The powerlessness of the state
One of the major arterial roads in the metropolis of Cusco. Tens of thousands of cars drive past this spot every day. The poster behind the pile of garbage is impossible to miss. Dumping garbage here is not only prohibited, it is even punishable by a fine. It alone does nothing to change the situation. I have been passing this garbage dump for 22 years. There is always a mountain of garbage here. Perhaps the city council should either take the garbage away or remove the sign. A camera would also be helpful.
You might shrug your shoulders and think it’s just a small trifle, but the lawlessness can be seen everywhere. There is a large mine in the Curahuasi district that is operated illegally by several thousand people. The community is missing out on seven-figure sums in taxes. Everyone knows this and nobody does anything. Either the authorities are on the take or they are afraid of the criminal syndicates.
In the capital Lima, the weakness of state power is on full display. Stores and transport companies are blackmailed by mafias for protective tariffs. Those who don’t pay have to fear for their lives. There is naked fear in many streets. This insecurity is a topic in families and on television. Even in Lima, a city of 10 million people, the deplorable situation remains unchanged. /KDJ
