One in ten of the worlds murders takes place in Colombia. Since the 1950s the country has been the scene of civil war protracted guerrilla insurgencies and massive human rights violations. Its notorious drug cartels have become synonymous with ruthlessness and illgotten wealth. But Colombia is also one of Latin Americas economic success stories the only country in the region to escape the 1980s debt crisis. With its strong economy stable twoparty political system and sophisticated cultural lif