheresidentssignifiednotonlyasenseofdisdainfromthosewell
orderedindividualsinmodernsocietystructuredbythestrikingofthehouroftheclock,
butalsogeneratedasenseoffear.Theywerebelievednoteventovaluehumanlife,and
weresaidtorelishthesightofblood.Itwassaid,...theywerepeoplewhowereonly
happyseeingblood(Morris,2011:45)Itwassaidthattheykilledfrequentlyand
randomly,whoevermightbeunluckyenoughtocrosstheirpaths,simplyforthepleasure
ofit.
Thesedescriptionsoframpantviolencecouldbeseeninthecrimestatisticsofthe
smallneighborhood.OneColombianwriterexplainedhisinterestinElCartuchoas
follows,
5Theterm,whichliterallymeansdisposableobject,willbereturnedtolaterinthissection.
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Between1993and1994IlookedatsomeNGOreportsthattalkedabouthow
therewere185murdersontheStreetofElCartucho,thatistosay185
murdersinonehundredmeters,onjustoneblock,astatisticofblood,a
statisticwecouldsayofcrimeandinjusticeitseemedincredibletomethat
thishadnotoccurredintheIraqwar,thefirstonefrom1991,ortheoneof
Bushsenior.ThishadnothappenedintheBalkanwar,andithadnothappenedinChechnyaeither,thatisinnoneoftheseconflictshadthey
murdered185peopleinjustonehundredmeters.(Bernal2012)
IngridMorris,theColombiananthropologistwhosetextsofElCartuchowerecentral
totheelaborationofthepresentwork,describeshowshegrewupwithimagesofEl
Cartuchoasaplacetoavoid,forherownsafety.
Fromthememoriesofmyinfancy,IalwaysremembertheimageofpeoplearoundmewhensomeonehavingspokenofthecenterofBogot,between
perceptionsandmemories,theywouldcommentontheexistenceofaplace
whereonecouldnotgo,thatwhocrossedthoseblockswouldnothaveluck
thatday;whowentastraydrivingacarwouldnotcomeoutinonepiece.(Morris,2011:13)
ThemerepassingthroughElCartuchowasbelievedtoresultinonesdeath,and
thusbetteravoidedatallcosts.ThesepeoplehadneitherGodnorlawtokeeptheir
behaviorwithinreasonablelimits.
Allofthesepeoplewereconcentratedinthearea,andaftercertainhoursit
wasverydangeroustopassthroughthere,becausetheriskofsomesortof
attackwasasurething(Garcianda,2007:574)Evenamongstsomeofthosewhostayed,avoidancewasakeystrategy.If
economicnecessitydrovethemtofindaplacetosleepinElCartucho,precaution
drovethemtomaintaintheirdistanceasmuchaspossible.
Ihavebeenhere22years;Iwasinchargeofarestinghouseonthisstreet.
Ithad120peopleandallofthemconsumedWhatIsawwasverylittle,I
neverwentintothestreet,andIneverwentto9th
street,overthatway
towards11th,Ididntgothereeither.IwasalwayshereonTenthStreet
(Morris,2011:37)
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Inresponsetosuchrealities,manyobserversturntheirattentiontocausesand
responsibleparties,howcouldsuchaspaceberecovered?AndasCaldeiradescribedin
SoPaulo,formanyinBogottoo,avoidingtheproblemwasinsufficient.Theviolence
anddegeneratestoriesthatemergedfunctionedtoevidencethefailingsoftheState.
AccordingtoCarlosAlbertoGarzn,ViceDirectorintheDistrictSecretariatforSocial
Integration,
obscurity,abandonmentandthepermitteddeteriorationoftheareawas
duetotheStatefailingtofulfillitsresponsibilitiesandmeetthebasicneeds
ofthearea,permittingtheconsolidationofamarketforalcoholand
psychoactivesubstances.Iftherehadbeen,fromthebeginning,acheckonthisphenomenon,perhapsthiswouldnothavehappened(Morris,
2011:114)
Thisfailingwasrespondedtobyprivateinitiativesrangingfromseemingly
innocuousforcedvoluntaryrelocationofthosefoundelsewheretoElCartucho.The
mildestformsofsocialcleansingmanifesteditselfinactssuchaskindlyforcibly
relocatingsocialundesirablestowheretheywouldbelessonerous.
everychildorstreeturchinwhichcoveredhimselfinbedsheetsof
cardboard,thevagabondeatingleftoversorthedrinkerofpipo(amixof
antisepticalcoholwithsoda)thatendedupinfrontofabank,waspickedup
andkindlydeliveredto[ElCartucho].Suchactionswerecalledhygiene
campaignsandtheordinarycitizensthoughtofitascompletelynormal.(MorrisandGarzn,2010:47)ThephysicaldiscardingofsocialundesirableswithinElCartuchowasadetermining
forceinshapingthespace.Beyondthosephysicallyrelocated,somemovedtheretoavoid
thevisiblesocialexclusionandrejectiontheyfacedoutsideElCartucho.Atleastwithinthe
boundariesofElCartuchotheycoulddoastheywishwithoutfeelingthecondescending
glancesofthosepassingby.
