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DATE=5/26/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249842
TITLE=COLOMBIA/MILITARY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: IN COLOMBIA, A CRISIS HAS ERUPTED IN THE MILITARY OVER THE
WAY THE GOVERNMENT HAS HANDLED THE ONGOING PEACE NEGOTIATIONS 
WITH LEFTIST GUERRILLAS.  THE COUNTRY'S DEFENSE MINISTER RESIGNED
TODAY (WEDNESDAY), ARGUING THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT 
ANDRES PASTRANA IS PUTTING THE COUNTRY IN DANGER BY OFFERING TOO 
MANY CONCESSIONS TO THE GUERRILLAS. NOW, MORE THAN A DOZEN HIGH 
RANKING GENERALS HAVE TENDERED THEIR RESIGNATIONS IN SUPPORT OF 
THE DEFENSE MINISTER.  RHODA METCALFE REPORTS FROM THE COLOMBIAN 
CAPITAL.-
TEXT:             ////LLOREDA SPANISH ACT////
 DEFENSE MINISTER RODRIGO LLOREDA ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION EARLY
WEDNESDAY AT A NEWS CONFERENCE --  SAYING  HE COULD NO LONGER 
STAND BY AND WATCH THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT PLACE HIS COUNTRY IN 
DANGER.   FOR MR. LLOREDA, THE BREAKING POINT CAME WHEN THE 
GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA DECIDED TO EXTEND 
INDEFINITELY A HUGE DEMILITARIZED ZONE WHERE PEACE TALKS ARE NOW 
TAKING PLACE BETWEEN LEFT-WING GUERRILLAS AND GOVERNMENT 
NEGOTIATORS.
 THE DEMILITARIZATION EFFECTIVELY GIVES THE REBELS CONTROL OVER A
REGION THE SIZE OF SWITZERLAND. THE OUTGOING MINISTER BELIEVES 
THE REBELS ARE NOW USING THE ZONE TO BUILD UP THEIR MILITARY 
FORCE -- A FORCE THAT CAN BE TURNED AGAINST THE COUNTRY.
 THE DEFENSE MINISTER'S RESIGNATION HAS SPARKED A NEAR-MUTINY IN 
THE RANKS OF THE COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES. WITHIN HOURS OF HIS 
ANNOUNCEMENT, ONE AFTER ANOTHER HIGH-RANKING MILITARY OFFICERS --
INCLUDING GENERALS AND COLONELS --  TENDERED THEIR RESIGNATIONS 
IN SUPPORT OF THE MINISTER'S POSITION. THE SAME AFTERNOON, THE 
MILITARY'S TOP BRASS FLEW TO THE CITY OF CARTAGENA FOR AN 
EMERGENCY MEETING WITH PRESIDENT PASTRANA, WHO IS ATTENDING AN 
ANDEAN SUMMIT.
                     ///TAPIAS SPANISH ACT///
 GENERAL FERNANDO TAPIAS, HEAD OF THE ARMED FORCES, STRESSED THAT
THE MILITARY DOES SUPPORT THE  PEACE PROCESS -- AND THE 
RESIGNATIONS ARE NOT AN INDICATION THAT THE ARMY WANTS TO 
SABOTAGE THE PEACE TALKS.  
BUT THE RESIGNATIONS CLEARLY SHOW THAT MANY ARMY OFFICERS BELIEVE
THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONCEDED TOO MUCH TO THE REBELS. AND FOR THEM,
THAT IS BOTH HUMILIATING AND STRATEGICALLY DANGEROUS.
 OBSERVERS POINT OUT THAT NOW THAT THE GUERRILLAS HAVE THE 
DEMILITARIZED ZONE SAFELY UNDER THEIR WING, THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE 
TO MOVE THOUSANDS OF FIGHTERS OUT TO ATTACK AND TAKE OVER NEW 
REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY.
THIS WEEK, THE COLOMBIAN CONGRESS PASSED A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR
THE PEACE INITIATIVE. BUT THIS OUTPOURING OF MILITARY ANGER MAY 
FORCE THE PRESIDENT TO RECONSIDER HIS GENEROSITY AT THE 
NEGOTIATING TABLE. (SIGNED)
NEB/RM/WFR
26-May-99 6:08 PM EDT (2208 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.