Death Squads in Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico compared. A Review of Julie Mazzei's <em>Death Squads or Self-defense Forces? How Paramilitary Groups Emerge and Challenge Democracy in Latin America</em> (Chapel Hill: U of North Carolina P, 2009)
Resumen
In her book Death Squads or Self-defense Forces? How Paramilitary Groups Emerge and Challenge Democracy, Julie Mazzei recounts the story of a Colombian woman who moved to a town in a paramilitary zone and was welcomed by the paramilitary group. A committee of paramilitaries gave her the cellular telephone number of the local commander to use in case of an emergency and told her they would react within fifteen minutes. By offering their services the illegal paramilitaries created an informal network through which people like this woman would report anything suspicious. The story illustrates how in large parts of Colombia paramilitaries replaced the state and dominated public life.
Publicado
2010-04-01
Sección
Reseñas: Militarismo y Represión