DATE=4/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229497
TITLE=COLOMBIA - PENTAGON (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AN ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER SAYS THE  
COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS LOSING THE WAR AGAINST VARIOUS MARXIST 
INSURGENCIES.   THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE ARTICLE IS BASED ON A 
SECRET U-S INTELLIGENCE REPORT.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS THE 
PENTAGON WOULD  NOT CONFIRM THAT REPORT, BUT ONE OFFICIAL WITH 
LATIN AMERICAN RESPONSIBILITIES SAYS THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS 
NOT  IN IMMEDIATE DANGER.

TEXT:  PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, LIEUTENANT COLONEL BILL DARLEY, SAYS 
THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT FACES WHAT HE CALLS THE "BEST FINANCED 
TERRORIST GROUPS IN THE WORLD" WITH A SMALL, UNDER-TRAINED AND 
UNDER-EQUIPPED ARMY, MADE UP MOSTLY OF CONSCRIPTS. 

BUT COLONEL DARLEY SAYS THERE IS  NO  REASON TO THINK THE 
COLOMBIAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'S SURVIVAL IS AT RISK.

                 /// LT COL BILL DARLEY ACT /// 

         THEY'VE BEEN A VERY RESILIENT GOVERNMENT, THEY'VE BEEN 
         FIGHTING THIS INSURGENCY UP AND DOWN FOR THE LAST 50 
         YEARS.  WE HAVE  NO  REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE 
         COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT IS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

COLONEL DARLEY SAYS THE MAJORITY OF THE REBELS ARE WITH THE  
"REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA, KNOWN BY THEIR SPANISH 
INITIALS, AS "FARC."  HE SAYS THIS MARXIST GROUP HAS RURAL, 
PEASANT, MAOIST ROOTS, BUT NOW SPENDS MUCH OF ITS TIME AND EFFORT
PROTECTING DRUG OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN COLOMBIA.  HE SAYS FARC 
GAINS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DRUG-RELATED ACTIVITIES AND BY 
EXTORTION, KIDNAPPING AND OTHER SCHEMES.

HE SAYS REPORTS THAT THE REBEL MOVEMENTS HAVE GROWN RECENTLY TO A
FORCE OF ABOUT 20 THOUSAND FIGHTERS SOUND "ABOUT RIGHT." 

COLONEL DARLEY SAYS COLOMBIA'S ARMY FACES TOUGH OPPONENTS.

                      ///  DARLEY ACT /// 

         (THEY ARE A) HARDENED GROUP THAT HAS BEEN LIVING IN, 
         THAT KNOW THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA WHERE THEY WORK, AND 
         WHERE THEY FIGHT, VERY WELL.  THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A
         VERY LONG TIME, AND ARE EXTREMELY WELL-ARMED.  

                         /// END ACT ///

COLONEL DARLEY SAYS REPORTS THAT THE REBELS HAVE SURFACE TO AIR 
MISSILES AND OTHER SOPHISTICATED HARDWARE ARE  NO  SURPRISE, BUT 
HE SAYS HE DOES  NOT  HAVE HARD EVIDENCE THAT ANY PARTICULAR 
GROUP HAS ANY PARTICULAR TYPE OF WEAPON.  

HE SAYS COLOMBIA'S ARMY HAS ABOUT 120-THOUSAND TROOPS TO PROTECT 
A VERY LARGE COUNTRY.  HE SAYS MOST ARE DRAFTEES WHO SERVE FOR 
ONE YEAR.  COLONEL DARLEY SAYS ABOUT 20-THOUSAND ARE EXPERIENCED 
TROOPS WHO FORM THE CORE OF UNITS THAT GO OUT TO CONFRONT THE 
GUERRILLAS IN THE FIELD.  

PUBLISHED REPORTS SAY COLOMBIA'S PROBLEMS ARE SPARKING DEBATE 
WITHIN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE CONGRESS AND THE PENTAGON.
OFFICIALS WANT TO HELP THE ARMY FIGHT THE DRUG TRAFFICKERS, BUT 
ARE CONCERNED THAT WEAPONS AND TRAINING MIGHT BE MISUSED BY THE 
COLOMBIAN ARMY, WHICH HAS A POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD.  (SIGNED).

10-Apr-98 12:54 PM EDT (1654 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.