From ......... Associated Press

November 17, 1994

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- President Ernesto Samper said Thursday he wanted to hold peace talks with leftist rebels to end a 30-year war that has killed 70,000 people.

Samper promised to guarantee the security of rebel negotiators in talks he said should be held abroad. He also vowed to disband rightist paramilitary groups, accused of assassinating hundreds of leftist politicians and members of demobilized rebel groups.

"We are ready to begin a new era, that of preparing for future negotiations which will start when we are sure they would bring us permanent peace," Samper said.

The announcement, made in the southwestern city of Popayan, represents the brightest hope in years that an end to the war is in sight.

But although the two biggest rebel groups, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army, have said they also want peace, many stumbling blocks remain.

Talks broke down in 1992 because the government believed the rebels were unwilling to disarm. Samper, who took office Aug. 7, warned he would not allow new talks to "be used to conduct armed proselytism."

Samper also said the media would be barred from attending talks. The insurgents have insisted talks be open to reporters.

Colombia is one of the world's most violent countries, afflicted with the globe's highest homicide rate and plagued by right-wing paramilitary groups, violent drug traffickers and guerrillas.

The state-oil company said Thursday that rebels had blown up part of the nation's largest oil pipeline in remote northeast Colombia two days earlier, spilling 4,000 barrels of crude and closing the pipeline for 48 hours.

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From - Roman Catholicism ... By Loraine Boettner, page 437

"The most glaring example of persecution in our western hemisphere in recent years, and continuing to some extent to the present day, is found in the nation of Colombia. There a reactionary government with the support of the Roman Catholic Church came into power in 1948. A concordat was signed with the Vatican, under which severe restrictions were placed on Protestants. 60 percent of the country was declared "mission territory" and closed to Protestant work of any kind. During this period 116 Protestants have been killed, 66 Protestant churches or chapels have been burned or bombed, and over 200 Protestant schools have been closed. (Report of the Evangelical Confederation of Colombia, Bulletin No.50; June 26, 1959)."

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Roman Catholicism is a curse on Colombia.

As it is on every nation to the degree it dominates.