DREAMS OF EL CARTUCHO - VIOLENCE, FEAR AND TRUST IN A BOGOTÁ SLUM (final)

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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DREAMS OF EL CARTUCHO - VIOLENCE, FEAR AND TRUST IN A BOGOTÁ SLUM (final)

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