The last entry in this blog tried to analyze the macabre difference between being rich and poor. Part of the objective of that entry was to show the absurd situation our country lives, where in case of a violent death and depending on your location in the social pyramid you get more or less government concern and media coverage.
Well, a few days ago another pair of students was murdered in Cordoba (article in Spanish) and those murders haven't received the same coverage that received the murders of Mateo Matamala and Margarita Gómez; furthermore, they have barely been covered by the media. The main coverage I have seen happened when the mayor of the town where the crime happened, asked the president if this case was going to be ignored or it would receive similar treatment as the other one. What was the President's answer? a COP$100 Million reward (USD$60,000) to find the culprits.
Well, that pretty much gives us an idea of the current going price in case of murders in this country:
-If you are a peasant, destitute farmer or unemployed poor young man, and get falsely accused of being a member of the guerrillas: COP$5 Million (USD$3,000). -see the "falsos positivos" case (Spanish).
-If you are a college student from a lower socioeconomic background: COP$100 Million (USD$60,000)
-If you are a private, elite university student: COP$500 Million (USD$300,000)
It is embarrassing and sad. I'd love for me to be wrong and all this to be just a nightmare. I'd like to know that in this country life is sacred and that justice -even crawling- serves its purpose. But that is not true. Here justice and support from the government is measured by the importance of one's family or the size of one's bank account. We have to have open eyes while loving this country where we sometimes really wish our opinions were wrong.
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