TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=COLOMBIA / ECUADOR DRUGS

BYLINE=RHODA METCALFE

DATELINE=BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

EDS: THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A THREE PART SERIES ON THE DRUG ISSUE IN COLOMBIA. PART ONE,5-47147, WAS ISSUED 10-10-00, AND THE TAPE WAS ISSUED THE DAY AFTER.///

INTRO: Controversy continues to swirl around the Colombian government's anti-drug strategy, which is to be supported by a one-point-three billion dollar U-S aid package. The country's main coca-producing region, Putamayo, stretches along the southern border that touches three neighboring countries--Peru, Ecuador and Brazil. Ecuador is most concerned about the side effects of the U-S financed anti-drug strategy known as Plan Colombia. Reporter Rhoda Metcalfe visited the border region, and filed this report.

/// SFX OF BOAT, THEN FADE TO ///

The Putumayo River -- a narrow ribbon of muddy water -- just 2 or 3 hundred meters wide in places -- is the only thing that separates Colombia's coca belt from the small river towns and rain forest of Ecuador.

///SFX IN TOWN, POP BOTTLE OPENING///

Until recently, Ecuadorian border towns such as General Farfan have enjoyed the economic benefits of Colombia's coca economy, with none of its headaches. The violence associated with coca-trafficking remained mostly on the Colombian side, while the profits seeped across the river.

Merchants in this small Ecuadorian town rely on Colombians to come over and purchase food and hardware, along with the gasoline and cement that farmers need for processing their coca leaves.

That is why townspeople such as school teacher and part-time taxi driver Holgar Atienzia are worried about Plan Colombia, the massive fumigation campaign aimed at wiping out the coca industry across the river.

///ATIENZIA ACT IN SPANISH, THEN FADE TO...///

He says "The more problems the farmers have on the Colombian side, the more poverty were going to feel." Mr. Atienzia says the town council in General Farfan has already chosen locations for refugee camps. He worries that once Plan Colombia begins, Colombians will start coming across the border, bringing their crime and killings with them.

Jenny Cango works with peasant and indigenous groups in this region.

///CANGO ACT IN SPANISH, THEN FADE TO...///

She says "This province is very poor. Its one of the most forgotten regions of Ecuador. Ms. Cango adds "We don't even have a hospital or basic services for Ecuadorians here".

Area residents also worry that the Colombians may bring their coca industry over the border with them, clearing isolated swaths of Ecuadorian rainforest for coca fields.

Cristian Samper is an environmental advisor to the Colombian government. He predicts that if fumigation forces coca farmers in Putumayo to stop growing, the coca economy will spread outward like a fungus.

///SAMPER ACT///

What we have seen happen historically is you go in and eradicate a hundred hectares of coca and another 100 hectares of forest are cleared to plant another 100 hectares of coca. Either in Colombia or outside Colombia. It could spill over to neighboring countries. That's something were aware of.

///END ACT///

An even greater fear among residents is that the 60 U-S helicopters donated for the military-style anti-drug campaign will make it easy to hunt down the left-wing guerrillas who control much of Colombia's coca-growing region, forcing them to flee to safe havens across the border.

The United States has promised Ecuador and other neighboring countries help in dealing with any reverberations from the anti-drug campaign. /// OPT /// Both the governments of Ecuador and Peru are planning to reinforce the borders militarily. /// END OPT ///

Since these interviews were done, Colombia's Putumayo region has spiraled into near-chaos. Heavy battles have broken out between guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary groups who have launched a violent campaign to grab territory in the coca zone away from the rebels, with the clandestine support of local Colombian army officials. The guerrillas are prohibiting both road and river travel in Putumayo. Food and gas are running short.

This latest guerrilla strategy is seen in part as a protest against Plan Colombia and the US military aid. Already, some Colombians are reportedly seeking refuge in Ecuador.

More fears were raised Thursday when an Ecuadorian plane and its occupants, including several Americans, were kidnapped in Ecuador near the Colombian border.

Initial reports suggested the kidnapping was the work of the Colombian guerrilla group FARC. But rebel leader Joaquin Gomez denies the charge.

///GOMEZ ACT IN SPANISH, THEN FADE TO...///

He says "I'm the leader of the FARC's southern block. This couldn't have been done by my people without my knowledge and I know nothing about it."

Colombia's President Andres Pastrana backed up the rebel leader's claim, saying he believes the FARC had nothing to do with the incident.

Nevertheless, the incident has contributed to heightened tensions. And many people in both countries believe this may be just the beginning of a period of great turbulence and instability along the Ecuador-Colombian border. (Signed)

NEB/RM/PFH/KBK