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DATE=7/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251624
TITLE=COLOMBIA / OFFENSIVE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEVEN DUDLEY
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  GUERRILLAS IN COLOMBIA HAVE LAUNCHED A MAJOR OFFENSIVE 
AGAINST THE BOGOTA GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS RESPONDED BY IMPOSING A 
CURFEW OVER EIGHT OF COLOMBIA'S 32 STATES [DEPARTMENTS], 
INCLUDING 11 MUNICIPALITIES NEAR THE CAPITAL.  THE COLOMBIAN ARMY
SAYS IT HAS THE OFFENSIVE UNDER CONTROL.  PRELIMINARY REPORTS SAY
FIVE POLICEMEN AND 19 GUERRILLAS HAVE DIED IN THE FIGHTING.  MORE
NOW FROM STEVEN DUDLEY IN BOGOTA.
TEXT:  THE LATEST GUERRILLA OFFENSIVE BEGAN FRIDAY NIGHT AND 
CONTINUED THROUGH SATURDAY.  ACCORDING TO THE COLOMBIAN ARMY, 
REBELS FROM THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST GUERRILLA GROUP, THE "FARC," 
ATTACKED AN OIL PIPELINE, POLICE STATIONS AND BANKS IN 11 
DIFFERENT TOWNS.  
THE ATTACKS FOLLOW FIERCE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE "FARC" AND THE 
ARMY IN A SMALL MOUNTAIN TOWN 50 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BOGOTA THAT 
LEFT 36 ARMY SOLDIERS DEAD.  THE HIGH NUMBER OF ARMY CASUALTIES 
SPARKED MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MILITARY'S ABILITY TO FIGHT THE 
MOBILE AND WELL-ARMED REBELS.  BUT THE ARMY HIGH COMMAND DENIES 
ITS FORCES WERE AMBUSHED -- INSTEAD EMPHASIZING THAT THE MILITARY
SUCCESSFULLY NEUTRALIZED THE GUERRILLAS' PLAN TO TAKE OVER PARTS 
OF BOGOTA, AND KILLED 38 REBELS IN THE PROCESS.
THE "FARC" OFFENSIVE COMES JUST DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
GUERRILLAS POSTPONED ANOTHER ROUND OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.  THE 
GUERRILLAS HAVE BEEN AT WAR WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR 40 YEARS, BUT
SINCE JANUARY THE TWO SIDES HAVE BEGUN TALKS.
COLOMBIA'S ARMED FORCES COMMANDER, GENERAL FERNANDO TAPIAS, SAYS 
THE GUERRILLAS TIMED THEIR ATTACKS TO COINCIDE WITH THE PEACE 
TALKS.
           /// TAPIAS ACT IN SPANISH, IN AND UNDER ///
GENERAL TAPIAS SAYS THE GUERRILLAS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE DELAY IN
THE TALKS TO LAUNCH TERRORIST ATTACKS IN AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COLOMBIAN PEOPLE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED TO THE OFFENSIVE BY DECLARING A 
CURFEW THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE 
COUNTRY.  IT IS ALSO PUTTING RESTRICTIONS ON SEVERAL 
MUNICIPALITIES NEAR BOGOTA.  GENERAL TAPIAS SAYS THE "FARC" 
OFFENSIVE WILL SURELY CONTINUE PRIOR TO THE NEXT SCHEDULED PEACE 
TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES, ON JULY 20TH.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SD/WTW
10-Jul-99 10:50 PM EDT (0250 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.