DATE=4/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / COLOMBIA PLOT (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261191
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// See also 2-261186 ///
INTRO: The head of U-S drug control operations says
Colombian paramilitary groups are plotting to
assassinate Colombia's President Andres Pastrana in
retaliation for the government's crackdown on their
activities. Mr. Pastrana - visiting Washington
Tuesday - is playing down the alleged plots.
Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White
House.
TEXT: The U-S Drug Czar, Retired General Barry
Mcaffrey, speaking to reporters after a meeting with
Mr. Pastrana at the White House, said right-wing
paramilitaries in Colombia may be - in his words -
`the most vicious and violent' in that country today.
He says these groups are battling Colombian rebels in
a fight over controlling proceeds from drug
trafficking. He says paramilitary forces have
threatened Mr. Pastrana with death in response to a
recent crackdown on their activities.
/// MCAFFREY ACTUALITY ///
The Colombian armed forces and police committed
themselves to going after these groups. They
have arrested or killed many of them in recent
weeks. The paramilitary forces have responded
with an assassination plot to kill President
Pastrana.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Pastrana, speaking later at a news conference with
U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, said he has
no evidence about such an alleged plot.
/// PASTRANA ACTUALITY ///
At this moment, we do not have any information.
As you remember some months ago there was a plan
to kill us, but we do not at this moment have
any information regarding a criminal attempt by
the paramilitaries to kill the president of
Colombia.
/// END ACT ///
But Mr. Pastrana acknowledges that paramilitary groups
are a problem in Colombia, and he appealed to the U-S
Congress to approve one-point-six billion dollars in
anti-drug assistance for his country - a package that
he said would help his government fight paramilitaries
and rebel groups involved in the drug trade. (Signed)
NEB/DAT/ENE/gm
11-Apr-2000 17:25 PM EDT (11-Apr-2000 2125 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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