From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Subject: [Peoples War] Colombia: Xinhua Reports

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XINHUA - Peoples Republic of China
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COLOMBIAN NEWS

1) Ambassadors Resume Support for Colombia's Peace Process
2) Colombian Government, Guerrillas to Define Truce Agenda
3) Colombian Guerrillas Shrug off EU's Visa Warning
4) Colombian Rebel Group to End Mass Civilian Kidnappings




1) Ambassadors Resume Support for Colombia's Peace Process
 ===========================================

   BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- The ambassadors of the 10
countries of the "Facilitating Commission" in the Colombian peace
process Monday resumed their support for negotiations between the
government and the country's largest guerrilla group, Caracol
radio reported.

   The diplomats, gathered after a call by Colombian President
Andres Pastrana, reiterated in a declaration their support for the
peace process and announced their participation in future peace
talks between the government and the leftist Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC).

   The declaration said Friday's agreement between the government
and the FARC was "a navigational chart and gives hope to the (
peace) process."

   The agreement provides for a six-month cease-fire and
recommendations to combat rightist paramilitary groups, bitter
rivals of the FARC.

   The countries assisting in the peace process in Colombia
announced on September 19 the indefinite postponement of a meeting
with the FARC originally scheduled for September 26 until the
release of the German hostages it has taken since July.
   Three German nationals, who worked for a technical cooperation
agency of the German government, were kidnapped in the
southwestern province of Cauca on July 18. One captive managed to
escape in late September, while the other two remain in rebel
hands.

   The diplomats of the "Facilitating Commission" countries --
Canada, Cuba, France, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and Venezuela -- expressed as well their satisfaction
in Pastrana's extension of the life of the demilitarized zone in
southern Colombia, which has been set to promote talks between the
government and the FARC.  Enditem


2) Colombian Government, Guerrillas to Define Truce Agenda
==========================================

   BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's government and the
guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC),
will define an agenda this week aimed at signing a cease-fire
accord after prolonging the life of the demilitarized zone,
special advisor for Peace Affairs Juan G. Uribe said on Monday.
   Uribe said the new extension is important to the resumption of
talks and concrete issues such as the end to mass kidnappings and
hostilities.

   Colombian President Andres Pastrana Sunday extended the life of
the neutral zone in the south till January 20, 2002, to continue
the peace talks with the FARC which was initiated three years ago.
   Pastrana also announced a series of special measures to
guarantee no abuses and crimes committed in the Switzerland-sized
area, such as setting up blocks on roads and  rivers. The Air
Force has also been instructed to intensify controls over the
airspace.   

   The FARC is the largest guerrilla group in Colombia. It has
been accused of abuses including kidnappings, extortion, murders
and drug trafficking in the 42,000-square-kilometer neutral zone.
Enditem

3) Colombian Guerrillas Shrug off EU's Visa Warning
 ====================================

   BOGOTA, October 8 (Xinhua) -- Colombia's largest guerrilla
group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Monday
defied a warning by the European Union (EU) that the 15-nation
bloc would cancel the visas issued to their leaders if the group
did not free the two kidnapped German aid workers.

   "The decision which the European Union could take depends on
themselves; we continue in the peace fight for Colombia," said
Raul Reyes, the group's main spokesman.

   Juan Camilo Restrepo, Colombian ambassador to France, said last
week that the EU would cancel the visas issued to the rebels if
the FARC did not free two German citizens they kept in captivity
since July.

   Fresh from Paris for a forum on coffee industry, the ambassador
said: "If this release doesn't take place, the FARC members could
lose their visas and permits to travel inside the EU member
countries." 

   But he noted that this "ultimatum" does not mean that the EU
would give up their support for the peace process in Colombia.
   German ambassador to Colombia Peter von Jagow said his
government was considering  the possibility of recommending to the
EU plenum that entry of FARC representatives into European
territories be denied.

   Three German citizens working for the German government's
international cooperation agency, GTZ, were kidnapped in the
southwestern province of Cauca on July 18. One escaped in late
September and the two others are still in FARC hands.

   On August 16, the 16,500-strong FARC claimed responsibility for
the kidnapping of the German aid workers.
Enditem


4) Colombian Rebel Group to End Mass Civilian Kidnappings
==========================================
 
   BOGOTA, October 5 (Xinhua) -- Rebels of the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC) announced late Friday that they will put
an end to mass civilian kidnappings, as the Colombian government
and the country's largest guerrilla group have agreed to continue
the peace process.

   The FARC and the government have also given their agreement to
"immediately" study the possibility of a cease-fire, official
sources said.

   According to reports from Los Pozos, in the heart of the
demilitarized zone in south Colombia, where presidential peace
commissioner Camilo Gomez and FARC representatives have held
various meetings during last three days, the announcement made it
possible the extension of the duration of the 42,000-square-
kilometer demilitarized zone.

   The duration of the neutral zone expires on October 7. The
rebels have been accused of abuses including kidnappings,
extortion, murder and drug-trafficking there.

   Friday's 9-point agreement, which includes a six-month cease-
fire and recommendations to combat rightist paramilitary groups,
would mark "a new direction" for peace talks, said Gomez said.

   The 16,500-strong FARC also agreed to end mass kidnappings of
civilians while insisting that abduction was not a policy of the
organization.

   The recent killing of former Culture Minister Consuelo Araujo
after her kidnapping by alleged FARC members on September 24, has
put in jeopardy the peace talks between the government and the
rebels.

   Colombia has been ravaged by a civil war in the past 37 years.
About 40,000 people have died in clashes during the last decade
alone.  

Enditem




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