Excerpt from State Department Daily Briefing, November 12, 2002

Excerpt from State Department Daily Briefing, November 12, 2002
Daily Press Briefing
Richard Boucher, Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 12, 2002

QUESTION: On Colombia. Yesterday, there was kidnappings in a large city in Colombia, this time was a bishop and a priest. And I would like your comments on this. They were allegedly done by the FARC. And also, your comments on the extension of the state of emergency by the government of President Uribe for 90 more days in Colombia?

MR. BOUCHER: The US Government deplores the kidnapping campaign by illegal armed groups against religious and government figures. Yesterday's cowardly abduction of both Monsignor Jorge Enrique Jimenez, the bishop of Zipaquira, and the president of Latin American Bishops Conference, and a parish priest demonstrate once again the lack of regard for the most basic human rights by these groups.

The kidnapping of these two clergymen is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks against Colombia's Roman Catholic bishops and priests. The campaign by terrorists against Roman Catholic clergymen includes the March 2002 assassination of the Archbishop of Cali and most recently, in October, the FARC gunned down a parish priest as he was leaving his residence in Chalan Sucre.

Our US Embassy in Bogota will continue to closely monitor developments in this case. As far as who was responsible, I think I have to leave you with the Colombian authorities for that. They will have to determine through their investigation.

As far as the renewal of the state of internal disturbance, the first 90-day period was carried out with full respect for Colombia's constitution and the rule of law. As President Uribe has said, the Government of Colombia will ensure that the 90-day extension of its August 12th declaration of a state of internal disturbance will continue to be implemented in accordance with the rule of law and democratic norms. As provided for under the 1991 constitution, a state of internal disturbance may last a maximum of 270 days and allows for the president to issue decree laws, declare curfews, make searches without warrant while guaranteeing the protection of human rights and civil liberties.

I think that is about all we have to say on the matter.

Yes.

QUESTION: There is a plane deal between Brazil and Colombia, $247 million I believe that the US is trying to get the Colombians to change their mind on. Is that true?

MR. BOUCHER: I hadn't heard about it. I will have to check.

Yes, sir.

As of November 13, 2002, this document was also available online at http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2002/15066.htm