(22 Dec 1998) Spanish/Nat
The Colombian military has pulled out a group of unarmed soldiers fulfilling a rebel demand ahead of planned peace talks in January.
The soldiers’ presence had become an obstacle in setting a date for the talks between government representatives and members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or the FARC.
Soldiers leaving the village of San Vicente del Caguan, 300 kilometres south of the capital, Bogota.
A total of fifty troops were flown out of the area in helicopters.
Escorted by Red Cross representatives, they were flown to a military base at Larandia, 100 kilometres away.
The remaining eighty troops are expected to leave by Tuesday.
The withdrawal of military troops is the last stumbling block in bringing together both sides for peace talks.
Troops will withdraw from San Vicente del Caguan and another four municipalities in the southern region of the country.
It amounts to a total of 42-thousand square kilometres.
UPSOUND: (Spanish)
"You are living through an historic moment for Colombia. As soldiers you have carried out important administrative and logistic work in this battalion. Today you leave. But you must not leave this base with sadness. You should leave with joy in the realization that you have helped create the potential for dialogue which will help us find the path to peace for all Colombians."
SUPER CAPTION: Victor Ricardo, Peace commissioner
The government had said the unarmed soldiers had stayed in the region to perform administrative tasks and that they posed no threats to the rebels.
The rebels, however, refused to go ahead with the planned peace talks unless every single soldier was pulled out from the region.
The military installation will now be under the control of a top Catholic Church official and a rehabilitation group.
The soldiers said they hoped peace could now come to the region.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We will do everything we can to help bring peace to the Colombian people. Good luck with your flight, and I will see you when we arrive."
SUPERCAPTION: Voxpop
Starting on November 7, the government had 90 days to pull out troops from five municipalities.
The government special envoy – Victor Ricardo – will meet rebel leaders on Tuesday to discuss the details of the talks and to verify the pull out of the troops.
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