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The Pre-Programmed War has Started
Sunday, February 24, 2002
By Elizabeth Atherton
Colombia Update

On the night of Wednesday 20 February 2002, President Andres Pastrana announced for the second time in less than two months the end of the peace process with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). However, his latest declaration to the people of Colombia had a ring of deadly finality as he authorised General Fernando Tapias, head of the Colombian Armed Forces, to retake the demilitarised zone with immediate effect.

No 48-hour Interval This Time
There was no 48-hour interval this time to allow the Farc to withdraw from the zone. Just hours after the dreaded proclamation, military planes were overflying the demilitarised zone and
dropping bombs of up to 250 kg. By morning they had dropped more than 200 on military targets they had been planning for months from their zone frontier base at Tres Esquinas. This
is Plan B – the small print of Plan A or Plan Colombia.

13,000 Troops Sent to Zone, No Word on Civilian Casualties
More than 13,000 troops have been mobilised from different parts of the country to make their way to the zone. It is thought the takeover will be complete in less than six days. There has
so far been no information in the media about the condition of Farc combatants or possible civilian casualties.

* History Casts Doubt on Army's Ability to Protect Civilians
* A Civilian Bloodbath with Government Authorization
* Army Has Total Judicial Autonomy in old FARC Zone
* Parallels With Chechnya
* Media: Rupture Caused by FARC
* Media Forgets About State-Sponsored Terrorism
* Kidnapping of Senator is Attempt to Force Prisoner Exchange
* Money for War, no Money for the Poor
* Rupture Coincides with Escalation in US Aid
* A Planned War, Conceived in Washington
* The Only Hope is the International Community
(More: Colombia Update News Source)
2002 © Colombia Update.

Dan