THE URBAN A GE 7-"4 Summer 1993 Ur R B A N V I 0 L E N C E I S S U E Karachi and the I Karachi and the Global Natutre ol Urban Violence by ArifHasan Global Nature of Urban Violence 7 Dakar: Youth Groups and the Slide Toward Violenice by by ArifHasan Mademnba Ndiaye 9 Drug Markets and Urban KARACHI. In 1991. accoruling to official figuics, 4(6 murders were The corvequence, are particularl Violence in Rio de Janeiro: I figoes. 46 murers wee Theconseitence are articlarlyA Ca foe Action by Jaid corimimitted in Karachi: there were 802 attetitptecd turdcrs: 421 cases of ca.taLstrophic for yoing people. Increas- CarivaIo de Noronha rioting, many of them against civic agencies: 103 rapes: 14) kidnappings ingly, teenagers feeling the impact ol for ranso(m 12 of child stealing: 12 major arirted hatik iobberics: 7,25T9 widespread unemployment, the 10 Escalating Violence Against other robberes, including more thani 1.20) car thefts. tiost of them at guts brcakdown in family strictures, and the Adolescent Giris in India by point: 1.019 burglarics: and 5.99)) thetts. Among those titurdcrcd werc 27 disintegration of traditional values find UYha Rai policemen, two judgcs. two customs otfficials, One Tlerniher if anl ItntelIi- identity in joining street gangs or being 13 Domestic Violence and Its gerice agency: three relativcs of prominent pohlttcians: tvo o guards of lIcal lured into the diug trade. In Mexico Economic Causes by Caroline City. ~~~~~~~~O.N. Moser politicians: and six political actis ists. In the same year, II promrinent Citv. thcrc arc a rcpotted 1,500 street journalists in the city were attacked. Double these fgtires (it is estimated gangs tsee stor. pg. 14!: in Rio dc that 50 percent (fall cn.nies go unrcported) and yott have a pictuire ol'the Jareir(. chlildren are being used by savage effect crime andI violeiice is having on Pakistan's largest city, drug dealers to spy ott police and to 2 LetterstotheFitorw- Such violence is not ituique to Karachi. From Los Angeles to Nes\ even commit murders. 3 World View Reflections on l)elhi, urban crime statistics reveal tiat not onily is the incidenice of Such statistics rnise the question ol' Urban Violence by Paulo violeince becoming more freqtLent. hut the tiatur-c of those critics more whether modern cities are inherenitly Sergio Pinheiro heirious. In India. for example, vsoinen are heing buned to death because violent places to live. And if so, wshy ' 8 Newsline City Residents Meet they are seen as being promiscuous or too triodcrni Isee story, pg. 10). What lies behind the global increase in in Nairobi by Otula Owuor Irn Soutni Afi-ica 24,830) cases of ripe (or oitc pct 1.554 people) were uirban crime and violence'? And hbos 11 Roundtable Urban Violeicec in reported ini 1992: researchers estimate t[lat 95 percenit of rapes go ulirc- do those causes cut across developing India: by Ved Marwah and ported. intplying that some 4)96.0()0 rapes ssere coimmitted in that year. In and developed country lines? Usha Rai Washington, D.C., thcre are currently as many as 2511 to 350 shootings 12 Mayor's Columt Cahs attd stabbings a ntonth (see stor.pg 161 sttimd (51 (5(5W . Innovative Approach to Urban Violence by Rodrigo Guerrero == > -\ dFi 14 Communities Speak Popular Culture amtong Mexican Teenageis by Hector Castillo Berthier 16 Q&A TheDiseaseof $..aK,..~ .t - C:* 9Violence by Beverly Coleman- . Miller . 17 from the City Manager's 1 ~~~~~~~~111 book Reviews A=* , ^ W W t .Cr , |19 The Urban Calendar Young Man in the Shadow of a Policeman,' a mural painted on an abandoned garage in Mexico City, depicts the growing violence on urban streets all over the world. r fl Danida t _--------- r rb * We welcome your comments, thoughts, and criticisms onhfiture issues of the Urban Age. Management Programme 77efollowing wias received in response to the city and therefore are not allowed to have a voice This issue of the Urbanl Age is funded by Winter 1993 issue on "Urban Entrepreneurs": in the decision-making process. the Daniish Agency for Intemnational In this regard I feel that there is a need for Development, the Federation of Canadian Editor: reorientation on the part of government. Municipalities, the Dutch Ministry of For-eign Affairs, and the World Bank. The Winter edition of TIhe Urbanl Age on infonmal Edward Fern Ohtinabousola Developmental funding for the newsletter activities encouraged me to suggest several Akuri, Ondo State, Nigeria has been provided by the tUNDP- rcflcctions on such a multi-faceted and Lowtinuedo ot pagee 20 F UNCHS(Ilabitat)-World Bank tJrban hetereogeneous issue. Management Prograimme anid The World Batik. Informal activities migltt represent half of the itorsNate incomes or more in many Third World cities, but Ed ~~ _ ~ ~ no one knows how far they can expand. One answer is that they will continue to expand ast long Violence, whether it be in Mexico City or as there is a contraction in the formal economic Washington, D.C., has a profound effect on the Jeb Brugrmann sectors of a city's econoiny meaning as long as it quality of urban life. In recent years it has l/El, Toronto, Canada seemed to escalate beyond control. G. Shabbir Chectna is needed. But I often wonder how long a city can tn this issue, through a series of snapshots (INDg, Newe York, USA grow and function under such an organization of fronti cities as far-r-anging as New Delhi to Charles Correa Bothbay, India labor. I fear that we are bcginning to witness in Nairobi, correspondents have given us eye- Zsuzsa Daniiel many Third World cities that somc informal witness accounts of violence in their cities. What Research Institute of the Huttngarian activities are reaching a stage of saturation and that these accoutits show is that the causes of urbani Ministry of Finance . g . . violence are strikingly similar all over the world. indapest, Hunganc many people involved in them-especially Ethnic strife and the integration of "second- Mamiiadou Diop children and adolescents, the elderly, and the generation" migrants in Karachi, Pakistaii (lead Dakar Community Council disabled-will find it increasingly difficult to meet story) are not very different from the problems of Dakar, Senegal their most elementary needs. The run of bad luck racial and economic inequality in Los Angeles, Nigel Harris California. Frustration among low-income Development planning Unit for many poor hoisholds almost never ends. groups over the lack of basic services, such as London, 1 ngland Cities represent nit enonrous concentration of clean water and adequate transportation, is DuT h Ministry of Foreign Affairs capital assets invested by a multiplicity of builders, causing tensions between city governments and The Hague, Netherlanids some officially recognized but increasingly residents worldwide. In rapidly urbanizing Aprodicio Laquian operating outside existing iiorms and regulations. towns in India, for example, villagers are no UBC Centrefor Hurnan Settlements In other words, the city is an unknown quantity. longer willing to accept a lower standard of Vancouver, Caniada c aliving when bombarded daily by advertisements Jaime Lemer Te contnbutmn of multilateral and bilateral touting the "advantages" of development. The Prefeitura Munic ipal agencies to these tasks represents a very low resulting clash between imiodern atid traditional Curitiba, Brazil percentage. Cities will have to he built with the values has led to horrible crimes against young Akin Mabogunje Ihadkm , Nigeria resources each nation can afford. Quite often the women. And finally, the polarization of Pablo Trivelli poor who earn their incomes in informal activities restdents along economic, educational, and Urbant Managemiient Programme are the priticipal investors. If we aim for cities cultural lines is poisoning the melting pot that Qui.o. Ecuadr w m cities once represented. As Hector Castillo Jaimei alenzuela where more human and equitable societies cai Berthier reports from Mexico City, cities have IUL\C'ELCADEL, Quito, Ecuador live, inevitably we have to think of a change in become "societies of exclusion," in which attitude and sacrifices of the wealthy and powerful. conflicts and violence are the natural result. The social debt that the rich in developing nations Perhaps most disturbing is the effect such have toward the poor was inherited from our violence is having on young people. To gain idennty and respect, they are joining street Arif Hasan forefathers, but we have not done much to change gangs, being lured into the drug trade, or solving Karachi, Pakistan this inheritance. their conflicts with guns. Stories from Dakar, Hilda Iller-zer Cen'tro Estudios Sociales y Jorge E. Hardo-v Senegal; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Washington, Amtbientales Buenos Aires, Argentina IIED-America Latina D.C., confirm the effect urban violence is havibig Peter Swan Buenes Aires, Argentina on young people who see no hope in the future. UNCHS, Nairobi, Ke,tv a Although we offer painfully few solutions, we have nonetheless coneltided that cities are not inherently violence places to live. Progress is I I I i i ~~~~~~~~~The followinig was received in response to the being made by innovative mayors, such as Sprintg 1993 issue onz "Urbani Infrazstruczure": Rodfigo Guerrero in Cali, Colombia, and in communities and neighborhoods all over the Editor Mary McNeil E world. As Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, who has run a Production Michelle Lynch Zook Editor: center on urban violence for miiore than 20 years Distribution Consuelo Powell I found your Spring issue on urban infrastructure in Sao Paulo, Brazil, writes in his guest editorial, very interesting, in particular the article in which "It is not the city that generates violence: The Athit Rge is published four times a Professor Akin Mabogunje wrote on the "Crux of poverty, political and social exclusion, and year and is available to developing Modem Urban Development" in the World View economic deprivation" are what destroy the counltr y subscribers free of charge. etolumn. What Professor Mabogunje wrote about peaceful co-existence of city life. If we address Deeoped county subscribers feofcarge. coun htPo.so aouj rtbu these problems, our cities can remain the centers Develped country subscribers Eare is a major problem affecting developing countries, of social and economic well being they have Offices are located at Room SI (1-108, particularly Nigeria. Residents are not fully been for centuries. The World Bank, 1818 H Street NW. informed of proposed development plans in the Washington D.C. 20433. tl.S.A. Facsimile: 202-477-1391 Reflections on Urban Violence by Paulo Strgio Pinhleir o Pauilo Sergio Pinheiro is prqfrssor oj political science atnd rlirector of the Center/,br the Study of Violence at the Uniiver-sitv of Sdto Paulo, Brtioil. It is held as a matter of common sense that the main cause of violence in developing countries, the government does not respect its own laws and the society is urban clevelopment and the growth of huge cities. l'his equality of citizens before the law is undermined by the fact that some convictioin has deep roots that go back to the wave of urbanization that offenders niay go unpunishled. Rebellion against injustice now often takes started in the twelfth century and the resulting polarization between the form of endemic violence, rather than of an organized movement to town and country. But it is still surprising how the myth is constantly demand civil rights. The urban poor, especially around thc outskirts of renewed and regenerated with such remarkable force. cities, exist in a relationship characterized by an acute ambiguity between This stereotype of the city as a locus of violence leads to the belief the rieed for cooperation and the pressure of competition. The increased that urban violence has been increasing uninterrupted ever since. In marginalization and lack of prospects of the most deprived segment of the reality, the state's growing monopoly on physical violence and the population, especially the unemployed and the young, leads them to restraints city dwellers have imposed on themselves have led to a violence and illegal activities. "pacificatiorn" of urban space. If levels of criminal behavior are takeni This social and economic deprivation is further aggravated by the fact that as an indicator of violence. it is clear that violence declined from government agents continue to use iUegal methods, such as torture in police around the middle of the 19th century to the m iddle of th e 20th; only stations and the killing of street childrcn and young people, against the most around the 1960s did crime and violence begin to rise. destitute and defenseless section of the populationwithout any fear of being Crime as a whole became more violent in the 1 980s; the murder caught, thus perpetuating the illegal cycle of violence. Policies for public safety rate in recent years has risen dramatically in both Rio de Janeiro and in the city appear to be targeted at low income neighborhoods, so as to prevent Washington (more than 70 murders per 100.000 inhabitants), putting the poor. children, and yonng people from moving outside the areas in which the two cities more or less on a par with each other. But what is the they live or to keep them under close surveillance. It is no accident that 85 nature of this violent crime? We must identify the different character- percent of the police shootings of civilians in the state of Sao Paulo. Brazil, occur istics of urban vio'lence, i.e.. whether it is directed against life or intheperiphery ofthe metropolitan regionof Sao Paulo (populationof over 15 property, the social context in which it occurs, and its authors and million in 1991): in 1992, 1,47l0ofthe region's inhabitants, mostly young, non- victims. Prominenit among the assaults on life in the cities of the white, and iinocent, were shot and killed by the police. developing countries are traffic accidents and deaLhs, which should This rhetoric of social waifare goes hand in hand with societies that are cause us to reflect on a category of violence meted out by the "edu- extremely hierarchical and plagued by racism, with the dehumanizing of the cated" pcople. This suggests that any attempt to identify a causal poor., who are virtually identified as criminals. The killing of children and young relationship between economic or social factors and violence would people, which is becoming endemic in several cities in southem Brazil, can be be profoundly misleading. explained by the perception of these children and vouths as potential criminals What has happened? It is clear that the rapid growth of large cities and who must be eliminated at any cost. The death squads which in the 1970s the cramming of their increasingly impoverished inhabitants into restricted pursued political dissidcnts are now making these poor childrcn, whether areas has undermined sociability and increased the level of violence delinquents or not, their favorite target. occurring in conflicts. Every huimiani activity, every social relationship and In practice, these probleiims relate to the issue of non-violence and not to fie interaction presupposes conflict. And to a greater extent than in any other evils of the urbanization of society. Insecurity in today's cities, despite their level arena of society. city' dwellers are participants in networh-s of mutual of violcnce, is considerably lower than in previous centuries. The reappearance dependency. The result, as Norbert Elias puts it, is that each individual of forms of endemic violence and crime raises the issue of the ways in which the action depends on -a series of others. thereby modifying the very nature of State engages in violence, its public polices, and the paltem of individual social interplay. The city is the true locus of this interdependence, since avoidance of aggression in urban conflicts. the actions of every individual and of the public authorities affect the Life in the city, especially for the poor. is a constant battle dis- situation of everybody else (one need only consider infrastnrcture, guised as competition. Solidarity cannot be constructed in an housing, and transportation policies). environment in which humani rights are systensatically violated and But rather thani being a consequence of urban development, violence hardship undermines social systems. such as the nuclear family. emerges in a setting of extreme economic and social inequalities, huge thereby weakening organization and mobilization. income gaps among countries, and growing disparities between rch and Having grasped these issucs, we may perhaps be able to devclop a poor in every developing society. In 1989 the richest 20 percent of tle more discerning view of the relationship between the city and vio- world's populaton. received 60 times as much as the poorest 20 percent. lence, or between the poor and crime, which in turn will enable us to If national disparities were taken into account, the inequality ratio for the find solutions. It is not the city that generates violence: poverty, entire population cf the world would probably be 150 to I (UNDP, political and social exclusion, and economic deprivation are all Human LDevelopment Report. 