From: Colombian Labor Monitor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2001 19:47:20 -0500 (CDT)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: CLM: Weekend Digest 3 June 2001
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COLOMBIAN LABOR MONITOR
www.prairienet.org/clm
Sunday, 3 June 2001
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* WEEKEND DIGEST *
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AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE -- Monday, 4 June 2001
Colombian government, rebels agree on prisoner exchange
By Jose Ramos
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
Monday, 4 June 2001
Colombian government, rebels
agree on prisoner exchange
----------------------------
By Jose Ramos
BOGOTA -- Negotiators for the Colombian government and leftist rebels of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have agreed to exchange sick
and wounded prisoners held by each side.
While local observers hailed the accord, signed Saturday by government
peace negotiator Camilo Gomez and rebel leader Manuel Marulanda, as a step
forward, they noted it would take a long time to achieve durable peace.
The accord is seen here as a significant milestone in the
on-again-off-again peace talks that began in January 1999 in an attempt to
end nearly four decades of civil war.
As recently as last month, the rebels were accusing President Andres
Pastrana of dragging his feet on the talks.
"This is without a doubt a very important milestone," Gomez said after
meeting Marulanda in the Switzerland-sized demilitarized zone in central
Colombia under control of the rebel group, known as FARC.
"This accord should open the door to others," such as a cease-fire
agreement, Gomez said.
Some 500 police and soldiers are being held by the 16,000-strong FARC,
Colombia's largest rebel group.
Some have been in captivity for as long as three years as negotiations
dragged on.
Under the accord, the FARC will set free 142 soldiers and police officers
captured in combat. In return, the government will free 15 rebels held in
prisons.
No specific date has been set for the exchange, which will be the first
since the government and the FARC launched their peace talks.
But despite countless hours spent at the negotiating table, until now, the
two sides have been unable to move an inch in achieving their goal of
bringing to an end the 37-year war that has claimed 200,000 lives.
The first to be exchanged under the accord will be 42 soldiers and police
officers and 15 rebels -- all in failing health.
After that group is released to representatives of the International Red
Cross, the FARC will unilaterally release "at least" 100 prisoners 15 days
later.
Diplomats representing an international commission trying to facilitate
Colombia's peace process are expected to help implement the exchange. The
commission includes Canada, Cuba, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway,
Sweden, Switzerland and Venezuela.
"This accord is fundamentally important for giving a boost to the peace
process," said Pastrana. "It opens the door to more agreements with the
FARC."
However, local diplomats believe the peace process will go beyond August
2002, when Pastrana's term in office expires.
In the week preceding the signing of the accord, 34 peasants accused of
collusion with right-wing paramilitaries were killed by FARC rebels.
Another 18 were killed by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
(AUC).
Copyright 2001 Agence France Presse
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