Author: Frederick FAUX Publisher:Autrement                                                                                                                                                                                       Published: 02/01/2006

Belong to a mara has become common in Central America. They were born in Los Angeles in the 19th century. Today, the maras are a threat to the American continent. Frederick Faux, journalist at ‘Le Figaro’, explores this new form of violence, considered as a ”social cancer” which distroy the foundations and values ​​of the countries. The gangs live racketeering, drug trafficking and crimes. But, the differencies with ”usual” crime is their target. In fact, gangs fight against the bands of the surrounding neighborhoods. Only the control of the territory and the search for identity justify such barbarity. The most active representatives gangs are the mara 18 and the MS 13.  They are everywhere en El Salvador. “The pandillero not looking for money but advertising (…) They glorify death, kill for fun” says a minister of Honduras. 

The author puts into relief  a form of violence unknown in France but whose some members are in Barcelona. Terrible consequence of poverty in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. The maras are killing more each year, despite the laws, sometimes quite radical, taken by the politicians. Frederick Faux writes an exciting book and shows a problem that the French media don’t talk.