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DATE=5/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250011
TITLE=COLOMBIA/KIDNAP-UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
IN COLOMBIA, A MASS KIDNAPPING BY LEFTIST REBELS HAS BEGUN TO 
UNRAVEL. THE REBELS, WHO BELONG TO THE COUNTRY'S SECOND-LARGEST 
GUERRILLA GROUP, TOOK CLOSE TO A 100 PEOPLE HOSTAGE IN THE CITY 
OF CALI SUNDAY. BUT UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM THE ARMY, THE REBELS 
RELEASED AT LEAST 79 PEOPLE.   RHODA METCALFE REPORTS FROM 
BOGOTA.
TEXT:
              ///SPANISH ACT OF WOMAN SPEAKING ///
 AN ELDERLY WOMAN EXPLAINS HOW SHE MANAGED TO HIDE WHEN A GROUP 
OF REBELS WEARING SKI MASKS BURST INTO HER CHURCH DURING MASS.  
POINTING THEIR GUNS AT THE CONGREGATION, THEY ORDERED EVERYONE 
INCLUDING THE PRIEST AND DOZENS OF CHILDREN TO CLIMB INTO TRUCKS 
PARKED OUTSIDE. 
  THE HOSTAGES WERE DRIVEN INTO THE NEARBY MOUNTAINS.  BUT 
COLOMBIA'S MILITARY RESPONDED MORE QUICKLY THAN THE GUERRILLAS 
HAD EXPECTED.
ARMY AND POLICE TROOPS WERE RIGHT BEHIND THE KIDNAPPERS,  AND A 
BATTLE ENSUED. MILITARY AUTHORITIES REPORT THAT CLOSE TO A DOZEN 
GUERRILLAS WERE KILLED.
 BY EARLY EVENING LOCAL TIME SUNDAY, THE REBELS HAD RELEASED MOST
OF THEIR CAPTIVES, INCLUDING ALL THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THE 
GUERRILLA'S TRUCKS WERE FOUND ABANDONED ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD.
IT IS BELIEVED THEY CONTINUED ON FOOT DEEPER INTO THE MOUNTAINS 
WITH THEIR SMALLER GROUP OF HOSTAGES IN TOW.
 SUNDAY'S KIDNAPPING COMES JUST SIX WEEKS AFTER THE SAME REBEL 
GROUP, THE NATIONAL LIBERATION ARMY, KNOWN AS THE E-L-N, HIJACKED
A PLANE AND KIDNAPPED THE PASSENGERS.
  THESE MASS KIDNAPPINGS APPEAR TO BE PART OF A NEW STRATEGY BY 
THE E-L-N TO CARRY OUT HIGH-PUBLICITY ATTACKS AGAINST THE 
CIVILIAN POPULATION TO PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE THEM 
CONCESSIONS INCLUDING THE START-UP OF PEACE TALKS.
                 ////SPANISH ACT OF RESTREPO///
 BUT SPEAKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT, FINANCE MINISTER JUAN CAMILO 
RESTREPO, STATED THAT THE REBELS ARE MAKING A MISTAKE. HE SAID 
THIS CRIME IS JUST PUTTING A STICK INTO THE WHEELS OF THE PEACE 
PROCESS.
 PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA HAS ALSO STATED HE WILL NOT BE 
BLACKMAILED INTO SITTING DOWN WITH THE REBELS, ON THEIR TERMS. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/RM/WFR
30-May-99 10:30 PM EDT (0230 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.