DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245652
TITLE=COLOMBIA VIOLENCE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: VIOLENCE IN COLOMBIA CAUSED MORE THAN 300-THOUSAND PEOPLE
TO FLEE THEIR COMMUNITIES LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO A NEW OFFICIAL
REPORT. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU
HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: PUBLIC DEFENDER JOSE FERNANDO CASTRO SAYS 308-THOUSAND
COLOMBIANS WERE DISPLACED IN 1998 BY VIOLENCE, AND THE FIGURE HAS
BEEN RISING ALARMINGLY. HE SAYS THAT NUMBER REPRESENTS ABOUT
ONE-FIFTH OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS DISPLACED IN THE PAST 14
YEARS.
THE REPORT, ISSUED IN COOPERATION WITH THE PRIVATE "HUMAN RIGHTS
AND REFUGE OFFICE", SAYS THE COLOMBIANS FLEE BECAUSE OF
ASSASSINATIONS BY RIGHTIST PARAMILITARY GROUPS, LEFTIST
GUERRILLAS, AND GOVERNMENT TROOPS.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF MASSACRES DECLINED
SLIGHTLY LAST YEAR DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE SYSTEM OF COUNTING.
THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF ONE MASSACRE EVERY OTHER DAY, AND THE
TOTAL NUMBER OF PERSONS KILLED WAS MORE THAN 12-HUNDRED.
THE REPORT SAYS PARAMILITARY GROUPS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY
HALF THE SLAYINGS, WHILE GUERRILLAS ACCOUNTED FOR LESS THAN
ONE-IN-FOUR. THE REST WERE ATTRIBUTED TO GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND
ARMED CRIMINAL GANGS.
COLOMBIAN VICE-PRESIDENT GUSTAVO BELL SAYS THE GOVERNMENT WILL
SEEK ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE BEEN THREATENED. SOME HUMAN
RIGHTS OFFICES HAVE CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE ESCALATING VIOLENCE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/GM/ENE/PT
17-Feb-99 3:52 PM EST (2052 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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