Paramilitaries paralyze Colombia's Caribbean coast after military operation

The streets of Santa Marta are empty, burnt-out cars stand around. The ruling paramilitaries here responded with violence after several of their senior members were killed last week.

The deadly military operation was led by the new Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who announced the militarization of the Caribbean coast. "No criminal group will impose their conditions on honest, hard-working people," he said. "Those who do not submit will be killed. Citizens will not submit to terror, nor will the state."

Region paralyzed

Now the paramilitaries are fighting back. They have ruled the Caribbean region for decades, extorting protection money, but also seeing themselves as alternative security guarantors to the missing state structures, such as the police.

They have now paralyzed the region, among other things by banning people from leaving their homes. Nobody can go to work or shop, says Patricia Elena Restrepo, community activist in the coastal town of Palomino. "We have children and elderly people at home who don't know what to eat."

It is an unprecedented process in Colombia. According to Colombian security expert Luis Trejos, not even the notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar forced his hometown of Medellín to stand still like this. The roads between the cities of Santa Marta and Riohacha were partially closed for days.

Concern for tourists and the travel industry

In the middle of it all are the many tourists. Colombia's Caribbean coast is a popular destination for backpackers and cruise travelers alike. But the white beaches, tropical forests and wild rivers around Santa Marta and Tayrona National Park are now a battle zone.

Greta Striethörster from Cologne is also stuck there: "It's a strange feeling. There was no information, all the shops were simply closed without anyone saying beforehand, shop again now." Doctors' offices are closed and streets are closed.

The tourism industry fears lasting damage, says hotel operator Nerlis Vergara from Palomino. "There's a lot more behind every canceled booking: the farmer, the restaurants, motorcycle taxis, tour guides, artisans, surfers, suppliers - the entire chain comes to a standstill."

Even if the conflict only lasts a few days, Vergara fears that it could unsettle tourists in the long run.

“Even more hunger, violence and fear”

Even though many in the region are suffering from militarization, a large majority of people here voted for de la Espriella as the new president. Despite the great resistance, he wants to continue to take tough action against the paramilitaries and destroy their entire structure.

Activist Patricia Elena Restrepo, among others, criticizes this: "It means fighting aggressiveness with aggressiveness. I don't think that's the solution. It's about giving the civilian population, who have always borne the brunt, hope for security."

Instead, this “war” brings them even more hunger, violence, unrest and fear. “We are going backwards,” said Restrepo.

In the end, two people in particular pay the price: the civilian population - and a tourism sector that previously knew how to deal with the quiet violence of the paramilitaries, but is now caught directly between the fronts.