A Nasty Reminder

A car bomb exploded this morning in Bogotá's Chapinero neighborhood, targeting Caracol radio's office, and injuring nine people, none of them seriously. The time of the explosion indicates that the bombers meant to attack the radio station, which has a conservative reputation, rather than kill people, altho an early riser on their way to work could easily have been blown to bits by the 50 kgs. of explosives.

Judging by history and their capacity to do damage, the most like perpetrators of this attack were the FARC guerrillas. But, whoever it was, they need to ask themselves: What's the point? Sure, you've shown that you can cause mayhem. Sure, you've shaken up Caracol Radio. But your revolution is no closer. All you've done is forced the state to shift more money from schools and soup kitchens to security. You've justified more expenses on weapons, and given another boost to the right-wing parties.

Think again. What's the point?

Authorities might also reflect that this is more evidence that the guerrillas, altho battered and weakened, are still there. Perhaps someone should consider trying a new strategy besides war. That could mean more education and other benefits for the poor. But it could also mean a radical strategy which might pull the rug out from under the guerrillas by taking away their main source of income: Drug decriminalization.

Blogged by Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours.