DATE=8/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236508
TITLE=COLOMBIA PEACE SETBACK (L-O)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HOPES FOR PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE IN COLOMBIA HAVE SUFFERED
A DOUBLE-BLOW DURING THE PAST TWO DAYS. LATE MONDAY AND EARLY
TUESDAY, LEFTIST REBELS MOUNTED A SERIES OF ATTACKS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, LEAVING AT LEAST 20 PEOPLE DEAD. V-O-A'S MICHAEL
BOWMAN REPORTS FROM OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU GUERRILLAS EARLIER
CANCELED A MEETING WITH COLOMBIA'S PEACE COUNCIL.
TEXT: COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS ARE DESCRIBING THE OVERNIGHT ATTACKS
AS A FAREWELL MESSAGE BY REBELS TO OUTGOING PRESIDENT ERNESTO
SAMPER, WHO FRIDAY HANDS OVER THE REIGNS OF POWER TO HIS
SUCCESSOR, ANDRES PASTRANA.
COLOMBIA'S LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF
COLOMBIA (FARC), SET OFF CAR BOMBS AND ATTACKED POLICE STATIONS
IN THE NORTHEASTERN CITY CUCUTA, NEAR THE BORDER WITH VENEZUELA.
OTHER ATTACKS -- SOME CARRIED OUT BY THE NUMBER-TWO GUERRILLA
ORGANIZATION, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY (E-L-N) -- WERE
REPORTED IN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, INCLUDING MEDELLIN, THE NEARBY
TOWN OF ENVIGADO, AND THE PORT CITY OF BUENAVENTURA.
MONDAY WAS SUPPOSED TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER ROUND OF
PEACE TALKS BETWEEN THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY AND THE NATIONAL
PEACE COUNCIL. BUT THE REBELS CANCELED THE ENCOUNTER AND ISSUED
A STATEMENT EXPRESSING GRAVE CONCERN REGARDING CONSULTATIONS
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS.
THE GUERRILLAS SAY THEY FEAR THE DISCUSSIONS WILL LEAD TO FORMAL
POLITICAL RECOGNITION OF THE PARAMILITARIES, WHO ARE ARCH-ENEMIES
OF THE REBELS.
// BEGIN OPT // THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY ALSO KIDNAPPED A
SENATOR AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA'S LOWER HOUSE OF
CONGRESS, CARLOS ESPINOSA. THE GUERRILLAS HAVE ISSUED A LIST OF
DEMANDS FOR MR. ESPINOSA'S RELEASE. THEY INCLUDE GOVERNMENT
ASSISTANCE FOR THOUSANDS OF COLOMBIANS DISPLACED BY VIOLENCE AND
UNREST IN THE COUNTRY. // END OPT //
THE REBEL ATTACKS AND THE SUSPENSION OF PEACE TALKS FOLLOW MORE
THAN A MONTH OF POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE INCOMING
PRESIDENT, THE PEACE COUNCIL, BOTH MAJOR REBEL GROUPS, AND
COLOMBIA'S PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
COLOMBIAN ARMY COMMANDER MARIO HUGO GALAN SAYS THE GUERRILLAS --
BY THEIR OWN ACTIONS -- SHOW THAT THEY SEEK POLITICAL AND
TACTICAL ADVANTAGES RATHER THAN PEACE. BUT COLOMBIA'S OUTGOING
DEFENSE MINISTER (GILBERTO ECHEVERRI MEJIA) CONTINUES TO EXPRESS
OPTIMISM REGARDING THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THE COUNTRY'S PEACE
PROCESS, SAYING THE GUERRILLAS CANNOT DEFEAT DEMOCRACY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/RAE
04-Aug-98 1:51 PM EDT (1751 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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