DATE=11/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241120
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUES IN SOUTHEASTERN COLOMBIA, WHERE
GOVERNMENT TROOPS ARE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF A REMOTE STATE
CAPITAL FROM LEFTIST GUERRILLAS. THE RED CROSS SAYS AT LEAST 100
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THREE DAYS OF COMBAT. WE HAVE DETAILS
FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: THE GOVERNMENT HAS AIRLIFTED MORE TROOPS TO MITU
[ME-'TOO], THE CAPITAL OF VAUPES [VOW-'PEHS] DEPARTMENT. THE
SMALL JUNGLE TOWN NEAR THE BRAZILIAN BORDER, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE
ONLY BY AIRCRAFT AND BOATS, WAS SEIZED EARLY SUNDAY BY
ONE-THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF
COLOMBIA, OR FARC.
ACCORDING TO THE RED CROSS, FIGHTING HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF AT
LEAST 88 POLICE AND GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS, 10 CIVILIANS AND TWO
REBELS. THE GUERRILLAS CAPTURED ABOUT 45 POLICE WHEN THEY RAN OUT
OF AMMUNITION.
THE RED CROSS SAYS THE REBELS USED HOMEMADE CANISTER BOMBS TO
DESTROY A TWO-BLOCK AREA CONTAINING THE POLICE STATION, OTHER
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, A HOSPITAL, A BANK AND THE TELEPHONE
COMPANY.
BECAUSE OF THE UNUSUALLY HEAVY GOVERNMENT LOSSES IN THE COMBAT,
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA CUT SHORT AN OFFICIAL VISIT
TO VENEZUELA. HE ORDERED SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDERS TO GO TO THE
COMBAT ZONE TO DIRECT AN ALL-OUT EFFORT TO RETAKE MITU.
COLOMBIAN MILITARY AIRCRAFT ARE BEING REFUELED IN BRAZIL.
THE FARC REBELS -- WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE GOVERNMENT FOR
THREE DECADES -- ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN PEACE TALKS DURING A
THREE-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING SATURDAY. GOVERNMENT PEACE
COMMISSIONER VICTOR RICARDO SAYS THE COUNTRY NEEDS GESTURES OF
PEACE, NOT ACTS OF WAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/WTW
03-Nov-98 4:50 PM EST (2150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