1992). working against the solidarity that would enable city inhabitants to live hi this context, in the deseloping countries, even in many democracies, together peacefully despite their conflicts. violence is endemic and systemic, embedded in the system of social relations, affecting all of society intemittently but affecting the poor and miserable in The ideas expressed In ' VVorid View> areg not repr-esenttativ e oJ afiv agency or particular. However, while violence and crime affect every social group, some orgalcozroioni. but reflect the personal conmrnenits of each author. They are izncluided groups suffer more orom discrimination and violence than others, in particular to stirinalate livelv debate and interaction o varorso issues ini the developed alid blacks, women, indigenous people, young people, and children. In many developing worlds. Surrrnrer 1993 KARACHI continued from page i Karachi: Reflection of a Global Crisis social life. Their attempts to rectify the situation through dialogue and the political process are almost always thwarted, leading to violence and class and In Karachi, the reasons for urban violence mrior those found in many ethnic clashes. developing and developed cities: ethnic conflict; political disagreements In addition, the second generation in Karachi has supported the federal between the interests of the city and the province; the absence of basic government in federal-provincial conflicts, which are a common occur- In physical and social irnfrastructure; social and economic pressures; poor rence in Pakistan. Because of this support they are often at odds with public administration and corruption among city planners; and the corinng political forces representing Karachi's surrounding areas and the city of age of a "second generation" of squatter setders in informal areas who are government. Although representatives from the rural areas still have morc alienated from the mainstream of urban life. Each of these causes is closely votes in the provincial assembly, they fear this new group of second- related and cannot be looked at in isolation. generation immigrants and their entrepreneurial spirit. For exarnple, it is impossible to understand the current conflicts in To protect the local inhabitants from being further marginalized, the Karachi without studying the history of migration that began in the late provincial government has established a quota for Sindhs within the 1940s. Between 1947 and 1949, 600,000 Urdu speaking refugees government and educational institutions. As a result, the Sindhs are guaranteed jobs and most of the provincial bureaucracy is non-Karachiite. To the growing number of second-generation refugees this is an inequi- table system; in opposition that have formed armed groups and iniiimany cases violence replaces the ballot box when local questions are being decided. As a consequence, Karachiites have not been able to develop an independent and representative politial structure for their city. Not only is much of the bureaucracy in Karachi non-Karachiite but ->1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~until recently the entire police force was drawn from the northern prov- inces of Pakistan. Given the constant struggle between the police and Karachi residentrts, this fact raises tensions even higher. Youing Karachiites and industrializationhave composed poems, calling policemen "rural savages," referring to Pushto-speaking mgatfrmtenthem as "touts of the feudal system." The police on the other hand consider the lzarachiite as a troublemaker and a coward who "strikes from behind." As such, the battle lines are clearly drawn. The Conditions of Urban Life migroated from India and setted in the city, changing not only the culture A second factor leading to urban violence and crime is that the local and language of Karachi but also marginalizing the local population, government and development authorities, as in many developing country In the 1950s and 1960s, the goverment's green revolution program cities, arc simply unable to provide residents with the basic services and industrialization poicy resulted in asecond major migration of required for urban life. Pushrto-speaking migrants from the norther provinces. These migrants It is estimated that over 4.5 million inhabitants of Karachi's 10 brought with them strong tribal traditions, institutions, and support million are living in informal squatter settlements, and that by the yeat systems. Through political patronage and the political and financial power 2000, seven iillion of Karachi's 12 million population will be living of the northern provinces they were able to dom-inate the transport sector in informal arheas. These residents lack water supply, sewage, electric- and made up the majority of the workdng class. Their political loyalties ity, and healti and education facilities. They live far away from their were with their own provinces and not with the local Sindhi population. In places of work and depend on an inhuman and inefficient system of addition, their tribal structure, cohesion, informal credit systems, and transportatior to get to and from. their jobs. Many squatter residents energy made them a state within Karachi. spend five to six hours travelling to and from their work. During this time they arc pushed around, packed like sardines into buses, and A Second Generation of Meigrants subjected to severe noise and air pollution. Parents have littletime or energy after ihe work day to care for their children; cases of wife and The kind of melting pot created by emigrants to Karachi is sihme ilar to child beating are the unfortunate results. many cities where the huge influx of rural people has created tensions Housing is also in critically short supply. In the 1960s and 1970s the between not only economic classes, but ethnic and cultural ones as well. average annual demand for housing in Karachi was 40,000 units, most of What is stficaing about Karachi-because of the migrations of the 940s, them for low-income communities. The state could only provide about 1950s, anid 1960s-is that a second generation of refugees has grown up 5,000 plots or units per year. Even these could not reach the target groups in the city (almost 70 percent of the population is Karachi-born). This due to their high cost, complicated procedures of allotment, and long group of second-generation m-igrants sees Karachi as its home; they have a delays in development of services. To compensate for this, an informal more vested stake in the runnting of the city and feel entitled to a say in system of illeogally occupying and subdividing state land and then selling it local politics and administration, to low-income families developed. This process was managed by Second generation slum and informal settlement dwellers throughout middlemen and supported by corrupt government officials who violated the developing world are not like their fathers. Most of them are educated, and defied state rules and regulations. Over the years these land grabbers have broken away from their traditional clan and rural structure, and have have become so powerful that government officials have now become a need to identify with urban institutions and political processes. They their junior partners. often feel excluded from decision-making, which they see as controlled by the The inforrnal transportation industry is another major issue. Of the "elite" of the city. Thus they are ahienated from the mainstream of political and 13,622 buses and minibuses operating in Karachi, only 1,800 belong to I;' I H %IN FGE Summer 1993 KARACHI conoinuedfron page X the state. The rest belong mostly to individual owners who have taken an informal loan to purchase them. The loans are given by tribal chiefs and Glohal Facts dnid Figfures: Urhba Violence professional money lenders from the north and only to people from their own areas. The loanls carry a high rate of interest and the owners have to Since 1991, Rio de Janeiro's authorities have jailed 98 death squad work day and night in order to make their payments. To repay the loans, ienbers 38 of these were niilitary policemen. operators have to violate traffic rules, illegally change their routes, and put In Russia, 80 people are reportedly murdered everyday, making pressure on and mistreat their passengers. To continue along these lines, the homicide rate twice that of the tJnited States. they seek and pay for police protection. The result of such stress is that many of Karachi's major ethnic There are five times more privately paid guards thani regular police conflicts have been the result of fatal accidents caused by minibuses. After men in Bogota. Colombia. a fatal accident, mobs set the minibus on fire, often killing the driver and In 1990.22 people were killed by handguns in Great Britain, 13 in then attacking police stations. Since the minibus operators all belong to Sweden, 91 in Switzerland, 87 in Japan, 68 in Canada, one ethnic group, the conflict acquires an ethnic coloring and spreads and 10,557 in the United States. like wildfire. 'I'he police, according to Karachiites, support the operators because they receive money from them. Despite claims from About one in rive students in the United States now carries a firearm, local authorities that they have plans for phasing out the minibuses. knife, razor, hlib, or other weapon on a regular basis. recent surveys show that 3.000 minibuses are operating in Karachi without route permliits in violation of all laws and with full protection see p.0jb soarcee of the police authorities. The city also faces an acute shortage of electricity and water supply. violence against the police force who intervene to protect the offices and the The more powerifl and enterprising localities in the city manage to brnbe utility company officials. or pressure civic agencies into better serving their areas. This is resenited In the 20 to 25 years tat it takes a squatter settlement to overcore by those living in less fortunate areas who have no means of voicino their these problems, a whole generation of angry young men and women resentment and anger. In recent years, attacks on the offices of the Karachi have grown up in conflict with the establishment During the early Elecuicity Supply Corporation anid the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board anid years, they are continiually fighiting thie establishmienit, caterinig to its the beating up of their staff have become a common feature, not only in low - incme ut lsoin owe midleincme rea. Teseattcksarefolowe by corruption, negotiating with it as an unequal, and suffering as a result. This suffering may mean having your home demolished, your children beaten up during the bulldozing of a settlement, being arrested, having your valuables taken from you, and living without sufficient water and I he Glo6 lizO[tion of Los ongeles sanitation. The generation that grows up in this environment hates the establishment, cspecially the police. Any political organization that The following is excerpted from " L.A. Was Just the Beginning: attacks the establishment is supported by this group-a situation Urban Revolt in the United States: A Thousand Points of Light," by Mike common to most if not all developing countries. Davis. Open Magazine Pamphlet Series, P.O. Box 17t6 Westfield. New Jersey. "Too many people have been losing their jobs: theirpinche A New Way of Life $5.25-an hour jobs as seamstresses, laborers, busboys and factory workers. In two years of recession, unemiployment has tripled in The psychological and social strains on migrants coming from the rural areas L.A.' s immigrant neighborhoods. At Christmas more than 20.000 also cannot be underestimated. Migrants enter a new form of life when they predominantly Latina women and children from throughout the arrive in Karachi and settle in informal settlements. Traditional values must be central citv waited all night in the cold to collect a free turkey and a blanket from charities. Other visible barometers of distress are the compromiised; women have to work; and childten grow up in an environmelnt rapidly growing coloirics of hoietehss cownparreros on the desolate that fosters attitudes in conflict with traditional values. Often the family breaks flanks of Crown Hill and in the concrete bed of the L.A. River. up once children become old enough to leave homc. When family conflicts are where people are forced to use sewage water for bathing and not matnaged properly-and they .seldom are-angry young rebels are created cooking. who become the potential muscle power of the mafia and extremist political As mothers and fathers lose their jobs, or as unemploved relatives moose under thie sbelter of the extended famrsily. there is parties. or neighborhood toughs and petty crimials. Case smdies show that increasing pressure on teenagers to supplement the family income. many young men who are forced to give up their education for economic Belrnont High School is the pride of 'Little Central America." but reasons often take to violence or to crime. with nearly 4,500 students it is severely overcrowded. and an In addition, many migrants now coining irto the cities are timet by additional 2,000 students must be bused to distant schools in the middlemen rather than relatives and their families- -who put them up in San Fernando Valley and elsewhere. Foully 7,000 