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
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