WILSON VEGA used to run a small farm near Barrancabermeja, in the broad, tropical valley of Colombia's Magdalena river. He was negotiating to buy the farm from its owner.

Wilson Vega过去在哥伦比亚境内Magdalena河热带山谷的Barrancabermeja开阔地附近经营小型农场，他正在谈判向土地所有人购买农场。

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Like the residents of Barrancabermeja's communes, Lino Bohorquez used to feel trapped in a cycle of violence and poverty.

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Last year, for similar reasons, they took control of Barrancabermeja, an oil city, after months of block-by-block combat with guerrillas.

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Since their arrival the refugees have been calling for a meeting with Colombia's new president, Andres Pastrana, and with senior government officials to discuss not only their immediate plight, but long-term proposals for restoring calm to Barrancabermeja and Bolivar province.

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