Pubdate: Sat, 20 Jan 2001
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2001 Star Tribune
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Author: Jared Kotler, Associated Press Writer

WARNINGS PRECEDED COLOMBIA MASSACRE

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Three months ago, residents in northern Colombia 
sent President Andres Pastrana a desperate plea for protection: rumors were 
circling that rightist militiamen planned to attack their village.

" We know the barbarity they are capable of, " wrote the people of Chengue, 
well aware of the violent reputation of the paramilitary United 
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, the AUC.

The warning went unheeded. An AUC death squad stormed Chengue on Wednesday, 
torching dozens of homes and hacking to death 26 people after accusing them 
of collaborating with leftist guerrillas.

The government' s failure to provide protection raised new doubts about its 
willingness and ability to curb paramilitary violence.

The massacre in Sucre State was the deadliest in a wave of rightist attacks 
this month that have drawn condemnation from U.N. human rights monitors and 
prompted new calls for Pastrana to crack down on paramilitary violence.

Guerrillas have demanded tougher action against the AUC as a condition for 
continuing peace talks. Stronger curbs on paramilitary violence and 
army-paramilitary collusion also is a condition for continuation of U.S. 
military aid and training under a $1.3 billion anti-narcotics aid package.

As many as 170 unarmed people were killed in 26 massacres in January alone, 
U.N. human rights monitors said Thursday, calling the pace an " alarming 
degradation" in Colombia' s 36-year conflict.

The United Nations on Saturday pleaded with the warring sides to end the 
fighting.

The killings at Chengue may have been avoidable.

The area around the village was one of many U.N. monitors had been warning 
the government about, representatives of the U.N. High Commissioner for 
Human Rights said.

In an Oct. 6 letter to Pastrana written on the town stationery of Ovejas, 
the municipality that encompasses Chengue, dozens of villagers wrote that 
they were living in " constant anxiety" because of rumors of an AUC attack.

The human rights group Amnesty International brought the letter to the 
attention of The Associated Press.

Some of those who signed it are believed to have been killed in the massacre.

Colombia' s defense ministry confirmed Friday that it received the letter 
from the presidency and forwarded it to military authorities in Sincelejo, 
the nearest city and the capital of Sucre.

In a Dec. 1 written response, the Sincelejo-based 1st Marine Brigade 
pledged to try preventing attacks but said it did not have enough troops to 
permanently protect all areas in the zone that were under threat from 
guerrillas and paramilitary groups.

" Information about possible attacks on towns by different violent groups 
are received on a daily basis, " said the reply, obtained by The AP from 
the defense ministry.

The Brigade claimed that on several occasions its troops successfully 
neutralized attacks on Ovejas.

Pastrana and defense officials condemned Wednesday' s massacre and vowed to 
redouble efforts to rein in the AUC. However, no investigation of possible 
negligence has been announced.

Meanwhile, Pastrana traveled to Paris on Saturday to begin a week-long 
European tour to seek world support for his country' s anti-narcotics 
initiative.

The U.S.-backed Plan Colombia has a military component targeting leftist 
rebels who protect illegal drug crops.

France' s Foreign Ministry said it would express support of peace talks to 
end Colombia' s internal conflict.
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