school-age vertical shms in the center of the citv. Here they live as day-wage teenagers in the Belmont area, moreover, have dropped out of school. Some have entered the Ini uida toca of eang culture (there laborers in small rooms that are often shared by between ten and twenty are 100 different gangs in the school district that includes Belmont people living in shifts. The result is that the area around the city center High), but most are struggling lo find minimum-wage footholds in and central port has become a "male only" neighborhood. jammed with a dcctining e.onomy. "adult" entcrtainment. Much of the entertainment is arranged through The 1992 riot and its possible progenies must likewise be drug money and violence in die area is rampant. understood as insurrections against an intolerahle political- A mor as u violence is teduati economic order. As even the Los Angeles Times. main A major casualay of such violence is the educational system. Aparl cheer-leader for- "World City L.A.," now editorially from long periods of being closed, universities and professional colleges have acknowledges, the "globalization of Los Angeles" has produced become anned strongholds of wan'ing actions. The army had to disarm these 'devastating poverty for those weak in skills and resources." ti/tliieid/ 011 page 6 Suommer 1 993 KARACFH continuedfrom page 5 factions and move into the university campuses last year. Universities and damage that has been done. These include the Edhi Trust, a large relief colleges in Karachi are now surrounded by high walls; entrances are guarded by organization fiat operates ambulances and rehabilitation centers for drug army and para-military forces; people can only enter if they can prove their addicts; provides help and assistance to victims of riots and natural calamities; identify and are searched. Cultural and extra-cunicular activities have runs blood banAks; and helps in looking after and rehabilitating destitute children become non-existent. Cheating on exams has also become common, and and women who have been subjected to violence, rape, and mental cruelty. those administering the exams are often threatened at gun point Para- Without the Edhi Trust one does not know how Karachi would cope with its military forces are stationed at all examination centers to protect staff. As a victims of violence. result, many people now send their children to study abroad. Expensive Then there is the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) which has developed educational institutions are being developed in the private sector whose high models of infrastructure provision, preventive health programs, and fees are beyond the reach of lower income or lower middle income groups. income-generation credit systems for low-income settlements. The OPP These institutions are drawing away the beLLer teaching staff from public sector programs overcome the financial, technical, and administrative constraints institutions. Universities and institutions of higher leaning are ceasing to be a that the state faces in upgrading and supporting infonnal settlements. The place where Karachiites of all classes can meet and grow together; education is work of the OPP is expanding fast. There is also the Urban Resources now segregated according to economic class. Nothing could promote polariza- Center (URC) that informs communities and groups about local govern- tion and conflict more than this segregation of the city's youth. ment schemes for Karachi as a whole and in the process makes them aware of how government planning will effect their neighborhoods and The Consequences: Violence Takes Hold their lives. 'hlis mobilizes them for action. The Citizens-Police Liaison Conmmittee (CPLC) is another organiza- In 1987 violence escalated in Karachi as those operating the transportation tion. Citizens who have problems in dealing with corrupt police practices systems and refugees fought each other The conflict acquired an ethnic are helped and supported by the CPLC. There is al so talk of establishing a coloring; a number of ethnic parties surfaced and existing ones became more Citizens-Minibus Operators Liaison Committee to improve the minibus powerful. Guns were used in the conflict, and the city was put under long service. The recently formed Concerned Citizens Association has filed periods of curfew. Kidnappings for ransom, car thefts at gun point, and public interest cases in court against the Karachi Electric Supply Corpora- indiscriminate rifle fire became a daily occurrence. Most of the political tion, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, and the Pakistan activists who were involved in this conflict were second generation informal Telecommunications Corporation. settlement dwellers. This conflict had severe economic consequences. Day But the solution to Karachi's violence can only develop if the continuing wage labor could not be carned because of curfews. The port and industrial hori7ontal and vcrtical polarization of the society is arrested and reversed. This areas were closed for days on end. Police and army pickets searched cars and requires political vision and will; new and innovative planning and implementa- buses and a large number of people were arrested. As a result, businesses closed tion strategies that are compatible with the culture, economics, and sociology of down and industrialists started to invest in cities in the north. Many rich low-income gr3ups; and the active promotion of institutions and attitudes that migrants, mostly businessmen, went back to and invested in their provinces. As support urban values and culture as opposed to the feudal one that still domi- a result, unemploymenit increased suddenly. nates the media and pohtical life in Palkstan. Most of the violence in Karachi is supposed to be the work of the unem- Other solutions include creating a city government that represents the ployed educated young men who are also political activists and belong to the people, giving them a say in setting priorities. If this is allowed to occur there is lower middle classes. Violence has also affected the more affluent classes. no reason for tde city not to be able to raise its own revenues--a factor essential Years of violence has closed down cinemas, made travel to beaches and the to unifying different groups itn the city. Likewvise, committees made up of countryside difficult, kept universities and colleges closed for months, and community members and city officials could liase on a regular basis concerning brutali7ed society. As a result, idle rich young men and women, who have no planning, maintenance, and operational problems. access to entertainment of any kind, have taken to crime and violence. In response to the question of whether cities are inherently violent The violence in the city and the administration's failure to stem it places to live, I think the answer is no. Karachi, like cities and towns all have led to a general feeling of insecurity. Security companies have over the world., is struggling to adjust to massive immigration, a faultering arisen in the private sector that cater to high-income groups. Comput- economy, and an overburdcned administrative system. If a renaissance of erized burglar alarms, security guards linked by wireless to mobile urban culture and values is allowed to flourish cities can overcome their armed vehicles, collective compounds, and gunmen on the front seats problems. The culture of second-generation dwellers, if recogTuzed, could of expensive cars are becoming more frequent. The rich are now contribute to the planning of a city-a situation much better than that of living in secluded urban ghettos; they do not visit the city center or the the city imposng its plan of development on an unknowing and unwilling old shopping areas. Their children do not go to the museums or to the public. Through this, members of the informal sector, who make up an zoo. The city's historic and civic institutions have become run down, increasing percentage of residents, could be better understood and as is the city center. Libraries, art galleries, spa facilities, and enter- institutions supporting them developed and sustained. tainment areas are now being developed in elite suburbs. Yet despite These solulions are not unique to Karachi-they apply to cities their security measures and seclusion in ghettos the most violent arid throughout the developing world. major robberies are committed in the elite areas of the city, and it is the elite that are kidnapped for ransom. New Directions Arif Hasan, a member of the Executive Committee of the Editorial Board of The Urban Age, is an architect and planner living in The description I have given of Karachi seems hopelessly pessimistic. Yet Karachi, Pakistan. there are signs that conditions will improve. In the past few years a numrber of groups and people have emerged to fight against the deteriorating situation in the city and to mitigate the social, economic, political, and psychological Summer 1993 Dakar: Youth Groups and the Slide Toward Violence by Mademba Ndiave Mademba Ndiave is ajonrnalist working in Oakar, Senegal. He recently interviewed members of youth group.s in Dakar. DAKAR. They live in the Michael Jackson, whose dance- center night clubs, taking care to April 1989, a remarkable popular center of Dakar and range in age style they copy. dress up like "Princes" anid to walk movenment emerged known as "Set from 13 to 20. The last lessons Having seen the riots in Los down the middle of the street, as if setal" (which translates as "be clean they learned at school are long Angeles and documentaries on areas to flout the policy, followed by a and make clean" in the Wolof since forgotten ancd gratuitous of poverty in the United States on flashy American automobile. In language). The young members of violence has becormc their main their television scrcens, these Dakar- fact. "The Eagles" seem very anxious this movement would commandeer way of life, by day and by night, based groups have also carved out to perpetuate the legend that they the streets and behave as if they but always in groups. their own teritory, in which they operate under the protection of a owned them, forcing motorists who The city of Dakar has, since the impose a reign of terror during the millionaire who lives in the West, drove down those streets that they early 1990s, been experiencing a new hours of darkness. who refuses them nothing, panticu- had cleaned to pay a fee. If fonn of violence, whose origin is still According to Alioune Fall, a larly money. This belief, which is motorists refused to pay and turned a topic for debate today. Sociologists young member of "The Helions." undoubtedly unfounded, is to the police for help. the police- and psychologists attribute it primarily who clearly has little sympathy for reinforced by the fact that most men would demand that they pay. to the crisis of the ur-ban family, violence, "The Hooligans" are the of the original members of "The The youngsters had hecome the parents point an accusing fmiger at the most dangerous. Their battle Eagles" have left Senegal to seek kings of the city of Dakar. education system, and the police weaponry is impressive; they are their fortune in Europe, this The Senegalese psychologist, inspector blames television. But all armed with clubs, knuckle-dusters, being the dream, amidst the Serigne Mor Mbaye, interprets this agree on one thing: this phenomenon tear gas grenades, and knives, all country's economic crisis and phenomenon of Set setal as of violence is first and foremost a carefully' hidden in their clothes. unemployment, of all out-of- follows, "There is an enormous product of the economic crisis. The young "Hooligans" are known work youngsters. amount of aggressiveness among To give themselves an throughout the district of Medina (a The emergence ot this phenom- young people, which is not identity, the groups have adopted densely populated area at the entrance enon of violence, which differs necessarily synonymous with names, whose meanings they do to the city center) for the violence from class banditry. can be dated to violence, since it can sometimes be not even understanid, from Ameri- with which they create havoc at dance 1990. After the post-election riots channeled into positive pursuits." can television series and movies. parties organized by other young of 1988 and the bloody violence of However, he wondered about the such as "New Jack City. people. As if turned on by the desire the Senegal-Mauritania conflict in continued on page 8 So it is that a group of young to disturb the "bourgeois" calm, they fishermen, who spend their days at noisily burst into dances and spray ' ' - sea and their nights on the streets of people with tear-gas-all with Dakar, call themselves simply-but complete impunity. proud]y-"The Hooligan Boys." Displaying great creativity, they There is a group known as have also developed a kind of "Vietnam City." There are also violence market, which enables them "The Black Boys." "The Mafia to "buy a fight." The process is Boys," and even "The Odio simple: as soon as they see two Boys." There is also a gang groups fighting, they offer to fight called "'The Eagles," which has instead the group they think is the managed to weave legends about weakest. This type of honor cede only ' its exploits, arousing the admira- serves to strengthen the admirauon . t tion of other groups in the central which the neighborhood youth feel 4i Dakar arca it frequcnts, such as for these "hooligans." who tend, to the "Les Boys du Plateau." great disgust of both parents and There are different groups of policy, to become role models. young people who dream of peace Unlike "The Hooligaan Boys" and tranquility, suich as the "Helion who fight anywhere and at any Boys of Rebeuss, a densely time, "The Eagles" are more populated and poverty-ridden selective, As for timing, they' only neighborhood nestled at the foot of appear during special holidays and the beautiful edifices of thc city festivals-15 nights per year in all. center Members of this group also The rarity of their appearances is dream of America, but this time it their strength, because they ive' is the America of Michael Jordan, the impression of being super- the basketball star, whose walk organized and are therefore mrore they imitate, or the America of feared. They only attack city- Summer 1993 DAKAR continuedfrot page 7 - future ofthe movement,"isn't Citq Residents Meet in Nairobi there a risk that these young people, who clean up their neighborhoods, will one day by Otula Owuor form rival bands and become Otula Owuor is a Kenyan journalist who regularly writesfor the Nation newspaper in Nairobi. - involved in warlike confronta tions?" The psychologist's NAIROBI. Nairobi, Kenya's virtually non-existent; residents to ensure that the action plan was capital. boasts of many things. The often have to cross open sewers to merged with the city's latest is a convention of the city's reach their houses. development plans. The youngsters put an end to Set setal residents called "Nairobi We Even more startling is the implementation of the plan depends to avoid its political exploitation. Want," the brainchild of its increasing incidence of urban on decisions by elected civic It should be stressed