DATE=9/29/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239459
TITLE=COLOMBIA KIDNAP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: COLOMBIA SAYS THE COUNTRY'S TWO MAJOR GUERRILLA GROUPS
HAVE KIDNAPPED A TOTAL OF 95 CIVILIANS, DESPITE A DENIAL BY ONE
GROUP THAT IT IS HOLDING ANY PRIVATE CITIZENS. WE HAVE DETAILS
FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: COLOMBIA'S LARGEST REBEL GROUP, THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED
FORCES (KNOWN AS FARC), RELEASED A LIST ON SATURDAY OF 245
CAPTURED TROOPS AND POLICE THAT IT PROPOSES TO SWAP FOR JAILED
REBELS. ON SUNDAY A LEADER OF THE GROUP SAID IT IS NOT HOLDING
ANY CIVILIANS AT ALL.
THIS IS NOT TRUE, SAYS THE HEAD OF COLOMBIA'S ANTI-KIDNAP OFFICE,
RUBEN DARIO RAMIREZ. HE SAYS FARC HAS 45 CIVILIAN HOSTAGES,
INCLUDING ONE CANADIAN, ONE GERMAN, AND POSSIBLY ONE JAPANESE
CITIZEN. MR. DARIO SAYS COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST GUERRILLA
GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, HAS 50 CIVILIAN HOSTAGES,
AND THERE ARE ABOUT 90 OTHERS HELD BY SPLINTER REBEL GROUPS AND
CRIMINAL GANGS.
ACCORDING TO COLOMBIA'S ARMED FORCES, THE LIST OF 245 CAPTURED
TROOPS AND POLICE IS INCOMPLETE, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE MANY
WHO WERE KIDNAPPED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES AT REBEL ROADBLOCKS WHILE
GOING TO VISIT THEIR FAMILIES.
COLOMBIA'S NEW PRESIDENT, ANDRES PASTRANA, HAS PLEDGED TO LEAD
TALKS WITH REBELS TO END THREE DECADES OF VIOLENCE. A SPECIAL
ENVOY HAS BEEN NAMED TO MEET WITH FARC LEADERS TO MAKE
ARRANGEMENTS FOR A PULLBACK OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS FROM FIVE AREAS
IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY SO THE TALKS CAN
BEGIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/WDC/PLM
29-Sep-98 5:36 PM EDT (2136 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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