DATE=4/20/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248378
TITLE=COLOMBIA/PEACE TALKS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
IN COLOMBIA, GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS HAVE RESUMED PRELIMINARY
PEACE TALKS WITH THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST REBEL GROUP -- THE
REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA, BETTER KNOWN AS THE FARC.
BUT DESPITE MAJOR CONCESSIONS BY GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE
DEMILITARIZATION OF A HUGE REGION IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE REBELS
HAVE BARELY BUDGED. THE GOVERNMENT WARNS THAT IF THERE IS NO
SERIOUS PROGRESS THIS WEEK, THE PRESIDENT MAY SCRAP TALKS AND
SEND TROOPS BACK INTO THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE EARLY NEXT MONTH.
RHODA METCALFE REPORTS FROM THE COLOMBIAN CAPITAL.
///AMBIENT SOUND OF MAN SPEAKING SPANISH///
TEXT: COLOMBIA'S HIGH COMMISIONER FOR PEACE VICTOR G. RICARDO
STATED THAT GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS WENT INTO TALKS TUESDAY WITH
ONE CLEAR OBJECTIVE.
THE IDEA, HE SAID, IS TO GET PAST DISCUSSING WHETHER TO SET AN
AGENDA FOR NEGOTIATIONS AND ACTUALLY START SETTING THE AGENDA.
HIS COMMENT REFLECTS HOW FRUSTRATED THE GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT THE
SLOW PACE OF PEACE TALKS. IT HAS BEEN FIVE MONTHS SINCE THE
GOVERNMENT MADE ITS FIRST BIG CONCESSION TO THE FARC -- BY
DEMILITARIZING A REGION THE SIZE OF SWITZERLAND -- TO CREATE A
NEUTRAL ZONE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHERE PEACE TALKS COULD PROGRESS.
BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO PROGRESS. REBEL LEADERS HAVE NOT EVEN
AGREED TO THE TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION. THE GOVERNMENT IS MOST
INTERESTED IN GETTING THE GUERRILLAS TO STOP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS
KIDNAPPING AND SUPPORTING DRUG CULTIVATION AND TRAFFICKING.
THE TALKS WERE SUSPENDED 3 MONTHS AGO BY THE FARC, FOLLOWING A
RASH OF MASSACRES BY RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS. THE REBEL
LEADERS REFUSED TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATING UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT TOOK
CLEAR STEPS TO SUPPRESS PARAMILITARY SQUADS AND TO PUNISH
COLOMBIAN ARMY OFFICIALS WHO SUPPORT THE RIGHT-WING GROUPS.
IN THE LEAD-UP TO THIS WEEK'S TALKS, THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT
DID SACK TWO TOP GENERALS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS ARRESTED
SEVERAL PARAMILITARY LEADERS.
///SPANISH ACT OF REYES////
FARC NEGOTIATOR RAUL REYES CAME OUT OF TUESDAY'S MEETING AND
TOLD LOCAL MEDIA THAT WEDNESDAY GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATORS WILL HAND
OVER A REPORT ON THE MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN AGAINST
THE PARAMILITARIES.
MR. REYES SAID THAT IF THE FARC DECIDES THE GOVERNMENT'S DONE
ENOUGH, THEN THE REBELS WILL RESUME FULL NEGOTIATIONS. BUT HE
GAVE NO TIME LINE FOR MAKING THAT DECISION.
AND TIME IS RUNNING OUT. IF THE REBELS ARE NOT BACK TO FULL
NEGOTIATIONS BY MAY SEVENTH, PRESIDENT PASTRANA HAS THREATENED
TO END THE TALKS AND SEND TROOPS BACK INTO THE DEMILITARIZED
ZONE.
///REST OPT///
AND HE WOULD HAVE PUBLIC OPINION ON HIS SIDE. A RECENT PUBLIC
OPINION POLL SHOWS THE COLOMBIAN PEOPLE HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE
PROCESS AND IN THE GUERRILLA'S GOOD WILL.
THE MURDER OF THREE AMERICANS BY THE FARC LAST MONTH SHOCKED THE
COLOMBIAN PUBLIC -- AND MADE MANY QUESTION WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD NEGOTIATE WITH THEM. OUTSIDE COLOMBIA, A BLOCK OF U-S
POLITICIANS HAS ALSO CALLED ON PRESIDENT PASTRANA TO SEVER
NEGOTIATIONS.
AND THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY BE PREPARING
FOR THE WAR TO HEAT UP IF THE TALKS BREAK DOWN. THE COLOMBIAN
GOVERNMENT HAS JUST AGREED TO DOUBLE THE MILITARY BUDGET.
(SIGNED)
NEB/RM/WFR
20-Apr-99 7:51 PM EDT (2351 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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