============================================
U.S. officials have refused to comment on
whether they have asked the army to curtail
its offensive. But officials said operations
involving hundreds of troops in the wooded
area may lack the precision and coordination
to succeed and could jeopardize the hostages'
safety.
============================================

THE WASHINGTON POST

Thursday, 16 April 1998


U.S. Tells Colombia Army Imperils Hostages
 ------------------------------------------ 

By Laura Brooks, Special to The Washington Post 


BOGOTA -- As Colombian troops continued an air and ground 
offensive against leftist rebels holding four kidnapped Americans 
this week, U.S. officials said that the military actions could endanger 
the safety of the hostages.

"We expressed our concern about this activity to the Colombian 
military" on Tuesday, said a State Department official, who gave no 
details. "I think they understood."

Over the weekend and on Tuesday, ground troops attacked rebel 
units in a remote mountainous area in the central state of Meta, Gen. 
Fredy Padilla, commander of the army's 7th Brigade, said in an 
interview. The troops received air support from Black Hawk 
helicopters and AC-47 gunships, he said.

Eleven soldiers and 11 rebels were killed over the weekend when 
members of an elite counterinsurgency brigade pursued rebels in an 
area 45 miles southeast of Bogota.

The fighting took place in the area where guerrillas seized four 
Americans, an Italian and more than two dozen Colombians on March 
23 near the city of Villavicencio, 50 miles southeast of the capital. 
The Americans --Thomas Fiore, Todd Mark, Peter Shen and Louise 
Augustine-- were on a bird-watching trip when they drove into a 
roadblock set up by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of 
Colombia. It is the larger of Colombia's two principal guerrilla groups 
and has recently dealt the army some of the most serious setbacks in 
the country's 40-year communist insurgency.

The guerrilla group has refused to release the captives, saying they 
would be killed if they are determined to have ties to the CIA, the 
FBI or the Drug Enforcement Administration. But the rebels also have 
suggested that they will ask for ransom payments and that they may 
hold the tourists for as long as a year.

Fiore escaped from the rebels on April 2 under unclear 
circumstances, the Italian captive was released today and most of the 
Colombians have been freed. But the guerrillas still hold the three 
American bird-watchers; another, unidentified American captured 
separately; and five Colombians, Padilla said.

Some Colombian officials praised the military's efforts, saying troops 
are pushing the rebels to resolve the impasse over the captives. 
Padilla said the army is putting "appropriate pressure" on about 300 
rebels. 

"The purpose of this operation is that these [hostages] be freed safe 
and sound as soon as possible," he said. Padilla said army attacks 
have not been indiscriminate and occurred only when troops have 
directly observed the abductors.

"We've been very emphatic in affirming to all our men involved in 
operations that the most important thing is the security and physical 
integrity of the captives," he said.

U.S. officials have refused to comment on whether they have asked 
the army to curtail its offensive. But officials said operations 
involving hundreds of troops in the wooded area may lack the 
precision and coordination to succeed and could jeopardize the 
hostages' safety. 

Padilla acknowledged U.S. fears, saying "I believe it is a normal 
reaction --that concern exists by the families as well as by 
government officials regarding the hostages' fate." Army officials said 
they do not intend to curb their attacks. "The operations must 
continue, but the army is taking precautions to preserve the lives of 
those abducted," said Capt. Fernando Avila.

The offensive comes at a time when the army has been severely 
criticized in Colombia and the United States for its lackluster 
performance against the two major rebel groups. In recent weeks, 
U.S. military commanders have stated that the army is inept, poorly 
equipped and losing ground against an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 
rebels.

In recent weeks, U.S. officials have issued increasingly severe 
warnings about the danger to Americans traveling in Colombia. 

Guerrillas have recently issued threats against U.S. military officials, 
saying they are targeting anyone involved in counterinsurgency 
efforts. U.S. officials say there are no U.S. advisers helping Colombia 
fight its rebels, but Washington is supplying anti-drug aid and 
instruction which is used against rebels involved in drug operations. 

Correspondent Douglas Farah in Washington contributed to this 
report. 

Copyright 1998 The Washington Post
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