TheimageryofElCartuchoseemedstronglytoresemblethatofalandfill,inboth
physicalandsocialterms.Thestreetswerestrewnwithtrashandthepeoplewereseenas
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movinglitter.Theinhabitantswerecollectivelyknownasdesechables6.Thetermisa
terribleColombianexpressionusedtodescribethesepeoplethatarecompletely
forgottenandabandonedbythesocietyandthesystem.Theydonotexist,andinpractice
arethevictimsofsocialcleansing.(Lopez,2004:9)However,theprogressionofthis
practicecombinedwithareificationofdisdainforthosecategorizedasdesechables,which
leadtoincreasinglyviolentpractices.
theCartuchoareabecameaneighborhoodsynonymouswithsocialcleansing.Inthelate1980sandearly1990sdeathsquadswithnameslike
MuerteaGamines(DeathtoStreetChildren)actedinaccordwithlocal
businessesandwiththehelpofspecialpoliceunits,laidthebaseforurbansocialcleansing.Wearingskimasksandcarryingautomaticweapons,the
deathsquadmembersrodemotorcyclesintwosthroughoutthepoorest
areasofBogot,shootingrandomlyatthehomeless.Inthefirstsixmonths
alonein1989,forexample,overfortybodiesofhomelesspeople(knownas
desechablesortheexpendables)appearedalongroadsinBogot.(Donovan,2002:21)
AsDonovanindicates,inmanycases,socialcleansingwasundertakenwithmoreor
lesstacitapprovaloftheState.Thefullrangeofsociallyunacceptedpersonswhofilled
thestreetsofthissmallneighborhood,includingdrugdealers,drugaddicts,prostitutes,
transvestites,beggars,assassins,contrabanddealersaswellasthosetoopoortolive
elsewhere(shoeshiners,streetvendorsetc)werethemselvesseenasathreattoorder.
Thedegreeofthedisdainisperhapsbestillustratedbythebeliefthattheywere[t]hose
nobodiesthatcostlessthanthebulletthatkillsthem.(Morris,2011:83)
STREETLAW
Thissectionbeginsbylookingatthejibaros,theheaddrugdealers,andthe
organizationalstructurethattheybuiltaroundtheirbusiness.Thehighlyorganizednature
6Thetermdesechableliterallytranslatestorefuseordisposableobject
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oftheJibarosservestoquestionthesupposedoppositionbetweenviolenceandorder.
Subsequently,Iwillfocusonnarrativesofthemeaningascribedtoviolence,ofhowkillings
inElCartuchowereseenbysomeasanaturalconsequenceofthebreachingofnorms.
ThissectionwillendwiththeanalysisofthreenarrativesofapopularmythofElCartucho,
tohighlightthemultipleandcontradictorymeaningsascribedtothesameevent.
Justoneblockfromthelargestpolicestationofthecountry,thePresidential
GuardBattalionandForensicMedicine,thesestreetshadotherownersandweregovernedbythelawofthecriminalunderworld.Itsdecreessignedin
blood.(Morris,2011:55)
RatherthanseeingElCartuchoasaplaceofdisorderitisilluminatingtoseeitas
thesiteofanalternativeorder.InStreetCornerSociety,WilliamFooteWhytemakesa
similarobservation,
Theproblemofsociologyintheslum(aselsewhere)istodeterminetheinter-
relationsofindividualswithinthein-groupandthentoobservetherelations
betweenthegroupsthatmakeupthesocietyProceedingbythisroute,he
willfindmanyevidencesofconflictandmaladjustment,buthewillnotfind
thechaoticconditionsoncethoughttoexistthroughoutthisarea.(Whyte,1943:39)
ThisisnotintendedtoglorifyorpraisethehappeningsofElCartucho,butsimplyto
recognizethatamidstwhatappearsasrampant,meaninglessviolence,thereisameaning
communicatedthroughtheviolencewhichisunderstoodbymanyofitsinhabitants,albeit
withtheirownpersonalvariations.InElCartucho,theJibarosownedthestreets.Each
bosshadathiscommand20wellarmedbodyguardswithalicensetokill.(Morris,2011:
55)Theirwillwasthelawoftheland,andnoonedaredtoquestionthemandthosefew
thatdidweresoonkilled.TheJibaroisthelawamidstthechaosofthestreet.Breaking
hislawispunishablebydeathorexile.(GngoraandSurez,2008:131)
WithinElCartucho,thereweredifferentJibaros,whoeachsplitupthe
neighborhoodintotheirownparcels:
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12thAvenuebetween6aand7abelongedto"GanchoAzul"[BlueHook],
thatistosayLuisCalderon.From7ato8aalong12thavenuewasthe
territoryof"ElRey"[TheKing].From8astreetto9a,alongTwelfthAvenue
belongedtotheMartinezandwasknownas"GanchoVerde"[GreenHook].
