ELN says United States has spy post against Venezuelan government

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, March 17, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Liberation Army of Colombia (ELN) military chief, alias Antonio Garcia, says the United States is attempting to turn Colombia’s Arauca Department into a spy center against the Venezuelan government of President Hugo Chavez Frias.

In an interview published by Colombian broadsheet, El Espectador, Garcia adds that the US watching post ... housing 70 US soldiers ... will also coordinate conspiracy campaigns against Chavez Frias.

“The conquest of Arauca has become a top priority for the Uribe government because of the oil wells and the border with Venezuela … the 'gringo' outpost installed at Saravena is doing more than protecting oil pipelines … it has become a spy and conspiracy center against Venezuela.”

The ELN chief says Uribe has made two big mistakes, which 5 former governments avoided, namely, ending the insurgents’ political status and opening the door to pardon the paramilitaries and make them legal.