DATE=12/2/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-223551 TITLE=COLOMBIA PARAMILITARY (L-ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAVE KILLED SEVEN MORE CIVILIANS IN THEIR PURSUIT OF SUSPECTED SYMPATHIZERS WITH LEFTIST GUERRILLAS. SOUTH AMERICA CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED TO CRACK DOWN ON THE SO-CALLED SELF-DEFENSE GROUPS. TEXT: HEAVILY ARMED MEN WEARING MILITARY UNIFORMS RAIDED A VILLAGE IN THE NORTHWESTERN DEPARTMENT OF CESAR, PULLED VICTIMS FROM THEIR HOUSES, LINED THEM UP AGAINST A WALL, AND SHOT THEM. IT WAS A SCENE THAT HAS BEEN REPEATED OVER AND OVER. PARAMILITARY GROUPS CALLED UNITED SELF-DEFENSE FORCES HAVE KILLED NEARLY 200 PEOPLE IN MASSACRES IN COLOMBIA SO FAR THIS YEAR -- NOT COUNTING INDIVIDUAL ASSASSINATIONS. ON MONDAY, THE GOVERNMENT OFFERED REWARDS OF UP TO 770-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE CAPTURE OF THE PARAMILITARY LEADERS, INCLUDING CARLOS CASTANO. PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER SAID IN A TELEVISED STATEMENT MONDAY NIGHT THAT HIS GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE NO QUARTER IN FIGHTING WHAT HE CALLED GROUPS OF DEMENTED KILLERS. HE PROMISED TO CHASE THEM -- IN HIS WORDS -- ALL THE WAY TO HELL, IF NECESSARY. PRESIDENT SAMPER SAID THE GROUPS SHOULD NOT BE CALLED PARAMILITARY, BECAUSE THEY ARE PRIVATE JUSTICE GROUPS TAKING REPRISALS AGAINST INNOCENT AND UNARMED PEOPLE. HE SAID THE GROUPS ARE TRYING TO SETTLE SUPPOSED SCORES WITH GUERRILLAS WHOM THEY NEVER CONFRONT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO DIRECT BATTLES BETWEEN THE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES AND COLOMBIA'S LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES, OR FARC. HOWEVER, THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS HAVE OCCUPIED TERRITORY ABANDONED BY THE FARC IN RECENT MONTHS. PRESIDENT SAMPER SAID A SPECIAL TASK FORCE LIKE THE ONE THAT CAPTURED NOTORIOUS DRUG TRAFFICKERS WILL TRACK DOWN THE PARAMILITARY LEADERS. HE SAID NO PUBLIC OFFICIAL CAN HAVE ANY CONTACT WHATSOEVER WITH THE GROUPS. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/ MMK 02-Dec-97 3:48 PM EST (2048 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America
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