Colombian troops move in to DMX after FARC withdrawal

(22 Feb 2002)

1. Various shot of Colombian military zone at night
2. Colombians Military Brigade #3 San Vicente walking during the day
3. Close up of a military riffle
4. Various shots of Colombian military marching on dirt road San Vicente de Caguan
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Military soldier, unidentified:
"At midnight, around 12:00 am"
6.UPSOUND (Spanish) Reporter: "How do you feel?"
7.SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Colombian soldier, unidentified:
"Happy to be here, relaxed. This is what we wanted, to enter this zone soon. We were waiting to put an end to all this. To come back again"
8. Various of soldiers bearing military weapons
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Colombian soldier, unidentified:
"We feel very content, all of us feel very content for having taken over the military zone. This is what all Colombians wanted"
10. UPSOUND (Spanish) Reporter: "Do you think the landing was too soon?"
11.SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Military soldier, unidentified:
"The landing was at night. We came with the black hawk (helicopter)"
12. Close up of military uniform
13. Various of Military soldiers standing, watching the zone

STORYLINE:

Elite Colombian troops have moved into rebel territory about 175 miles south of Bogota, following the government's decision to end the peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombian, known as FARC.

Two hundred soldiers flew into an abandoned army base today using ten American-made Blackhawk helicopters. The troops are the first of thousands ordered to reclaim the rebel zone for the government after recent peace talks collapsed.

The territory used to be a rebel safe haven.

The soldiers wore night goggles and carried assault riffles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

They encountered little resistance as they arrived on the outskirts of the largest town in rebel territory. One soldier said the helicopters faced some automatic weapons fire, but were not hit.

Leftist rebels have been known to occupy surrounding jungles and pastures.

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