Bogota, Apr 27 --(EFE)-- The Colombian government has rejected a
proposal by the country's second biggest guerrilla group, the National
Liberation Army (ELN), to demilitarize a small northern town in exchange for
the freedom of 32 passengers of a plane hijacked two weeks ago.

Jose Alfredo Escobar, head of the anti-kidnapping group operating under
President Andres Pastrana's office, read a statement Monday night saying the
government would not surrender to blackmail and that the rebels were
responsible for the safety of the passengers.

The abduction of the passengers of the hijacked Avianca Fokker plane ``is a
serious violation of international humanitarian law.''

The hijacking-abduction incident has jeopardized efforts by the government to
hold peace talks with the ELN, parallel to ongoing negotiations with the
biggest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

Only ``the unconditional release of all the plane's occupants can it be possible
to regain confidence in their desire for peace, which has been seriously put to
question with this act,'' the statement said.

``The safety of those abducted is the sole responsibility of the ELN until their
release,'' it added.

                     Copyright 1999 Miami Herald