DATE=6/2/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-233203 TITLE=COLOMBIA ELECTION (L ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=BOGOTA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: LEFTIST GUERRILLAS IN COLOMBIA HAVE RELEASED ELECTION WORKERS KIDNAPPED BEFORE SUNDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND HAVE THREATENED MORE INTIMIDATION BEFORE THE SECOND ROUND ON JUNE 21ST. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN BOGOTA. TEXT: COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, FREED SEVEN POLL WORKERS UNHARMED AFTER FOUR DAYS OF CAPTIVITY IN A MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE REBELS ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT THEY WILL CONSIDER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MILITARY TARGETS BEFORE THE RUN-OFF ELECTION. SPORADIC GUERRILLA VIOLENCE IN SEVERAL PARTS OF COLOMBIA FAILED TO DETER A RECORD TURNOUT OF NEARLY 11 MILLION VOTERS IN SUNDAY'S FIRST ROUND OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. THE WINNERS, WHO WILL FACE EACH OTHER IN THE RUNOFF, ARE HORACIO SERPA OF THE RULING LIBERAL PARTY AND ANDRES PASTRANA OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY. BOTH ARE COURTING THE TWO-POINT-EIGHT MILLION COLOMBIANS WHO VOTED FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE NOEMI SANIN, WHO HAS REFUSED TO ENDORSE EITHER MR. SERPA OR MR. PASTRANA. IN A BID TO WIN INDEPENDENT SUPPORT, MR. PASTRANA HAS PLEDGED THAT ONE MONTH AFTER HE IS ELECTED, HE WILL ASK CONGRESS TO CONVENE A NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON THE POLITICAL REFORMS DEMANDED BY INDEPENDENTS. MR. PASTRANA BELIEVES ALL THOSE WHO VOTED AGAINST MR. SERPA IN THE FIRST ROUND WANT TO SEE AN END TO 12-YEARS OF LIBERAL PARTY RULE. MR. SERPA SAYS THIS IS FALSE REASONING, AND HE BELIEVES MANY OF THE INDEPENDENTS WILL ENDORSE HIM. MR. SERPA IS SEEKING TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT AND SAYS HIS EXPERIENCE AS A PEACE NEGOTIATOR MAKES HIM THE BEST QUALIFIED TO END COLOMBIA'S THREE DECADES OF GUERRILLA VIOLENCE. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/TMD/MMK 02-Jun-98 10:56 AM EDT (1456 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
