Colombia Contemplates Ban on Sales of Pablo Escobar Memorabilia

A young Gonzalo Rojas recalls a devastating moment in 1989 when his father was killed by Pablo Escobar’s Medelln cartel during an airplane bombing over Bogot, Colombia.

Now, as the proposed law to ban Escobar merchandise is debated in Colombian Congress, some argue its time to address the glorification of a notorious criminal. The bill seeks to prohibit selling and displaying clothing items featuring criminals such as Pablo Escobar who was central to global cocaine trade and responsible for thousands of deaths.

Juan Sebastin Gmez, one of the co-authors of the bill in Colombia’s Congress, says that remembering difficult parts of history through merchandise isnt appropriate. These symbols do not help us move forward but only perpetuate a negative image, he adds.

In Medelln, Escobars hometown and now a tourist hub, vendors selling memorabilia argue such regulations will harm their livelihoods. Joana Montoya says her business is dependent on the demand for these items in this area where curiosity about crime lords fuels tourism.

Alexander Paez believes that glorifying criminals like Pablo Escobar distorts the country’s reputation internationally and hurts victims’ families still dealing with trauma from his actions years ago. For him, education should be a key focus of addressing such issues to ensure future generations learn from history rather than idealizing those involved in criminal activities.

In conclusion, while some support banning Escobar merchandise as part of healing the country’s image and honoring victims, others argue it would harm local economies reliant on tourism centered around these items. The proposed law is currently facing four stages before becoming a reality and sparking discussions within Colombia about how to remember its past without glorifying crime figures like Pablo Escobar.