DATE=4/7/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-229349 TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: COLOMBIA SAYS THE DEATH OF A LEFTIST GUERRILLA LEADER ENDS A CHAPTER IN THE COUNTRY'S LONG AND BLOODY ARMED CONFLICT. THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY REVEALED ON MONDAY THAT ITS LEADER, MANUEL PEREZ, DIED ON FEBRUARY 14TH OF HEPATITIS. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU. TEXT: MANUEL PEREZ -- A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST FROM SPAIN -- LED COLOMBIA'S SECOND-LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP FROM 1973 UNTIL HIS DEATH AT THE AGE OF 54. THE PRO-CASTRO GROUP, WHICH NOW HAS THREE TO FOUR THOUSAND MEMBERS, REPEATEDLY ATTACKS COLOMBIA'S OIL PIPELINE TO PROTEST FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE AREA. THE GOVERNMENT SAID IN A BRIEF STATEMENT THAT IT HOPES THE MEMORY OF THE DECEASED GUERRILLA LEADER WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OPENING A NEW DIALOGUE THAT WILL LEAD TO RECONCILIATION FOR ALL COLOMBIANS. FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE DEATH OF FATHER PEREZ IN FEBRUARY, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY AND THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT SIGNED A SECRET PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT IN MADRID TO BEGIN TALKS IN JUNE ON HOLDING A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REBEL DEMANDS. WHEN THE STORY LEAKED TO THE MEDIA, THE REBELS SUSPENDED THE ACCORD, SAYING THE GOVERNMENT WAS USING IT FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES WITH AN EYE TO THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS AT THE END OF MAY. THE GOVERNMENT'S STATEMENT ON FATHER PEREZ'S DEATH SAYS THE SPIRIT THAT INSPIRED THE PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT IN MADRID REFLECTS HIS LAST WISH FOR PEACE. TERRORISM EXPERTS SAY THE NEW LEADER OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, NICOLAS RODRIGUEZ, MAY BE LESS CONCILIATORY. THE REBELS KIDNAPPED 11 JOURNALISTS LAST FRIDAY SO THEY COULD COVER MR. RODRIGUEZ'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF FATHER PEREZ. THE JOURNALISTS WERE THEN RELEASED UNHARMED. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/TMD/PLM 07-Apr-98 7:47 PM EDT (2347 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
