Despite measures taken by authorities, deadly violence continues to soar in Medellin. October and November of this year counted the city’s highest number of murders in five years.
According to the city’s corroner’s office, the number of murders between January and November 2009 more than doubled compared to the first eleven months of 2008 with October and November yielding the highest totals in the last five years.
During 2009’s deadliest months – October and November – there were 458 registered homicides in Medellin, compared to 206 in the same period last year, according to the most recent statistics provided by forensic agency Medicina Legal.
These figures come as a slap in the face to both local and national authorities who claim to have taken numerous measures to curb the soaring violence. Security forces united with judicial authorities to implement local decrees, while the national government sent over 1,300 security officials to reinforce the capital of Antioquia.
In a meeting held in the city on Monday, vice-Defense Minister Alejandro Arbelaez declared paradoxically that, due to the recent security measures, the homicide rate had reduced by 65 percent over the past two months. The Defense Ministry compared the number of homicides of the first week of October with that of the first week of December.
“With this inter-institutional work we have not only managed to slow down the [violent] trend, but we have begun to reduce it,” insisted Arbelaez.