{"id":3779,"date":"2017-12-29T15:29:49","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T15:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/arielsheen.com\/?p=3779"},"modified":"2019-11-19T00:56:44","modified_gmt":"2019-11-19T00:56:44","slug":"don-berna","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arielsheen.com\/index.php\/2017\/12\/29\/don-berna\/","title":{"rendered":"Cocaine Cartels Contra Communism: Don Berna, Alborada and Political Discourse in Colombia"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Since 2003 on December 1st across Medellin a large number of people in the lower strata barrios celebrate with bacchanalia and fireworks. The first is the birthday of Pablo Escobar, however this is not a celebration in honor of him, but the man that may be most responsible for his downfall and death – Don Berna.<\/p>\n

December 1st 2003, marks the official demobilization of Don Berna’s\u00a0Cacique Nutibara\u00a0paramilitary bloc<\/a>. To show his continued influence despite his officially putting down arms, Don Berna paid for fireworks and gunpowder to be set off show the extent of his continued control over 10 of the 16 Comunas of Medellin despite his officially “laying down arms”.<\/p>\n

Not everyone celebrates this holiday, and depending on who you ask there are those that see the celebration of the day as shameful. For those that do, you’ll see the\u00a0same sort of enthusiasm that July the 4th is celebrated in the United States.<\/p>\n

When I was in Medellin I was lucky enough to witness the fireworks display from the penthouse rooftop of a friend and then attend a block party. My iPhone didn’t capture video nearly as nicely as the one below and I didn’t want to dar papaya at the party so documented nothing, but it will give you the idea of how large an event it is.<\/p>\n