DATE=3/4/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227631 TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: COLOMBIA'S ARMY FEARS HEAVY LOSSES FROM AN ATTACK BY LEFTIST GUERRILLAS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES. IT MAY BE ONE OF THE BLOODIEST IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU SAYS THERE ARE CONFLICTING REPORTS ON THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES. TEXT: COLOMBIAN DEFENSE MINISTER GILBERTO ECHEVERRI SAYS NINE SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN THE FIGHTING, BUT A REBEL COMMUNICATION INTERCEPTED BY RADIO STATIONS TELLS OF KILLING MORE THAN 50 TROOPS AND CAPTURING 35. AN ARMY UNIT OF 120 TROOPS HAS BEEN FIGHTING A REBEL ATTACK SINCE SUNDAY IN THE REMOTE JUNGLE OF CAQUETA DEPARTMENT, NEARLY 400 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BOGOTA. THE ARMY LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE UNIT ON TUESDAY. THE COMMANDER OF THE ARMED FORCES, GENERAL MANUEL JOSE BONNETT, SAYS HE IS WORRIED ABOUT THE FATE OF THE TROOPS BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY. THE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE HAVE FLOWN TO THE REGION TO COORDINATE AIRLIFTING OF REINFORCEMENTS. GENERAL BONNETT SAYS STEPPED-UP ACTIVITY BY THE GUERRILLAS WAS EXPECTED AS PART OF THEIR EFFORTS TO DISRUPT THE ELECTION THIS SUNDAY OF 102 SENATORS AND 165 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS MOBILIZED 250-THOUSAND SECURITY FORCES TO ENSURE THE VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE. SOUTHERN COLOMBIA WAS TEMPORARILY DEMILITARIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT LAST JUNE TO PERMIT FARC REBELS TO FREE 70 CAPTURED TROOPS. IN DECEMBER THE GUERRILLAS KILLED 10 SOLDIERS AND CAPTURED 18, WHO REMAIN IN CUSTODY. THE FARC IS COLOMBIA'S OLDEST AND LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP, ABOUT 10-THOUSAND STRONG. LAST WEEK IT ANNOUNCED PLANS TO LAUNCH A CLANDESTINE POLITICAL MOVEMENT CALLED THE BOLIVARIAN MOVEMENT FOR A NEW COLOMBIA. THE REBELS HAVE REFUSED TO ENTER INTO PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER, WHO WILL BE IN OFFICE UNTIL AUGUST. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/WDC/PT 04-Mar-98 5:48 PM EST (2248 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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