COLOMBIA: The Army Digs In

The rise to power of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla differs from that of the stereotyped Latin American strongman: he toppled not a fairly elected government but a dictatorial regime that most Colombians were sick of. The country cheered, believing that the army, which had traditionally let civilians run the country, would shepherd Colombia back to elections and normality. But the soldiers have inevitably come to like the feel of power. Last week, on the second anniversary of President Rojas Pinilla's revolution, there were plentiful signs that the army is digging in for a long stay.

Beclouding his promise of an election...

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