Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 10, 1994 TAG: 9404100035
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: FLOR DEL MONTE, COLOMBIA LENGTH: Medium
Under the agreement, signed in a dusty plaza by rebel leaders, senior government officials and a bishop, the Socialist Renewal Movement rebels will receive:
$215 each a month for one year.
$5,000 apiece in low-interest loans.
Pardons for political crimes and killings committed in combat.
Two seats in Congress for a four-year term, although they will have to win election to subsequent terms in the 162-seat chamber.
$2.5 million in government investments in impoverished areas designated by the rebels, and other benefits.
Most of the weapons of the more than 400 fighters of the Socialist Renewal Movement, or CRS, will be thrown into the sea. The rest will be melted down to make church bells.
But peace is not yet at hand for Colombia. About 8,000 leftist rebels belonging to three other groups are still fighting, though government peace negotiator Carlos Jaramillo said they have become more isolated than ever with Saturday's demobilization.
The rebels, their assault rifles poking above the crowd of 1,000, fired off bursts during the ceremony, then turned in their weapons.
The mother of rebel commander Enrique Buendia, killed by army troops Sept. 22, was the first to surrender a weapon: her son's black M-16 assault rifle.
Dry-eyed and strong-voiced, Carmen de Prada said her son was killed "because he wanted peace, a roof over the heads of all Colombians and opportunities for all."
When Buendia's name and those of other slain guerrillas were read, the rebels shouted "presente, presente, presente," meaning "I am here."
Cuban, British and Spanish diplomats were among foreign officials observing the signing. Vendors sold drinks and ice cream, and clowns and a man on stilts wandered about, creating a carnival atmosphere in the heavily armed crowd.
Half a mile away, mines and grenades were detonated, the last of the rebels' stockpile.
Negotiator Jaramillo dismissed criticism that the government was buying off the rebels because it could not win by force.
"Without the accord, the damage the CRS could have done is very great," Jaramillo said in an interview. "You don't need many people with guns to make a whole lot of trouble. That these rebels demobilized also gives the remaining guerrillas fewer excuses to remain fighting."
About 220 jailed members of the rebel group will be freed, unless they were convicted of kidnapping or atrocities - acts not covered by the amnesty, officials said.
For Jose Aristizabal, the agreement means that after spending half his 47 years fighting, he can return to civilian life.
"This generation has paid a sacrifice of blood and pain," said the guerrilla leader.
Like his compatriots, Aristizabal decided several years ago to split off from the National Liberation Army to form a new rebel group and seek a truce in a war he believed could not be won.
by CNB