STOCKS & SHARES 13

It became increasingly clear a sinister element had begun to publicly emerge. Up to now, these brigands had almost a Robin Hood status, robbing the banks, the institutions, who were no friends of the populous, and for whom there was no sympathy but that from the establishment itself. But when the beatings, the tortures, and the murders began, it was plain to see that the forces at work were taking on the characteristics and behaviour of the Mafia.

A somewhat dubious ‘loyalty’ ethos was at work - if you betrayed the system, harsh punishment would fall upon you, from ‘fit-up’s to beatings, to personal disaster and ultimately death as a final punishment and supreme deterrent to others who would otherwise weaken in their resolve. If you remained loyal despite the threats and promises from the authorities, then you would be ‘one of us’ - protected, apparently invulnerable, and the system had the resources and the contacts to enforce either option.