DATE=8/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236804
TITLE=COLOMBIA MILITARY PURGE (S &L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: JUST TWO DAYS AFTER HIS INAUGURATION, COLOMBIA'S NEW
PRESIDENT, ANDRES PASTRANA, HAS REPLACED VIRTUALLY EVERY MEMBER
OF HIS COUNTRY'S TOP MILITARY LEADERSHIP. V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN
REPORTS FROM BOGOTA, THE SWEEPING CHANGES COME LESS THAN A WEEK
AFTER LEFTIST GUERRILLAS MOUNTED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE THAT LEFT MORE
THAN 200 PEOPLE DIED.
TEXT: COLOMBIA'S NEW DEFENSE MINISTER, RODRIGO LLOREDA,
ANNOUNCED THE MILITARY PURGE LATE SUNDAY. THE NEW COMMANDER OF
COLOMBIA'S MILITARY FORCES WILL BE GENERAL GERNANDO TAPIAS, WHO
HAD BEEN SECOND IN COMMAND TO THE MAN HE REPLACES, GENERAL MANUEL
JOSE BONNET.
COLOMBIA ALSO HAS A NEW CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF (GENERAL
RAFAEL HERNANDEZ), AND NEW COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY (GENERAL JORGE
ENRIQUE MORA), NAVY (ADMIRAL SERGIO GARCIA) AND AIR FORCE
(GENERAL JOSE MARIA SANDOVAL).
THE ONLY SECURITY FORCE LEADER WHO WILL REMAIN AT HIS POST IS
NATIONAL POLICE COMMANDER ROSSO JOSE SERRANO, WHO HAS LED
COLOMBIA'S ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORTS AND IS HIGHLY REGARDED BOTH IN
BOGOTA AND IN WASHINGTON.
// REST OPT FOR LONG //
OBSERVERS IN BOGOTA SAY THE MILITARY IS STILL REELING FROM LAST
WEEK'S ATTACKS BY COLOMBIA'S TWO MAIN REBEL GROUPS IN MOST OF THE
COUNTRY'S 32 DEPARTMENTS. FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD SATURDAY
AND SUNDAY FOR MANY FALLEN SOLDIERS.
LAST MONTH, WHEN HE WAS COLOMBIA'S PRESIDENT-ELECT, ANDRES
PASTRANA MET WITH LEADERS OF THE LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC). MR. PASTRANA HAS
PLEDGED TO PURSUE EVERY AVENUE TOWARD WHAT HE CALLS THE PROMISED
LAND: A NATION FREE OF GUERRILLA WARFARE. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB-FAX/TM/MMK
09-Aug-98 10:47 PM EDT (0247 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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