DATE=1/25/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244665
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: LEFTIST GUERRILLAS IN COLOMBIA HAVE ANNOUNCED A
THREE-MONTH LULL IN PEACE TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE
DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH
AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA -- FARC -- SAY
THE DIALOGUE BEGUN JANUARY SEVENTH WILL NOT BE RESUMED UNTIL
APRIL. THE REBELS SAY THE LULL WILL GIVE PRESIDENT ANDRES
PASTRANA TIME TO SHOW COLOMBIA AND THE WORLD SOME CONCRETE
PROGRESS IN COMBATTING ANTI-GUERRILLA PARAMILITARY DEATH SQUADS.
ON SUNDAY FARC GAVE GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS A LIST OF MILITARY
PERSONNEL AND LAWMAKERS WHO ALLEGEDLY SUPPORT THE PARAMILITARY
GROUPS. ONE NAME ON THE LIST IS THE HEAD OF PRESIDENT PASTRANA'S
SECURITY DETAIL, POLICE MAJOR ROYNE CHAVEZ. THE REBELS SAY THEY
WILL GIVE THE GOVERNMENT A SECOND SUCH LIST ON APRIL 20TH, AND
RESUME TALKS ON APRIL 25TH.
THIS WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTENSION OF THE 90-DAY PERIOD DURING WHICH
TROOPS WERE WITHDRAWN FROM A LARGE PART OF COLOMBIA IN ORDER TO
PERMIT A DIALOGUE WITH THE REBELS. THE INITIAL PERIOD EXPIRES ON
FEBRUARY SEVENTH.
EARLIER THIS MONTH PRESIDENT PASTRANA SAID HE WOULD MEET
SEPARATELY WITH PARAMILITARY LEADERS. OPPOSITION LEADER HORACIO
SERPA, WHOM MR. PASTRANA DEFEATED IN LAST YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION, SAYS THIS WAS A MISTAKE. MR. SERPA SAYS MR. PASTRANA
APPEARED TO BE REWARDING THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF THE
PARAMILITARY GROUPS, AND THIS LED FARC TO HALT NEGOTIATIONS. THE
GOVERNMENT DENIES SUPPORT FOR THE PARAMILITARY GROUPS.
COLOMBIA HAS SUFFERED FROM VIOLENCE FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES.
THIRTY-FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST TEN
YEARS. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/ENE/PT
25-Jan-99 3:44 PM EST (2044 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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