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Published Thursday, January 14, 1999, in the Miami
Herald
Rebels' guns protect ecology
Marxists in Colombia set up, enforce environmental rules
By TIM JOHNSON
Herald Staff Writer
`Tirofijo is green. He's obsessed with the environment,'' said a
prominent
Colombian, who asked to remain anonymous. ``He's lived in the
jungle for 40
years. He tells you, `Look at that river. It used to be
clean. Now look at all the
crap in it.' ''
``It's contradictory. They blow up pipelines for the sake of conserving
resources,''
said Francisco Leal, a University of the Andes political
analyst.
Lopez, the FARC spokesman, denies that the FARC attacks the
pipelines.
``We used to do that,'' he acknowledged, ``but our policy is
absolutely different
now. . . . Our oil policy is totally modified. . . . We
believe that what must be done
with the oil of Colombia is not to rupture the pipeline but
make oil an asset for all
Colombians.''
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