Colombian election result
Sunday was the elections. Many people had prayed for no bombs, and there weren't any. Colombia is a changed place. In the last three years the murder rate has halved and kidnappings have fallen by two-thirds.
It gives Medellín a relaxed atmosphere. At night the streets are
full of burger-eaters, cinema-attenders and boy-girl talk. By day, Olwen and I go out for walks with a freedom we've not known before.
The big change has been caused by the disarming of the military who formed either guerrilla groups or self-defense forces. It's comparable to the ending of hostilities in Northern Ireland.
Unsurprisingly, Alvaro Uribé has been reelected as president. He's a lawyer, educated in Oxford and Harvard, and a local Medellín University. His father was killed by guerrillas and the son has now successfully halted the military groups. He's a Margaret Thatcher kind of person, but without the curls, who´s strong on law and order, not so hot on poverty.
A week ago Olwen spoke to 20 male druggies at their rehab centre, and on Wednesday she´s to be at a house meeting for alcohol loving women. We´re thankful for the peace which Colombia now enjoys, it´s a pity about the sin.
Peru's presidential elections are this Sunday.
It gives Medellín a relaxed atmosphere. At night the streets are
full of burger-eaters, cinema-attenders and boy-girl talk. By day, Olwen and I go out for walks with a freedom we've not known before.The big change has been caused by the disarming of the military who formed either guerrilla groups or self-defense forces. It's comparable to the ending of hostilities in Northern Ireland.
Unsurprisingly, Alvaro Uribé has been reelected as president. He's a lawyer, educated in Oxford and Harvard, and a local Medellín University. His father was killed by guerrillas and the son has now successfully halted the military groups. He's a Margaret Thatcher kind of person, but without the curls, who´s strong on law and order, not so hot on poverty.
A week ago Olwen spoke to 20 male druggies at their rehab centre, and on Wednesday she´s to be at a house meeting for alcohol loving women. We´re thankful for the peace which Colombia now enjoys, it´s a pity about the sin.
Peru's presidential elections are this Sunday.
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