Offbeat Leftist's New Take on Bogota

[Judi Lynn]

November 3, 2003 E-mail story Print


THE WORLD
Offbeat Leftist's New Take on Bogota
An oil union chief and former caddie drawn to salsa bars, Mayor-elect Luis Eduardo Garzon aims to fight poverty.



By Ruth Morris, Special to The Times


BOGOTA, Colombia — Luis Eduardo Garzon is hardly part of Colombia's ruling elite. He doesn't own a tie, he didn't finish college, and he hangs out in sweaty salsa clubs.

But after a turbulent electoral weekend, he has streaked into the stratosphere — a former golf caddie turned shining star of Colombia's emergent left-wing political force.

Portly and unpretentious, Garzon won 47% of the vote in municipal elections Oct. 26 to become mayor-elect of the bustling capital, Bogota. The victory put his fledgling party, the Independent Democratic Pole, on the map and placed Garzon in the most visible government post outside the presidential palace.

"I'm a Marxist-Lennonist," said Garzon, who began his political life as a Communist but has since moderated his stance. "Marxist for the Marx Brothers, and Lennonist for Lennon. My style of government will be authentic. There won't be any liposuction."

Garzon's triumph also dealt a serious blow to Alvaro Uribe, Colombia's hawkish, workaholic president, who was still enjoying his political honeymoon when Garzon irreverently stepped into the limelight. (snip/...)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mayor3nov03,1,221146.story?coll=la-headlines-world

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[bemildred]

1. Should be a good show.

I hope Sen. Garzon has good insurance.

This story has a lot of BS and spin in it.

I expect something will be done now to try to portray
Alvaro as not actually being an ineffectual loser.

[Say_What]

2. Background on the *journalist*

Always interesting how the US propaganda machine spins things. I've read most of the articles about Garzon and this one wins the Laced with Bullsh*t award hands down. Based on her background that she was held captive early this year, I'd hardly say that she is unbiased.

Recently she interviewed the three *contractors* held hostage, which the US is offering $5 million for info on.

<clips>

INTRO: Three Americans held hostage by rebels in Colombia say they do not want any attempts made to rescue them. The comments from the civilian contractors to the U-S government were made in an interview that has revived debate over a possible prisoner swap. Ruth Morris reports from Bogota.

TEXT: A journalist interviewed the three U-S defense contractors being held in a jungle hideout by Colombian rebels.

The three men were on an intelligence mission when their single-engine plane crash landed in rebel territory seven months ago. Commanders from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, say they are holding the Americans, and will only release them as part of a prisoner swap in return for jailed rebel leaders.

In photos made public this weekend, the men appear healthy and freshly shaved, while three rebels holding semiautomatic rifles stand guard. According to Colombian journalist Jorge Enrique Botero, who interviewed the men, they believe a rescue attempt would result in their death.

The interview raises several issues. The U-S State Department regards the FARC as an international terrorist organization, and refuses to negotiate

with the rebel army. But a rescue operation would be extremely risky and U-S military officials say they have no idea where the men are being held.

<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/09/mil-030913-29e5e58a.htm>

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<clips>

Two foreign journalists held hostage by leftist rebels for 11 days were freed Saturday in eastern Colombia.

Photographer Scott Dalton, 34, of Conroe, Texas, and Ruth Morris, a British citizen raised in California, arrived in a Red Cross van at the Saravena airport near the Venezuelan border.

Dalton and Morris waved at reporters at the airport, both smiling and looking in good spirits. They then boarded a Red Cross plane, apparently headed to Bogota, the capital.

The National Liberation Army, or ELN, abducted Morris and Dalton on Jan. 21 in eastern Arauca province while the freelance journalists were on assignment for The Los Angeles Times.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/23/world/main537777.shtml

<clips>

Her captors included a 15-year-old girl and a 35-year-old grandmother. The rebels dressed in civilian garb, rifles and grenades their deadly accessories in Colombia's 38-year civil war between Marxist guerillas, the Colombian government, and an outlawed right-wing paramilitary. But freelance journalist Ruth Morris wasn't afraid. At first.

Foreign journalists had always enjoyed a sort of immunity from the violent struggles they covered. But when Morris and her photographer, on assignment for the Los Angeles Times, were detained at a rebel roadblock, it was the start of 11 days of captivity at the hands of the National Liberation Army. Ruth Morris is home safe. And she is our guest. A reporter. Her rebel captors. And the stories we haven't heard about America's war in Colombia.

http://www.theconnection.org/shows/2003/02/20030219_b_main.asp

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