MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Colombia demobilization plan working: 773 guerrillas in three months

Colombian guerrillas are turning in by the hundreds according to the latest report from the government. In March 237 guerrillas demobilized and turned in their weapons taking the total for the first quarter of the year to 773.

The government sponsored Humanitarian Demobilization Program from the Ministry of Defence said that the March number includes 24 minors and 54 women. Of the total number, 195 belonged to the main grouping FARC; 36 to the Liberation Army, ELN and 5 to small dissident groups.

The largest number demobilized at Armed Forces and Police units, 193; Security Administration Office, DAS, (intelligence service) received 31 and the Colombian Welfare Institute, 12. Most demobilizations took place in the Cauca Valley, south west Colombia, and the rest spread through out the country.

Last Friday another batch of guerrillas from ELN turned in to a special anti narcotics unit from the Colombian Army when they were surrounded in a jungle area close to the Ecuadorean border.