DATE=11/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242227
TITLE=COHEN / COLOMBIA PREVIEW (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS FROM NEARLY THREE DOZEN NATIONS
AND THE UNITED STATES ARE GATHERING IN CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA
SUNDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAY DISCUSSIONS WILL FOCUS ON STOPPING
DRUG FLOWS, HELPING HURRICANE VICTIMS, AND BOOSTING HUMAN RIGHTS
IN THE HEMISPHERE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN WILL SPEND HIS THREE DAYS
IN COLOMBIA TALKING WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM MOSTLY LATIN
AMERICAN NATIONS.
A SENIOR U-S DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS MR. COHEN WILL DISCUSS
TRANSNATIONAL THREATS INCLUDING THE FLOW OF DRUGS FROM SOUTH
AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES WITH OFFICIALS FROM COLOMBIA AND
OTHER NATIONS.
U-S AID TO COLOMBIA WAS SHARPLY LIMITED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF
PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA'S PREDECESSOR (ERNESTO SAMPER) BECAUSE
OF U-S CONCERNS ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN ADMINISTRATION'S LINKS TO
NARCO-TRAFFICKERS.
THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THE
NEW PRESIDENT. BUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD OF THE COLOMBIAN
MILITARY IS STILL BLOCKING U-S AID TO MOST COLOMBIAN ARMY UNITS.
ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE
HAVE DIED IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE LAST THREE DECADES IN
COLOMBIA. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FIGHTING VARIOUS GUERRILLA
FACTIONS. DRUG OPERATIONS ALSO MOVED INTO REMOTE AREAS -- AND IN
SOME CASES HAVE HIRED INSURGENT GROUPS TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS AND
DRUG PROCESSING OPERATIONS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN
POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE -- BLAMED ON RIGHT-WING MILITIAS
THAT CRITICS ALLEGE HAVE LINKS TO COLOMBIA'S MILITARY OR POLICE.
ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING MR. COHEN'S TRIP
IS U-S AID TO THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY. CRITICS SAY PAST PENTAGON
ASSISTANCE HAS GONE TO SOLDIERS IN LATIN AMERICA WHO ABUSE THE
PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT.
ONE OF THOSE CRITICS, VERMONT SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY, SPONSORED
THE LAW THAT CUTS OFF AID TO ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS. // OPT
// HE ARGUES U-S TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO SUPPORT
ARMIES THAT ATTACK FUNDAMENTAL U-S VALUES, LIKE RESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS. // END OPT //
BUT U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND SPOKESMAN RAUL DUANY SAYS U-S FORCES
ALREADY INCLUDE HUMAN RIGHTS CLASSES WHEN THEY TRAIN SOLDIERS
FROM OTHER NATIONS, AND THEY PLAN MORE SUCH WORK IN COLOMBIA.
MR. DUANY SAYS CUTTING OFF CONTACT WITH MILITARIES WITH POOR
HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS WILL NOT GET THEM TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS.
/// DUANY ACT ///
YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE IN MILITARY-TO-MILITARY CONTACTS AT
THE GRASS ROOTS LEVELS SO YOU CAN DEVELOP THE YOUNG UP
AND COMING FORCES TO HAVE THESE PRINCIPALS AND VALUES
THAT OUR U-S TROOPS HAVE.
/// END ACT ///
ANOTHER ISSUE WILL BE HOW TO MAKE THE WAR ON DRUGS MORE
EFFECTIVE.
// OPT // LARRY BIRNS OF THE COUNCIL ON HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS SAYS
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN U-S AID TO COLOMBIA AND OTHER NATIONS HAVE
NOT STOPPED THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TO THE UNITED STATES.
MR. BIRNS SAYS THE AMOUNT OF COLOMBIAN LAND PLANTED IN ILLEGAL
CROPS HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 10 FOLD OVER THE PAST DECADE, EVEN
THOUGH THE UNITED STATES SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SPRAY
PLANT-KILLING CHEMICALS ON ILLICIT CROPS. // END OPT //
BESIDES COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS, U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN WILL
ALSO MEET MINISTERS FROM ARGENTINA, CHILE AND BRAZIL, BEFORE
DEPARTING WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/JO
27-Nov-98 3:55 PM EST (2055 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
