DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236937
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBEL THREAT (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS TELL V-O-A THEY HAVE DETECTED THE
FIRST MAJOR REBEL MOVEMENTS IN THE COUNTRY SINCE PRESIDENT ANDRES
PASTRANA'S INAUGURATION LAST FRIDAY. THE DIRECTOR OF COLOMBIA'S
ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICE, COLONEL LEONARDO GALLEGO, SAYS GUERRILLAS
APPEAR TO BE TARGETING ONE OF THE BASES UNDER HIS COMMAND. THE
COLONEL SAYS HE IS ANALYZING AND RESPONDING TO THE THREAT WITH
ADVICE AND INPUT FROM U-S AGENTS WHO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL SUPPORT
TO COLOMBIA'S DRUG FIGHTING UNITS. V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN
REPORTS FROM BOGOTA.
TEXT: COLONEL GALLEGO SAYS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS INDICATE ABOUT
FIVE HUNDRED GUERRILLAS ARE THREATENING AN ANTI-NARCOTICS BASE IN
SOUTHERN PUTUMAYO DEPARTMENT, WHICH BORDERS NEIGHBORING ECUADOR.
HE SAYS THE BASE, IN THE TOWN OF VILLAGARCON, HAS BEEN PLACED ON
ALERT -- AND ADDITIONAL SECURITY FORCES HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO
THE AREA.
//GALLEGO ACT IN SPANISH, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER TEXT//
COLONEL GALLEGO SAYS REINFORCEMENTS AND SUPPLIES HAVE BEEN SENT,
AND SECURITY MEASURES ARE BEING COORDINATED WITH OTHER POLICE AND
MILITARY OUTPOSTS IN THE REGION. THE ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICE
DIRECTOR SAYS THE GOAL IS TO DETER ANY ATTACK BY THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC), WHICH IS THE
COUNTRY'S LARGEST INSURGENT GROUP. THIS GROUP DOMINATES MAJOR
PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN COLOMBIA.
LAST WEEK, AT LEAST 600 REBELS STORMED AND DEMOLISHED ANOTHER
ANTI-NARCOTICS BASE EAST OF VILLAGARCON, IN THE VILLAGE OF
MIRAFLORES. ALL PERSONNEL AT THE BASE WERE EITHER KILLED OR
CAPTURED.
COLONEL GALLEGO SAYS, DESPITE A LULL IN GUERRILLA ACTIVITY SINCE
PRESIDENT PASTRAMA'S SWEARING-IN, THE REBEL MOVEMENTS IN PUTUMAYO
DEPARTMENT DO NOT COME AS A SURPRISE.
//GALLEGO IN SPANISH, ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER TEXT//
THE COLONEL SAYS PREVIOUS INTELLIGENCE REPORTS ALSO INDICATED A
RISK OF ATTACK, AND THAT APPROPRIATE SECURITY MEASURES HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN IN THE PAST. AN ALLIANCE IS WIDELY REPORTED TO
EXIST BETWEEN SOME GUERRILLA UNITS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS.
SOUTHERN COLOMBIA IS PRIME TERRITORY FOR GROWING COCA LEAF, THE
RAW MATERIAL USED TO MAKE COCAINE. THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED
FORCES OF COLOMBIA IS BELIEVED TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR ILLEGAL
NARCOTICS OPERATIONS, WHILE EXACTING TRIBUTES FROM PEASANTS WHO
RAISE COCA CROPS.
OBSERVERS IN COLOMBIA NOTE A MAJOR REBEL ATTACK WOULD PUT AN END
TO ANY "HONEYMOON PERIOD" THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE EXIST BETWEEN
PRESIDENT POSTRANA AND THE REBELS. THE COLOMBIAN LEADER HAS
PROMISED TO AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE NEGOTIATIONS TO END HIS COUNTRY'S
CIVIL WAR. REBEL GROUPS HAVE INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE
IN A PEACE DIALOGUE, BUT HAVE REFUSED TO STOP HOSTILITIES UNTIL A
COMPREHENSIVE ACCORD IS FINALIZED. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/CB-T/PLM
12-Aug-98 1:50 AM EDT (0550 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
