DATE=10/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240399
TITLE=COLOMBIA BLAST (L)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN OIL PIPELINE EXPLOSION IN COLOMBIA HAS KILLED AT LEAST
45 PEOPLE AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDED 70. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK
REPORTS LEFTIST GUERRILLAS ARE BELIEVED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
BLAST.
TEXT: A PRE-DAWN EXPLOSION SUNDAY IN AN OIL PIPELINE IN THE
NORTHWESTERN DEPARTMENT OF ANTIOQUIA SENT A WALL OF FLAME DOWN
THE POCUNE [POH-COO-NAY'] RIVER, DESTROYING A SMALL VILLAGE.
THE EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN BRITISH PETROLEUM'S CENTRAL OIL
PIPELINE, KNOWN AS OCENSA [OH-SEN'-SA], WHICH HAS BEEN PUMPING AT
LEAST 350-THOUSAND BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL PER DAY SINCE LAST YEAR.
NO GROUP HAS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLAST, BUT POLICE
BELIEVE IT WAS THE WORK OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, WHICH
HAS BLOWN UP COLOMBIAN OIL PIPELINES 60-TIMES THIS YEAR TO
PROTEST FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY.
DEFENSE MINISTER RODRIGO LLOREDA SAYS IF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION
ARMY IS INDEED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARNAGE, IT OWES AN
EXPLANATION TO THE COUNTRY. HE SAYS THE TERRORISTS HAD
APPARENTLY MISCALCULATED THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BLAST.
THE REBEL GROUP, WHICH IS THE SECOND LARGEST IN COLOMBIA, HAS
AGREED TO TAKE PART IN A NATIONAL CONVENTION NEXT YEAR TO DISCUSS
THE CAUSES OF THE ARMED CONFLICT AND PROPOSE SOLUTIONS.
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA -- IN PORTUGAL FOR THE
IBERO-AMERICAN SUMMIT -- EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS OF
THE BLAST. HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY WANT GESTURES OF PEACE FROM THE REBELS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/TMD/RAE
19-Oct-98 8:56 AM EDT (1256 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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