DATE=12/15/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42152
TITLE=YEARENDER: COLOMBIA GUERRILLAS '98
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN 1998 COLOMBIANS ELECTED A PRESIDENT WHO PROMISED
PERSONAL DIPLOMACY TO TRY TO END THREE DECADES OF VIOLENCE BY
LEFTIST GUERRILLAS. HOWEVER, AS CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK REPORTS
FROM OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU, THIS IS PROVING A TOUGH CHALLENGE
FOR PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA.
/// CAMPAIGN SONG FADES UNDER ///
TEXT: WITH THE CAMPAIGN SLOGAN "ANDRES IS CHANGE," MR. PASTRANA
OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY WON THE RUNOFF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN
JUNE. HE BEAT HORACIO SERPA OF THE LIBERAL PARTY BY FOUR
PERCENTAGE POINTS.
IN HIS VICTORY SPEECH, PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA REPEATED HIS
CAMPAIGN PLEDGE TO MEET PERSONALLY WITH LEADERS OF SOME
18-THOUSAND GUERRILLAS WHO CONTROL ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF COLOMBIA'S
TERRITORY.
/// PASTRANA ACT WITH TRANSLATION ///
I AM READY NOW TO START PEACE TALKS WITH THE REBEL GROUPS. I
AM READY TO MEET AT ONCE, AND TO DO THAT I REQUEST THE NECESSARY
GUARANTEES FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
/// END ACT ///
MR. PASTRANA MET WITH LEADERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES
(FARC) AT A SECRET LOCATION IN COLOMBIA IN JULY. HE SAID THE
MEETING SET THE STAGE FOR PEACE TALKS, BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE
DETAILS.
ALSO IN JULY, LEADERS OF COLOMBIA'S SECOND LARGEST REBEL GROUP,
THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, MET IN GERMANY WITH A PRIVATE
COLOMBIAN NATIONAL PEACE COMMITTEE. COMMITTEE MEMBER JAIME
BERNAL READ THE PART OF THE COMMUNIQUE CONTAINING THE REBELS'
PLEDGE TO STOP SOME KIDNAPPINGS.
/// BERNAL ACT WITH TRANSLATION ///
AS OF TODAY THERE WILL BE NO MORE CAPTURE OF PERSONS WHO ARE
UNDER-AGE OR OVER 65, AND IN NO CASE WILL PREGNANT WOMEN BE
DEPRIVED OF THEIR FREEDOM
/// END ACT ///
ANOTHER PEACE COMMITTEE MEMBER, BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SABAS PRETELT,
SAID THERE WAS AGREEMENT ON HOLDING A NATIONAL PEACE CONVENTION
IN COLOMBIA.
/// PRETELT ACT WITH TRANSLATION ///
THE CONVENTION WILL DRAW UP THE BASES FOR A POLITICAL
AGREEMENT ON SOCIAL REFORMS AND CHANGES WITH A VIEW TO
DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE STATE AND SOCIETY.
/// END ACT ///
THE CONVENTION WILL BE HELD SOMETIME IN 1999. TWO MONTHS AFTER
PRESIDENT PASTRANA WAS INAUGURATED IN AUGUST, HE GAVE OFFICIAL
RECOGNITION TO FARC AND ANNOUNCED A PULLBACK OF GOVERNMENT TROOPS
FROM AN AREA LARGER THAN SWITZERLAND, TO ALLOW SPACE FOR PEACE
TALKS.
/// PASTRANA ACT WITH TRANSLATION ///
THIS MEASURE WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR 90 DAYS, IN ORDER TO
FACILITATE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA -- FARC -- THAT CAN LEAD
TO GENUINE AND LASTING PEACE.
/// END ACT ///
IN DECEMBER, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT PRESIDENT PASTRANA
WILL MET WITH FARC LEADER MANUEL MARULANDA IN THE DEMILITARIZED
AREA ON JANUARY SEVENTH TO BEGIN THE DIALOGUE. THE REBELS ARE
DEMANDING THE GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE HUNDREDS OF REBEL PRISONERS FOR
TROOPS CAPTURED BY THE GUERRILLAS. BUT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE
ARE LEGAL PROBLEMS WITH SUCH A SWAP.
ONE FORMER GUERRILLA WHO IS NOW A COLOMBIAN POLITICAL LEADER,
ANTONIO NAVARRO, IS PESSIMISTIC ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM PROSPECTS
FOR PEACE.
/// NAVARRO ACT WITH TRANSLATION ///
I THINK IT'S WISHFUL THINKING. BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE A GREAT
EFFORT BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A SMALL MIRACLE THAT OPENS THE
DOORS TO PEACE, BECAUSE COLOMBIA CANNOT CONTINUE AS IT IS, WITH
PROBLEMS IN ALL AREAS AND SECURITY CONSTANTLY DETERIORATING.
/// END ACT ///
MR. NAVARRO SAYS THE GUERRILLAS HAVE SHOWN BY THEIR INCREASINGLY
DEADLY ATTACKS IN 1998 THAT THEY ARE MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER, BUT
THEY NEED A DIALOGUE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IF THEY ARE TO ACHIEVE
THEIR OBJECTIVES OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC REFORMS. HE
SAYS THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY UNCONTROLLED ANTI-GUERRILLA
PARAMILITARY GROUPS SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
DESPITE PRESIDENT PASTRANA'S BEST INTENTIONS AND THE PRAYERS OF
THE VAST MAJORITY OF COLOMBIANS, IT APPEARS THAT IT WILL BE
DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO HALT THE SLAUGHTER THAT HAS CLAIMED TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND TAKEN A HEAVY TOLL ON THE COUNTRY'S
ECONOMY. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/WDC/GE
15-Dec-98 3:01 PM EST (2001 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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