Upholding Peace Through Violence
Bolivia. A wonderful country filled with vibrant geography and culture. But peace and order have become a rare commodity. Over the past few years, a rampant drug cartel has formed, expanding rapidly, destroying the peace that once was. They brandish military weapons and gear, and are stationed in every nook and cranny of the country. But not all the people of Bolivia let the cartel trample them and turn their home into a narco-state. No, a rebellion has risen from the ashes of cars burnt by the cartel. They fight to bring back peace, but at what cost?
The Cartel
The cartel is made up of gunmen and paramilitary contractors from all over South America. Generally dressed in sharp black and white outfits, they transport, protect, and produce cocaine, operating mainly in Bolivia. They have gained so much money and manpower that the Bolivian government has been forced to turn a blind eye, and let them operate freely. They terrorize civilians and locals, and make anyone who speaks out against them disappear.
The cartel has no known leader and no known name, but the effects they have on Bolivia as a whole are devastatingly clear. Burnt cars litter the roads, dead bodies can be seen in public spaces, and sympathy for the rebels increases.
The Rebels
Called terrorists by some, saviors by others, the rebels started as a small group of armed civilians formed to put an end to the chaos and unrest caused by the cartel. They grew in numbers as the cartel became more ruthless and unforgiving. They stay hidden from the cartel in small bases, where they train and prepare to strike. Most members devote all of their time to the cause; living, eating, sleeping, and fighting as a team. Most rebels are individuals who's lives have been torn apart by the cartel violence.
They plan strategic attacks on weak points of the cartel, making calculated strikes to whittle down the cartel's supplies and manpower. They mainly sport civilian clothes, complimented by automatic weapons and old military gear. They drive vehicles with rebel markings in the areas they've liberated, in an attempt to raise hope for their cause.
The rebels hope is to create a violence-free Bolivia, a Bolivia with no cartels or drugs. But as they fight back harder, the cartel retaliates, both against the rebels, and the people of Bolivia. While the rebels are busy fighting, what's
happening to the civilians?
happening to the civilians?
The Civilians
Most civilians in Bolivia are farmers and labor workers, working hard to make a living for themselves and their families. They struggle to avoid the cartel's merciless grasp on their freedom of speech. Many try to keep their heads down, to avoid conflict, but are still prosecuted as a message to others. It's a death sentence to slander the cartel, but a life of torture to stand idly by.
In the wake of battles, civilians are left guessing when they'll need to evade gunfire and explosions again. They lose property, friends, family. They lose their country. They're given a burden, with no way out. A burial with no ceremony. A hefty price for all of Bolivia.
At Any Cost
All parties want an end to the fight. It's draining resources and human life from their respective factions, and draining peace from Bolivia. The conflict can be seen everywhere in Bolivia, in skirmishes, overdoses, and everything in between. Most Bolivians have accepted the fact that the war's not ending anytime soon, resulting in a sullen, sick, depression, wrapped around every part of the country, bleeding into society as a whole.
The war rages on, and the future looks bleak for those effected by the conflict. Neither the rebels nor the cartel will stop until it's over. But when will the hostility end? For now, it continues to ravage this country.
Artist's Statement
This project was created to show the effects of violence and drug wars on those involved, through virtual photos in an open world video game. It was made to look like a news article or photo essay about a current event. In the video game, violence is glamorized more or less, and I wanted to look into the less glamorous aspects, and I tried to depict that non-commercialized kind of violence. It was also meant to mirror the heart wrenching reality that there are incredibly similar events happening in the real world. I tried to approach this in a way that wouldn't spark happy emotions, or seem comical or 'cool'. Here are some mildly distressing real photos of real events: