Скачать или смотреть COLOMBIA: PRESIDENT SAMPER VISITS CIUDAT BOLIVAR

(4 Jun 1995) Spanish/Nat

President Ernesto Samper Sunday visited the poor neighbourhood on the outskirts of the Colombia capital, Bogota, seen as a fertile breeding ground for leftist guerillas.

His visit came only days after guerillas attacked an army garrison in the neighbourhood. In the past few weeks more than 70 people have been killed in criminal and political violence in the area alone.

The government has now send reinforcements to the garrison.

The neighbourhood also known as Ciudat Bolivar, lies on the outskirts of the capital Bogota.

With a population of two million impoverished workers it has always had a reputation for blue-collar militancy.

Half the male population is under the age of 25 and with little employment available, it is now one of the biggest recruiting areas for the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (ARFC).

The guerilla movement is the biggest and oldest armed resistance force in the country and in the last 30 years it has remained a painful thorn in the government's side.

Only last Wednesday, the movement staged an attack against the army garrison in Ciudat Bolivar. There have been other brazen attacks against government forces in the past weeks, even in other outskirts of Bogota.

In a show of strength, President Ernesto Samper personally opened the new offices of the attorney general and public defence lawyers. He said that more access to the judicial system would help to bring down the high levels of violence.

SOUNDBITE:

My government's main concern is for the judicial system to become more accessible to a larger number of Colombians. That is why we have been working with the attorney general's office, the supreme court and other institutions

SUPER CAPTION: Ernesto Samper, President of Colombia

But the government cannot rule here without the armed forces. They have been trying to gain the confidence of the inhabitants.

SOUNDBITE:

We found a barrier when we first to Ciutad Bolivar. Right now we have won the hearts and minds of the population by helping the community. We have given them medical assistance, we have helped them improve their infrastructure and we have provided education and orientation to families about many issues
SUPER CAPTION: Colonel Filipe Araujo, Colombian army

The heavily fortified garrison however is also a symbol of the fact that the army is seen like an occupying force here.

As long as the people living in neighbourhoods such as Ciudat Bolivar do not have jobs, public facilities and security, guerillas will continue to find many willing recruits.

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