Colombian rebels reject president's truce overtures

The Miami Herald December 8, 1998 Colombian rebels reject president's truce overtures

             BOGOTA -- (EFE) -- Colombia's largest guerrilla group has rejected the peace
             overtures of President Andres Pastrana, dimming hopes for a Christmas truce and
             complicating further the smooth start of negotiations.

             Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who will represent the
             leftist group in peace talks with the government said in a letter to the president
             published Sunday that ``he cannot demand anything'' before the negotiations get
             underway.

             The FARC representatives blamed the government for the delay because of its
             refusal to order the pullout of soldiers from the neutral area established for the
             holding of the peace talks.

A month after this neutral zone was established, both sides failed to make contact
because of the presence of some 130 troops in a camp near the area.

             ``If Colombians cannot find in this historic opportunity the path to reconciliation,
             the responsibility is yours alone and history will record it thus,'' read the letter
             signed by Raul Reyes, Joaquin Rodriguez and Fabian Ramirez.

             They reiterated that talks would not start as long as the soldiers remain in the
             camp, since they consider this a nonfulfillment of Pastrana's promise to demilitarize
             five southern municipalities to guarantee the safety of delegates to the talks.

             The government argues that the soldiers in the camp are unarmed and pointed out
             that they were assigned only administrative functions to assist government
             representatives who will be billeted at the military quarters.

             Eight days ago, the government seemed to have softened on its stance regarding
             this issue when Pastrana said he was willing to ``hurdle any obstacle'' in the peace
             process in exchange for a ``gesture of peace.''

The president invited the rebels to release the people they were holding captive,
put an end to attacks that affect civilians and declare a Christmas cease-fire.