Colombia Says to Watch
Students at Risk of
Rebel Recruitment
Colombia's education
minister said Tuesday
that the government will
watch those students who
might be recruited by
rebels after the army
reported that fighters
are infiltrating the
country's higher
education centers.
"The effort needs to be
led by the universities,
where we will strengthen
student welfare
programs," said Cecilia
Maria Velez. "We need to
follow up on students
and their professional
futures to prevent them
joining guerilla
groups."
Guerrillas have been
prevalent in Colombia
since the 1960s, some
beginning with student
movements and others
with peasant rebellions
against landowners for
land theft and abuse of
political power.
The minister said
intelligence had
indicated worrying data
about the presence of
armed groups in both
public and private
universities.
"This is why we will
insist on a campaign
that strengthens young
people's social values,"
Velez said.
Colombia's largest rebel
group, the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC), is also Latin
America's largest
guerrilla group with a
17,000-strong force.
Rescue efforts are on
going as the group
demands the government
release its jailed
members in exchange for
dozens of hostages it
has kidnapped.
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