DATE=4/20/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA CORRUPTION
NUMBER=5-46167
BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Colombia, a corruption scandal in congress
has the public on the verge of revolt against their
politicians. A police investigation caught
congressional staff skimming millions of dollars off
contracts, and several top congressmen are being
investigated on suspicion of sharing in the kickbacks.
As Rhoda Metcalfe reports from Bogota, President
Andres Pastrana wants to clean house in congress and
make it a leaner, more credible political body --
breaking away from a long history of political
corruption.
TEXT: It is hard to imagine that in Colombia, a
country plagued by a seemingly interminable guerrilla
war, an economic crisis and widespread criminality,
that politicians would want to take on yet another
battle.
But that's precisely what Colombian President Andres
Pastrana appears to be doing.
/// SOUND -- PRESIDENT SPEAKING -
"HOY, COMIENZO LA GRAN BATALLA. ///
In a recent televised address, the president launched
what he called "the great battle against corruption"
in Congress. And his proposal has kicked up a
political storm.
He's offered Colombians a national referendum -- in
which they can vote to kick out the entire Congress
and create a new legislature -- a third smaller, with
less power over contracts. And the referendum
proposal would force all votes in congress to be
public. Right now politicians can support shady
legislation by hiding behind secret ballots.
The referendum has struck a chord with the Colombian
people.
/// SOUND -- OF LIGHT HAMMERING AND VOICE ///
Luis Alberto Rojas, a shoe repairman who works in a
downtown park in Bogota is hopeful the referendum will
clean up Colombian politics.
/// ROJAS SPANISH ACT FADES UNDER ///
It'll be good, he says, because it's going to cut down
congress' budget. And hopefully a smaller congress
will work better. But he says the referendum has got
to change the political rules, or else the same dirty
politicians will get back into office. This corruption
has been going on for years, he says.
It's been estimated that at least one-third of the
government's budget disappears into the wrong pockets.
Colombia gained its worst reputation internationally
during the scandal of the last president Ernesto
Samper -- who was elected with the help of millions of
dollars in drug money but not convicted.
President Pastrana - who took office in August 1998 -
has vastly improved Colombia's image abroad. His
popularity inside the country is not at its highest,
but that's largely as a result of deficit-cutting
measures and the economic crisis.
The Congress however remains notorious for graft. The
referendum proposal would make it far tougher on
politicians caught abusing power. Anyone discovered
wielding political influence over contracts or hiring
would receive a life-long ban from politics -- instead
of the slap on wrist they get now.
But Congress must first agree to the referendum. And
Diego Turbay, a member of the House of
Representatives, says right now congressmen are
feeling deeply offended because the referendum paints
them all as crooks.
/// TURBAY ACT ///
"We feel angry. Certainly there is a corruption
in Colombia. And we feel very uncomfortable for
this situation. But the problem of corruption is
bigger. Right now, we feel we have a very weak
president, who is losing popularity. And he's
manipulating Colombians requesting a
referendum."
/// END ACT ///
Many congressmen are demanding that changes be across
the board - to wipe out corruption at all levels of
government, including within Mr. Pastrana's own
cabinet.
But political analysts like Rodrigo Losada say any
attempt now by the Congress to stop the referendum
will be seen by the public as dirty maneuvers -- by
politicians who are trying to dodge a long-overdue
purge.
/// FIRST LOSADA ACT ///
[Mr.] Pastrana I think has a good feeling for
public opinion. And he has perceived that if he
leans on public opinion at this time against
Congress, he's going to succeed. And that's
going to give him political credit and honor.
/// END ACT ///
In the long term, that increased credibility could
also help on the financial side. Mr. Losada believes
Colombia's reputation for corrupt politics is blocking
a lot of foreign investment, as well as support for
the peace process between the government and left-wing
guerrillas.
/// OPT SECOND LOSADA ACT ///
The money that some countries are willing to
give to fight against drug traffic and to help
guerrillas eventually to come back to civil
life, is in doubt because several countries are
afraid the money is going to be wasted.
/// END OPT ACT ///
Left-wing rebels have long argued that the government
is so corrupt the only cure is a revolution. The
proposed referendum -- if it goes ahead in mid-July --
could prove that meaningful reforms are possible from
within the Colombian establishment.
Even some Colombian congressmen admit that the
Congress is the right place to start fighting
corruption, because a credible legislature could start
cleaning up politics at all levels.
But the immediate reaction to the referendum
announcement was skeptical. The Colombian peso lost
value as financial markets trembled in fear of
political instability. Mr. Pastrana has since met
with officials at the World Bank and International
Monetary Fund, and apparently has received their
blessing for the political reforms as well as U-S
government backing. Now he just has to deliver.
(Signed)
NEB/RM/TVM/gm
20-Apr-2000 12:10 PM EDT (20-Apr-2000 1610 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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