The Best Attractions In Gachala

Columbia: Army Survivors And Victims Of FARC Attack - 1999

Spanish/Nat

The twisted bodies of some 36 soldiers have been retrieved from a damp, misty hillside in Colombia a day after fierce fighting with leftist rebels in mountains south of the capital Bogota.

The soldiers died in clashes touched off by a rebel attack on a mobile army encampment.

Those who survived were hysterical as they emerged from the bush following the massacre .

Colombia's powerful guerrilla insurgency appears never to have been stronger in its 35-year history.

A 12-hour battle broke out Thursday after hundreds of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels overran an army camp near Gutierrez, 27 miles from Bogota in Colombia's eastern cordillera.

The army said 600 soldiers squared off with about 500 fighters from the 15-thousand member FARC.

A long battle followed and the army's losses were severe.

Thirty six bodies belonging to the military have been counted.

No injured have been found.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
With the fog that here was today we could not see anything.
Q: Were you all surrounded?
A: Yes, on all sides.
SUPER CAPTION: Military soldier

The fighting broke out, despite continuing efforts to rekindle peace talks between the FARC and the government.

Many see this attack as yet another effort by the rebels to strengthen their hand at the negotiating table.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
At this place called Sabanitas, we have found 36 dead bodies belonging to the military.
SUPER CAPTION: Red Cross official

But FARC rebel spokesmen have warned repeatedly that talks will not guarantee peace and further hostilities are likely to continue until term are agreed on both sides.

They maintain that a cease-fire is still a long way away.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
After an extensive search lasting more than two hours we have found no injured but we are going to exhaust our efforts to pursue that possibility.
SUPER CAPTION: Red Cross official

Reports suggest that the rebels used gas cylinders full of explosives to inflict the heavy damage.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
They mounted an M-60 over there so I turned around and got down under a bed and I got out at about 05:30 and looked for other survivors but found no one but another soldier who had also escaped death.
SUPER CAPTION: Soldier

The rebels have repeatedly stated that their struggle is solely with the government of Colombia.

They have also warned the U-S that any involvement on their part in this conflict would result in a situation worse than Vietnam.


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Termales Macheta COLOMBIA

Nice affordable place to visit near Bogotá, can be by bus on the Highway North, about one hour. Cool place but the water is hot.

BOOM! Mineral Explorers - San Diego excerpt

Explosives are used to uncover quartz with tourmaline at the Oceanview Mine, the main actively working underground mine in the world famous Pala Gem mining district.
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Salto del bungee Jumping mas alto del mundo!!

COLOMBIA: OVER 900 ELECTION CANDIDATES RESIGN OVER SAFETY FEARS

Spanish/Nat

More than 900 candidates due to contest regional elections in Colombia next month have resigned fearing for their safety.

An estimated 22 candidates have been assassinated and 200 kidnapped since the electoral campaign began earlier this year.

On Tuesday, candidates suspended their campaign in the more rural department of Caqueta, 380 kilometres south of the capital, Bogota, due to lack of security.

Solita lies in one of Colombia's most troubled departments, Caqueta.

The region is a stronghold for guerrilla organisations bent on sabotaging the regional elections scheduled for October 26th.

Guerrilla groups such as the National Liberation Army (E-L-N) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) view the elections as a farce and the government as a corrupt.

Threats, kidnappings and assassinations have driven candidates elsewhere in the department to the point of despair.

In Florencia, the capital of Caqueta, the mayor suspended the political campaign on Monday due to lack of safeguards for those taking part.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
We have agreed to suspend all political activity in Caqueta, all campaigning, until there are real guarantees (for our security) and we have come here to let the national government know that we are going to ask the International Red Cross that they act as mediators to start a dialogue with the guerrillas to find ways towards a solution for this difficult situation.
SUPER CAPTION: Biatriz Candamil,

In Colombia's capital Bogota, military officials last Monday (September 8) drew up measures to ensure the elections went ahead.

An additional 20-thousand members of the armed force were committed to boost security measures in the run up to October 26th.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
We will protect the national territory as far as it's humanly possible and we will try to reach the farthest village to guarantee the elections but political decisions to resign or not, to take part (in the elections) or not take part are beyond our remit because they are purely political.
SUPER CAPTION: General Manuel Bonett, Commander of the Armed Forces

The small town of Gachala, 40 miles (70 kilometres), east of Bogota is just one community left in terror by the actions of guerrilla forces.

On August 3rd rebels descended on the town of 6-thousand people and shot dead two men, accusing them of acting as military informants.

The villagers were then summoned to the town square and warned any political candidates who stood for office would also die.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
I think there cannot be elections when the lives of the citizens and candidates are under threat. The government is saying that elections should take place everywhere but we think Gachala is not included because elections are not going to take place. What is more, not even the citizens are going to show up on election day. It's as simple as that. There won't be anybody to vote.
SUPER CAPTION: Pedro Antonio Rodriguez Rojas, mayor of Gachala

Grenades and gun shot damaged the local police station.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish)
They (guerrilla) warned us that politicians should not continue in politics or they would take further actions against us. We understood this as a threat against our lives.
SUPER CAPTION: Helbert Beltran, former candidate

There are an estimated 29 other municipalities where all candidates have withdrawn from the electoral race.

More than 300 mayoral and council candidates have pulled out.

Observers believe the insurgents' are working to gain control of as many municipalities as they can ahead of eventual peace talks.

If the insurgents control a large number of Colombia's 11-hundred and 72 municipalities they could become a major force in national affairs.



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