ThirteenthAvenue,between9aand10a,wasthedomainofElLoco
Calderon.From8ato9a,along11thavenuewasexclusivelyElTigre's[TheTiger].Eachoneofthebossesmadesurehewasrespected;whoeverfailed
todosowoulddie.(Morris,2011:55)
EachJibarodistributedhisownproductanduniquespacesemergedunderthe
shapingofeachone.ClientelewouldgototheterritoryofoneortheotherJibaros
dependentuponhispreferences.Additionally,theJibarosaimedtoprotectthegood
nameoftheirproductandtoavoidfalsificationandcontrabandoftheirproductby
markingtheirpackagesofdrugs.
Thelabelincludedthewordhook,andthecolorofthelabel,withthename
oftheJibarofromwhichitcame.Forexample,crackfromlosCruzwas
identifiablebyyellowhook.Andtoavoidcontrabandorfalsification,it
alsosaidgreydoor,whichindicatedthecoordinatesofwhereonecouldbuy
withoutintermediaries.(MorrisandGarzn,2010108)
Ratherthanchaos,whatisobservedisaveryregimentedspacesplitupbyblocksandwith
clearownershipandrulesforeach.TheJibaroswerenottheonlyclearlydefinedrolein
theorganization,onlytheheadandthereforethemostprominent.Inaddition,therewere
taquilleroswhoservedasclerksatthepointofsaleofdrugsandthecompaerowho
providedsecurityforthetaquillerosalbeitunlikethebodyguardsoftheJibaroswithout
carryingfirearms.TherewereevencontadoreswithintheJibaroorganizationthatkept
thefinancesinorder.(Morris,2011:56)
OneformerresidentdescribeshowhavingbeenborninElCartuchoheadoptedthe
waysofthearea.Fromayoungage,Iwasbornandraisedin[ElCartucho],Isawhow
thingsworked,Ilearnedtosteal.Andachildextendshispointbydescribinghowachilds
roleisprimarilyofthatofapickpocketduetohissmallandstealthyhands(GuiGui,2012:
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3:43-4:05)Forbothoftheseindividuals,theirsurroundingsprovidedstructureandaclear
exampleofhowthingsworked.Theydonotdescribechaos,butratheranorderanda
wayoflookingattheworldthatcontrastssharplywiththeviewcommonlyheldoutsideEl
Cartucho.
ThissharedunderstandingbeginstoemergefromastoryoftheBayonaCacique,in
whatresemblesalocalversionofRussianRoulette.
IdidntlikeoneofthoseCaciques,TheBayonaCacique,hewaslikethebad
one,hehadmanysoldierswhowatchedhisbackThatguywouldgrabhis
pistolanddrunkinthecantina,wouldpeeroutsidethedoorandseethose
eros7andhebegancounting:1,2,3,4andboomhewouldshoot,1,2,3,4andboomhewouldshoot,andsoon,hewouldsimplyandcandidlydrinking
whiskyandsmokingjunkashehadhissoldierstowatchhisback.Noone
defendedthemselvesbecausehewasthecaciqueandbesides,wewereall
doped,whenoneisdruggedoneisntanyone.Afterkilling4or6,hepulled
out20or30smallpacksofcocaineandthrewthemintotheairitwas
impressivehoweveryonearoundtherewouldrushovertotrytogetsome
whoeverpickedoneuphadtotakethecadaverstothecontainerortohave
themquartered.(Morris,2011:45)
Despitehowonemightjudgesuchascenario,thereisaremarkableorder,asetofshared
socialunderstandingsandbehaviorsdespitewhatmightbeseenasgoodreasontobehave
differently.Eachpersonpresentseemsfullyawareofthestakesforwhichtheyareplaying
aswellastheprizeandresponsibilityofthevictors.
OutsidersdescribedoftenElCartuchobyreferencetotheconceptofthelawofthe
strongest,howeverthisinterpretationsuggestsnopermanencetoorderotherthan
strength.InthedescriptionofTheBayonaCacique,onecouldimaginethisstorybeing
tolddifferently,ofthedrugaddictsrunningawayatthefiringofgunshotsfortheirown
safety.Anothermaybequicktocounterthatthosedrugaddicts,donotcareevenabout
theirownlives.Yet,eachrushesovertopickupthepacketsofcocaineandunderstands
7
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thatinexchangetheywillberesponsiblefordraggingawaythecadavers.Alternatively,
onemightthinkthattheirsupposedtotallackofconcernfortheirownwellbeing
combinedwiththeirirresistibleurgetosatiatetheiraddiction,wouldleadthemtorush
theCaciquecompletelyincapableofwaitingforhimtoplayhisdeadlygameofchance.
Butinstead,whatcanbeseenisastrictordering,asensethatthisishowthingsshouldbe,
orperhapsinevitablyare.TheCaciqueslottery,hisRussianrouletteofsorts,couldbring
theaddictswhattheyseekortheirdeath.Ofthistheyseemclearlyaware,noneare
describedasshockedbytheeventstakingplace,noteventhenarrator.
