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| 98 Inmates Escape in Bogota Jail |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 06/27/2001 |
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Two days after a dramatic jailbreak, authorities revealed that 98 inmates had escaped, including 19 leftist guerrillas, after rebels blew a hole in the prison's outer wall. Five prisoners were killed and twelve others injured in a shootout during the breakout Saturday from Bogota's La Picota federal prison. Dozens of armed rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, provided cover fire outside as their comrades fled through the gaping hole. None of the inmates have been caught. Officials had delayed revealing how many fled to complete a head count. Among them was Olivio Merchan, who is believed to be a FARC commander called "Ivan the Crazy One,'' prisons director Fabio Campos said. Escapes are common in Colombia, where inmates often buy the help of officers and administrators. Officers are often outgunned by their own prisoners. La Picota houses some 2,000 inmates, including guerrillas, rival right-wing paramilitaries and drug traffickers. A senior FARC leader said the guerrilla group would continue busting its members out of prison if the government refuses to exchange them for soldiers and police captured by the rebels. Earlier this month, the FARC freed 55 of its prisoners in return for 11 jailed rebels in what was termed a humanitarian exchange of ill prisoners. The swap occurred as part of peace talks to end a 37-year armed conflict. In a separate episode Monday, officials said suspected FARC rebels commandeered a helicopters and its six occupants, two pilots and four engineers working to install electrical towers in northwest Antioquia state. There was no immediate comment from the 16,000-strong rebel group, which bombs electrical towers in a sabotage campaign against Colombia's infrastructure. |
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