500 DEAD IN RIOTS IN COLOMBIA

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 5

500 DEAD IN RIOTS IN COLOMBIA

New Government Gaining Control COMMUNIST AGENTS ALLEGED

NEW YORK. April 11.

The revolutionary rioting in Bogota, the Colombian capital, and other parts of the republic are believed by observers to have possibly been directly inspired by Communists to wreck the Pan-American conference. before plans for a comprehensive antiCommunist purge by the 21 nations taking part could be put into effect. There was a general strike called on Friday. The rioters were disorganised, but underneath there was a clear pattern indicating that what had almost certainly sprung from an unpremeditated murder was being taken advantage of by other forces. The Government buildings were a centre. of attack, and the headquarters of the conference were wrecked. The chances of the conference ever resuming again in Bogota—except perhaps in some face-saving rump session—seemed remote to-day. The Government will clearly be unable to provide the facilities for a resumption of full-scale deliberations for da.vs, and perhaps weeks. All the equipment and records of the Inter-American conference in the Colombian capital were destroyed in the revolt on Friday. Representations of the delegations to the Pan-Ameri-can conference are asking for guarantees of safety in evacuating personnel to Panama. On Saturdav a food shortage at Bogota forced the delegations to the Pan-American conference to consider plans for evacuating 100 personnel from the rubble-strewn city. Sporadic but often heavy sniping continues throughout Bogota. The few people in the streets hold their hands high over their heads when crossing intersections where troops stand guard. The police are still in barracks. The perils of the situation have been increased by falling walls of burnt-out buildings. There were no new large fires to-day. The rubble in some streets is 10 feet high. Bogota’s business centre is a shambles. Fire and looting continue with 300 dead reported in the last count. Churches have been sacked and burned. A food shortage is developing.

A National Broadcasting Company correspondent, in a broadcast from Bogota, said: “Mobs are prowling the streets, attacking anybody or anything that strikes their eyes. Even little children have gone into looted liquor stores and come out drunk, swinging knives and machetes. Snipers fired at the United States Embassy windows all Friday night, set fire to .the building four times, and hurled bombs. MARTIAL LAW Martial law was declared twelve hours after the declaration on Friday night of a state of siege in Bogota. On Sunday the new coalition Government announced that martial law existed throughout Colombia, and the army will shoot anyone seen looting. The army has taken over the distribution under an armed guard. People have been warned to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors closed. The American consuls in the other Colombian cities reported to-day that the Government forces are in control of the situatidn, although there has been looting and burning of buildings, including churches and newspaper offices in the seaports of Barranquilla, Buena Ventura and C'artagenu. The formation of a coalition has not satisfied the demands of the Communists and other extremists.

Young Rioters Partly Wreck Colombian Port

(Rec. 8.30). BOGOTA, April 11. Rioting mobs in the sea port of Barranquilla, in Colombia, carried Red banners as they looted, wrecked, and burned many buildings, including the Catholic Cathedral of the town. An eye-witness said: “Most of the rioters were kids of 15, 16, or 17 years of age. There were others as young as 13 and 14 years. There were some older persons too”. Mobs ran wild in Barranquilla after they had looted shops of knives, machetes, and other metal objects. The mobs went through the entire business district, in which all activities came to a standstill. The rioters mobbed the newspaper, La Prensa, wrecking and burning its plant. It was stated: “One man was shot dead because he was over-insistent on going back into the building, and the police then opened fire”.

U.S. Planes Evacuate

Americans

(Rec.’9.so). LONDON, April 12. A Washington report says: Two C. 54 U.S. Army transport aircraft took off from Panama Canal zone today for Bogota to evacuate women attached to the United States delegation to the Pan-American conference. The Colombian Government is m full control of the Bogota airport. One of the transports arrived back at the Panama Canal zone to-night, carrying 43 evacuees, 18 of whom are United States citizens.

Pan-American Conference Upset

(Rec. 9.40). LONDON, April 12. Reuter’s correspondent at Pogota says: Whether or not, as the Colombian Government is. now alleging, the whole mad affair has had a .communist inspiration, the Pan-American conference, its headquarters, and its intentions have been wrecked, and it will be impossible for it to carry on with any seriousness in this city.

Conference at Bogota to be Continued

(Rec. 10.10) NEW YORK, April 11 Too delegates to the inter-American conference announced to-night that they have decided to continue their parley in Bogota, if possible. The Colombian Government is reported to have appealed to the delegates to stay, and to give the Government, a chance to show that it can maintain control-

Army Regaining Control of Capital"

(Rec. 8.10) BAGOTA, April 11 The Colombian Government announced that its army now completely controlled the central part of the city of Bagota and some of the outskirts. It stated that at least five hundred have been killed durinq the rioting. The Government also announced the arrest of several persons, including two described as Russian agents who participated in the seizure of the national radin station. It was from the radio station that a revolution was proclaimed on Friday. The new Coalition Government has

ordered a State funeral with full honours for Doctor Gaitan, whose murder preceded the upheaval. The funeral is to be followed by eight days of national mourning. . ■ The army which has remained IpyaJ throughout the uprising has called un reserves to bolster its strength to twenty thousand men.