that the energetic new mayor, Steve crime, including pickpocketing, leaders who come from four of the rcason why there is no public Mwangi. The meeting, held July robberies, muggings, motor vehicle country's political parties. repression of these young spreaders 27-29 in Nairobi, brought together thefts, burglaries, local and Nonetheless, the national Ministry citizens to discuss the problems of international dnrg peddling, and of Local Government will have a of violence is because they also Kenya's largest city. Marketed as even murders. Many parts of the major say in the final decision play a role that should really be the "Green City in the Sun," city have become dangemus after making. According to Nairobi's performed by the police force. In Nairobi claims to be the only 8:00 p.m. when fear grips the city's 56-year old Mayor Mwangi, the Dakar, "The Hooligans" and other capital in the world where a five residents. Crime, especially drug problems haunting the city can be similar groups are now taking care kilometer drive into the outskirts of peddling and ca^ thefts, is linked to solved if people have "faith and the city ends in a national park with Kenya's having too many legal and resolve." Mwangi has made a of the security of their neighbor- lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, illegal refugees From neighboring strong impression among city hoods by turning themselves into buffaloes, ostrich, antelope, and states, while international drug residents, experts, and even the grassroots militias responsible for other wildlife in abundance. But traffickers have identified Nairobi donor community as a serious and flushing out thieves and immedi- ately applying their own kind of extreme swift justice. As a result, it is becomiing increasingzly common in early smorniing to find people lying in the streets in extremnely bad shape after being beaten during the night by the neighborhood militia. Silence surrounds this violence and the police pretend not to see anything, while parents approve of the fact that these youngsters are providing security in the areas in which they live and close their eyes to the unnecessary violence 7777 Fl involved. When this "benign" violence explodes, as it surely will, it will be hard to handle, because, as a printing plant worker claimed L L t- when questioned during the heyday of the Set setal in 1990, "these despite this apparent glitter, as a major regional hub for those committed leader who is young pcople have grown accus- Nairobi is "dying." Barely four operating from Asia deternined to wipe out the tomed to being obeyed by others kilometers from the city center are The July "Nairobi We Wanf' "administrative and professional and tomorrow, when they get it in some of Africa's largest slums. Up conference mobilized the city to decay" that is killing the city. "The to 70 percent of Nairobi's residents begin fighting the se problems. greatest achievement of the their heads to do something dwell in these slums, with Kibera, Seventy professionals volunteered convention," said Mwangi in an different, nobody will be able to Mathare, and Kawangare being the to work for three months planning interview following the two-day stop them." That tomorrow is now largest. According to Davinda the conference, which was attended meeting in July, "is that for the first today in Dakar: Who, between Lamba, the executive director of by more than 3,0(X) participants tme city residents who had lost "The Hooligans" and "The Helion the Mazingira Institute, a Nairobi- representing a wide range of faith in City Hall had that faith based non-governmental interest groups. Seventeen cexpert restored. I want people in Nairobi Boys," will have the last word? organization, 80 percent of groups convened during the to see it as their real home and not Nairobi's population are now low- meeting, which ended with a just a place for them to work or income earners. The 20 percent of "Nairobi Plan of Action" aimed at make money, and then retire to the population that are high-income improving services and restoring other places" he said. earners occupy 60 percent of the the city's tarnished image. The city's land. Two-thirds of the action plan was handed over to city population does not have access to officials in mid-August and a clean water, and water shortages second workshop was held for city haunt city residents. In low-income councillors, administrators, and the areas, sanitation systems are expert group leacers in late August TBE BPBG Summer 1993 7 ;OI Drug NMarkets and Urban Violence In Rio de Janeiro: A Call for Action by Jose Carvna/ho de Noronzha Jose Carvalho de iVoronha is director of the Institute of Social Medicine and executive coordinator of the Center of Stuidies and Research on Rio de Janeiro of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "They have to pay for what they did. We live in the streets, but and even outside of the law. In circuits of personal revenge, of the we are humnan beings and we are not to be treated like that." such a scenario, gambling, drugs, pure plcasure in dominating, Vagner dos Santos, survivor of the Candelaria massacre, and entertainment-symbols of killing, or making somebody else July 26th, 1993, Rio de Janiero, Brazil. economnic gratification-become suffer." This particular market has the main objectives of life. no institutional control. It is RIO DE JANEIRO. By the deaths occurred among yotng This new modem criminal order regulated and enforced only by time I had started writing these people between the ages of 10 places homeless children in "The Law." notes eight street children had and 19. tremendous danger. The drug lords tJnfortunately, big metropolitan recently been murdered in Rio de What lies behind such violence'? establish their retail centers in the regions such as Rio cannot profit Janeiro. They were slaughtered Alba Zaluar, in the journal shanty towns (favelas) of the city, from localized action alone. They in front of the Candelaria Church, Revista de Rio de Jan eiro. which in Rio are often interspersed need global and universal policies in the heart of the business identifies two schools of thought. with middle-class areas. The to face their challenges. If global district in the city center. They The first is a belief shared by the "consumers" (and victims) strategies of increasing urban belonged to one of several groups "apocalytics" who feel Brazilians therefore live close to such drug productivity (as part of a global of children who earn their living face a kind of civil war or centers. T'hese centers contract economy) and of alleviating urban from the streets. Small thefts, unsolvable conflict, "Without a children to sell drugs and watch for poverty are not implemented, it is peddling, paper grabbing, chance to negotiate or if institu- the police. In the poorer areas of the impossible for any anti-violence begging, drug or candy selling, tional reform or adjustments are city, there is less public (govcmmental initiative to succeed. It is worth- police watching, and prostitution impossible, the Brazilian state or non-goven'mmental) intelvention, while to raise funds arid launch are among the ways they survive. will become bankrupt. Some There the drug dealers deliver campaigns to condemni massacres Most of them have families and peoplc live in completc chaos, 'philanthropic" action to counterbal- such as the Candelaria slaughter, homes they left a long time ago, with an unbearable increase in ance the terror they themselves which make every Brazilian sick. and to which they will eventually absolute misery. This underlines institute. But unless we can restore the path return. They had been awakened the insurmountable differences Hidden by the particular architec- of development so that it includes in the middle of the night with among groups, categories, and ture of the favelas and by the fear of social issues as a central compo- yells and shots. It seems that the social classes differences that its inhabitants, the drug lords have nent, and establish sound, police or a "death squad " shot justify the violence being used. established a new legal order, known long-term, and universal social them to death for no apparent The opponents in this civil war as "The Law." They recruit soldiers policies, we will not be able to reason. On the same day. 12 are never clearly identified, nor for a war, a war against the police, a overcome this new form of other people had been killed, are the questions behind the fight war against their rivals, a war that criminalty. TIhe strong, and very according to the newspapers. explained. But there is always organizes "death squads" to fight their well-organized economric, social, The recent killings of street the impoverished classes on one opponents. A war, again quoting and political forces that push children are the latest disturbing side and the oppressive State on Zaluar. that "begins with individual violence as a standard pattem of incident in a long-term trend. the other." proposals of fast enrichment and life in our big cities will continue. Since the 1960s the leading cause The second theory is proposed unrestrained search for pleasure, but of death among people under 50 by the "optimistic integrationists" that ends in the intenrinable years old in the state of Rio de who believe that the current state of Janeirohas been"extermal violence is thebrainchild of the Invisible Action: HOGs at Worh in Rio de Janeiro causes" withthe nuber of upper classes, who have createda homicides exceeding deaths from non-existent danger by emphasiz- transportation accidents. In ing the differences-both in the Invisible Action is an enlarged and for children with an address, living 1990, the last year to have living environment and cultur- originally published in ortu winh their fanoloes poor revised mortality data. 3,391 ally-among social classes. They which looks at the issue of private The other 43 have . - people died from transportation thus create a fear of the poorer social assistance in metropolitan been specially accidents compared to 6,011 who classes. Zaluar believes that both Rio de Janeiro. According to the designed for street were killed in homicides. If you the "apocalytics" and the "opti- book, ahout 62(0 different non- children who are include 1,372 deaths from mists" ignore recent changes in the govemmental projects are on their own. providing assistance and services to Copies of Invisible firearms not explicity classified form of criminality. This new poor children and adolescents in Action are . 4" as homicides, a total of 7,383 modem forn operates according to the Rio metropolitan area (about 9 available from deaths a year, or more than 20 a the rules of tie market and the million people). Of the 620. the IUPERJ, Rua da Matriz, 82, Rio de day, are due to such "external defense of economic initerests, but it majority, about 577. are designed Janciro. 22260-100. Brazil. causes." Eighteen percent of the does so without legal protection Sutmier 1993 Escalating Violence Against Adolescent Girls in India by Usha Rai Usha Rai is an urban affairs columnist for the Indian Express. Prior to joining the Indian Express in 1991, she worked for 27 years with the Times of India, another major Indian newspaper. NEW DELHI. Mahardshtra in the daughter of a semi-government Rinku bana denge" (We will do New Phenomenon southwestern India, is one of the employee, was taking her final what was done to Rinku) if you country's most socially and economi- examinations in the school campus. spurn our advances. Dowry death, the phenomena cally advanced states. Its capital, Four armcd youths in their early In September 1993, a crime of young brides being burnt to Bombay, is the business hub of the twenties went up to her and, in the with shades of Rinku's death death for not bringing enough country. As Jndia's film center, it is presence of several students, occurred in the village of dowry (cars, refrigerators, televi- popularly referred to as "Bollywood," teachers, and the policemen on Ahmedpur taluka of Latur district. sion sets, scooters, and other where more than 700 films are duty, poured kerosene on her and Few girls from the village were in trappings of modernization churned out annually. burnt her to death. The girl died on college, and they were looked on demanded by greedy in-laws) is Indian films are a mix of sex, the spot, and the boys left without with suspicion. A girl progressive now a well established fact of life violence, and love, and it is anyone trying to stop them. enough to acquire a college in India. The burning of young difficult to tell if the films imnitate The incident paralyzed the tiny education was seen as being brides is done within the confines life or life is now drawing its > liberated and promiscuous. of the four walls of a home and inspiration from films. As Satvanguni Jadhave, 19, the there is little chance of the girl Bombay's wealth and Bollywood's daughter of Professor Jadhave from getting any help. In Maharashtra influence spread into adjoining . ( Mangeshkar College was a first- between 1990 and 1992 there were rural fringes, the traditional values INDIA < year undergraduate science student. 