DATE=3/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227714
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (S&L) (CQ)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-ISSUING TO ADD, IN FOURTH GRAF OF TEXT, FIRST NAME OF
INTERIOR MINISTER
INTRO: LEFTIST GUERRILLAS IN COLOMBIA SAY THEY HAVE KILLED 80
TROOPS AND CAPTURED 43 IN HEAVY COMBAT IN THE REMOTE JUNGLE IN
THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT YET
RELEASED CASUALTY FIGURES. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT
GEORGE MEEK IN BOGOTA.
TEXT: REBELS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA --
KNOWN AS FARC -- HAVE NOT SAID HOW MANY OF THEIR OWN HAVE BEEN
KILLED IN THE FIGHTING, WHICH BEGAN SUNDAY IN CAQUETA DEPARTMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH
SIDES, BUT IT CANNOT YET GIVE SPECIFIC NUMBERS BECAUSE OF THE
DIFFICULT TERRAIN.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AIRLIFTED REINFORCEMENTS. THE RED CROSS IS
EVACUATING VICTIMS. PRESIDENT ERNESTO SAMPER HAS FLOWN TO THE
AREA TO COORDINATE THE ACTION OF THE ARMED FORCES.
THE ARMY DENIES A REPORT BY A LOCAL MAYOR THAT 34 PEASANTS HAVE
BEEN ACCIDENTALLY KILLED BY AIR FORCE BOMBING DURING THE
CAMPAIGN. THE ARMY CLLS THE REPORT DISINFORMATION FROM THE
GUERRILLAS. THE FIGHTING CONTINUES.
// REST OPTIONAL FOR LONG VERSION //
THE FARC REBELS, COLOMBIA'S OLDEST AND LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP
WITH AN ESTIMATED 10-THOUSAND MEMBERS, ARE TYING TO DISRUPT
CONGRESSIONAL ELCTONS SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY. INTERIOR MINISTER
ALFONSO LOPEZ CABALLERO SAYS VOTING WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY, EVEN IN STRIFE-TORN CAQUETA.
// SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER //
HE SAYS, IN MOST OF CAQUETA THE ARMY AND THE ARMED FORCES WILL
GUARANTEE THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO
EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. HE SAYS, IN ISOLATED AREAS OF
CONFLICT, THEY WILL NOT.
MR. LOPEZ CABALLERO SAYS THE CONFLICT IN CAQUETA IS NOT TAKING
PLACE NEAR THE POPULATED AREAS.
ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL MEDIA REPORTS, THE MILITARY OPERATION
BEGAN SUNDAY WHEN ABOUT 150 TROOPS ADVANCED INTO AN AREA WHERE
THEY HOPED TO CAPTURE REBEL LEADER JORGE BRICENO SUAREZ, KNOWN AS
JOJOY. INSTEAD, THEY WERE SURROUNDED BY 400 GUERRILLAS WITH
AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, BAZOOKAS, AND SOPHISTICATED NIGHT VISION
DEVICES, LEADING TO WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE BLOODIEST
CONFLICT IN RECENT YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/KL
06-Mar-98 9:40 AM EST (1440 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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