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Caribbean-Latin America
Wounded Farc face long war's end
2008-06-15
Guardian + Hugo = salt.
The helicopter headed west, rotors scything the air, towards the border with Colombia and a setting sun. The jungle canopy below was so thick that even at treetop level it was impossible to see what, or who, might be on the ground. The Venezuelan Mil Mi-35 combat transport helicopter was like a steel sauna and when it touched down in a clearing the crew quickly opened the doors. It made no difference. The air outside was hot and sticky. While other helicopters flew overhead, soldiers from the 12th Infantry Brigade fanned out into the trees, assault rifles at the ready, to reclaim a patch of Venezuela.

The frontier with Colombia, a red line on military maps, was just a few yards away but the jungle made no distinction - and nor did the guerrillas and armed groups which roved this no man's land near Boca de Grita in Zulia state, on the 1,400-mile border.

A Venezuelan patrol had discovered a secret training camp with weapons, huts and tunnels and General Jesús González, head of strategic operations, had come to oversee its destruction. 'We've found uniforms, night-vision equipment, stashes of drugs, the lot,' he said, tramping over debris. Moments later there was a loud explosion and a spiral of grey smoke; army sappers were blowing up the rest of the camp. 'Very good,' said the general. He lit a cigar and grinned.
Posted by:Steve White

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