Theapparentorderheredescribedisclearlyjarringforoutsiders,andso
understandably,manywerewarnedofthedangerstothearea,becausetheirmere
passagethroughthezonewassurelygoingtoresultbadlythepossibilityofcomingout
alivewasminimalforsomeonewhowasnotfromtheareaandwasnotfamiliarwiththe
culturalcodesofthearea.(Garcianda,2007:574)Insucharegimentedspace,killings
wereinterpretedasfollowingaclearlogic,ratherthanasmeaningless.Asoneresident
recallsElCartucho,Deathsanddeaths,becausetherewasalotofviolence,inElCartucho
therewasalotofviolencebecauseofinfractions,ofthepeople,(Guigui,2012:3:00-3:10)
thedeathisperceivedtobethefaultofthedeceased,punishmentforhisinfraction,
ratherthanseeingthekillerashavingdoneanywrong.Itisasifthekillingissimplypartof
thegreatersystem,thekillerisjustfulfillinghisroleaswouldbeexpected.Itwasrather
thedeceasedwhoshouldhaveknownbetter.Perhapsmuchasonewouldnotholda
prisonguardforlockingupthousandsofinmatesforthecrimesthejudicialsystem
convictedthemofcommitting.
Oneresponsetoakillingwasdocumentedinanewspaperas,Theykilled
Mastrangeloyesterdayon11thstreet,forsquealing,becausehereonehastowalkstraight,
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neithertowardsonesidenortheother,otherwisetheyllthinkyouresignaling(or
squealing),andbam(Rubio1991)KillinginElCartuchowasnotacompletelychaotic
andinexplicablephenomenon,butoftenratherunderstoodasretributionforinfractions.
Formany,ifsomeonewaskilleditwaslikelyforareason,hesurelywasinsomekindof
debtthattheyhadnotbeenabletopayoff,andso,theypaidwiththeirlife.
WhatisbeingshownisthatformanyinElCartucho,violenceisnotchaotic,
arbitraryandunusualasCaldeiradescribed.Instead,thereisaclearreasonand
meaninginterpretedtotheviolence;amessageofwhatispermitted,whatisnot,
andwhattheconsequencesareforinfringinguponStreetLaw.However,evenso,
thismessageisnotuniversallynoruniformlyunderstood.Toclarify,thepointisnot
tocondonetheviolence,nortosuggestthatthosethatseetheviolenceaschaotic,
shouldbecomeenlightenedandadapttotheculturalcodesofthearea.Thepoint
simplyistoshowhowviolenceisusedandunderstoodbydifferentactors,notjustas
theunexplainablebutverymuchasamessageitself.
InexploringthisStreetLaw,GngoraandSurezfoundthat,
themostimportanthadtodowiththeprohibitionofspeakingabouthow
accountsaresettledandregardingdelinquency:Neitherrat,nordoIKnow,
toysarenottobelentandwhoowesnothing,fearsnothingarethe
colloquialexpressionsinthestreetslang.(GngoraandSurez,2008:131)
ThelawofsilenceisfoundrepeatedlyamongstthediscussionsfromwithinEl
Cartucho.Andhere,GngoraandSurezpresentcolloquialexpressionsthathave
solidifiedasevidenceofthisknownmandate.Beyondthewarningofsquealingasa
rat,theothersayingseemstoserveasreassurance,owenothing,fearnothingas
theconversethatthereismuchtobefearedinowingsomethinginElCartucho.
Withoutdebtshowever,itwouldappearthatoneshouldhavenothingtofear.
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PerhapstheclearestexampleofthereasonbehinddeathinElCartuchocomesfrom
afirsthandaccountofsomeonewhowatchedhisfriendkilledinfrontofhim.
thelawofthestreetisinflexibleandpatient:thosewhohaveitcomingwill
gettheirs.Deathsoccurhereonadailybasis.Manytimestheyvekilledpeoplewhiletheyweretalkingtome.Fouryearsago,IwasdrinkingaroundhereinEl
Cartucho.Iwasdrinkingwithafriend.Suddenlysomeotherguycameinand
toldhim:"Comeouthere"Theyoungmanwalkedoutsideandtheotherguy
withoutsayinganymorewords,rightthenandthere,shothimthreetimes.
Thatsthelawhere."(ElTiempo:05/03/2001,ascitedbyGngoraandSurez,
2008:132).
GngoraandSurezgoontoexplainthat,Thepassivityoftheyoungmaninthestory
conveysthatheunderstoodthe"instructivemessage.(GngoraandSurez,2008:132)
SimilartothestoryoftheCaciqueslotteryisthisstoryofonemanapparently
knowinglysubmittingtohisownexecution.AsGngoraandSurezexplain,while
outsidersmayinterpretthisaschaotic,forothersitispartofasystemofmeaning,
andthisviolenceisanexampleofhowworldfollowsanexpectedscript.Thosewith
debtswillpaysoonerorlater,andthat,inElCartucho,theywillpaywiththeirlife.It
iswiththiscontextthatthecommonstreetsayingowenothing,fearnothing
carriesmeaning.
IwillnowturntoacommonmythofElCartucho,thatofElDescuartizador,a
sortofJacktheRipperlegendthatremovedthelimbsofvictimsleavingjustthe
trunk.IselectthreeaccountsofElDescuartizadortoshowhowthespecificmanner
inwhichthemythistalkedaboutresultsinasubstantiallydifferentmeaning
attributedtothemyth.Representationsvarywildly,fromithavingtraitsofadivine
figurethatemergesfromthedarknessofthecitynightlikeaphantom
(Garcianda,2007:595),tobeinginotherstheworkofsingleman.
