Evening star., 1948-04-18
Dead in Bogota Rioting
Now Set at 1000 by
Colombian Paper
By the Associoted Press

bOJO1A, COLOMBIA, April IL
Ell TEMPO, Bogota newspaper, esti-
mated today that 1000 persons were
killed in the Colombian capitals up
rising of April 9. Topping previous
estimates of 300 killed, Ell TEMPO
said 400 were buried in Bogota ceme-
teries in one day alone.
Meanwhile, the government indi-
Gated the situation was we'll in hand
by announcing that no more reserves
would be called into the armed
services.
Five hundred United States, British
and Canadian nationals, all en-
ployes of the Tropical OIL Co. at its
Magdalena River plants 180 miles
north of the capital, have been cut
off from communication since the
revolt April 9.
American officials expressed con-
Germ, but not alarm, about their
safety Planes flying over the area
reported no signs of disturbances.
The employees normally communi-
cate with Bogota by radio, but the
transmitter fell into the hands OF
members of the Oil Workers Union
when rebels seized a Bogota station
and began calling on the country
to join the revolt. Oil union leaders
here have since advised the Oil
workers to go back to their jobs.
Liberals Ask Arrests Report.
Four brothers of Juan Roa Sierra.
mentioned by some newspapers here
as the assassin of Liberal Leader
Jorge Gaitan, told War Ministry
investigators today that their broth
er was an ardent follower OF Mr..
Gaitan. Mr.. Gaitan's assassination
set off the uprising.
The assassin was lynched by the
mob. The brothers said they were
unable to identify the body because
it was so badly mutilated They said
their brother had been missing
since April 8.
Military investigators called In
leading figures in Colombias small
but active Communist Party for
questioning about what, if anything,
they know about Mr. Gaitan's
death. Government sources empha-
sized the Communists were not un-
der formal arrest.
Two foreigners described as Ger
man refugees and Communists also
were reported to be undergoing
questioning.
Sure Communists Aided RiOting.
Persons close to the military in
vestigators said the army was not
sure that Communists killed Mr..
Gaitan, but they were dead certain
that the Communists jumped in with
both feet once the uprising got
started.
The National Committee Of the
Liberal Party, acting on stories that
1000 Liberal Party members have
been detained. asked today for a
government report. The committee
voted to support the government of
Conservative president Mariana Os-
pima Perez.
Archbishop Ismael Perdomo dis
closed in a statement today that
some snipers caught firing from
church towers were disguised in
priests habits.
Troops searching for goods looted
during the rioting have discovered
whole buildings crammed with
stolen merchandise.
Bank Plan Opposed.
A majority of the delegations to
the Inter American Conference,
which was interrupted by the upris-
ing, appeared today to have agreed
informally against creation of an
Inter-American Bank.
Argentina proposed creation OF
the bank, and went so far as to
promise to supply the greater part
of the capital to help American
nations carry out economic devel-
opments. The project drew the
support of Mexico, Colombia and
Peru.
The United States, however, op-
posed the suggestion. favoring in
stead the STRENGTHENING of the In