DATE=5/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232820
TITLE=U-S MILITARY / COLOMBIA (L)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=BRASILIA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE U-S ARMED FORCES SOUTHERN
COMMAND SAYS THE PENTAGON OPERATES TWO MILITARY PROGRAMS IN
COLOMBIA. ONE INSTRUCTS COLOMBIAN FORCES IN ANTI-DRUG TACTICS;
THE OTHER SERVES TO TRAIN ELITE U-S TROOPS THAT SPECIALIZE IN
POTENTIAL OPERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA. GENERAL CHARLES WILHELM
ADDRESSED THE TOPIC (TUESDAY) AFTER THE WASHINGTON POST
(NEWSPAPER) REPORTED THE EXISTENCE OF U-S SPECIAL FORCES IN
COLOMBIA. V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS FROM THE BRAZILIAN
CAPITAL, WHERE GENERAL WILHELM IS ACCOMPANYING U-S DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT.
TEXT: GENERAL WILHELM SAYS ALL U-S MILITARY MISSIONS IN
COLOMBIA ADHERE STRICTLY TO U-S POLICY DIRECTIVES, AND THAT THE
ACTIVITIES OF U-S ARMED FORCES IN COLOMBIA ARE SCRUTINIZED MORE
CLOSELY THAN THOSE CONDUCTED IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE REGION.
HE ACKNOWLEDGES U-S SPECIAL FORCES ARE ACTIVE IN COLOMBIA, TAKING
PART IN WHAT IS KNOWN AS "JOINT COMBINED EXERCISES AND TRAINING"
(J-CET). THE GENERAL DID NOT REVEAL SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAINING, BUT INDICATED THEY ARE DESIGNED
PRIMARILY TO BENEFIT ELITE U-S TROOPS RATHER THAN THEIR COLOMBIAN
COUNTERPARTS.
// WILHELM ACT //
THE GOAL IS TO SHARPEN THEIR LANGUAGE SKILLS, TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEIR (GEOGRAPHICAL)
AREA (OF SPECIALIZATION), TO GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO
TRAIN IN THE ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE PECULIAR TO THE
REGION AND TO SHARPEN THEIR SKILLS FOR THEIR MOST LIKELY
MISSIONS.
// END ACT //
GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE EXISTENCE OF U-S SPECIAL FORCES IN
COLOMBIA IS NOT A NEW DEVELOPMENT. HE SAYS ELITE U-S TROOPS HAVE
CONDUCTED AT LEAST TWO DOZEN EXERCISES IN COLOMBIA IN EACH OF THE
LAST THREE YEARS. THE SOUTHERN COMMAND GENERAL SAYS THE ONLY
OTHER U-S MILITARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN NATION CONSISTS
OF A PROGRAM TO TRAIN COLOMBIAN TROOPS IN COUNTER-NARCOTICS
OPERATIONS.
// WILHELM ACT #2 //
NUMBER ONE, THERE ARE NO U-S ADVISORS IN COLOMBIA.
POINT NUMBER TWO, THERE ARE NO U-S PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN
GROUND TACTICAL OR AIR TACTICAL OPERATIONS WITH
COLOMBIAN FORCES WHATSOEVER.
// END ACT //
GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE SCOPE AND PARAMETERS OF THE U-S MILITARY
PROGRAM IN COLOMBIA HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED. THE RESTRICTIONS COME
AS A RESULT OF THE UNITED STATES' DECERTIFICATION OF COLOMBIA AS
A RELIABLE ALLY IN THE WAR ON DRUGS - - AS WELL AS U-S CONCERNS
ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ON THE PART OF SOME UNITS OF COLOMBIAN
SECURITY FORCES.
// WILHELM ACT #3 //
THE TRAINING HAS BEEN FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON THOSE
SKILLS THAT AID THE COLOMBIANS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY
PROSECUTE THEIR COUNTER-NARCOTICS OPERATIONS. THOSE ARE
THE GOALS AND THE OBJECTIVES: PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE
ARMED FORCES, RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, AND TO INCREASE
THEIR EFFICIENCY IN CONDUCTING COUNTER- NARCOTICS
OPERATIONS.
// END ACT //
COLOMBIAN TROOPS BATTLE BOTH DRUG CARTELS AND LEFTIST GUERRILLAS.
GENERAL WILHELM SAYS THE UNITED STATES DOES HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
COLOMBIA'S SECURITY SITUATION, ADDING THAT THE RISK OF TERRORIST
ACTIVITY AND OTHER ATTACKS IS RISING AS THE COUNTRY APPROACHES
ITS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/TMD/PT
26-May-98 3:51 PM EDT (1951 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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