DATE=8/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236592
TITLE=COLOMBIA / INSURGENCY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-RUNNING W/CHANGE FROM 70 TO 100 IN INTRODUCTION ///
INTRO: A SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST IN THE U-S CONGRESS
HAS CALLED FOR AN INCREASE IN U-S COUNTER-NARCOTICS AID TO
COLOMBIA. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR REPORTS, CONGRESSMAN
BENJAMIN GILMAN MADE THE CALL IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT WAVE OF
VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN NATION THAT HAS LEFT MORE THAN 100
PEOPLE DEAD.
TEXT: CONGRESSMAN GILMAN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS COMMITTEE WITH A POWERFUL VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO
SHAPING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES.
ON WEDNESDAY, HE SHARPLY CRITICIZED COLOMBIA'S INSURGENT GROUPS
FOR STAGING A SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY JUST
PRIOR TO THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT ANDRES PASTRANA.
THE U-S CONGRESSMAN CALLED FOR RENEWED U-S EFFORTS TO HELP
COLOMBIA FIGHT THE GUERRILLAS.
////GILMAN ACT 1 ///
NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS A TIME FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION
TO SEND A DECISIVE MESSAGE BY EXPEDITING BADLY NEEDED
COUNTER-NARCOTICS ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA. IT WOULD BE
WRONG TO FURTHER DELAY COUNTER NARCOTICS AID BY TAKING A
'WAIT AND SEE' APPROACH IN THE HOPES THAT THE NARCO
GUERRILLAS WILL LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND ABANDON THEIR
DRUG TRADE.
///END ACT///
MR. GILMAN SPOKE AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON COLOMBIA DURING
WHICH HE CRITICIZED A PLAN BY PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA FOR
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONES IN SOME AREAS WHERE THE INSURGENTS
OPERATE.
///GILMAN ACT 2 ///
ESTABLISHING DEMILITARIZED ZONES THAT INCLUDE ANTI-DRUG
OPERATIONS, I THINK WOULD BE TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.
THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY ALLOW DRUGS TO BE CULTIVATED,
(AND) PRODUCED FREELY. AND PEACE AT THE PRICE OF A FREE
NARCO-PRODUCTION ZONE WOULD BE A FAUSTIAN BARGAIN (BAD
TRADE-OFF) THAT WOULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE OUR BILATERAL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLOMBIA.
///END ACT///
MR. GILMAN'S COMMENTS CONTRASTED WITH SEVERAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND
ACADEMIC PANELISTS WHO SPOKE AT THE HEARING, SUCH AS PROFESSOR
MARC CHERNICK OF WASHINGTON, D-C'S GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY. MR.
CHERNICK, WHO IS A SPECIALIST ON EVENTS IN COLUMBIA, SAYS THE
PEACE PLAN OF PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.
///CHERNICK ACT///
THE PEACE PROCESS IS, IN FACT, THE MOST DIRECT AND
EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BE
ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF ILLICIT NARCOTICS IN
COLOMBIA. THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY NOT FIGHTING THE
GUERRILLAS, AND NOT INCREASING THE WAR, (NOT)
INCREASING THE VIOLENCE, BUT, IN FACT, ENGAGING THE
GUERRILLAS.
///END ACT///
THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON U-S POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA WAS HELD
ONLY A FEW DAYS AFTER MR. PASTRANA MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT
THE WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/DWD/JO
05-Aug-98 6:19 PM EDT (2219 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
