"Gente de bien" y falsos positivos: el costo humano de la indiferencia social.

This article shows how extreme socioeconomic inequality and the criminalisation of the poor constitute a threat to the guarantee of peace in Colombia. The study analyses the factors that lead to and sustained the boom in so called 'false positives' in Colombia. These are conformed of a series of extrajudicial executions carried out against people in poor economic circumstances, particularly those belonging to marginalised sectors of society. The victims of the false positives were assassinated by members of the armed forces, in many cases in collaboration with illegal groups, and the murdered people were presented as members of illegal armed groups who were legally shot down in combat. These crimes were committed during the period between 2002 and 2008, and at least 3000 executions have been registered. The practice of false positives constitutes one of the most atrocious crimes committed by a state in the 21st century, with flagrant attempts to achieve impunity for those responsible, while their victims are still fighting for justice and clarity. For this reason, this paper sustains that it is necessary to confront the extreme socioeconomic inequality and cultural imaginary that surround people effected by poverty in Colombia. Effectively, extreme inequality and its social representations have legitimised the dehumanisation of the country's most oppressed groups, and have contributed to the denial of, and even justify, the crimes committed against them. This facilitates the conditions that allow these crimes to occur and be granted impunity. Until responsibility is taken for these aspects. The most vulnerable will continue to be victimised and the construction of peace will not transcend those who are part of the privileged elite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]