News

DATE=11/27/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-242227 TITLE=COHEN / COLOMBIA PREVIEW (L-ONLY) BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TOP MILITARY OFFICIALS FROM NEARLY THREE DOZEN NATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES ARE GATHERING IN CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA SUNDAY. U-S OFFICIALS SAY DISCUSSIONS WILL FOCUS ON STOPPING DRUG FLOWS, HELPING HURRICANE VICTIMS, AND BOOSTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE HEMISPHERE. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON. TEXT: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN WILL SPEND HIS THREE DAYS IN COLOMBIA TALKING WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM MOSTLY LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS. A SENIOR U-S DEFENSE OFFICIAL SAYS MR. COHEN WILL DISCUSS TRANSNATIONAL THREATS INCLUDING THE FLOW OF DRUGS FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO THE UNITED STATES WITH OFFICIALS FROM COLOMBIA AND OTHER NATIONS. U-S AID TO COLOMBIA WAS SHARPLY LIMITED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT ANDRES PASTRANA'S PREDECESSOR (ERNESTO SAMPER) BECAUSE OF U-S CONCERNS ABOUT THE COLOMBIAN ADMINISTRATION'S LINKS TO NARCO-TRAFFICKERS. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT. BUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD OF THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY IS STILL BLOCKING U-S AID TO MOST COLOMBIAN ARMY UNITS. ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN THE LAST THREE DECADES IN COLOMBIA. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FIGHTING VARIOUS GUERRILLA FACTIONS. DRUG OPERATIONS ALSO MOVED INTO REMOTE AREAS -- AND IN SOME CASES HAVE HIRED INSURGENT GROUPS TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS AND DRUG PROCESSING OPERATIONS. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE -- BLAMED ON RIGHT-WING MILITIAS THAT CRITICS ALLEGE HAVE LINKS TO COLOMBIA'S MILITARY OR POLICE. ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING MR. COHEN'S TRIP IS U-S AID TO THE COLOMBIAN MILITARY. CRITICS SAY PAST PENTAGON ASSISTANCE HAS GONE TO SOLDIERS IN LATIN AMERICA WHO ABUSE THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT. ONE OF THOSE CRITICS, VERMONT SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY, SPONSORED THE LAW THAT CUTS OFF AID TO ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS. // OPT // HE ARGUES U-S TAXPAYERS SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO SUPPORT ARMIES THAT ATTACK FUNDAMENTAL U-S VALUES, LIKE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. // END OPT // BUT U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND SPOKESMAN RAUL DUANY SAYS U-S FORCES ALREADY INCLUDE HUMAN RIGHTS CLASSES WHEN THEY TRAIN SOLDIERS FROM OTHER NATIONS, AND THEY PLAN MORE SUCH WORK IN COLOMBIA. MR. DUANY SAYS CUTTING OFF CONTACT WITH MILITARIES WITH POOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORDS WILL NOT GET THEM TO CHANGE THEIR WAYS. /// DUANY ACT /// YOU HAVE TO ENGAGE IN MILITARY-TO-MILITARY CONTACTS AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVELS SO YOU CAN DEVELOP THE YOUNG UP AND COMING FORCES TO HAVE THESE PRINCIPALS AND VALUES THAT OUR U-S TROOPS HAVE. /// END ACT /// ANOTHER ISSUE WILL BE HOW TO MAKE THE WAR ON DRUGS MORE EFFECTIVE. // OPT // LARRY BIRNS OF THE COUNCIL ON HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS SAYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN U-S AID TO COLOMBIA AND OTHER NATIONS HAVE NOT STOPPED THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS TO THE UNITED STATES. MR. BIRNS SAYS THE AMOUNT OF COLOMBIAN LAND PLANTED IN ILLEGAL CROPS HAS INCREASED MORE THAN 10 FOLD OVER THE PAST DECADE, EVEN THOUGH THE UNITED STATES SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO SPRAY PLANT-KILLING CHEMICALS ON ILLICIT CROPS. // END OPT // BESIDES COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS, U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN WILL ALSO MEET MINISTERS FROM ARGENTINA, CHILE AND BRAZIL, BEFORE DEPARTING WEDNESDAY. (SIGNED). NEB/JR/JO 27-Nov-98 3:55 PM EST (2055 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .