New bloodshed over the past week is already worse than anything seen in the 1990's

New bloodshed over the past week is already worse than anything seen in the 1990's, a record-breaking year for violence in which the Medellin drug ring declared war against the state. So far this week, 45 people have been killed. The police say that five banks were robbed this week, and kidnapping are taking place at such in increased rate that there are now people who make their living as professionals hiring armed guards.

In recent years, Government anti-drug efforts have struck major blows to the Medellin cocaine trafficking ring. But it appears it is far from helping this city to cope with its problems, the easing of the drug lords' hold has left a dangerous power vacuum in the poorer neighborhoods where more than half of Medellin's 2.5 million people live. Recent economic downturns in the Medellin economy has strongly effected the poorest of neighborhoods resulting in the resurgence of gang activity and killings.

Top drug bosses have taken the place of Pablo Excobar's reign in Medellin. Police say two cartel mid level bosses died in a police shootout late on Friday as they crackdown on the new violence in the hills of Medellin in the poorest neighborhoods.The resulting renewed instability has resulted in an explosion of violence in the poorer sections of Medellin as some 155 armed gangs, lacking the direction and the income they once received from the drug traffickers, battle one another for turf in which they can continue to make a living by stealing and kidnapping."The drug traffickers have made their own private armies out of the youth of this city, teaching them how to steal, kidnap and murder," said Medellin's Mayor in a press conference today. "Now that the cartel is back, we are left with this phenomenon -- young people who only know how to make a living out of violence." Record for Violence.While gang rivalry explains some of the mayhem this week, there are many combatants fighting in the city's war zones.
Private vigilante groups, which often enjoy considerable community support, are blamed for some of the killings. Local priests say these groups often kill drug addicts and petty thieves. Clergymen, journalists and families of victims attribute many more of the killings to the police.Human rights advocates say that the police treat any young man in the poorer neighborhoods as a potential terrorist, a carry-over from the days when Pablo Escobar, the leader of the Medellin drug cartel, offered a $4,000 bounty for every policeman killed. 300 Policemen, 500 Youths
The 1990's cartel chief may have paid as much as $1.2 million for the 300 police officers killed while the bounty was in effect, from April to August 1990.
Human rights advocates blame the police for the deaths of more than 65 youths this week in the police clashes to settle the unrest.The police's random and violent response to this renewed threat has caused a complete loss of confidence in authority, neighborhood leaders say."What we're seeing this week in Medellin is a crisis in the state," said Dr. Manuel Restrepo, a sociologist who has been interviewing local residents. "People no longer believe in authority, in the police, the army, anything. The drug traffickers became a role model for the youth of this city because there aren't any other social reference points."The Rev. Sergio Duque must deal with that crisis in Villa Tina, one of Medellin's more dangerous neighborhoods. With a 50 percent unemployment rate and 500 children with no school to attend, his assignment is daunting. A Son, Then a HusbandOn a recent tour of the parish, Father Duque pointed out the homes where tragedy had struck, on average every second or third house. In one home, a woman named Novelia related how her 22-year-old son was shot and killed in their garage on Dec 12'th by drug cartel members. Her husband was killed yesterday when he was caught in a shootout.
Asked if she had called the police during the shootout, Novelia said it was no use. "They just tell us to wait until it's over and then call back with the death count," she said. "Then they can come and pick up the bodies."There is agreement that what Medellin needs is less repression and more education and employment. They are hoping that the Government in Bogota will begin to pay attention to their plight and offer more concrete help."To say that Bogota has done nothing would be unfair," said the Rev. Javier Tobon in his parish in northeastern Medellin, where many of the gangs are based. "But to say that they have done enough would be a lie. This new bloodshed and unrest is a shame after so much has done to make this great city safe for everyone."