Every day, life grows grimmer here. In June 1999, rebels prepare to release hostages taken during a Catholic mass. They sell bullet-proof jackets for children in Colombia now. That's how bad it's gotten.
Guns are everywhere.
Bad omens, too. The roads around some Colombian cities are almost empty of traffic. No one dares travel by land when they can fly. Companies that bought rights to operate toll roads clamor for government refunds. Kidnappings are the national scourge.