10 - The Amputated Body: Ghostly and Literal Presence

Summary

Colombia has the second-highest casualty rate of land-mine victims in the world, after Afghanistan. In fact, the former Landmine Observatory—currently named the Mine Action National Office (Direccion para la Accion Integral Contra Minas Antipersonal) and one of the sources of data about land mines in Colombia—shows a dramatic increase in casualties. While in 2000 the casualties did not exceed 137 per year, in 2011 there were 549 victims either maimed or killed by land mines, which means that there was on average one victim per day (Direccion para la Accion Integral Contra Minas Antipersonal). The problem has intensified in the last few years because of increased military presence and the push by illegal armed groups to maintain the control of certain areas, particularly those where their coca plantations are located. Furthermore, 98 percent of accidents and incidents occurred in rural areas of the country, of which 82 percent of the victims were injured; 30 percent of them are civilians and 7 percent are children. As a result, land mines have been the recent focus of governmental programs, NGOs, and public campaigns.

Remangate (Roll up your pant leg) is one of these endeavors. On April 4, 2011, as part of the International Day for Landmine Awareness, the campaign kicked off. This highly publicized campaign was an initiative by the Mine Action National Authority and several NGOs to create awareness about land mines and their victims in Colombia. The slogan of the campaign was “Por un dia pongamonos en su zapato” (For one day, let's step into their shoe), referring to the general assumption that Colombians are not aware of or are indifferent to the problem of land mines in the country. On that day, people all over the country were invited to remángarse (roll up their pant leg) as a symbolic act. As part of the advertising of Remangate, a highly visible and successful video was launched. The short video circulated on TV, radio, and the Internet and featured the participation of famous actors, actresses, models, directors, and wellknown entrepreneurs who invited the community to “roll it up” (remángarse).