From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Colombia: Chronology of FARC-Government Peace Process Since 1998 Chronology of FARC-Columbian Government Peace Process Since 1998 ================================================== Xinhuanet 2002-01-08 11:00:53 BOGOTA, January 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The peace process between the Colombian government of President Andres Pastrana and the country's largest guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), entered its fourth year on Monday. The following is a chronology of the most important events concerning the process: June 9, 1998 - President-Elect Andres Pastrana holds an unexpected meeting with the FARC top leader Manuel Marulanda. October 23, 1998 - Pastrana orders the de-militarization of five southern municipalities in a 42,139-square-kilometer area to set up a base for negotiations. November 7, 1998 - De-militarization of the San Vicente del Caguan, La Macarena, La Uribe, Mesetas and Vistahermosa municipalities comes into effect. December 14, 1998 - FARC demands withdrawal of Cazadores Battalion from San Vicente del Caguan. January 7, 1999 - Official opening of peace process with an event in which national and international guests participate in San Vicente del Caguan. Marulanda is absent. January 17, 1999 - FARC announces the first freezing of talks and demands the government be harsher to paramilitary groups. May 1, 1999 - Pastrana and Marulanda meet again. May 25, 1999 - A "Common Agenda for Exchange" is agreed upon as the key document of the negotiations. November 18, 1999 - FARC does not accept international commission to supervise the process. December 20, 1999 - The rebels declare a unilateral Christmas truce through January 10, 2000. January 13, 2000 - The two parties resume talks. April 29, 2000 - FARC announces the launching of a political arm, the New Colombia Bolivarian Movement (MBNC). May 16, 2000 - The government suspends a meeting with FARC, accusing it of setting off a bomb that kills a peasant. September 18, 2000 - Talks are suspended by the government after guerrilla Ramos Front kidnaps a plane that lands at San Vicente del Caguan. February 8-9, 2001 - Pastrana and Marulanda meet for the third time to save the process. October 7, 2001 - After the abduction and murder of former Culture Minister Consuelo Araujonoguera, Pastrana announces reinforcement of military checks around the southern de- militarized area. October 17, 2001 - FARC suspends talks and demands an end to checks and military surveillance flights over the neutral zone. December 24, 2001 - Peace commissioner Camilo Gomez announces resumption of contacts after going to the neutral enclave. January 3-4, 2002 - The two sides hold a meeting but fail to reactivate peace negotiations as the rebels demand the suspension of air, river and land military controls over the de-militarized zone. Another meeting, slated for January 7, is postponed to open on January 8. Enditem _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
