barrio flores

I spent a considerable amount of time in the suburb city of Quillacollo back in 2005. It has grown quite a bit and is suffering from the same problems as its neighboring city of Cochabamba — crime. A group of neighbors decided enough was enough and hoped that by spraypainted an ominous warning that the problem would subside. “Attention potential theives, we will catch and we will burn you.”

One afternoon as I was catching a trufi mini-van for the 12 km trip back to Cochabamba, out of the corner of my eye I noticed a man fleeing. Trailing not far behind was a rapidly growing crowd, including several bystanders who, in an impromptu manner, decided that this affair was now their business as well. “Ladron!” (Thief) some would yell. Finally they caught up with him and soon surrounded the accused criminal. Coincidentally, the crowd stood rather close to the stencil message, and the man’s fate rest in the hands of the 25 captors.

I walked towards them for a closer look. I noticed that some of the men who had recently joined the cause were now the ones confronting the accused. How could they possibly know the details of the alleged crime?

I’ll never forget the look in the accused eyes, as it was one of sheer terror. He was unsure whether he would fall victim to street justice. I was not close enough to hear the explanation, but they eventually set him free where he went running back into town, not before receiving a swift kick in the rear. I still don’t know what I would have done if they followed through on their claim, watch helplessly as the crowd that outnumbered me 25 to 1 set the man ablaze? or try to stop another human being to be punished in a brutal way?

What struck me is how people who were not directly involved in the alleged crime, joined in with great confidence that the man was indeed guilty. They figured that since there were a number of people chasing after him, then he was obviously guilty.