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Inthefirstaccount,ElDescuartizadorissingleman,knownasWhaleorVallede
Caucaman.
therewasaplaceon9thStreetwith14calledtheCONTAINER,andthe
deadbodieswerethrowninthereandwerenoticedwhenthegarbagewastakenout,butmanyofthesecorpseswerechoppedupandputingarbage
bags.Ofthesemanywerefoundwithbulletwounds,stabbed,
beaten[youngbodycollectors]weregivenabout2000pesos[1.2USD]to
takeout[thebodies]inbagsandtherewasoneoldmanknownasWHALE
orValledeCaucamanthismankilledalotofpeopleandwhenhegave
theordertogetridofabodyandtheboydidnotdoit,hekilledhimtooand
sentforanothertogetridofbothcorpses.(Ritterbusch,2001:159)
HereElDescuartizadorisarealman,notsomemythicalmonster.Nonetheless,he
ispresentedasthehardenedcriminalparexcellence,withoutatraceofhumanity.
Anotherversionastoldbyoneresident,BenjaminRengifo,extendsthisimage,from
hardenedcriminaltobloodthirstybeasts.
OneoftheatrocitiesIsawleftamarkonmeforlife,andwhenIremember
everyonceinawhileIbegintocry.Itwasthesefourgirlsfromthehigh,
elegantchicks,between15and17yearsold.Fromgoodfamiliessince
thatswhereonecouldgetthepillsorweed,thatsortofthingandtheyapparentlycouldntfindanyanywhereelseandforthisreasoncametoEl
Cartuchooneday,around7intheeveningtolookfortheirweed.Iwas
blowingupbyarecyclingbodegaInoticedwhentheyaskedfrighteningly
gotsomeweed?Andsomeonecameoutandsaid,overthisway,overthis
waythatswheretheylosteverythingbecausetheywererapedbyabout
60men.Becausethissamepersonthatcameoutbeganshouting,whoever
wantstopay,overheretheresfreshmeat!!Theretheydisappearedand
withachainsawtheykilledthem,andtheyweredicedandquartered
afterwards.Believeme!Therewasevensomebloodthatsplatteredonto
me.(Morris,2011:48)Freshmeat.Dicedandquartered.ImagerythatwasalltoofrequentinElCartucho.
Thisstoryoftheyounggirlsbeingkilledbyamobwithachainsawseemsmuchmore
chaoticthanthepreviousone,yetbothdepictfigureswhokilledfornoapparentreason
althoughaclassdimensionmayenterasBenjaminhimselfconsidersitrelevanttohighlight
thatthesewereelegantchicksfromtheupperclasses.Violencerepresentedinthis
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mannermaycertainlyappearaswhatCaldeiracalls,atraumaticevent[that]divides
historyintobeforeandafter(2000:27).Evenmuchlater,justthememoryofhis
experiencemakesBenjamincry.
However,athirdaccountpresentsElDescuartizadorquitedifferently.
Imyselfhaveseenit.Myboss,SargentD,oncegrabbedawomanthathe
saidhadrattedhimoutandmadehimlosesixmillionpesos[about2100],
andoverabilliardspooltablequarteredherwithachainsaw.They
removedherarms,herlegs,herheadandonlylefthertrunk.Andtherethey
drankbeerandalcohol.Afterwardstheyputthepartsinbagsandtheypaid
someindigenttothrowawaythebaginthedumpster.(F57)(Garcianda,
2007:593-594)
Ratherthananactofanunexplainablepsychopathorbloodthirstybeasts,the
violencehereisinscribedwithmeaning.Itdoesnotceasetobebrutalorgruesome,but
thereisaclearcause,awomanthathesaidhadrattedhimoutandmadehimlosesix
millionpesos.Byidentifyingthiscausetheactdoesnotnecessarilyceasetobeseenfrom
theoutsideasunacceptable,butitdoesappearlesschaoticandonsomelevel
understandable.Notunderstandableinthesenseofreasonable,buttheexistenceofa
causemakesitcomprehensible,itconveystothelistenerthemessagethatrattingout
maygetonequartered.
Thereactionofthis57-year-oldwomangivingthislastaccountisquitedifferent
fromBenjamins.WhereasonegetsthesensethatBenjaminavoidedatallcostsbeing
withorassociatingthosehesawkillthosefourgirls,itseemsfromthislastaccountthat
shecontinuedtoworkforherboss.
Aspectrumemergesfromthesestories,wheretheperpetratorsarepresented
frombeast-liketocalculatingvillains.Yetasharedconceptionandcollusionbymany
memberseveninthesecondcasewhereamessageissentfreshmeatwhichtheothers
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understand,andthereisnodiscussionoffightingordisagreementamongstthe60men
thatrapedthefourwomenandthencutthemtopieceswithachainsaw.
