DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248881
TITLE=COLOMBIA REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: COLOMBIA WILL BEGIN FORMAL PEACE TALKS WITH LEFTIST
REBELS THURSDAY. THE DECISION WAS ANNOUNCED AFTER A SURPRISE
MEETING SUNDAY BETWEEN PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA AND REBEL LEADER
MANUEL MARULANDA. WE HAVE DETAILS FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK
IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: PRESIDENT PASTRANA MET FOR SIX HOURS SUNDAY WITH REBEL
LEADER MARULANDA, ALIAS "SURE SHOT", AT A GUERRILLA CAMP IN
SOUTH-CENTRAL COLOMBIA. IT WAS THE FIRST-EVER MEETING OF A
SITTING COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT WITH A REBEL LEADER, ALTHOUGH THE TWO
MEN MET BEFORE MR. PASTRANA TOOK OFFICE LAST YEAR.
IN BOGOTA THE FOREIGN MINISTRY RELEASED VIDEO IMAGES OF THE
MEETING AND ANNOUNCED THAT FORMAL PEACE TALKS WILL BEGIN
THURSDAY, WITH AN INTERNATIONAL MONITORING COMMISSION. THE FINAL
AGENDA HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED TO DISCUSS KEY REBEL DEMANDS SUCH AS
POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM, AGRARIAN REFORM, AND A
RESTRUCTURING OF THE ARMED FORCES.
"SURE SHOT" HEADS THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA,
KNOWN AS "FARC" -- ITS SPANISH INITIALS. THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST
AND OLDEST GUERRILLA GROUP, IT IS DOMINANT IN ABOUT TWO-FIFTHS OF
THE TERRITORY.
LAST NOVEMBER THE GOVERNMENT DEMILITARIZED A LARGE AREA TO PERMIT
PEACE TALKS. THAT DECISION WAS TO EXPIRE THIS WEEK, BUT THE
GOVERNMENT SAID IT WOULD BE EXTENDED IF THE REBELS AGREED TO
FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS.
THE REBELS SUSPENDED PRELIMINARY TALKS IN JANUARY, ALLEGING THE
GOVERNMENT WAS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT RIGHTIST PARAMILITARY
ELEMENTS FROM MASSACRING SUSPECTED REBEL SYMPATHIZERS.
COLOMBIA'S GUERRILLA WARFARE HAS CLAIMED MORE THAN 35-THOUSAND
LIVES IN THE PAST DECADE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/RAE
03-May-99 9:57 AM EDT (1357 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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