-Caveat Lector- Two Weeks in Rebel Hands Prompts a New View of Colombian Conflict AP 17-JUN-99 CALI, Colombia (AP) -- Two weeks of scaling mountains in the cold and rain, herded around by leftist insurgents intent on teaching their captives a lesson, gave Rafael Posada a new view of the Western hemisphere's longest-running civil conflict. The rebel National Liberation Army, or ELN, released Posada and 32 other wet, haggard hostages late Tuesday in mountains south of Cali. The freed hostages had been among 160 parishioners hustled out of the La Maria church on Cali's southern edge on May 30 by the country's second-largest rebel group and trucked into the mountains. Most of those seized were freed that same day. But at least 20 remain captive. Posada, a 50-year-old administrator at the CIAT agricultural research institute in Cali, said the experience gave him a new perspective on Colombia's nearly four decades of class-based war. "I always thought that paying my taxes, working hard, being a good father, that this war wasn't mine. Now I see that this violence is the consequence of an economic model that doesn't work," said Posada, his face was chafed by sun and wind. Introduced to the life of Colombia's rural poor -- with little to eat, not enough good blankets, sleeping on the floor -- helped him understand what draws young peasants to the rebels, Posada said. "When we asked for more blankets they told us 'Thousands of our comrades are in jails, sleeping on the floor awaiting trial.' When we asked, 'Why are we here?' they said that theirs was a social movement to do away with injustice and poverty and that our abduction was part of that," said Posada, who lost nine pounds during the ordeal. The ELN also is holding 24 people from an Avianca domestic flight it hijacked April 12. The rebels claim the mass abductions are to force President Andres Pastrana's government to seriously engage it in peace talks. But Roman Catholic officials on Wednesday accused the ELN of seeking ransoms for some captives. "They want to make money at the expense of the pain and suffering of the hostages," said Isaias Duarte Cancino, the archbishop of Cali. Although admitting privately that ransoms have been sought, no relative of a hostage still being held has confirmed the ransom requests publicly. No known ransoms were paid for the hostages that were freed. "We who were freed think that those who remain captive are going to have to pay ransoms -- although the guerrillas never told us as much," Posada said, adding that those still held were "people of means." The rebels have vowed to release the Avianca hostages later this week, according to the Colombian and international commission that received the freed churchgoers. Cecilia Ruiz, 47, was among those freed Tuesday. Her 20-year-old son Patrick is still being held. "Most Colombians who have the means are leaving the country. After this, I think I would too, if I could," she said. "What future is there for my children, or grandchildren, growing up in such chaos?" Copyright 1999& The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ================================= Robert F. Tatman [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Remove "nospam" from the address to reply. NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml POSTING THIS MESSAGE TO THE INTERNET DOES NOT IMPLY PERMISSION TO SEND UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM) TO THIS OR ANY OTHER INTERNET ADDRESS. RECEIPT OF SPAM WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION OF THE SENDER'S ISP. ____________________________________________________________________ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape WebMail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
