COLOMBIAN REFUGEES LOOK AT CHARRED REMAINS OF THEIR HOME IN PANAMA, 1999-12-12 (photo)

Two Colombian refugees, Luis Arevalo, 32, (L) and Jorge Gonzalez, who are residents in Panama, look the remains of their home in border village of La Bonga, December 11. They were displaced last November 16 by a paramiltary group which set the village on fire. The Panamanian police have been patrolling the border with Colombia ever since a violent clash between Colombian paramilitary groups and Marxist guerrilla forces, who camped in the hills in Panamanian territory. Residents of villages along the border fled their village, leaving their homes, boats, and plots of land seven months ago. Panama's goverment, dignitaries from the United States and several Latin American countries will attend the official protocol ceremony for the transfer of the canal to Panama from the U.S. on December 14. AW