La Jornada

Santa Fe de Bogota, 12/28/02

Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the Army
of National Liberation (ELN) wiped out an extreme right wing paramilitary
base during a fierce battle resulting in 60 dead for the latter.

The attack by the two guerrilla groups happened in San Pablo where the
battle lasted several hours in the early morning hours of Thursday,
reported El Tiempo.

Persons in the village of Cerro Azul said that they had to take cover in
the crossfire. They reported that once the paramilitaries vacated the area,
carrying their dead and wounded in seven vehicles, the guerrilla burned the
camp where 18 cadavers lay scattered.

Commander Alberto of the FARC's 24 Front reported 60 dead inflicted on the
paramilitary Autodefensas Unidas of Colombia (AUC) with one dead and
several wounded in his ranks.

The fighting occurred while the AUC are in a truce awaiting the initiation
of peace negotiations with the government of President Alvaro Uribe.

The paramilitaries had occupied the area in early December after flushing
out the guerrillas that have now reoccupied the zone.

Simultaneously, the FARC killed one policeman, wounded three persons and
kidnapped three others in an attack against a reserve in Caldas. Also, 6
persons -including two uniformed individuals- were wounded in an attack
with explosives in Santa Marta and Arauca.

Families of kidnapped persons and the Catholic Church have renewed demands
for the release of individuals held by illegal groups, after learning that
12 government representatives are in custody of the FARC.

The government of Alvaro Uribe has announced the creation of a citizen's
"support and solidarity" network to report anything that may prevent acts
of terrorism. The private (snitch) network will be coordinated by the
National Police.

Editing & Translation
Luis Martin

Boletin Latino
www.latinamericabulletin.cafeprogressive.com/index.html

COLOMBIA SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE OF NEW MEXICO
www.peace4colombia.org