Likewise,beyondtheperspectiveofthenarratorofeachofthesememories,there
arethedifferentrolesplayedbytheactorswithinthescene.Eachunderstandsdifferently
whatistakingplace,andwhiletherecertainlyexistssomeoverlapincomprehensionthat
permitsadegreeofcoordination,eachfollowstheirscriptfortheirownreasons,theirown
understandingsofwhatmighthappeniftheydonot.Thesestories,andtheimplicitshared
understandingoftheactorsgetlostwhenremovedfromitscontext.Encounteringthe
remainsingarbagebagsrequiresweavingastorytoodisturbingtoenvisionwhatmight
havepushedanindividualtogosofar.
Fromtheperspectivefromwithinanin-groupaspresentedbytheaccountofthe
57-year-oldwoman,theactionsclearlycommunicatemeaning.Thestorythusfarbegins
todeviatefromCaldeirasdescriptionoftheviolenceofSoPaulo.Thisorderissimilarly
conveyedbyfilmmakerStanislasGuiguisdocumentaryworkofElCartucho.
Butwhenpeopleacceptedme,wehadalotoffun.Mostofthegangsandpeoplethereknowmereallywell,andunderstoodwhyIwantedtomakethefilm.Iaskaquestionatthestartofitwhoaretherealthieves,thepeopleorthesystem?Corruptionisrifeandthestreetpeoplearekilledbytheparamilitaries.Iwastryingtobringalittlejusticetothem.(SmythandLaurent,2011)
OnceGuiguiwasaccepted,ElCartuchowasaplacewherehecouldworkwitha
camerabutalsohavealotfunwiththegangsandpeopleofElCartucho.
Finally,adiscussionofviolenceinElCartuchocouldnotbecompletewithout
reflectingonthedecisionofthethenmayorofBogot,EnriquePealosain1998,to
demolishElCartuchoaspartofaprocessofurbanrenovation.Theeliminationoftheslum
wasnotonlysupposedtostompouttheillegalactivityoftheslum,butalsotomakeplace
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forThirdMillenniumParkaplace,where,accordingtothecitysdirectorofSocial
Wellbeing,GilmaJimenez,childrencouldplayandtheelderlycouldsunthemselves.Over
thecourseofthesubsequent10years,over600buildingsweredemolishedandsome
10,000residentsforciblymoved.
Pealosaadopteddraconianmethodstodealwiththeseproblems...he
dismantledtheneighborhoodofElCartucho,arguablythelandmark
instanceofthisdecay,locatedjusttwoblocksfromthepoliticaland
administrativecenterofBogot.Theadministrationrelocated10,000
residentsandbuiltalargenewpark,theThirdMillenniumPark,wheretheir
homeshadbeen.Deployingallhisoffice'sinstitutionalpowerstopursuethe
initiative,Pealosainvokedeminentdomainmeasuresandpasseddecrees
toavoidresistancefrombothrecalcitrantindigentorganizationsandrealestatedevelopers.Askedhowhesucceededpoliticallyinsuchcontroversial
plans,hesimplyacknowledged,'Itwassimple:thelawwasonmyside.'(Pasotti,2010:174)
Hisjustification,'Itwassimple:thelawwasonmysideevidencesclearlythegap
betweenlawandjustice.Herelawwassimplyatool,noexplanationorjustification
beyonditselfdeemednecessary,eveninthecontextofdisplacing10,000peoplefrom
theirhomesthatwouldsoonbedemolished.Lawherefailedtodefinethecontoursof
justiceandbycontrastpermittedPealosatoplacelimitsonthemoralbindingsthatmight
haveotherwiseconstrainedhim.
Themayorsofficeoffered100,000COP(about35)foreachsquaredmeterbut
mostresidentsrefusedconsideringtheproposaloffensive.(Semana2000)Manyofthe
residents,assquatters,theylackedformaldocumentationoftheirownershipofthe
propertyandevenoftheirstatusascitizens.ElCartuchowastheirhomeandhadprovided
themaspacetomaketheirlivesindependentofwhatpropertyvaluessuggested,the
streetsofElCartuchowereworthmoretothemthanthepitifulmoneyofferedtothemby
thecity.
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Thedemolishingoftheneighborhoodinvolvednightraidsandarmedresistance
(Semana2000)onbehalfofthelocalresidents.GilmaJimenezstatedthat,"Becauseofthe
conditionsofdeteriorationoftheirparents,around600childrenhadtoberemovedfrom
theirhomes-ifonecouldcalltheplacetheylivedthat-fortheirprotection."(Jimenez
2003)Accordingtowhomandbywhatstandardwerethesechildrenremovedfromtheir
parentsside?Shestatesthattheentireprocesswasundertakenwithtotaltransparency
ofwhatwasgoingtohappen(Jimenez2003),andyetthequestionthatthisworkbuilds
uptowouldbetransparencyasdefinedandunderstoodbywhom?Thisprocessofurban
renovationwaspresentedasinthebestinterestforeveryone,butthisaffirmationofwhat
wasinthebestinterestforallwasdecidedfromoneperspectiveandimposedupon
others.
ReplacingElCartuchowithThirdMillenniumParkdidnotsolvetheproblemsthatthe
MayorsOfficesaw.Theparkhasnotbecomethecenterofleisureofthecity,whereold
andyoungcomeouttogethertoenjoythesun.Andthedispersalofthepopulationthat
previouslyinhabitedthepopulationhasproducedCartuchitos,orlittleCartuchos,suchas
theBronxandtheL.
