DATE=3/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229032
TITLE=CONGRESS-COLOMBIA DRUGS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS WORKING ON A NEW
STRATEGY TO FIGHT NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING IN COLOMBIA. BUT AS
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE
COMMITMENT OF COLOMBIA'S ELECTED LEADERS.
TEXT: RANDY BEERS HAS BEEN ON THE JOB AS HEAD OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT'S COUNTER-NARCOTICS OFFICE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS. HE
HAS SPENT MOST OF THAT TIME WORKING ON A PLAN FOR COLOMBIA.
HE SAYS IT INCLUDES EXPANDED EFFORTS TO INTERDICT DRUGS AND
DESTROY COCA AND POPPY FIELDS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A GREATER
EMPHASIS ON SHARED INTELLIGENCE -- SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHS OF REMOTE
AREAS OF COLOMBIA TAKEN BY U-S SATELLITES FAR ABOVE EARTH.
MR. BEERS TOLD MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COMMITTEE HE HAS DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL WITH COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS,
AND THEY APPEAR SUPPORTIVE.
///BEERS ACT///
I HAVE TALKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH
RESPECT TO THE EXPANDED PROGRAM WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED
TO YOU AND THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THEIR COMMITMENT TO
PURSUE THAT PROGRAM.
///END ACT///
BUT GENERAL CHARLES WILHELM -- THE COMMANDER OF U-S MILITARY
OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE (THE U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND)
-- HAS CONCERNS. WHEN LAWMAKERS ASKED IF COLOMBIA'S LEADERS
HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO TAKE ON THE DRUG TRADE, HE WAS
UNUSUALLY BLUNT.
HE POINTED TO A MAN SITTING NEARBY DRESSED IN THE UNIFORM OF THE
COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE. GENERAL WILHELM SAID JOSE SERRANO -
THE DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE FORCE -- HAS SHOWN HIS COMMITMENT TO
FIGHT NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, AS HAS COLOMBIAN ARMY CHIEF JOSE BONNET.
///WILHELM ACT///
I THINK WE SEE FRACTIONAL COMMITMENT IN COLOMBIA.
GENERAL JOSE SERRANO IS SITTING RIGHT OVER HERE. HE'S
COMMITTED. GENERAL JOSE BONNET IS COMMITTED. I WOULD
TELL YOU THAT I DON'T THINK THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IS.
///END ACT///
GENERAL SERRONO DID NOT ADDRESS THE COMMITMENT OF HIS COUNTRY'S
POLITICAL LEADERS. INSTEAD, HE PROMISED HIS FORCES WILL
CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE DRUG TRADE. HE ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS A
DIFFICULT COMPLEX BATTLE THAT HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS
OF HIS MEN. HE STRESSED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLA GROUPS
HAVE JOINED IN A WELL-FUNDED, WELL-ARMED ALLIANCE.
///SERRANO (IN SPANISH) AND TRANSLATOR///
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FINANCED, AND SOPHISTICATED
GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD. THEY HAVE MODERN
ARMS. WE HAVE INFORMATION THEY ARE WORKING TO OBTAIN
MISSILES.
///END ACT///
THE DRUG TRADE IS ONE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THE GUERRILLAS.
KIDNAPPING IS ANOTHER. EIGHT AMERICANS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY
INSURGENTS IN COLOMBIA. THEY INCLUDE THREE MISSIONARIES WHO WERE
SEIZED FIVE YEARS AGO. (OPT) THEIR WIVES FOLLOWED THE MILITARY
MEN AND DIPLOMATS TO THE WITNESS TABLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS HEARING ROOM. EACH HELD UP A LARGE PICTURE OF HER
HUSBAND FOR NEARBY TELEVISION CAMERAS.
TANIA RICH SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HER CHILDREN.
///RICH ACT///
THE GIRLS RECENTLY ASKED ME "MOMMY, DO YOU THINK PEOPLE
KNOW IT IS NOT JUST HARD FOR US TO HAVE DADDY
GONE....BUT THAT IT ACTUALLY HURTS INSIDE?
///END ACT (END OPT)///
A SPOKESMAN FOR THEIR MISSIONARY GROUP -- THE NEW TRIBES MISSION
-- SAID THE FAMILIES GOT A MESSAGE LAST DECEMBER FROM THE MAIN
GUERRILLA GROUP IN COLOMBIA. THE GROUP DENIED ANY ROLE IN THE
KIDNAPPING, BUT DID STATE IT HAD SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
HOSTAGE TAKERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WDC/PLM
31-Mar-98 8:01 PM EST (0101 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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