Milford chronicle., 1949-02-04
BOgOta Rebuilds After
Riots

BOGOTA, Colombia - (P) ri
This city, torn by revolutionary
riots less than nine months ago, is
the scene Of reconstruction today
and steps have been taken toward
healing political wounds. While
new buildings are going up, the
trend toward national unity which
emerged from riots last April 8
has led to a reform in the voting
system.
Leaders of both the Liberal and
Conservative parties expressed be-
lief that the election reforms, vO-
ted by Congress as a bipartisan
measure. would do much to make
Colombian political factions get
along better with one another.
Conservative President Mariana
Ospina Perez recognized his cabi-
net after the April riots, with par
ticipauOn> Of Liberals. His unity
cabinet worked out a program of
pacificatiOn to permit ending Of
martial law, plans for recOnstruc-
ton Of BOgota, and proposed the
electoral reforms which Congress
approved.
Under the new electoral law, a
supreme electoral tribunal is SET
up, with equal participation for Lib
erals and Conservatives. The OBJ
jective is to make il as bipartisan
as possible, and Obviate charges
that national and local election
boards work for the interests of
the party in power.
Each voter will fingerprint his
ballot. The first election under the
new registration system will be
next spring for congress and de-
partment assemblies. The next
presidential election will be in the
summer Of 1850. The plan has been
criticized by some liberals who
claim the conservatives have ad.
cantages, but the liberal newspaper
Gel TEMPO" calls the system q
victory for Colombian democracy
Some modern buildings are go
ing up in commercial sections o
BOgOta where riots ripped through
whole blocks IN the outbreaks be
ginning last April during the Pal
American Conference. The govern
ment obtained a loan of 100000
from the Export-ImpOrt Bank 70
repairing the city. Fires and loot
ing had destroyed many stores
Present space may permit widen
ing Of colonial type streets.
StOrekeepers, who suffered grea
losses in the fires and riots, ar
recuperating rapidly and durin
the Christmas holidays. recOrde
an enormous volume of sales. Mi
itary police continue their patrol
in the city. In other places the reg
ular army Is on police duty becaus
of the discharge of the national pC
lice for desertiOn during the riot
President Ospina Perez has al
thOrized amnesty for purely pOlit
cal prisoners and some have bee
released
The country had practically r
turned TO normal months befOl
the raising Of the state Of siege ID
cember ~, and political tension hs
died out with the exception of son
MAUNAAAIlaA al Ca0 MACA g 1H04 e4u
incidents occurred Raising Il
martial law which had been on f
251 days had little effect On Il
common citizen His freedom
speech and his liberty to mo-
about or attend public meeting
were not under severe restriction
Legislative bodies met normal
but municipal councils were a
iOurned.
Various labor and political a
semblies took place. Some rad
stations were closed and static
were generally restricted regardil
transmission Of news and polite
speeches. Some restrictions of !
di0 news programs remain, due
measure that places full 'respo
sibilitg on the station owner