2,000 cases of dowry deaths. and mores of the middle class are C' ~~ g/ A group of boys continuously But this ugly form of buming to being jolted. Small towns, aspiring \M7a shtra e ¾' J teased, taunted. and followed death of adolescent girls who spum to become big ovemight, are K Satvaguni in and outside the offers of "friendship" or "love" is a witnessing an ugly new phenom- ,' ,n college. They wanted to get comparatively new phenomenon. ena-growing violence against \ "friendly" with her and Satvagtui Unlike dowry deaths, it often adolescent girls. spumed their overtures. happens in full public view with no At least a dozen cases of brutal When the pestering became one coming to assist the young girl. murders of adolescent girls have been intolerable, Satvaguni com- Paralyzed by fear, the others seem reported in the last three years in the >" plained to her father and he to be holding back. small towns of Mabarashtra Similar suburb and shocked the nation. lodged a complaint of harassment For example, in 1992, Shobha incidents have been reported from Two of the suspects were caught with the police. The boys, sons Tandale, 19, an undergraduate student other parts of India, but not of girls so the same day. The main suspect, and brothers of the local elite in the small town of Islampur in young. These deaths reflect anew Harish Patel, was found dead on including the brother of a police Sangli district, was violently killed. trend-a new sense of frustration the railway tracks by the police on sub-inspector posted in the She too had not responded to male among young men who do not the third day. village, were annoyed that a mere suitors, and was chased by boys with hesitate to kill a girl if she does not According to Harish's friends, slip of a girl had the audacity to knives, who stabbed her to death. respond to their overtres. Harish thought that Rinku had been complain against them and they The incident happened in the middle Shruti Tambe, a college disloyal to him. The two had decided to take revenge. of the day. Shobha kept knocking on lecturer from Pune, and represen- martied secretly in a temple when So on a full moon night when the doors of houses on the street on tative of the Saad Yuvali Manch she was 14 and he was 20, but Satvanguni, her younger sister, 12- which she was stabbed, but no one (Saad' s Platform for Youth), has since she was a minor she contin- year old brothei; and a servant boy would open one for her. been studying this trend. She ued to live with her parents. When were alone in tde house, the youth maintains this new cult of the father learned of the relation- arrived totally drunk to seek Changing Values violence began with the ghastly ship he forced Rinku to sever the vengeance. They scaled the walls murder of Rinku Patel, a 16-year- ties since he wanted her to marry of Satvaguni's house, dragged her India, despite modernization in old girl. Tambe traces the cult of someone of their caste. Harish had from the room where she was the big cities, is still intrinsically violence to the rapid industrial no job but he is said to have had sleeping with her sister, took her to traditional. Indian films have growth in towns and villages of links with smugglers. an adjoining room and gang-raped tremendous influence on young Maharashtra, and exposure to Media reports described Rinku her, then burnt her to ashes. minds, especially on those who do films where violence dominates. as coquettish, an "oversmart" girl Because of the clout the boys not have much education, or move who got the nemesis she deserved. enjoyed, it was initially registered to the cities from rural areas. There Woman Burned Harish was portrayed by the media as a case of suicide. After a great is far too much violence in the as the jilted lover. Alarmingly, deal of struggle, the father was able popular Hindi films. Young men Rinku Patel lived in other young girls began to receive to get the case registered as a tease girls, get fresh with them, and Ulhasnagar, a suburb of Bombay. threats from young boys seeking murder. The case is still in process. On March 30 at 11:30 a.m. Rinku, friendship with them: "Tumhara Summer 1993 ENDLA continued from page' IO often get violent when rejected. In and his friends. A young lady of friendships with girls as a sign of their an education, but does not want to be several Indian films, when a the same family who witnesses machismo. sexually harassed. The girls arc not heroine has the audacity to slap a the rape tries to help the maid 'l'he trend of violence against necessarily promiscuous, but the boys boy who is harassinig her in college servant. But in court, the lawyers young girls is primarily found in the think they are. or at work, the boy and his friends try to justify the rape on the middle class and lower middle class, As the economy improves think of revenge. 'This invariably grounds that the maid servant is and is also a problcm of the newly- and sleepy villages arc jolted takes the form of rape or gang- of loose character. rich. But the behavior is not always into urbanization, new values rape, or stripping the girl of her Young boys are being influenced related to class or status. Girls who go are replacing the conservative clothes and humiliating her. by Bombay films as well as the to coDlege, move around freely with mores of the past. With the spread So in a film called Tczab forcign films and soap operas being boys or talk to them are the cnvy of of education, girls are coming out (which means acicl), when a shown on satellite channels. where other girls. However, society in of their sheltered existence, but the husband, a percussionist, finds his kissing and sex are treated as casually general and immature men in young men are not ready for wife. a dancer, getting more as shaking hands. While violence particular. see them as promiscuous. liberated women. famous than himself, he throws against girls is not condoned by the There arc not enough youth clubs and Ncither the police. nor the acid on her face. In another film, educated and socially conscious other ways for boys and girls to meet public at large, have realized the Insaf ki tarazu (the scales of society, these fIllms obviously have and be friends without sexual seriousness of the situatiio. Most justice), a model who spurns the the approval of the censors. Undoubt- overtones. families try to hide these brutal overtures of friendlship of an edly, violence and rape are used as Mentally, young men are still crimes as if they are a blot on the affluent man is raped by him. In weapons to subjugate women. conservative in their thinking, family. Rural India could well Daniini, a maid servant is gang- Young boys, trying to imitate their They cannot take in their stride the become another New York. raped by the master of the house natinee idols, are eager to develop new woman who wants to work, get With this edition we launch a new feature of The frbhan Age called "Roundtable," in which we present several questions to prominlenit people on the topic being discussed in the issue. The parpose is to create a forum for interchange and debate among people with opposing points of view. Our hope is that readers will find it a staiting point for generating their own discussions, both within their cities and in response to the The Urban Age. In this roundtable, we approached Ved Marwah, research professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi. Mr. Marwah is a former police chief of New Delhi and has held numerous positions within the government of India. He is joined by Usha Rai, aithor of the above article on violence against adolescent women in India. Ms. Rai is an urban affairs columnist for the Indian Express and for many years wrote for the Times of [ndia. UA: What is the nature Marwah: The statistics on crime are not alway reliable, but Rai: In New Delhi and other large Indian cities. murder, of urban crime in New both official and unofficial reviews have stressed that violent theft, burglaries, rape, dowry death (killing of young wives Delhi and other large crime is on the increase, although it is still much lower than in for dowry) is on the increase. Indian cities? flow does many parts of the world, including most cities in the West. The We don't have the muggings onie hears of in New Yor-k it differ fromn urban crime increase in crime is largely due to an increase in public and other American cities. nor is there the same kind of child and violence in other disorders. abuse. What we do have is an increasing incidence of countries and regions of Political, social, and economic conflicts are getting sharper violence against women. Between 1987 and 1991, while the thte wvorld? aiid tend to fiequently explode into violent situations. The [nuorsber of rape cases went up by 26 per-cenit, deere was a 27 democratic institutions and administrative structures are not percent increase in molestation cases and a 38 percent strong enough Lu contain them. Glaring inequalities, non- increase in cases of cruelty. There has been a shocking 170 cxistent social support systems, terrible living conditions- percent increasc in dowry deaths. almost inhuman-are all providing a fertile ground for an increase in violence. tJA: Does poverty lead to Marwah: Poverty may not necessarily lead to violence, but it Rai: Yes, poverty does lead to violence-particularly in violence? What is the does create an environment in which violence can flourish. In urban areas. But more than poverty I think it is the poor relationiship between cities like Delhi, where a large segment of the population lives urbaniite's exposure to a better lifestyle and to the developmenet and crimve? in slums and sub-human conditions, it is not surprising that merchandise shown on television, and their inability to get relatively minor incidents can lead to serious violent eruptiois. those things. This creates fiustrations that manifest Crimes against individuals are not fewer in low-income themselves in violence. From being a land of simple living, neiabborlhoods, but they are not always reported to the police. India is becominig a highly consumer conscious courntiy. UA: What is being done Marwah: A lot of things are being done, but, I am sorry to say, Rai: Not very much. The govemment is so busy fighting for its to decrease tfle incidence only on paper and not enough on the gmound to reduce the survival and pushing its policy of economic liberalization that it of crime? Are the police incidence of violence and crime by young people. There is little has not been able to concentrate on tackling violence by young doing enough? political and administrative will to implem1ent these schemes. people. Our homes for young people are packed. The government does not have the resources for proper rehabilitation of young juveniles, who, when released, are sucked back into a world of crime. Stmmer 1993 Cali's Innovative Approach to Urban Violence by Rodrigo Guerrero Rodrigo Guerrero, a physician and Ph.D. in public health, is a former executive director of the Carvajal Foundation in Colombia. He has IN been the mayor of Cali, Colombia, since June 1992. CALI. Violence. A word that DESEPAZ has three main areas means murder, mugging, terrorism, of action: law enforcement, on Interview wjith Rodrigo 6uerrero, gang crimes, fear, death, pain, education for peace, and social sorrow, widows, and orphans. A development. Law enforcement Mfaior of Cfali, Colombia word that has a special meaning in goes beyond increasing the police Colombia, a country with one of force, because it attempts to restore the highest murder rates in the trust and mutual cooperation UA: Whether it is true or not, CalU along with other Colombian cities, the hihest urderrates n the trustaind Tutualcoopeattonhas a reputadion for being somewhat violent, an image that is mainly world. Cali, its third largest city between citizens and the police. associated w,nth the drug trade. How true Ls that image? 11Ow much of the with 1.8 million people, has a Several projects are part of this violence you see is related to the drug trade and how much is due to murder rate of 87 per 100,000 per effort. These include moderniza- other causes? year, and public safety is the tion of the courts; computerization Guerrero: It is true that Cali is a very violent city and has a particularly number one concern among of police precincts; and bettcr active drug cartel. Ilowever, I only started to study the causes of violence a citizens, regardless of social status. living conditions for polce agents year ago, and the results are not yet available to determine the participation Murder is the most frequent through low-cost housing, of drug dealinig in the overall problem of violence, nor to relate different cause of death for the general educational opportunities, and kinds of crime to specific socio-economic strata or population groups. I do population in urban areas of courses about human and constitu- believe, however, that many factors lead to violence, such as poverty, drug trading, unemployment, drinking, famnily disintegration, child abandonmet Colombia, including Cali. Preven- tional rights. The most important and abuse, violent television programs, and the breakdown of values. tion of crime has never been a strategy for law enforcement is Hopefully, we will soon have a clearer picture of the problem. public health priority, probably community participation through because violence has been looked "public safety counsels," in which at with a somnewhat fatalistic local leaders meet with their attitude. Attempts to curtail it have authorities to discuss and deal with focused exclusively on the police crime in their neighborhoods. force, without facing the problem Personal contact and exchange of from both a scientific and holistic information between people and approach. To address this, the city authorities, as well as among the government has designed a different government institutions programn to reduce crime rates in that deal with violence, has been the city, focusing on murders as a most effective in crime control. first step. Social development is achieved The program, called DESEPAZ through micro-enterprise develop- (Development, Security, and Peace ment, such as self-built housing, in Spanish), is based on the efficient food marketing, primarv assumption that violence is a health care, education, environ- preventable social disease. As mental protection and recycling, such, methods of descriptive and availability of basic social epidemiiology can be applied to services. The city's micro- UA: How higha priority are concemnsabout personal safety crime, study crime and get information as enterprise development program is andi violence among city residents? Do these priorities differ among to where and when it takes place, diverse to suit the needs of specific income groups' who are the victims and aggressors, groups, such as street vendors, Guerrerm. 'WhilelIwas campaigning, people ofall socin-economic strata and what the factors are related to youth groups, and women heads of put safety as their most urgent and important need. This was so even in the violence. Besides linking research households. This has allowed the poorest squatter areas. where the most basic needs, such as running water to crime prevention and control, the programn to meet the needs of a and sewerage. are not being met. program assumes that violence is a larger segment of the population. multi-causal problem that requires In addition, the methodology of UA Asaconceptdoyouthinkthateitiesareinherentlyaviolentplace multiple interventions, such as self-built housing has allowed the to live? social development, promotion of city government to develop 25,000 Guerrero: I think that the disorderly growth of urban areas and their values, and healthv patterns of lots and services for minimum failure to properly absorb immigrants creates a social environment particularly pione to violence; however, it is also ttue that the prevalence social behavior, in addition to law wage families, which will soon of crime is not the same in all poor urban settlements. In Cali, for example, enforcement. Finally, the program we have observed differences in crime rates among similarly poor assumes that public safety cannot communities; the same thing applies to similarly poor countries. Therefore, be achieved without the commit- more social research is needed to answer this question. ment of all citizens. continued on page 13 i. Summer 1993 CALI' S LNNOVATIVEAPPROACH contintedjtom page 12 become the largest public housing war toys in exchange for an ID project ever built in Coloniibia. card that gives them free access to Domestic Violence and its Economic Cduses The slogan of DESEPAZ is, recreational facilities all over the "Peace is respect cf other people's city has proved to be effective in Longitudinal research that domestic violence had rights." In other words, peace is a raising awareness of the relation- (conducted through surveys in increased than had been the case lot more than absence of crime; it is ship betweeni weapon carrying 1988 and 1992) on the effects of in 1988 (dropping from 48 to 22 the result of people's positive and crime. As a result, one of the changing economic conditions on percent). The reasons given urban households in Quayaquil, related to women's increasing social behavior. Therefore, peace main department stores in town Ecuador, raised the following assertiveness, "women now defend can only be achieved through decided to withdraw war toys issues concerning domestic themselves;" 'now the women do education to restore ethical and from its toy department and four violence: not let themselves be beaten," social values that lead to tolerance gangs gave up their real weapons "The 1988 sub-sample results rather than to concious changes in and peaceful liv ing. This is why and signed formal commitments challenged the view that economic male attittides. Interestingly the ms prnofhtbeo inleiascl crisis ipso facto increases domestic enough, in a number of cases this the most important of the to become involved in a social violence by showinh g a mlore decline was attributed to program's fields of action is the rehabilitation process. complex picture. In that study. 