DATE=8/11/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA - U-S (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252671
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Colombia, the visit by a high ranking U-S
State Dept. official has added to growing speculation
that Washington plans to increase its military support
to Colombia and may become more directly involved in
the country's guerrilla war. Rhoda Metcalfe reports
from the Colombian capital.
TEXT: Speaking to journalists in Bogota Tuesday
night, Thomas Pickering, U-S Undersecretary of State,
rejected the rumors that have been flying around
Colombia, that Washington intends to send in troops to
help the Colombian army fight left-wing guerrillas.
//Begin Pickering act.//
The canard floating around is that the U-S is
preparing a military intervention, which is totally
false, totally crazy.
//End Pickering act.//
The rumors were stoked last week by U-S congressional
hearings. Congressmen like Dan Burton (Republican-
Indiana) argued that the guerrillas are becoming an
increasing menace because of Washington's shoddy
support to the Colombian military.
//Begin Burton act.//
We've got junk helicopters down there. We've got
four-thousand national police being killed. They're
now negotiating from a position of weakness with the
FARC guerrillas because we haven't done anything.
//End Burton act.//
Some U-S congressmen are calling for a doubling in
next year's military aid to Colombia - to more than a
half billion dollars.
And on Tuesday, Mr. Pickering made it clear that
Colombia-along with Nigeria, Indonesia and Ukraine-is
now a priority country for the U-S.
//Begin Pickering act.//
It is one of the four countries that in our view,
while in difficult situations, do have a real
opportunity to make progress in building a more
stable, democratic future for themselves.
//End Pickering act.//
Up until now, U-S military aid in Colombia has been
strictly targeted for use against drug trafficking and
not the guerrilla war.
But as the rebel movement continues to expand and
terrorize the country, there is growing pressure by U-
S politicians to allow the military aid to be used
directly against the guerrillas. (Signed)
NEB/RM/PLM
11-Aug-1999 03:54 AM EDT (11-Aug-1999 0754 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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