Buenaventura, Tristes tropiques

Standing in front of a shack made of wood and tin, 8 youngsters are killing time listening to a local reggeaton. They are all from la Empresa, one of the two main Bacrims - bandas criminals - from Buenaventura. They are keeping a eye out for their chief - El Gatillo - 'Trigger' who lives in the house. Trigger is about 30 year old. A old gun in his hand he starts telling his story.

"From 15 till 19 years old, I was enrolled with the Farcs (the Revolutionary Armed forces of Colombia - the main guerrilla of the country), I took advantage of the demobilization program launched by the state and now I am a local chief for la Empresa. I come from the Las Piedras barrio, I’ve been living here for a long time. All the kids that grow up here end up contaminated by evil. We kill here and there, we comply to the boss’ orders, if they tell us 'go kill this family' we have to do it no matter who and no matter where, this is the way things are going here, if you refuse the same organisation will send someone to kill you. Understand? »

This is the paradox of Buenaventura, it is at same time a huge source of income for the country being the main harbor and one of the most dangerous cities of Colombia. It caught the interest of the international opinion after Human Rights Watch published a report on the casas de pique - literally chop up houses - where the victims are dismembered alive...