Traces of exile
More than 8% of the displaced population in Colombia belong to one ethnic group. Cities are becoming a must for the Indians who must leave their communities away by the fear of violence.
- Is not that enough? - Question outraged Miriam Chamorro, with the hint of an accent chocoano that his voice is slow and forceful. Every word seems a shell fired from the anger that he tells the story of people, their ancestors and their counterparts under victimized by the 'sin' of being carriers of DNA in Colombia seems cursed.
on your hair up sits a crown of colorful beads that contrast with her dark skin. Their features make off like a woman peaceful and undisturbed, until those big eyes open wide, surprised by the nonchalance with which he talks about the journalist who investigates the story of his family.
"There are hundreds of years of subjugation," he repeats over and over again, remembering all the times when the indigenous community was subdued before the interests of each group that tried to boot your material and spiritual heritage, settlers, soldiers, paramilitaries and even soldiers.
they sting to know that the name of your community is used to make policy and discarded as soon run out of campaigns. It bothers him that society looks askance at the fact that Indians occupy the cities. You are uncomfortable in front of you is a journalist, with his notebook, trying to make inferences about a reality that does not know.
"But for you it is very easy to judge-tops instantly. Miriam
knows best of everything that Indians suffer from Antioquia and Chocó, that because of violence are banished and forced to migrate to cities such as Medellín, where the council which Chibkariwak she is governor. For its office, located in Prado Centro, passed Chibcha, Caribs, Arawaks and Embera sick or threatened, seeking refuge in foreign territory.
However, its 2,800 members of the council can not offer more than a shelter housing and occasionally providing food supplies to make your stay more bearable in the city. Outside the scope of Miriam is the preservation of language and cultural roots of indigenous exiles, once they are in Medellín, are absorbed by the bustle abruptly obligee to seek survival.
The only vestige that testifies to the ascendancy of those who inhabit the council is the brown skin, straight hair, thin eyes and broad nose, these features Zambos that the city has not been able to seize and accompany them to the grave.
Chibkariwak Cabildo aisles are inhabited by people from the torso to the feet seem to inhabitants of any tenancy of the downtown: bare feet were the shoes changed by the Yines skirts and blouses breasts exposed by and bras.
That freedom to dress is one of the strangest customs Yamile Tunay, a displaced Embera that, despite occasional paint your body with Jaguar, you have to forget the clothes he wore before, to adapt to trends in textiles used in Medellín. Yamile
sits in a small longhouse which is located at the site of the council, after passing through the dark corridors where her two young daughters play: Clarina and Luzamira. Is illuminated by a light and shade caused by one of the white lights located at the entrance of the site. Just one can clearly see the right side of his face, the rest is in a darkly mysterious.
However, little light is enough to see the tears in your eyes are drawn to remember the past. Jamie seems to be about to mourn, quietly spoken but not sadness, but for the big effort made to try to be understanding of journalist although this involves falling into too many buzzwords.
Crying does not outcrop. Yamile remains unchanged counting the road that brought her to Medellín, and though his words highlight pain, his actions are completely neutral.
"When I came here suffering and suffering - he says quietly, in an attempt to articulate ideas.
She was born and raised in the Alto Baudo, Choco town where his Catrú Embera indigenous community, one of the few that in Colombia there has been mixed with mestizo descent. There she met her husband, Joseph Israel Stranger, where she had her three daughters, Ninfa, Clarina, Durney Luzamira and his son, and from there went terrified with the fear that the little family had just left him the target.
alone at 8 years old, his son Durney suffered health complications forced him to leave with his father in the community. Jamie had to say goodbye to her son and her husband, who left for Medellin to seek the help of Miriam Chamorro and San Vicente de Paul Hospital. Durney
suffering from cancer and pneumonia, and Joseph Israel, his father, had to carry not only the burden of the disease, but with the need to achieve to maintain its financial support and the child's stay in the city. The consequences of this effort did not wait and Joseph Israel (which was in charge of caring for Durney) suffered a cardiac complication that caused a quick death.
Because of the illness of her husband, Jamie had to leave again, but this time to let the Alto Baudo. Seeking to care for their child, arrived in Medellin, but it took a year and three months after the death of her husband so that she and her daughters also gave him the farewell to Durney.
Without any case pending in Medellin, Jamie returned to his homeland to return to the company of his daughters who both missed. However, in the Alto Baudo be met with a community engaged in a struggle against the guerrillas, who had left deaths on both sides.
"When I had a lot of gossip Yamile says ruefully, recalling the rumor spread among the guerrillas, who believed that his trip to Medellin was due to the intention to denounce to the authorities.
Knowing this and see that the families of their community were raped by the rebels led to a decision:
-Honey I'm not going to be here, "said her mother announcing that she, like many of their countrymen would take a 'panga' (boat) with her daughters to begin their trip to Medellin, although that went against their wishes.
In the city the situation fue mejor. Ser una madre viuda, que desconoce el idioma y que tiene que pasar de una economía del sustento a una competitiva le representó noches en las que ella y sus hijas aguantaron hambre. Haber salido con el afán del terror de su tierra le significó verse obligada a partir sin equipaje y recibir en Medellín las prendas caritativas.
Haber sido desterrada implicó para su familia olvidarse de toda la cultura que les pertenecía antes. Sus hijas hoy crecen lejos de las raíces que Yamile arraigó desde la infancia; visten yines y camisa (al igual que su madre) porque ya no caben en sus vestidos, hablan español porque eso es lo que les enseñan en el colegio, y porque no tienen otra salida para sobrevivir en Medellín.
The four bear the brunt of the stranger, that word which is to see them living in a shelter in the middle of a big city of that name that they left their father and husband and that falls on them as a sleight of fate that forced to live in a foreign place without considering the possibility of a quick return.
Among the nation and the bars 
navigate the European
Helena Salazar Cruz, dentist, took a day the decision to visit his son Juan Camilo in Spain, where he was conducting his studies. By the way, I wanted to meet the yearning to know the old continent, not knowing that there would suffer the implications of being a Colombian abroad. The anteroom
"For me it was a childhood dream to want to know other countries in Europe, I like to travel a lot and when you least expect my ex husband and I wanted to visit a child we had in Spain . We had a house and decided to sell it, to see if some of that money we were leaving. A Belgian friend gave us a card to enter Belgium or the Netherlands. So it was very easy. We went to Rionegro
the day before and stayed in a hotel because we were afraid to go to the next day at three o'clock. I was very shocked that the first thing I saw when I turned on the TV, was the news of the death of Governor Guillermo Gaviria. At that time I thought: What signal is it just at this time travel?
The altercation with the luggage
The next day we woke up early, took a plane and went to Bogotá. Then, we had a stopover in Venezuela's Maiquetia airport. There was very maluco a stir that we did not know what it was: requisitioned bags and all that overhead. Men and women with dogs rummaging through luggage.
When we were on the plane said: "There is a downside, you can not go." They called about 10 people to be lowered, among which was my ex-husband. A frisk him did everything I had in my suitcase to see what was there, get it all after it was packed. Sat down again because I was about to start the plane, but at 10 minutes I called back with other people.
again, seized the same case and, as we got along two, my ex husband said: "! But I just reviewed it, I check for the other!". And while the other was well packed, they (the guards) responded: "No, no need. Seized it. " We did not know what happened at the airport and, after two hours of reviews and found nothing, we headed to the airport terminal in Amsterdam.
There, with all the commotion the killing of the governor, all Colombians requisitioned us ugly. At that time, began to check the suitcase, looking bad. Then, we get the order of invitation, which was a person who was driving the car bullet as coming from a Belgian, not us followed requisitioning and let us pass.
The English setback
Being in Brussels, we decided to meet England. A portion of the luggage we left off in Belgium, while the other took him to London. Not knowing that the country needed to go two innings (and another one to go out), we went with some friends, no problems and we were all the time.
After eight days, we went back. The people who accompanied us over, while we stood, on the one hand, being Colombian and the other, because we had no permit to travel the rest Europe. We did not know English, and the guard was asking us to sign a book. We refuse because we did not understand what was in it.
When asked why not let us through, we replied that we only had a ticket to Europe and that it had already been used when we arrived. They said: "They can not get out of here. From here just go deported to Colombia. "
then called a friend who are fluent in English. She was there, we fought back and said, "Look, I know, I put my hand on fire by them are my friends." However, they said that the only solution was to wait until three in the afternoon, when they opened the Colombian Embassy.
The consulate gave us two options: leave or deported to Colombia to pay back the visa, but we had no money. Finally, our friend's husband, who was a Hindu businessman, called the embassy and turned a check with which we were given another visa to the European community, amount to be in Colombia would be remunerated.
The discovery of the suitcase
Back in Belgium, before leaving for Spain, rummaging around the bottom of the suitcase (which had been seized in airports) and we find a book that said Maiquetía Airport. This was written by hand, and he had a record full details of the aircraft that arrived from the first of January to the May 5.
The book fair ended on that date, which was written: "He came flying in the Guianas, with 'those' people. They were suspected of bringing drugs, were subjected to analysis and was positive. " Beyond that, there was a letter that read: "The safe conduct of 240 weapons."
So there we made the connection. Sure! That was what they wanted Maiquetía and we threw him in the suitcase. He who cast must have been one of those that were reviewed, because they left open the other suitcase, which was what was packed.
Then we ask: "Who says one here? Do we make the complaint? ". But the recommendation of the past had been known to throw the book away, because if not they'd put us in jail each, we killed the others. How is it possible that two innocent people with the fact that fully seized in Holland, were in jail?, How many people they may have been the same?
The European dream was not so
Was this the dream I expected? I learned a lot, very beautiful people where they went, they were people who were giving love and giving support to make it more bearable situation. That dream is very hard, it's a harsh reality of how to deal with the Colombian. One remains at the mercy of what might happen and I think we were very fortunate.
I'm not saying never again, but would still do other things or pick up lot of money to go there. Gone are the magic that turns into sleep, because when it actually becomes difficult. "
Not even the pain of the arms and foot fatigue could stop that night. Even his eyes heavy and red dared to close, rest and postpone the cadence of the music and drinks. Nothing interrupted their eagerness to celebrate, not even the promise he had made hours ago and that the liquor in the head and had deleted as many memories erased after he would have liked in his memory.
He stared at the first drink, rubbed his hands and let out a smile. Shot flew over the blue flame then would happen to his mouth to break through your throat and unleashing a fire sensations him to scream.
left the site and dropped on your tired body the first drops that soaked the streets of the city on that day of intense heat. But he returned for more and again the fire crossed the larynx, leaving the heat in his blood and his head.
One after another was downing the drinks as the night life was changing. Timid first racket, then a disproportionate effusive and uncoordinated dancing, and then ... does not remember.
passed through his mind not very clear images fade as time passes the night before a fake smile before a flash shot, bump in the middle of the dance that almost leads him to the ground, a greeting, a hug, a kiss on the cheek, a drink and another and another and another ... and nothing else.
As he stumbled through the dizziness of alcohol, she was on her bed, asleep, in absolute silence, not knowing that a call was inappropriate to open his eyes. He would recall what he said, have the notion of time and relive the moment you pressed the button and decided to speak, despite the noise from the speakers that still echo in his ears muffled.
However, the only thing that comes to mind is the image of his body thrown on a chair, slumped and tired in the midst of drunkenness, perhaps before or after the call, but those are details that his head exploded fails to specify.
