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2,500 Colombian
paramilitaries hand over weapons
Colombia's Commissioner for
peace Luis Carlos Restrepo said
in a statement on Tuesday
another 2,523 right-wing
paramilitaries of the rebel
United Self-Defense Forces (AUC)
of Colombia, had handed over
their weapons.
The disarmament ceremony took
place in La Granja, in rural
Santa Rosa del Sur, in Bolivar
department. It was the largest
demobilization ceremony planned
as part of the government's
peace process.
The paramilitaries belong to the
Southern Bolivar Front and
theCentral Bolivar Bloc (BCB),
which is considered as the
largest division of the AUC.
"It is a very important thing
that the historical structure of
the BCB has been demobilized,"
said Restrepo.
"The disarming of the front is a
great contribution to peace
inthis country," Restrepo said.
Also at the ceremony, Libardo
Simancas, the governor of
Bolivar, said "Hundreds of guns
are falling silent, opening up
theway to peace and
reconciliation in this country."
The commissioner's office said
that 20,134 paramilitaries have
been demobilized so far.
The AUC and the government first
began peace talking in December
2002. The demobilization process
is supposed to be completed in
2005, but it has been extended
until February this year.
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