The Streets Speak: Colombian Graffiti Artists Have their Say

The Streets Speak: Colombian Graffiti Artists Have their Say

Written by Raimondo Chiari

Monday, 21 September 2009 07:53

Recent political graffiti from the streets of Bogotá provides creative commentary on militarism, US military bases, President Álvaro Uribe and extrajudicial military killings. - 1, 2, 3 - Uribe - What's behind the FALSE POSITIVES This message, written in the form of a chant, refers to a recent scandal over the Colombian Army's practice of extrajudicially killing civilians, whose bodies are then dressed as guerrilla fighters (now called 'False Positives') in order to fabricate combat reports and results, leading to monetary and vacation rewards, as well as the promotion of army officers. YANKEES GET OUT of Colombia and the World - Anti-imperialist Brigade Don't Re-elect the Killer Rat This slogan is a play on words using a November 2008 governmental radio Advertisement created by the Dirección Nacional de Estupefacientes called "la mata que mata" [The plant that kills], in which the voice of a little girl encourages listeners not to cultivate or consume drugs. The slogan was quickly transformed into "la rata que mata" [the rat that kills], as a reference to President Alvaro Uribe.