DATE=2/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PICKERING - COLOMBIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259161
BYLINE=RHODA METCAFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A senior U-S State Department official visiting
Colombia says a proposed one-point-six billion dollar
package of anti-drug aid for the South American nation
will be used in part to fight leftist guerrillas.
Under-Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering
defended the controversial proposal at a news
conference Monday in Bogota. We have more from
reporter Rhoda Metcalfe.
TEXT: Mr. Pickering tried to downplay the military
side of the proposed U-S financing. Instead he
stressed that the aid package would be very wide
ranging.
/// FIRST PICKERING ACT ///
Our mutual goal is to eradicate drugs, promote
alternative crops and economic development,
foster respect for human rights, the rule of
law, achieve peace and build democracy.
/// END ACT ///
But the undersecretary had to admit a full two-thirds
of the proposed package -a billion dollars -- is
expected to be funneled into training and equipment
for the Colombian military. That's where the
controversy lies. A number of recent newspaper
articles in the United States - including an editorial
in the New York Times - worry that this could entangle
the United States in Colombia's complex guerrilla war.
Mr. Pickering brushed off the concerns.
/// SECOND PICKERING ACT ///
Being drawn into a terrible quagmire issue has
everything to do with my statements that the U-S
has no intention of sending troops into Colombia
to fight."
/// END ACT ///
American military personnel have been used in
Colombia, but only for training. Mr. Pickering
pointed out that the military aid is strictly aimed at
the drug trade. But Colombia's left-wing guerrilla
groups are now deeply involved in protecting drug
production. Replying to a question in Spanish,
Mr.Pickering admitted the U-S program would in part be
aimed at the guerrillas.
/// PICKERING SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER ///
He said our goal is to eliminate the production and
transport of drugs. If the guerillas are participating
in the trade - and he said, he has no doubt that they
are - then they will be a target. He said if the
rebels drop their drug ties, they have nothing to
fear.
But with Colombia's rebels now drawing close to half
their financing from drug activities, analysts say
they're unlikely to give it up without a fight. If
the fight heats up, critics wonder whether the U-S
will feel pressure to invest even more money and more
American lives in Latin America's last insurgent war.
Mr. Pickering's visit coincides with the release of
new statistics that the amount of land in Colombia
dedicated to producing cocaine and heroin expanded by
20% last year. Despite the eradication effort,
production of the drugs rose by even more, thanks to
improved plant varieties. (Signed)
NEB/rm/gm
14-Feb-2000 22:37 PM EDT (15-Feb-2000 0337 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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