(25 Apr 2000) Spanish/Nat
XFA
President Andres Pastrana has reached an agreement with Colombia’s second-largest rebel army to withdraw government troops from a northern region as a condition for opening peace talks.
The pullout zone would comprise San Pablo and Cantagallo counties in Bolivar and Yondo county in Antioquia state to the west.
The demilitarized zone would be the second conceded to a leftist rebel band by Pastrana since he took office in August 1998 after running a single-issue campaign focused on promises to end 36 years of civil strife.
A military ceremony was chosen by president Andres Pastrana to announce the withdraw of Colombian government troops from a northern region as a condition for starting peace talks with Colombia’s second largest guerrilla movement.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Today, I want to take the opportunity to comment what has been said. In first place, the government acting within the constitution and the law has decided to have a meeting zone that guarantees national security for the development of a table of negotiations between the ELN and the government, to reach an agreement on human rights and international humanitarian law. The area will last for nine months and will include the municipalities of Peyondo, Cantagallo and San Pablo. It would not include the Magdalena river which will stay under public law. All this will be under presence of a national commission which will be integrated by 2 members of the government, two from the ELN and one chosen by common agreement. "
SUPER CAPTION: Andres Pastrana, President of Colombia
Pastrana granted the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a Switzerland-sized southern region 17 months ago as a condition for launching peace talks that have proceeded at a snail’s pace – without a ceasefire.
For the government peace commissioner the agreement with the leftist rebels is the result of a series of talks.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The talks with ELN have produced a meeting zone that will allow the initiation of a peace process with the ELN. Colombian’s were expecting that. In the next few days we will have a meeting to explain the process."
SUPER CAPTION: Victor G Ricardo, Peace Commissioner
The Cuban-inspired ELN, with an estimated 5,000 combatants, has recently tested the nation with a withering sabotage campaign, knocking out electrical power to millions by dynamiting power pylons and snarling major highways with attacks on commercial traffic.
Last year, it seized everyone aboard a domestic airliner and celebrants of a Catholic Mass to push its desire for political recognition equal to FARC.
Now politicians think it is necessary to involve the guerrilla groups on the peace process.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I think it is excellent, first of all because we could not have a peace process without involving the guerrillas and secondly that the peace process with the ELN has a different method. The citizens and the civil society are the main characters on the agenda, something that does not happen with the FARC."
SUPER CAPTION: Gustavo Petro, Left Wing Senator
The rebel band vowed not to cease hostilities until granted its own demilitarized zone in its traditional stronghold in the northern state of Bolivar.
Thousands of peasants have launched days long protests against the demilitarized zone, snarling traffic on major north-south highways.
Even though many believe that most of Colombian’s should be happy with the agreement.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish)
SUPER CAPTION: Rodrigo Pardo, Former Defence Minister
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