Statistics about violence and security in the country during Alvaro Uribe’s first two years in office show a substantial inflexion in favour of the Estate. We have to Remember that the security issue became the most transcendental matter for Columbian people in the electoral campaign in 2002, when the abuse of the détente zone in the South by hands of the FARC favoured the candidate that had always kept an inalterable and vigorous posture before the guerrilla that had proposed as main topic of its program to return the tranquillity to the citizens through a political tactic; offensive confrontation against irregular armed groups.

When the two years of government arrived, the figures- that corroborated what it was obvious in the mood of people- favoured politics of democratic security. In all the fronts there is a significant reduction of violence indicators that due to the duration make us think that the Public Force took over the lead, it changed over the correlation of efforts to its benefit and fell back its traditional enemies, withdrew, lost influence and territorial control.

As per the National Department of Air force, between 2002 and 2003 trade unionists’ homicides decreased in 20%, civil servants’ homicides decreased between 6 and 15%; and teachers’ homicides decreased to 48%. In the same way, victims of massacres decreased to 37%; attacks to the population from irregular groups decreased to 84%; the blowing up of energy power stations to 69%; of bridges to 67%, the members of arrested guerrillas increased in 85%; the ones on sick leave increased in 14%; members of captured self-defence groups increased in 133%; and the ones on sick leave in 85%. Kidnaps during January-March quarter went from 1073 in 2000 to 593 in 2002, and to 317 in 2004. Kidnaps of massive reserves decreased in 81%. There were also important decreases in terrestrial piracy and in the amount of homicides for each hundred thousand people: From 62.7 in 2000 went to 51.8 in 2003. The figures during 2004 confirm a tendency to decrease. A positive date for Medellin: the homicides during the firs quarter in 2004 was of 395 against 815 in 2003 and 1141 in 2000 in the same period.

There is no doubt of the consequences of the consistent and held effort by the current government and maybe that is the main reason for such an image and popularity of the main leader. Violence is still excruciating and offensive and ideally it should be eradicated, if not totally, at least partially.

Third category Promising Meetings

Dialog processes create doubts. Sometimes there are surprises such as the one that took place in Santa fé de Ralito not long ago. Negotiations take place there between National Government and illegal groups of self-defence. The shadow of a carpeted stand, the main leaders of these groups got together with spokesmen of a broad number of ONG, to interchange opinions and to listen to each other.

Press articles say that the although the atmosphere wasn’t cordial it was honest and it allowed the bringing up of concerns and fears of the ONG’s representatives that since some time ago have manifested openly their preventions and critics before the way how the dialog took place. They had the chance to talk freely about situations that to their opinion represent violations to the word used by the self-defence and they challenged them to be clearer and respectful about stopping the hostilities.

On the other hand, leaders of self-defence had also the chance to express their opinions and to explain the reach of what they call the stop the fire with the official troops, but not with guerrilla groups and to reaffirm that their intention of signing the peace is honest. There will probably be people ready to rave about this unusual and unplanned meeting. And no wonder why, as we are talking about a contact between unequal forces by nature, some are armed and other civilian, both with very different points of view about the violence problem and about how to achieve peace; some consider the others as some kind of fifth column of the guerrilla, ONG consider itself the paramilitary’s victim. The priority between both is hostility and mistrust, fear and stigma.

Because of all the above reasons we have to appreciate this gesture, this kind of looking into each others’ eyes, this kind of shacking hands, this generating principals of trust without which we can’t think of building peace, which is the most achievable thing in this meeting. It can be commented that this doesn’t represent such a big deal, that the same happened during the failed Caguán’s experience, that only feeds false expectations and illusions. Without a doubt, we can see that there is nothing solid in it yet, that all can end in a new frustration. However, and to be honest, its better to rehearse again, to try again and to repeat the effort rather than to add fuel to the fire. Peace is not like we have described it, something easy and smooth but a roof essay, a risk worth taken.