From: rexy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 23:55:02 -0400 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: PUBLIC COMMUNIQUE PUBLIC COMMUNIQUE The spokespersons of the FARC-EP inform the national and international public: In a press conference from Los Pozos on January 9 at 4:30 pm, the High Commissioner for Peace, Camilo Gomez stated the FARC-EP had asked for the 48 hours agreed upon between President Pastrana and Commandant Manuel Marulanda as the guarantee for us to withdraw in case of the termination of the peace process. We, the spokespersons of the FARC-EP did not request the 48 hours in question, nor have we left the Table. In line with the orientation of the Central General Staff, we are awaiting the presidential decision until January 20. In his statement at 9:30 pm on the same day, President Pastrana said he would keep the doors open to dialogue and negotiation. If this is so, then it is the Government and not the FARC-EP that should return to the Table, since we have never left it and on the contrary have been presenting a series of proposals aimed at freeing the process of its obstacles. An end to the over flights of our encampments by warplanes; to the army road blocks in the name of paramilitarism in the area bordering the Zone, at which they charge taxes on the merchants, truckers and residents in general; to the restrictions on visits to the Zone by citizens and foreigners; to the sending of covert agents with plans to assassinate the guerrilla chiefs; plus a clarification by the Government as to whether or not it considers the FARC-EP to be a terrorist organization, in order to avoid giving interventionist pretexts to the United States: these are the measures we have requested to have reviewed by the President and not, as is being claimed with bad intention, that we are looking for suspension of measures outside the Zone or near the Capital of the Republic. With the intention to go forward, we have proposed that once the unilateral measures announced by the President last October 7 are lifted, we dedicate ourselves in the months of February and March to analyzing the theme of a subsidy for the unemployed; and in April and May, to the matter of a Cease-fire and Cessation of Hostilities, both issues contained in the San Francisco de la Sombra Accord. We have received replies to our letters from the President of the Episcopal Conference, Msgr. Alberto Giraldo, and from James Lemoyne, Special Advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations, and we have listened to the Ambassador of France, Coordinator of the Group of Facilitators, who manifest his readiness to help save the peace process. We are ready to meet with them and other personalities and organisms, but it is necessary to clarify to the FARC-EP, the country and the world which of the two hours we are to take as reference for the conclusion of the announced 48 hours: that of the High Commissioner at 4:30 pm or of the President at 9:30 pm. Such delicate themes as peace and reconciliation of Colombians must be treated with high political standards and not emotional sallies like the ones we have seen in recent hours. The unemployment, hunger, lack of education and health that affect the Colombian people will be solved by social investment and not the machines of war. Raúl Reyes Joaquín Gómez Carlos Antonio Lozada Simón Trinidad Andrés París Mountains of Colombia, January 10, 2002 _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