18 "liberacion feminina." As one promotion of a peaceful culttLre Commtmity participation is percent of women said that there woman stated. "Because of through education. This is ensured by establishing direct had been a decrease in domestic women's liberation. there Is less achieved through several projects: contact between the city govern- violence. These were mainly domestic violence. Women are govem- ~ women caning a reliable income, now less dom-inated." volunteer peace promoters, ment and the people. Once a week woientife m respc from Pob tos t reveln ' ' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~who identified more respect from Probably the most revealing conciliation centers. the promotion a Community Government Counsel their male partncrs as associated intormation was the fact that of a healthy family life (see data on takes place in one of Cali's twenty with greater economic overall, half the women said the domestic violence), the teaching of communes (political sub-divisions indcpcndence. Whilc 27 percent amount of domestic violence was values in the school systerti, as well of Lhe citv); this two-hour meeting said nothing had changed, 48 the same as before (48 percent in as education through the mass of the mayor and his full cabinet percent said there had been an 1992 as against 27 percent in g , increase in domestic violence, 1988). Thus, domestic violence is media to improve tolerance, with local leaders takes place in identifying this as the direct still a widespread phenomenon, rehabilitation of youth gangs, and public. A previously discussed consequence of lack of sufficient and one which women universally community participation in city agenda allows for flexibility so that cash, stating that it always abhor. 'The inan who beats his wife issues. titttely and relevatit issues can be occurred when the woman had to is not much of a man" is the type of Peace promoters are young brought up. Neighborhood ask for more moniey. A distinction commi1eiit elicited. Male inadequacy was made between those men who outside the home results in violence people who receive basic training security counsels and public became angry out of frustr-ation withlin it. "Because he doesn't feel in human rights arid peaceful forums on specific issues arc other from not eaming enough and those like a man in the street. in the home conflict resolution. Their job is to ways of promotng personal who became angry because they he vents his anger." tio no case did promote human rights and guide contact and direct communication wanted to retain what they did earn women see domestic violence as the people in conflict tO the proper between political authorities and for their personal expendittLires, fault of women Despite the small auth.riLi.s or conciliation centers. the people. identified as expenditures on other sample size, the data show two authorities or conciliation centers. the people. women and alcohol In both cases overwhelming reasons for wife These centers exist within and are It is too soon to measure the however the consequence was the beating alcohol and jealousy." well-accepted by the community. results of DESEPAZ. The program same and men beat their womien. and are legally entitled to provide started in June 1992 with the The same issue was explored in Caroline O.N. Moser conflict resolution counselino. collection of statistical data, which 1992 to provide a comparative Ecuador: Longitudinal Evidence on The imprtanceof the amily oon shoed thre partiularlylongitudional perspective. to this Coping Strategies of Lons-hncome The importance of the family soon showed three particularlv sLirvey, fewver womienj perceived Urbani Houiseholds, t'orthcoming, as the basic social unit is well violent communes of the city. One recognized by social scientists. A of them was chosen, in which the project has becn designed to train multiple interventions described _ couples in the enhancement of were applied with special empha- . their own relationship as well as sis; as a result, crinme rates in parenting and value teaching decreased significantly in the skills. Shared recreation and commune. Other effects of the table games are encouraged to interventions are equally important: reinforce personal intcractions people have learned that peace is among family members. In not "provided" by the government; addition, a methodology is being instead, they knoiw it is Lhe result of designed to improve the school's everyone's involvement and effort. . I capacity to develop a child's personality and moral standards. Social marketing techniques are used to promote positive social behaviors thlroughl the msass media. TV ads on tolerance, responsible driving, and weapon carrying are ':f' - also being broadcast. A campaign .' '-' .- inviting children to give up their Suttmmer 1993 Popular Culture among Mexican Teenagers by Hector Castillo Berthier A Hector Castillo Berthier is a sociologist and musician working as a researcher for the Institute of Social Research of the National Autonoma E l tUniversity of Mexico City. For five years he has been working on a research project to promote the culture of street gangs in Mexico City. MEXCO CITY. In 1987 Mexico Repression in the working class members, and public action to their own way of life and forms of City was being "bombarded" daily by and poor areas of the city is more grapple with the situation was economic and social survival. thc mass media on the topic of or less a permanent situation, minimal, as evidenced by the Dress, language, use of inhalants violence among youth and street which ebbs and flows in response countless efforts by the authorities and other drugs, a taste for gangs. Drug addicts, murderers, petty to the pressure of various social that camiie and went without having Mexican rock music, and their thieves, rapists, alcoholics, perverts, groups (parents, businessmen, any impact. There was an addi- efforts to organize themselves into vagrants, or gangsters were some of neighbors) or negative reports in tional problem: how to infiltrate street gangs and larger associations the epithets used by the press and the mass media. On Friday and the youth street gangs without are "news" reported daily by the television for a vast segment of our Saturday evenings, the police hold frightening the boys? How to win mass media. society, teenagers from working class raids or "dispan" operations their confidence to begin to In reaction, the middle classes areas betterknown as "chavos (dispersion de pandillas, i.e. "band understand their environment and have become apprehensive about banda"' or gang dudes. dispersions") to "detain a few to their universe? these young people and tend to We did so little by little, using compare their existence to a modified rock concerts as a rallying point, thus and expanded version of the feared beginning to gel: to know various "gangs" of past decades. The groups of teenagers in different parts presence of these teenagers is of the city. In our frequent contact perceived as threatening, ultimately with the boys, on their turf, and in resulting in requests for beefed up organizing the rxk concerts, we public and private protection to * * V, { x Q0 began the first phase of ou r "Diagnos- gtarantee law and order, and penalties tic Study of Teenage Street Gangs in for the crimes commnitted or suppos- - 0 2 0-0 \ S 2 qg.0.t: - 0 Mexico City." edly committed by the street gangs. a - vg 00> ;0 a 5E- - A _ 4_ Some of the findings of our However, the underlying causes- -,0 @ tq t>f qcresearch were straightforward. namely social injustice and extreme a2 e *l tWithin the soci.al and territorial poverty-are rarely mentioned. universe of the working classes, the One of the main characteristics young acquire new ways of life and of the gangs in Mexico City is to expressions. School, the institution "be seen," to "be there" and to that had previously generated sound out outsiders who appear expectations of upward social from time to time in their neighbor- mobility, has proven to be limited hoods. It was therefore not in its ability to achieve this difficult for various emissaries of objective. Nor does the world of the city government to entcr areas employment offer a broad range of of the city to organize more formal occupational alternatives; on the political groups (popular youth contrary, it severely constrans young councils), which now exist, people with limited or no manual or althlough their prestige among the occupationial skills in finding a niche teenage population is minimal, as is in an ever-shrinling market. Addi- their power of assembly. We began the first phase of our frighten the larger group." A tionally, traditional culture, values, One year after we began our research at that time with crystal- survey of 16 police chiefs in and social behavior are alien to them, work (December 1988), the clear objectives: first, to measurc Mexico City bore this out: the as they no longer embrace them as diagnosis was completed. More the real number of gangs and police and local authorities previous generalions did. The family than 1,500 street gangs in the city, geographically plot the "most considered gang members as no seems to be weakening from its organized by territory, appeared in violent areas"; secondly, to seek to more than crimninals or drug addicts failure to give its young members the our report. One interesting finding curb the brutal repression exercised and as such felt they had to be opportunity for the strong, restraining, was the tendency of the street by the police against the gang regularly kept in check. guiding primary socialization gangs to give themiselves names members. These raids created an ex- traditionally offered during one of the and self-deprecative attributes that tremely tense situation, with the most difficult stages of life- set them apart from conventional "Chavo" is a synonym used colloquially repression triggering more violence childhood and adolescence. society: Mierdas Punk (Punk Shit), to designate "youth"; "banda" is similarly in a vicious circle. No firm contact Mexican working class used to designate a street gang. was estabhlished with the gang teenagers have been developing continued oan page 15 @> TRE JRR R6E Surnrner 1993 MEXICAN TEENAGERS continuedfrom page 14 Muigrosos (Greasers), Sdtiros (Satyrs), Vgos (VaLrants) A Plea for Children and the Future Vereill os (Executioners), Picudos (Grubs), Nazis, Virginidad Sacudida (Shattered Virginity). In many ways money has poverty, who have parents who have in high rates of unemployment and Ratas Punk (Punk Rats), Malditos become the main value of our not finished elementary school and underemployment. 'I'hcse crises Piitnk (Wickedl Puntks), Deheetu s society, and not having access to who live i'miraculously" in the separate people as if they were money or having very limited infomial sectors. to be more likely to water and oil. They create a (Bad Seeds). Anfeiamitas (Am access to it fosters isolation. have delinquent children. But this is perfect breeding ground for phetamincs), Nibios idos (Bad exclusion, and loneliness. It is only one side of the problem. discontent and violence. Boys), Sex Leps-osos ( Leprous precisely this economiclemotional Recently in San Francisco, a Children and adolescents arc the Sex), Apestosos (Stinkers), perspective that we find as one of businessman entered a building in the future. Yet today children seem Gusanos (Worms), Reos (Crimi the main causes for the downtown area, went tip to the 32nd not to have before them the wide development of violence among floor, and with a machine gun killed range of possibilities that enabled nals), Cuatreros (Hlorse Thieves), young people. Childreni snake their eight attorneys in cold blood before other generations to improve their Patanees (Uncouth), Vascrs, own dectstons, but they are clearly turming the gun on himself. This event living and working conditions. To Citemos, Mocos (Snots), Sapos influenced by those with whom received global attention-the media Lhe contrary, many of them seem to (Toads), Cerdos (IPigs), Bastardos they come into contact; while for seized on it and spread news of it be living more outside of the (Bastards). Amibns (Amoebas), some this is the basic unit of the throughout the world. My question is concept of social development famiiily, foi others it is the street "How many lawvers will have to die rather than playing a predominant FCearaies (Funerads), Sex gang, ghetto. or the underword. before we take violence in the slums role in the future. Capadoras (Sex CZapades), Children who grow up in seriously? How ittany inore vicLims of In urban neighborhoods and oni Matnchados (Eyesores), Solitos families where they are exposed to a certain soctal class will have to die city streets young people are doing Punk ( Iunk Loners) ... each abuse and mistreatment or who before laws and policies are made to their part. They are developing a accompanied by tfneir "diaper suffer from violent behavior learn deal with the negative effects of popular culture of thetr own, with from the time they are little to economic liberalization on those living traditions and values that have been brigade." a sort of "minor league" respond in the same way when they in cities'?" There is no answer, only a reborn and metamorphasized under for children under 12 years of age. are frustrated or angry. But those thunderous silence. new and different points of view. Another characteristic of who are bom into adverse The society of exclusion has been For us ate task is to recognize these members of the gloups is a lack conditions have a double battle taking ovcr our cities and is cfforts, to understand the thinking of hope about the future; apathy from the beginning of their lives: increasingly present in our lives. The of these young people, their first, agaitst their environment, and etfects of this seclusion can be seen in rejections, and their needs. It is ts second, against the society and the virtually all societies and in then that we can begin to help them situation of economic destitution; rules of the system. developing countries going through believe in a bettet future. individual refuge in the collectiv- There are many legends about economic and social crises, In ity of the gang (that still does not violence, primaiily about violence developing countries, these result in a prevent introversion): personal that occurs in slum neighborhoods. high percentage of adolescents and crisis, use of