Now, just imagine what it is best not to shame or distressing to her. Did believe that the best way that your tongue is stuck to speak and his voice was not a drunk who spits words without meaning. Although these are not as speculative as only she knows and he will have to settle false stories devised to end the same, where in the midst of his festive voices told him I love you.
missed call 'The fault lies with the FARC' 
If walking down the streets of our country, you ask an average citizen the main problem of Colombia, the most likely answer is: Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). If an hour after an attack prompted a police commander and the Army about the authorship of this fact, the most likely answer is FARC. And if someone disagrees with government policies and slams on his forehead will have a stamp that says FARC.
Never mind that the citizen does not have employment, their children are not studying at home and sometimes no food or services. Nor that the commander has just learned of the attack and has no knowledge of any threat has been made. Much less than the critic is an honorable person that does not fall on any suspicion. The name of our problems are the FARC.
more than eight years ago in Colombia is breakfast, lunch and dinner with this terrorist group, calling themselves guerrillas. No news on that lets you appoint, either direct or speeches made indirect, but the FARC never leave the ears of Colombians.
The media presence and focused attention to all inhabitants of the country on the FARC is not fortuitous and is not only causing violent interventions of this group. The boom of the FARC remains, not only because they want it, but because the government itself is a clear intention to keep them on the national agenda.
If anyone is interested in the FARC appear on radio, print and television is the same president, Alvaro Uribe, who has made this his strongest armed group of political positioning strategy, obtaining results never before seen in the country.
, however, is that Uribe is a genius and have found the magic formula to be liked. His strategy has already been used a century ago in a most despotic government and radical than his. Joseph Goebbels, minister of spread of Adolf Hitler, today applied the approach applies the Colombian president, in a axiom which titled "Single Enemy."
To Goebbels, to establish a rival to represent only the hatred of an entire nation was the first key to a successful political leader. Name many enemies was simply to generate a perception of weakness and frailty that would raise confidence in the governed. Hitler perfectly applied this principle of governance, which led to the foundation without any major setbacks his Nazi movement.
Undoubtedly, the current single enemy of Colombia is the FARC. This 'guerrilla' is a key element of feeling political cohesion of the inhabitants of our country and also a factor distractor that may appear to put any scandal in which the Government is wrapped.
So the FARC have been used by Uribe. When there are scandals exile, 'false positives', pikes, and other political favors, was enough to call a terrorist act of this band for the minds of the Colombian government failures disappear.
a couple of weeks ago in a political discussion, a friend told me that defeating the FARC was the key step to overcoming the many difficulties in Colombia. It is unfortunate that with a facade so manipulated, she and the rest of the country forget that the FARC are a part of the wide range of problems that this country suffers, and not all of it. Even
this terrorist group is the only agent that kills violence, kidnapping, extortion and stealing. Colombians must remember that here there is still the ELN, common crime (which has advanced in the cities) and of course the paramilitaries, which remain valid, vaccinating peasants and innocent murdering drug addicts and restrictions on freedoms of rural and urban sectors sacred heart country.
Thus, the FARC are not even a single military enemy, even the strongest (the eye). The people are wrong to think that defeating the guerrilla going to be the infallible medicine for the disease of the Colombian people.
not forget that the FARC are not guilty of unemployment, illiteracy, hunger, poverty or corruption. Moreover, the FARC are not the cause but the consequence of these situations. What good will defeat them if the social drama that gave birth? Is not gestarían new forms of violence under the same scenario?
While still think that the FARC are the only problem and that the blame for everything that happens in Colombia is of them, we will continue to settle the misery that we are the world's happiest country and that the quality of our people is unmatched.
Thus, we follow a militaristic course, similar to that followed in Germany under the provisions of Goebbels and forget the food, employment, education, law and ethics. And when it wears off opium has blinded us again to see a country mired in poverty, where children are starving and politicians steal the money. Then we are aware of our misfortune and we will want to know in advance that not only does man live bullet.
