Autodefensa

When the guerrilla began to threaten the lands of the Colombian rural elite, the landholders created their own private armies. These paramilitary “autodefensas” allied themselves with the army, but were able to do the dirty work that the government formally prohibited to the army.

Today, these autodefensas have become a sort of fascist guerrilla. They run drugs and prostitute girls as well as kicking peasants off their land -- so that the rich landholders can take it over. They also take the “culture war” seriously -- they have been known to kill girls who wear miniskirts or buys who grow their hair long.