drugs, and criminal It is often said, for example, that it children living in the society, in -Hecator Castillo Bertdiier is logical for those l]ving in extremely low levels of educaton, and behavior that often makes them their owiI worse enemies. But not everything we found involved drugs. violence, and interest (AIDS, repression, recruiting for the army and presenting their unconditional help in crime. There was a positive side to sexuality, authoritarianism. etc.). a 30-minute taped news broadcast. finding a new forum. gangs that was linked to the family, * During the week we visited areas Mid-way through the programn we Fourteen[ months have elapsed creativity, use of free time during identified by our broadcast audience had to play the national hymn. and since the end of the program. which they rebuilt values, and to obtain more material and makc access by our guests to the broadcast- We have reorganized the archives identities that hac been apparently contact with new groups. ing studios was curtailed. and are now about to launch a lost. We found ati enortious, * We set up an independenL We dedicated die last progrant third phase; "Youtlh Musical virtually hidden lode of creativity production company, "Circo aired to authoritarianism and the Culture in Mexico." with a among the gangs., from which we Volador" (Flying Circus). a type of enormous obstacle that this clearer and longer-term idea for learned about their music, writings. NGO, that would organize rock represented for democracy and the validating the work of the gangs, murals, poetry, traditiotis and, in coniceris, publish a fan magazinme. and free expression of specific prob- while still conserving its essetice. particular, their enormous desire to organize various archives (photogra- lems such as ours. Following this, The research is continuing, but be heard. phy, poetry. literature, etc.). the Secretariat of Governance with a clear activism component. We then began a second phase We transmitted live the "Only drifted a paper that extracted from This has been possible only due to the of research (1989-1992) focused ona for Street Gangs: Beyond Rock"' more tian 50 programs "phrases. mutualtmstthathasgrowni between rescuing the mait forms that their program on 144 Saturdays. until "bad words," and 'examples of the gang members and the research- expression took. We began in some newspapers, frightened by subversion:" from our shows which ers. between reality and theory. It is three areas: the "indecent" language used on werc circulatcd among public still a bit prcmature to write the end of A weekly radio program on the program, began to call us officials and joumahtsts. the story. Saturday evening s to play their "rebel radio" and charged that we Of'f the air and wvithout having music, read their prose and poetry, were agitating and trying to planned, we gradually began to and put them in iront of the subvert the young. receive calls and visits from microphone so that they could The managcr of the station bcean many of our radio listeners, who speak openly about any topic of to fill up owu coiimnercial tinmc, brought materials and offered Stitnier 1993 The Disease of Violence by Beverly Coleman-Miller Beverly Coleman-Miller is a physician who works irt the area of urban health care, 5peci/ically violence prevention and its effects on children. She has held numerous positions with the government of 'the District of Colombia and is currently president of 'the BCM group in Washington, L g R D.C Thi, article is based on an interview conducted with Coleman-Miller by The Urban Age. WASHINGTON, D.C. America There are countries that have termninally ill, we have a phenom- So we allowed this disease and the world have adjusted to the known peace and they are very enon that must be addressed-their process to progress all the way up sight of blood-stained pavements, different from us. We have never choices will all be wrong, based on to the semi automatics before stretchers covered with sheets and had a war on our land during our the fact that they have no future. somebody got shot out on the children, wide-eyed and tearful. lifetime, but when we compare There is a natural history to this highways that link the city with the The sounds of families covering what is happening to the children disease process. A segment of our suburbs. Then we said "Wait a their faces and wailing in grief over of Bosnia and what is happening to society started selling drugs. This second-this disease process is the rat-a-tat of machine guns has children in many of our urban segment, or those people "over thern" spreading our way, we've got to do become a common sound-- centers, we can say that the access dtings differendy than we do, something." For years we never reporters can even duck as bullets children in Bosnia are growing up just like the person who sells cars can took responsiblity for stopping it fly and they continue to speak with having known peace. Before the access car radios and antennaes before it got ouit of control. Now no hesitation. Violence on the war they lived in peace, and they differently than we can. We allow we have a situation in which 1 in planet is not an emergency which can see an end to the current certain people to continue to access 20 kids go to school with a gun in requires immediate intervention. violence if just the peacemakers car radios and antennaes because the United States. Between 250- Violence has become a human came together at the table. That is when we buy a niew car we expect it 350 shootings and stabbings a condition. We, as citizens of the very different from the mindsct that to have an antennae on it Now the month occur here in Washington, world, have adjusted our eyes and our children in southeast Washing- same thing is happening in an area of D.C., where we have had a 1500 our hearts to the ravages of ton D.C. have, who have never Washington, D.C. Those people percent increase in penetration violence on our televisions, in our known peace. Since they have lain "over there" wer-e allowed to first sell injuries (gunshot wounds) among streets, and in our living rooms. in their cribs and gone out on walks drugs without it being published little children going into I am noticing a rather sharp they have had to be protected from everyday in the Washington Post. So childrens' hospitals. distinction between the parish (or sniper fire, from beatings and just like a car salesman can get When you live in a world in neighborhood/community) level assaults, from the effects of drug- antennaes, they can "access" guns, which you are disenfrachised and reaction to violence and the related crime in our cities, from the and we allowed them to get the guns where your level of power is so reaction to violence on a national/ effects of high stress, and from and shoot each other For years the low that the ability to change things legislative level. Our national abuse. So our children in parts of drug-related crimie continued and withl a machine gun becomes a leaders have other issues that D.C. have witnessed violence all because none of the people writing very attractive resolution, then your seem to transcend violence and their lives. the articles and reading the Wash- question is not why should you its impact on society; indeed, it is Having never known peace it is ington Post had any bullet holes, shoot somebody, your question is their job to make their concerns difficult for them to come to the the killing was allowed to continue. why shouldn't you. appear to carry the same weight resolution that this is not a human and magnitude as random deaths condition, that this is somethng in the street. that can be fixed. As a scientist I For example, in the same month wonder what it's like for a child of that Clarence Thomas was going 1 1 or 12 to witness his or her own through his confirmation hearings mortality-for a 14-year-old to go for the U.S. Supreme Court and to three funerals a week and see arousing a lot of discourse and what appears to be their own body concern across the country, 53 in the caskette. young black men in Washington, My theory is the following. D.C-within five miles of the You see these kids on the street in president's house-died from expensive running clothes and gunshot wounds and stabbings. sneakers, with big cars-and they Yet there was no outcry over their are acting exactly like terminal deaths, no one wrote their con- patients in the way they behave- gressman, no one staged an they have no concept of the outright protest. Because at thie possibility of a future and so they - national level there is a tolerance are making the choices of someone for this human condition, it must be who has no future; that to me puts a d terribly confusing for young people huge percentage of our population -i to understand what is considered into a terninally ill posture. When legitimate violence and what is not, we have 14 year olds that are THE YRBRI R6E Summer 1993 We active/v seec our L developing country readers' inputfor tfiis section. Our1 initention is to broaden ouir network- among developin-g country city managers and thleir urban representati es. CALIFORNI[AN CITIES STUDY AND CAI, COPES WITH GANG VIOLENCE, RESPOND l10 VIOLENCE HIGH MURDER RATE Contacts: Dr Ca swell Evains. Jr.,Los Ant'eles('Coutiy1Department of Contact: Rocigo Guerrero, Mravor of Ccli, Coli. Coluonbia. Heatlh Services 24 1 Nortih Figueroa St., Room 347, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA. Jo/in C. Martin, Deprtv City Manager. 333 90th St., Daly Cali, Colombia. is coping with widespread gang violence through a Cih' CA 94015. UISA, Tel.: 415-991-8127. program that rchabilitates gangs. Launched in 1992, the program sct out to tackle the daunting problems wrought by the estimated 8.000 young Mention urban crimiie in California. and most people thinlk of the Los men anid women, organized illto 136 gangs, who have been respoiisible Angeles riots in 1992. But other smaller cities in the state are also beset by for much of the city's crime. gang violence and other crimes. Los Angeles builds a coalitionii Los Angeles has the highest mortality rate of any U.S. city. Injuries caused by interpersonal violence are the leading cause of death for minority youth in the city. In 1991 there were 2,062 homiicides and the majority of v ictims. and perpetrators were minority males between the ages : of 15 and 34. An increasing share of this violence is related to urban street ' aX gangs. More than 2,000 visits to emergency rooms occurrcd as a result of t ., , the L.A. riots. In response to the city's public health crisis due to violent injuries, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Injury Prevention and Control Project formed a coalition of experts on violence prevention. Known as the l.os Angeles County Violence Prevention Coalition, the group consists of comm,unity members, local businessmleni, nmedical doctors, public health officials, police, school officials, and state represen- tatives. Their goal is to quantify the magnitude of the problem and to The city government has initiated or supported a range of develop effective prevention programs. community based initiatives to eliminate gang violence. First, gang The coalition has formed five subcommittees: (1) violence in mcmbers sign a commitment and hand in their weapons in a special education, (2) policy and plaiining, (3) the media, (4) epidemiology, and ceremony. ln exchange they receivejob training and continuing education. (5) community mcnbilization and resource identification. Youth houses provide both recreational and otherservices, such as informa- tion on job and educational opportunities. and micro-enterprise training. Daly City's flexiblc response . Today, just one year after the program was launched. 34 of the gangs (constunting 1,200 members) air participating. Daly City. close to San Francisco, has experienced an increasinlg number of youth-related violent incidents ranging from assaults to OTTAWA-CARLETON REGION-YOUTH stabbings. armed robberies, drive by shootings. and a torture murder of a AND VIOLENCE INTITIVE teenager. Most of these incidents were incited by tensions among juxvenile gangs formed primarily along racial. cultural, and ethnic lines. Contact: I)on Wiseman, (hIiief of Social Services. Ottawa Board of After a traditional response of stepped up police enforcement in areas Education, Oue nva, C'anada. Tel: (6J3j 239-2748. frequented by gangs failed to prevent the gruesome revenge killing of a teenager, the city council supported the mayor's appointment of an anti- The Ottawa-Carlton region has a population of over 75,000 persons gang task force. Ouit of this several programs were implementecl incliding residing in the national's capital. Ottawa, and a number of rapidly growing a youth advisory committee that initiated a par-ent awareness campaigni neighboring cities and communities. The area is well off economically, major and which provides support for parent education workshops. Olher employers include the federal governml lient, service organiizations, and high initiatives included an anti gang education program in the elementary and technology firms. In recent years. the community has been involved in middle schools and a restructured juvenile diversion program. addressing youth at risk through a program that includes the following: With limitcd resources, city officials have worked closely with non- organization of a community-wide conference on youth and violcnce profits, local busiriesses. and the state to use an integrated serv ice delix ery attended by over 5(10 people representing local agencies, services, and approach. This wvas accomplished through the FUTURES project, which youth groups; establishment of a coniimiiunity researchlorganizational established on site, school based social service offices to deal with the process designed to determine the extent of and types of violence and to needs of at-risk youths. The program fills a major gap by providing early develop a community response capacity: and development of a commu- intervention for at-risk youth and deals with many of the causes of youth nity-financed stratcgy for addressing specific problems such as racial violence Five l UTURES offices have been established within the violence, violence in mallc, and juvenile telinquency. communiity aind within eighlt months of its inception, inore thaii 800 cases have been processed. SuoifH 1 t9(,3 Urban Crime: Global successful in crime prevention family, Boyden argues that the Trends and Policies and control, how criminal justice promotion of Westem values such Aesollces systems function, and the as the nuclear family may be by Hernando Gomez Buendia (ed.), situation of juvenile delinquency countercultural and not an effective The United Nations University, are presented. survival strategy for the urban Agenda, A Journal About Toho Seimei Building, 15-1 The findings and altematives poor. Extended families serve as a Women and Gender, Shibuya 2-chome, Shibhuyo-ku, are meant to be of interest and necessary support network, "Violence in Focus," No. 16, Tokyo 150, Japan, 1989. ISBN value not only to scholars of especially in an economic climate 92-806-0679-3. criminology, but also to policy where women are critical if not the makers and community leaders