DATE=4/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229497
TITLE=COLOMBIA - PENTAGON (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER SAYS THE
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS LOSING THE WAR AGAINST VARIOUS MARXIST
INSURGENCIES. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE ARTICLE IS BASED ON A
SECRET U-S INTELLIGENCE REPORT. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS THE
PENTAGON WOULD NOT CONFIRM THAT REPORT, BUT ONE OFFICIAL WITH
LATIN AMERICAN RESPONSIBILITIES SAYS THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS
NOT IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.
TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BILL DARLEY, SAYS
THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT FACES WHAT HE CALLS THE "BEST FINANCED
TERRORIST GROUPS IN THE WORLD" WITH A SMALL, UNDER-TRAINED AND
UNDER-EQUIPPED ARMY, MADE UP MOSTLY OF CONSCRIPTS.
BUT COLONEL DARLEY SAYS THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THE
COLOMBIAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S SURVIVAL IS AT RISK.
/// LT COL BILL DARLEY ACT ///
THEY'VE BEEN A VERY RESILIENT GOVERNMENT, THEY'VE BEEN
FIGHTING THIS INSURGENCY UP AND DOWN FOR THE LAST 50
YEARS. WE HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE.
/// END ACT ///
COLONEL DARLEY SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE REBELS ARE WITH THE
"REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA, KNOWN BY THEIR SPANISH
INITIALS, AS "FARC." HE SAYS THIS MARXIST GROUP HAS RURAL,
PEASANT, MAOIST ROOTS, BUT NOW SPENDS MUCH OF ITS TIME AND EFFORT
PROTECTING DRUG OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN COLOMBIA. HE SAYS FARC
GAINS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DRUG-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND BY
EXTORTION, KIDNAPPING AND OTHER SCHEMES.
HE SAYS REPORTS THAT THE REBEL MOVEMENTS HAVE GROWN RECENTLY TO A
FORCE OF ABOUT 20 THOUSAND FIGHTERS SOUND "ABOUT RIGHT."
COLONEL DARLEY SAYS COLOMBIA'S ARMY FACES TOUGH OPPONENTS.
/// DARLEY ACT ///
(THEY ARE A) HARDENED GROUP THAT HAS BEEN LIVING IN,
THAT KNOW THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA WHERE THEY WORK, AND
WHERE THEY FIGHT, VERY WELL. THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A
VERY LONG TIME, AND ARE EXTREMELY WELL-ARMED.
/// END ACT ///
COLONEL DARLEY SAYS REPORTS THAT THE REBELS HAVE SURFACE TO AIR
MISSILES AND OTHER SOPHISTICATED HARDWARE ARE NO SURPRISE, BUT
HE SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE HARD EVIDENCE THAT ANY PARTICULAR
GROUP HAS ANY PARTICULAR TYPE OF WEAPON.
HE SAYS COLOMBIA'S ARMY HAS ABOUT 120-THOUSAND TROOPS TO PROTECT
A VERY LARGE COUNTRY. HE SAYS MOST ARE DRAFTEES WHO SERVE FOR
ONE YEAR. COLONEL DARLEY SAYS ABOUT 20-THOUSAND ARE EXPERIENCED
TROOPS WHO FORM THE CORE OF UNITS THAT GO OUT TO CONFRONT THE
GUERRILLAS IN THE FIELD.
PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY COLOMBIA'S PROBLEMS ARE SPARKING DEBATE
WITHIN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE CONGRESS AND THE PENTAGON.
OFFICIALS WANT TO HELP THE ARMY FIGHT THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS, BUT
ARE CONCERNED THAT WEAPONS AND TRAINING MIGHT BE MISUSED BY THE
COLOMBIAN ARMY, WHICH HAS A POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. (SIGNED).
10-Apr-98 12:54 PM EDT (1654 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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