Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- <A HREF="aol://4344:30.L100diPG.348455.681171943"> 08/01: AOL News: Foreign peace mission to set out in Colombia</A> Foreign peace mission to set out in Colombia BOGOTA, Colombia, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Peace activists from 11 nations said on Wednesday that they will leave this week for one of the most violent regions in war-torn Colombia to deliver food and medical supplies to 30,000 impoverished families. Some 60 foreigners, including members of European parliaments, diplomats, academics and human rights activists, will drive the supplies in a "life caravan" along long stretches of dangerous road from the capital Bogota to the drug producing Bolivar province, about 312 miles (500 km) away. They will not be escorted by Colombia's armed forces during their three-week mission, which begins August 2. Colombia's army pulled out of the southern Bolivar province in early March, and the cocaine-producing region has become the site of territorial battle between leftist rebels and far-right paramilitary gunmen. Both groups draw substantial funds from the massive local drug trade. "No contact has been made with commanders of the (illegal) armed groups, since we believe that it would be best to go through official state channels to avoid problems," said Spanish rights activist Francisco Palacios. Palacios added the group has contacted Colombian authorities to secure assistance in towns with military presence, if such help is needed. The activists come from nations including Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada and the United States. The Andean nation's 37-year-old conflict has claimed 40,000 mainly civilian lives in the past decade. Human rights groups operating in southern Bolivar province estimate that the conflict has displaced at least 16,000 people from that area. The activists hope the outlawed fighters will allow their caravan to pass freely through the province, where about $30,000 in supplies will be distributed to the poor. "This has been planned over the past few months following a visit to Europe by peasant leaders from southern Bolivar province, who explained the situation in which they were living," said Frederic Thomas, a Belgium-based human rights activist. 18:25 08-01-01 Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
