DATE=8/19/1999
TYPE=EDITORIAL
TITLE=EDITORIAL: COLOMBIAN'S CRY "NO MORE"
NUMBER=0-08415
CONTENT=
THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED
FOR BROADCAST 8/19/99.
Anncr: The Voice of America presents differing
points of view on a wide variety of issues. Next,
an editorial expressing the policies of the United
States Government:
Voice: Another murder in Colombia and another cry
for peace and justice.
Last weekend, some eighty thousand people,
including several government ministers, took to
the main city square in Bogota, waving white
banners bearing a simple but eloquent slogan: "No
More". They were demanding a halt to Colombia's
civil conflict, which has cost some thirty five
thousand lives over the past decade.
This time, the people were massed for the funeral
of Jaime Garzon (HY-mee gar-SOHN), the country's
leading political satirist. Mr. Garzon was
assassinated last week as he drove to his job as a
morning radio talk show host.
The comic's caustic, iconoclastic wit was
inspired, his friends said, by a profound
patriotism. He most recently worked as an
intermediary to help with the release of hostages
held by leftist rebels. As one mourner put it,
"This man was a symbol of honesty, of courage, of
truth."
The murder comes amid stepped-up violence by
leftist rebels and right wing paramilitaries. The
Marxist guerrillas recently stymied an effort by
President Andres Pastrana to begin formal peace
negotiations when they launched a fresh series of
terrorist attacks. This action has spawned right-
wing counter-violence, as paramilitary
organizations have taken the law into their own
hands.
But it is the rebel groups that must shoulder the
lion's share of blame. The Revolutionary Armed
Forces and the National Liberation Army are using
extortion, violence, and drug trafficking in an
effort to bring down the government. They have
carried out armed attacks and bombings against
security forces, political candidates, and local
officeholders. The proceeds of their narcotics
trafficking are used to finance campaigns of
murder and intimidation against the Colombian
people and government.
For years, Colombia has been plagued by political
terrorism and the illegal drug trade. But in
shouting, "No More!" in such large numbers last
weekend, the people of Colombia are saying that
they want to take back their country from the
guerrillas, the terrorists and the drug
traffickers.
Anncr: That was an editorial expressing the
policies of the United States Government. If you
have a comment, please write to Editorials, V-O-A,
Washington, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. You may also
comment at www-dot-voa-dot-gov-slash-editorials,
or fax us at (202) 619-1043.
18-Aug-1999 12:50 PM EDT (18-Aug-1999 1650 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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