MATERIALITYANDMEANING
Basedonthismultiplicityofmeaningsascribedtoasingleeventitbecomes
nearlyimpossibletoanticipatehowanactwillbeinterpretedandhowitwillbe
incorporatedintoeachindividualsframeworkofmakingsenseoftheworld.Much
lesstohopethateveryonewillunderstandandrespondexactlythesame;allthis
becomingharderthelargerthenumberofpeopleinvolved.
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Inthisvein,IrelyheavilyonDerridascritiqueofthepossibilitythatasystemof
rulesmightbeabletocreateauniformeffectinothers.Heindicatesthat,A
gestureoffriendshiporofpolitenesswouldbeneitherfriendlynorpoliteifitwere
purelyandsimplytoobeyaritualrule.(Derrida,1995:7)Friendshipandpoliteness
cannotbedeterminedbyasetofrulesbecausetheirquintessentialaspectimpliesa
goingbeyondrulesandobligation.
ThiscanbeseenaswellinJohnFrowsdiscussionofthegift.
Thereisnothinginherentinobjectsthatdesignatesthemasgifts;objects
canalmostalwaysfollowvaryingtrajectories.Giftsarepreciselynotobjectsatall,buttransactionsandsocialrelationsAsanorderofsocialrelations
thegifteconomyisintimatelyboundupwiththeformsofthepersonasthey
arediverselyconstitutedandasitconstitutesthem.(Frow,1997:124)
Thegiftcarriesmeaningbeyondsimplythematerialobjectgiven,becauseitis
wrappedupinthepersonandcontextinwhichtheyaregiven.Thisisnothowever,
particulartothegift,butrathertoallinteractionsbetweenindividuals.Ashasbeen
arguedinthepresentwork,thesameappliestoanactofviolence.Anactof
violencecannotbeeasilydeterminedbythematerialorphysicalmanifestationsof
anevent,butthroughthecontext,theactorsandtheirperceivedmeansand
intentions.Asagiftmaybe,inanotherplaceortime,simplyanobjectgiven;anact
ofviolencemaybeseenaslegitimatejusticeinanother.
SimilarlyJamieCrossarticleonDetachmentasaCorporateEthicfurthersthis
pointbyshowingnotonlyhowcodesofconductinthefieldofcorporatesocial
responsibilityfailtoproperlydemarcatesocialresponsibility,theyalsopreventthe
formingofmoral,legalandsocialbindingties.(Cross,2011:35)Rulesnotonlyfail
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toencapsulatethedesiredgood,butalsoservetolimitthesocialtiesthatwould
otherwiseobligethefulfillmentoftheundefinedgood.
Itmayappearthenthatconflictisinevitable,thatpreciselythemultitudeof
interestsandperceptionsmakesutopiabaseduponconsensusimpossible;however,
thisrestsuponthefallaciousclaimthattheseinterestsandperceptionsarefixed.
Rather,whatemergesfromconsideringthiscritiqueofrulesisthatasindividuals
mayinterprettheirmaterialworldinamyriadofdifferentways,itispossiblethatan
interactionbetweentwoindividualswithopposinginitialinterestsresultsinboth
partiesbeingsatisfiedasaresultoftheirevolvinginterestsandperceptionsfromthe
interactionitself.
Howeverthisispossibilityofconnectingandexperiencingachangeinour
perspectiveisobstructedbysystemsthatreduceindividualstorulefollowing
machines.Whereastheinterestsandinterpretationsofindividualsmightevolve
throughtheveryprocessofinteractionwitheachother,theruleisfixedand
preventedfromevolvingintheprocess.Thisinfact,istheverybasisofplanningand
byextension,theState.InhiscritiqueoftheState,JamesScottcriticizesitforhaving
ahighmodernistideology,whichhesaysis
bestconceivedasastrong,onemightevensaymuscle-bound,versionofthe
self-confidenceaboutscientificandtechnicalprogress,theexpansionofproduction,thegrowingsatisfactionofhumanneeds,themasteryofnature
(includinghumannature),and,aboveall,therationaldesignofsocialorder
commensuratewiththescientificunderstandingofnaturallaws.(Scott,1998:4)
Butitisimportanttohighlightthatthisbeliefinrule-basedchangeextends
muchwiderthansimplytheconfinesoftheState.Furthermore,reviewinghis
recommendationforplannerstotakesmallsteps(Scott,1998:345),evidencesthat
hehasmisidentifiedtheproblem.Hisanalysisseemstosmoothlyshiftbetween
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plannersinforestryandsocialengineering,asiftreesandindividualswere
comparableobjectsforaplanertoarrangeandmanipulatewithhisrulebasedplans.
Planningsmallermayreducethescaleoftheproblemsassociatedwiththiskindof
planning,butitdoesnothingtotheproblemitselfwhichrelatestothechallengeof
anyaction,rule,ormaterialobjectevokingthesamemeaningforamultitudeof
people.
