DATE=7/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235518
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN COLOMBIA ARE WELCOMING DECISIONS
BY LEFTIST GUERRILLAS TO RESPECT HUMANITARIAN GUIDELINES AND
BEGIN A PEACE DIALOGUE. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT
GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS IN COLOMBIA ARE
PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF FOUR DAYS OF TALKS BETWEEN A PRIVATE
NATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE AND THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY --
COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST REBEL GROUP. THE TALKS TOOK PLACE IN
MAINZ, GERMANY, HOSTED BY THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCES
OF GERMANY AND COLOMBIA.
PEACE COMMITTEE MEMBER JAIME BERNAL CUELLAR, WHO IS COLOMBIA'S
ATTORNEY-GENERAL, READ THE PART OF THE COMMUNIQUE DEALING WITH
HUMANITARIAN MEASURES.
// SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER //
HE SAYS, AS OF TODAY, THERE WILL BE NO MORE CAPTURE OF PERSONS
WHO ARE UNDER-AGE OR OVER 65, AND IN NO CASE WILL PREGNANT WOMEN
BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR FREEDOM.
THE REBELS SAID THEY WOULD STOP SEIZING HOSTAGES ENTIRELY IF THEY
CAN GET ENOUGH MONEY FROM OTHER SOURCES. THEY PROMISED TO STOP
BLOWING UP COLOMBIA'S OIL PIPELINE WHILE A NATIONAL CONFERENCE
DISCUSSES NEW LEGISLATION TO RESTRICT FOREIGN PARTICIPATION IN
THE PETROLEUM SECTOR.
THE HEAD OF COLOMBIA'S BUSINESS FEDERATION, SABAS PRETELT, READ
THE PART OF THE MAINZ COMMUNIQUE CALLING FOR A NATIONAL PEACE
CONVENTION ON DEMILITARIZED TERRITORY IN COLOMBIA.
// SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER //
HE SAYS THE CONVENTION WILL DRAW UP THE BASIS FOR A POLITICAL
AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL REFORMS AND CHANGES WITH A VIEW TO THE
DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE STATE AND THE SOCIETY.
A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED TO ORGANIZE THE CONVENTION, WHICH IS
TO BE HELD BEFORE OCTOBER 12TH OF THIS YEAR.
// OPT // COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ELECT ANDRES PASTRANA HAS ALREADY
MET WITH LEADERS OF THE LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE REVOLUTIONARY
ARMED FORCES. HE SAYS PEACE TALKS WITH THEM WILL BEGIN WITHIN
THREE MONTHS AFTER HE TAKES OFFICE ON AUGUST SEVENTH. // END OPT
///
COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS, BELIEVED TO NUMBER AT LEAST 15-THOUSAND,
HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES TO PROMOTE SOCIAL
CHANGE. THEY CONTROL ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE NATIONAL TERRITORY.
THE VIOLENCE HAS CLAIMED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/JO
15-Jul-98 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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