Rebel group in Colombia defects

[Bacchus39]

Small Rebel Group in Colombia Defects By ARTURO ROBLES, Associated Press writer
Wed Mar 8, 1:43 AM ET



ALVARADO, Colombia - A small group of leftist rebels wearing ski masks and brandishing assault weapons renounced their guerrilla army's four-decade-old insurgency in a gesture the government touted ahead of Sunday's congressional elections.

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The 70-member La Gaitana company of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, handed over 63 weapons and a small aircraft Tuesday during a ceremony near Alvarado, a town 50 miles west of Bogota.

It was the largest desertion from the FARC, estimated at 12,000-strong, since President Alvaro Uribe was elected in 2002 on a law and order platform.

The group's commander, asking his compatriots for forgiveness, said he hoped his disarmament would be an example for the FARC's central leadership. "This crazy war cannot last any longer. The country and its peasants want peace," Julian Rios said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/colombia_rebels;_ylt=AmoRuFFjqVAcg6J8P7iCDslvaA8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombian guerrillas surrender

Colombian guerrillas surrender
Wednesday, March 8, 2006 (Bogota):


Around 70 guerrilla fighters belonging to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) surrendered on Tuesday.

The guerrilla fighters, belonging to the FARC's Gaitana company, turned in 63 weapons to Colombia's peace commissioner Luis Carlos Restrepo, as well as an aircraft they used to traffic weapons and drugs, at a special ceremony.

The ceremony took place in La Tobaida, in Tolima province, west of Bogota.

The government of Alvaro Uribe Velez is offering a temporary salary and job training to encourage rebels to lay down arms and end decades of civil war in Colombia.
(snip/...)

http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Colombian+guerrillas+surrender+&id=85524

[Bacchus39]

2. I'm sorry, didn't I just post that

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[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. You both posted at near the same time, and the mods

combined the threads. It keeps LBN tidy. :)

[krkaufman]

4. And the 2nd link appears more compatible w/ DU. n/t

[phusion]

5. wonder if this was a PR stunt

Invent a "company" of the FARC that suddenly abandons a 40 year old struggle, all thanks to congressional leadership and just in time for th elections!

[Bacchus39]

6. I suppose you could

its probably touted more as a humilliation of the FARC than a political advantage of the Uribe government and supporters since they aren't in much danger of being thrown out of office.

[Rich Hunt]

7. kick n/t

:kick: