[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 1:42 AM Subject: [downwithcapitalism] FW: FARC on retreat Associated Press. 13 May 2001. Colombian Army says it has stymied rebel offensive; 44 dead. BOGOTA The army said on Sunday that it has repelled a major offensive by leftist guerrillas in fighting that has left 41 rebels and three soldiers dead. The offensive in seven states, which involved more than 2,000 rebels, began Friday, but fighting was still raging Sunday in Antioquia, Boyaca, and Norte de Santander states, army Cap. Luis Hernandez told The Associated Press. The rebels were on the retreat on those three fronts, Hernandez said. Most of the guerrillas killed were from the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Colombia's 37-year armed conflict is escalating as two major guerrilla armies battle a right-wing paramilitary militia and the U.S.-backed military. Washington is providing Colombia's government with $1.3 billion to train troops and buy hardware. During the fighting - which had also broken out in the states of Quindio, Cesar, Casanare and Putumayo - soldiers destroyed seven FARC camps, seized arms and captured 20 guerrillas, Hernandez said. Peace talks with the 16,000-strong FARC launched more than two years ago by President Andres Pastrana have failed to achieve significant results. Attempts to start negotiations with the smaller National Liberation Army rebels have gone nowhere. But in an interview published Sunday, the government's peace envoy said the FARC and the government are closer than ever to an initial agreement to exchange captured police and soldiers for guerrillas, and begin reducing the fighting, which kills about 3,000 people a year. "Like never before in the country's history, we are close to the first accords," Camilo Gomez told Colombia's Semana magazine. "The peace process is alive and it has a future." Also on Sunday, about 100 mothers of some of the 450 police and soldiers held captive by the FARC held Mother's Day demonstrations in two Colombian cities to demand their release. FARC chief Manuel Marulanda, speaking to reporters on Saturday, blamed the government for slowing the prisoner exchange. SPAM TO FOLLOW Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