primary breadlwinners. The issue of "Children of Single Parents in a Crime is a pressing threat to life, concerned with ordinary cnme single-headed households, princi- Slum Community," by Shalini personal integrity, and property in prevention and control. pally by females, places an Bhurat in Indian Journal of most cities of the world. Its high incredible burden on poor urban Octobir 1988. incidence in urban environments Children of die Cities single mothers. not only challenges the very Boyden acknowledges that foundations of the social order but by Jo Boyden with Pat Holden, investments in children must make "Delinquency and Substance carres with it a heavy toll of London, Zed Books, 57 Caledonian both human and economic sense. Abuse in India and the United human suffering, economic waste, Road, London NI 9BU, England, In this regard, health and education States: A Test of Strain, and general deterioration in the 1991. ISBN 0-86232-957-4 are two principal rcsponsibilities of ing,' by Seha Rajani and quality of life. (paperback). govemment to guarantee an Kumari Kethineni, UMI Economic development, along acceptable level of protection for Dissertation Service, Ann with the material benefits it brings, Nearly half the world's population children. The first line of protec- Arbor, Michigan, 1992. generates urbanization and social lives in towns. Some 400 milLion tion is against child abuse; the and occupa- children live in developing country second against exploitation of tional changes cities alone. Their poverty and children in the child labor market. Gender Planning and Develop- , which can struggle for survival are paralledin The exploitation of children in the ment, Theory, Practice and erode the thehomelessness,unemployment. labor market, according to Boyden, Training by Caroline O.N. cohesiveness and exposure to drugs faced by so has been a distinct feature of the Moser. London: Routledge, 1993. o f traditional many young people in developed process of industrialization. l societies. One countries. Children of the Cities gives Children represent the lowest wage | result is that, in a thorough account of the abuse and earners in society. Since in many "Report of the Expert Group many societies, exploitation experienced by the urban countries their employment is Meeting on Adolescence and economic growth correlates to young worldwide. It is critical of illegal, the children implicitly give Crime Prevention in the increasing caime rates. The poLicy makers who have neglected the up labor rights. In some respects, and Social Conmission for phenomenon is global in scope, needs of young people. Yetitalso children are the "illegial aliens" or Asia and the Pacific, touching the lives of citizens of highlights the strengths of urban the undocumented workers within Proceedings of conference. most of the world's large cities. chiLdren and the positive develop- their own thircl world economy. 1989. Yet urban crime is seldom a ments in child welfare. In the finaL chapter the authors consideration in national develop- The book draws on evidence synthesize their findings and ment plans, and government from children themselves, describ- propose the foLLowing actions: 1) The Violence of Development by policies and action are often ing what life in the city is like-the services to urban youth should be Joke Schrijvers, Institute for inadequate, underfunded, and work they do, their leisure time, demaild driven; 2) increased levels Development Research. poorly administered. Very few schooling, home life, health and of funding for services for children Utrecht, the Netherlands: tuternatisonal Books. 1993. cross-cultural studies of urban nutrition, and is essential; 3) international crime have been attempted, their new standards of ca re and treatment especially with regard to the special - vulnerability to should be developed for children The Built Urban Environment: needs and conditions of developing the AlDs and young people; 4) children and The Sociology of Urban Space countries. epidemic and young people should be repre- by Libardo Leon Guarin (in Ts book presents case drug culture. It sented in government; and 5) Coomia: Bucaramanga, studies from eight cities: Bangkok, looks at the solutions to poor children, and 1992. Bogota, Lagos, Nairobi, San Jose, physical children at large, dem-and miore Singapore, Tokyo, and Warsaw. hardships that community patiicipation and a The cities represent a broad range many of them face, as well as the greater role foi local government. Death Without Weeping: The of regional differences, differences emotional and social consequences Violence of Evervday Life by in cultural and legal traditions, in of urban life. Nancy Scheper-Hughes. political and socio-economic According to the author, BrCalifoeliaiPress, 1992. systems, and in levels of crirminal children depend on several incidence. For each, a detailed institutions for their welfare: analysis of crime tends, the public their family, the community, and policy measures have been most government. In terms of the 18. UR 8 Summer 1993 Below is a list oq crbao etents and training courses culledfirOnt The hbanRges currentfiles. WVe regret tlat m7ore events fromn developing coutrt-ies are not listed. If ou ii would lile your event to be incliutled, pletise send announcements to the Editor, The Urbdn Ale REmi. S10-108, Th7e Worldl Bank, 1818 H Street Ni, Washingston D.C. 20433 Conferences Havana, Cuba October 12 19, 1993. Principles for the Urban Preser- vation and Zoning of Historic Sites. For more details contact: Zoila University of Central England inBirmingham-Msc. andDiploma Cuadras Sola. Centro Nacional de Conservacion, Restauracion v programs are offered in Ilousing and Project Management in Developing Museologia, Convento de Santa Clara, Calle Cuba No. 610, La Habana CouLntries. Formore detailscontact: Dr. HohsenAboutorabi. Birminghlam Vieja, 10100, Havana, Cuba, Tel.: 53-7-61-2877/61-3775, Fax: 53-7-33- School of Architecture, Faculty of the Build Environment, Perry Barr, 8212/33-8213 Birmingham, B42 2SU, Tel.: 021-331-5115, Fax: 021-365-9915. Antwerp, Belgiuni.-October 25-30,1993. Global and European Forum The University of Birmingham-MSc. and Diploma programs are on Urban Environlment-Social Issues and Health in Cities. For more offered in Development Administration. Other M.Sc. programs are details contact: The Society for Research on Environment and health. c/o offered in Public Economic Management and in Health Care Manage- Commuinity Health Services, Uitbreldirgsstraat 506, B-2600 Antwerp, ment for Developing Countries. Diplomas are offered in Development Belgium, Tel.: 323-230-92-32, Fax: 323-230-16-44. Management, in Information Management for Development and in Local Government Management. For more details contact: Development Calcutta, India-November 4-6. 1993. Seventh International Congress Administration Group. School of Public Policy, Thc University of on Human Settlenients in Developing Countries-Rent, Income and Birmingham, Edgbaston, E3irmingham.1 B i 2TT, United Kingdom, Tel. Affordable Shelter in Developing Countries. For more details contact: 021-414-4987. Telex: 333762 UOHAMG, Fax: 021-414-4989. Prof. K.P. Battacharjee, Centre for Human Settlements Internationlal, 27 Netaji Subhas Road, Calcutta 700001. India, Fax: 91-33-2486604. Neusleliers Manizales, Colombia-November 12-15. 1993. Latin American Semi- nar on Cities and the UJrban Environment. For more details contact: Luz Stella Velasquez, lInstituto de Estudios Ambientales, Universidad Nacional A selected list of newsletters and FIRS'T CALL FOR CHILDREN de Colombia, Seccional Manizales, Carrera 27 No. 64-60, Apartado 127. journals carrying information on 3 UN Plaza Manizales, Colombia, Tel.: 968-810000, Fax: 968-863220. urban development issues H9-F New York, NY 10017, Nairobi, Kenya-June 13-16, 1994. International Seminar on Gender, ACCIONINTERNATIONAL USA Urbanization and Environment. For more details and a call for papers BUl.LL'ETIN Fax: 212-326-7768 form, contact: Diana Lec-Smith, Mazingira lnstitutc, P.O. Box 14564. 130 Prospect Street Nairobi, Kenya, Tel. 254-2-443219. 'ax: 254-2-444643. Cambridge, MA 02139 HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL USA Division of Environmental health Colombo, Sri Lanka-August 21-26,1994. Twentieth WEDC Confer- Tel.: 617-492-4930 World Health Organization ence-Affordable Water Supply and Sanitation. For more details and a Fax: 617-876-9509 1211 Geneva 27 call for papers form, contact: John Pickford, Water Engineering and Switzerland Development Centre. Loughborough University of Technology. LE 11 3TU. ASIAN JOURNAL OF tJnited Kingdom, Tel.: 44-509-211079, Fax: 44-509-222390/1. ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE AND ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT Korea Research Institute for Centre of Urban Planning and Human Settlements Educatfion Prorfirms aind Courses EnvironmentalManagement 272 YouidoDong The Jniversity of Hong Kong Yongdundpo-gu, Seoul Polcfulam Road 150-1110 Korea Hong Kong CPO Box 9016 Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia-Urban Planning in Tel.: 852-859-2720 Fax: 82-02-782-3807 Developing Countries, two year postgraduate program offered in Italian Fax: 852-559-0468 beginning every M[archi. For more details: Segreteria, Scuola di Specializzazione PVS, Palazzo Tron, S. Croce 1957, 30127 Venezia, Italy, CRDA NEWS WORLD OF WORK Tel.: 041-796-218, Fax: 041-524-0807. Christian Relief and Development ILO Publications Association International Labor Office Oxford Brookes UJniversity-MSc. and Diploma programs are offered in P.O. Box 5674 CH-1211 Geneva 22 Development Practices. For more details contact: Kay Chamberlain, Addis Ababa Switzerland Administrator, Centre for Development and Eivironmiental Planninlg Ethiopia Tel.: 022-799-6575 (CENDEP). School of Architecture, Oxford Brookes University, Gipsy Tel.: 65-01-00 Fax: 0041-22-788-3894 Lane, Headington. Oxford OX3 OBP, United Kingdom. Tel. 0865- Fax: 65-22-80 483413. Telex: G83147 VIA. Suotutl7er 199.3 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR continuedfrom page 2 Editor: telecommunications systems), but means to generate revenues, ration see that this process can obstruct the The article entitled "The Changing the opportunity cost of resources is consumption, and achieve equity development of urban plans due to the Nature of Infrastructure" in your too great not to make the effort. from a benefil:s perspcotive. public's lack of technical knowledge; Spring issue is a very effective However demand is measured, the However, user fees should not be private interests can also become I treatise on how infrastructure goal is to ensure that service expected to generate revenues involved to the detriment of the plan. policy must be structured in delvery is consistent with local beyond what is necessary to Jamie Iturriaga both developed and developing needs and wants. As discussed in provide the infrastructure service Geographef countries if future infrastructure the issue, participatory planning is for which they are imposed. National University Andres service needs are to be met. This one way to confirm that infrastruc- William F. Fox Bello concise statement is important ture investments are consistent with Professor and Head Santiago, Chile reading for all infrastructure local needs, but participation may Center for Business and policymakers. The emphasis in the not be necessary in a narrow sense. Economic Research article on sustainable service Privatization can be an alternative College of Business Editor: delivery, operations and mainte- means for demand relevation if Administration I would be interested in knowing nance, appropriate incentive proper incentive mechanisms are in U'iversity of Tennessee more about how to establish the structures, and meeting actual place, and little participatory English equivalent of the AGETIP service demands rather than involvement may occur. Public Works Execution Agency, building facilities are very timely Second, local financing is Editor: mentioned in your Spring issue. and represent essential issues in essential to sustainable infrastruc- I congratulate you on your new The labor-intensive nmethod of effective infrastructure delivery. ture services. Local finance must publication. I think it will fill a gap executing works is a welcome Several points made in the issue be the source of funding for now existing on up-to-date development, particulary in should be emphasized and ex- operations and maintenance, and, information on urban areas. As Nigeria where both the purchase tended. First, understanding the where possible, the initial invest- possible subjects to be analyzed, I and running costs of construction types of infrastructure demanded ment. The national government would like to suggest the develop- equipment are on the rise. and the level of demand are keys to has not been a reliable, consistent ment of "Private Urban Road Mike Dike avoiding wasted infrastructure source for underwriting ongoing Projects," financed by private Anambra State Water investments. Efficiency in the use delivery of services in the develop- enterprises and urban tolls. Corporation of resources requires that infra- ing world (and seldom in the Another subject is the issue of Enugu, Nigeria structure be provided only where developed world). National urban planning in democratic an effective demand exists. government's promises to provide systems, through which community Measurement of demand can be revenues for local uses have failed development plans or community difficult, particularly in places to materialize again and again. regulations must be approved by where no broad-based service Wherever feasible, user fees should the people. This system is similar delivery has previously existed be imposed and the revenues to the old Cabildos Abiertos (Open (such as improved water on the should be placed in a carefully Town Halls) of colonial times. urban fringe) or for new infrastruc- earmarked account. Major benefits Although it is good to have a ture types (such as sophisticated of user fees include that they are a democratic syslem, we have begun to I To receive 0TheDltbnlqe pleasefilloutthe infrolTrmationbe\lowand return toeEditor,elfbBlF Rm -10-08, 18018 3 i Future Issues H Street NW, Washington, D.C. 03 tn late June members of the NAME ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~nexecutive conmittee of the [777Eglis Urban Age's editoiial board ADDRESS met in The Hague to discuss F-ri ~~~~~the journal's first year of LU French ~~operation and to "'brainstonni" N M ~ ~~~~~~on topics for future issues. The F] Spanish meeting was lively and A fee of $40.00 pe year will he chaged to developed ountry subscribers ~creacreative,twthonollesstthan33 topics being suggested. In narrowing down potential topics, the commiittee decided on "Urban Transportation" for the Fall 1993 issue, and "Politics and the City" for its Winter 1994 issue. We look The hlfb Hod Ae is printed by forward to receiving your Sources: Thze Economist, Jully 31,1993; Urban Crime: Global Trenids and Policies, 1989; PtSTRhrnesn cmense apcndhunghtssu on National Public Radio, August 17, 1993; The Washington Post; U.S. Department Of r ecycled paper using thes u i i Education. soy-based inks. Summer 1993