Colombian Government
Balks at HR Exchange
Prominent Colombian
government figures have
reiterated their refusal
to demilitarize an area
of the country to
facilitate contacts with
guerrilla groups leading
to an exchange of
prisoners.
In remarks to
journalists on Monday,
Minister of Interior and
Justice Carlos Holguin
said "there is
absolutely no
possibility of clearing
any part of the national
territory." Likewise,
Deputy Attorney General
Carlos Gomez said that
to achieve a
humanitarian accord, it
is not necessary to
demilitarize any area,
as requested by the
Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC),
and "we cannot grant any
military advantage to
anyone."
Foreign Minister
Fernando Araujo said
that, while he is
confident of the efforts
being made by Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez,
he does not believe in
the willingness
expressed by FARC to
advance in this
direction.
However he said his
office is ready to
cooperate with the
Venezuelan president.
The government refusal
to accept a clearing or
demilitarization of any
given area to facilitate
contacts with guerrilla
representatives is
considered by many in
Colombia as a
contradiction of its
speeches in favor of the
humanitarian accord.
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