Home | China | World | Business FARC Attacks Cause Damage to Infrastructure in 50 Towns WED, FEB 27, 2002     The recent attacks waged by Colombia's largest guerrilla group on infrastructure facilities across the country have damaged energy and communication systems in more than 50 municipalities, official sources said on Tuesday. Minister of Energy and Mines Luisa Fernanda Laforeau said Tuesday that some 47 towns across Colombia have been without electricity since FARC launched their latest attacks. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) last Thursday launched attacks on targets across the country in response to the government decision to retake the rebel-controlled demilitarized zone in the south of the country. Meanwhile, Telecom, the state-run telecommunication company, admitted that telephone communication were interrupted in 52 towns in central and southern Colombia, due to the destruction of fixed and mobile telephone system towers. Critical situations also exist in San Vicente del Caguan, the main town in the 42,139-square-kilometer demilitarized enclave that previously served as the seat for peace talks between the FARC and the government, where a state of emergency was announced. The Pastrana government has set up an operation based on special troops to improve the vigilance of the national infrastructure, yet, he did not rule out the chance of further destruction due to the escalation of the rebel attacks. The attacks have translated into unexpected expenditures among public service companies, which have announced an increase in tariffs to cope with the crisis. FARC has destroyed this year some 110 electric towers and about a dozen telecommunication antennas, according to reports released by state-run companies ISA and Telecom. Editor:Liu Hongji Source:Xinhua Recommend to your friend email:    China Central Television,All Rights Reserved