Thereisatendencytosearchoutfortherightinstitutionaldesign,therightset
ofrules,withwhichtoshapesociety.Butimplicitinthissearchisabeliefthathas
beenchallengedbythepresentwork,sinceeveryonewillinterpretsuchasetofrules
subjectively.Theattempttodeliverasingle,unchangingmessageacrossspaceand
timeisconfrontedwiththechallengeofconstantreinterpretations.Thisrecallsthe
juxtapositionsetforthintheintroductionofColombiabeingknownastheoldest
democracyinLatinAmericawhilesimultaneouslybeingafflictedbyaninternal
conflictforsixtyyears.Inthemostexpansivesense,RobertoMangabeiraUngerhas
saidthatthefirsthopeofthedemocrat[is]tofindtheareaofoverlapbetweenthe
conditionsofpracticalprogressandtherequirementsofindividualemancipation.
(Unger,1998:5)Howeverinotheraccounts,asinAdamPrzeworskisMinimalist
Democracy,(1991)thetermissimplymeanttoconnoteasystemofelections.This
latterdefinitionishowtheidealofdemocracyisreducedtoaprocedural
characterization,andreminiscentofCrossonemightsaypreventingthetiesbinding
democracytoabroaderidealthanitsinstitutionalmanifestation.
Somemaybetemptedatthispointtoaskthenforapracticalsolutiontothe
enigmaposed,WhatthencantheStatedo?Howshoulditplandifferently?
UnfortunatelyIdonothaveeasy4bulletpointstoofferasScottdid.Ibelieve,that
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thenaturalnessofthissortofquestionshouldbeunderstoodasthedegreetowhich
wetaketheStateasanunquestionablegiven.Despitewhatevercriticismsmight
arise,itisoftenpresentedasnecessarytowardoffthegreaterevilsofchaosthat
oneisexpectedtobelievewouldariseinitsabsence.AsPierreBourdieuhowever
remindsusthat,Everyestablishedordertendstoproducethenaturalizationofits
ownarbitrariness.(PierreBourdieuascitedinHarvey,1987:279)
ThroughthecasestudyofElCartuchoIhavehopedtoconvincinglyshowthat
theabsenceoftheStatedoesnotimplychaos.Andinfact,adisturbinglypredictable
ordercanbediscerned.However,orderissubjectivelydetermined,ratherthanan
essentializedaspectofasetofsocialrelations;whatonemayseeasorderanotheras
chaos.Thechallengethatthisposesforinterventionofadepersonalized,rulebased
naturearisesaseachindividualinterpretstheinterventionfromdifferentand
potentiallycontradictingsetsofcriteria.
CONCLUSION
TheresidentsofElCartucholivedverytryingcircumstances.Thepresentworkhas
triedtocommunicatehowcomplicatedtheareawas,focusingprimarilyonviolence.
Throughoutthiswork,Ihavemadeeveryefforttoassurethereaderthatbyidentifyingan
orderinElCartuchoIwasnotintendingtoglorifyit,nortoadvocateagainstallgroundsfor
intervention.
ManywhoarefamiliarwithElCartuchoandothersimilarmiseriesendupaskingfor
agreaterStatepresence.Infact,doingotherwiseismoreoftenassociatedwiththecold-
heartedwhowouldprefertobeallowedtocontinuetheirpathwithouthavingtoworry
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aboutthemisfortuneofothers.WhatIhavetriedtohighlighthereishowtheStatecreates
anarbitraryorder,andhowthisorderisbaseduponviolence,onlythataswithanything
else,individualsbecomeaccustomedtoitandbegintoseeitasnatural.
Thecentralideaisthatanyactcanbeinterpretedinmanydifferentwaysfrom
eachobserver.Whensomethingoccurs,onemightseeitoneway,anotherasecondway,
andyetanotherathirdway.ThisisasignificantproblemfortheStatethataspirestoact
inajustmanner,yetdetachedfromcontextandbasedsimplyonruleandlawsofwhatit
deemstoberight.Ithidesbehindthelawasifitwerejusticeitself,withoutconsidering
whatinfusesthelawwithjustice.Ifthelawsclaimtobeingjustissimplybecauseitisthe
law,allsortsofviolenceandinfamywillbehidbehindthefollowingofthelaw,whichmay
onlyappearwhentwoorderscollideaswasevidentinElCartuchowithStatelawand
streetlaw.
Idonotelaborateanalternativevision,butthechallengeheresetforthisforare-
imaginationofourpersonalrelations,ofhowwemightlivewithouttheState.Itspresence
pervertsmuchofhowwerelatetooneanother,facilitatinganattitudeofthevariety
Thatsnotmyproblem,theStateshouldintervenethere,orsuchandsuchisaplace
wheretheStatehasfailedtodoXAllofthisleadstoareducedneedtospeaktoone
another,toknoweachother,ofhelpingeachotherdirectly,whichsubsequentlyleadstoa
downwardspiralofdistrust,indifference,disdainandhatredfortheOther,aswellasthe
apparentjustificationformoreinterventiononbehalfofthealienatingforceoftheState.
Weshouldbecautiousofhavingtrustinorder.
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