DATE=3/12/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-228058 TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: COLOMBIA IS FORMING A SPECIAL MILITARY TASK FORCE TO PURSUE GUERRILLAS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES IN THE SOUTHERN DEPARTMENT OF CAQUETA (KAH-KAY-TAH'), WHERE GOVERNMENT TROOPS SUFFERED A SERIOUS REVERSE LAST WEEK. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU. TEXT: COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER SAYS THE FIVE-THOUSAND MEMBER TASK FORCE, DRAWN FROM ALL OF THE ARMED SERVICES, IS CHARGED WITH BRINGING AVAILABLE POWER TO BEAR AGAINST THE GUERRILLAS, PARAMILITARY DEATH SQUADS, AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE REGION. HOWEVER, PRESIDENT SAMPER SAYS THE TROOPS HAVE BEEN URGED TO USE CAUTION IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO RESCUE THE 43 SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY THE REBELS IN LAST WEEK'S FIGHTING. HE APPEALED TO THE REBELS TO GIVE EVIDENCE THAT THE SOLDIERS ARE ALIVE, AND TO RELEASE THEM UNHARMED. THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT GIVEN UP HOPE FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE DECADES-OLD GUERRILLA CONFLICT. HE SAYS HE PREFERS THAT THE ISSUES BE RESOLVED IN A NATIONAL CONVENTION OR ASSEMBLY, AS THE REBELS HAVE PROPOSED, RATHER THAN IN COMBAT. MR. SAMPER ADMITTED LAST WEEK THAT THE CLASH IN THE REMOTE JUNGLE ALONG THE CAGUAN RIVER WAS A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE ARMED FORCES. THE FARC GUERRILLAS KILLED 63 SOLDIERS AND THE ARMY KILLED AT LEAST 40 REBELS, WHOSE BODIES WERE FOUND IN COMMON GRAVES. SOME OF THE ARMY DEAD HAVE NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED, PENDING TESTS OF THEIR D-N-A. THE HEAVY GOVERNMENT LOSSES IN THE FIGHTING HAVE LED TO CRITICISM OF THE MILITARY STRATEGY FOLLOWED IN PURSUING THE REBELS. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS NEGLIGENCE. THE NEW JOINT TASK FORCE IS TO BE UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL RAFAEL HERNANDEZ, THE INSPECTOR OF THE ARMED FORCES. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/WDC/PT 12-Mar-98 5:38 PM EST (2238 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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