DATE=2/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227345
TITLE=CONGRESS-COLOMBIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  WHILE SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WAS 
ANNOUNCING THE U-S DECISION TO WAIVE DRUG SANCTIONS ON COLOMBIA, 
TOP MEMBERS OF THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE WERE TESTIFYING 
BEFORE THE U-S CONGRESS.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THEY 
DESCRIBED THEIR EFFORTS TO CURB THE DRUG TRADE AND SAID WITH HELP
FROM WASHINGTON, THEY COULD DO MUCH MORE.

TEXT:  THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE PRAISED 
THE EFFORTS OF COLOMBIA'S NATIONAL POLICE.  THEY ARE SEEN AS THAT
COUNTRY'S MAIN WEAPON AGAINST THE DRUG CARTELS.

DURING AN APPEARANCE BEFORE THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS  
COMMITTEE, THE LEADER OF AN ELITE ANTI-DRUG UNIT RECITED A LONG 
LIST OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS.  COLONEL LEONARDO GALLEGO SAID TENS OF 
THOUSANDS OF HECTARES OF COCA LEAF AND POPPIES HAVE BEEN 
DESTROYED.  BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF 
THE COUNTRY'S ANNUAL PRODUCTION.  

HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF RAIDS ON CLANDESTINE 
AIRSTRIPS USED BY DRUG TRAFFICKERS, THEN ADDED HIS MEN COULD HAVE
DONE MUCH MORE IF THEY HAD ADEQUATE AMMUNITION.  

// OPT // COLONEL GALLEGO ADDRESSED THE COMMITTEE THROUGH AN 
INTERPRETER. // END OPT //

             /// OPT // GALLEGO INTERPRETER ACT ///

         DURING 1996, WE DESTROYED 81 FIELD STRIPS AND DURING 
         1997 WE DESTROYED 51 FIELD STRIPS.  WE COULD HAVE 
         DESTROYED DOUBLE THIS NUMBER IF WE HAD THE EXPLOSIVES TO
         DESTROY THOSE FIELD STRIPS. 

                   /// END ACT // END OPT ///

REPUBLICANS ON THE COMMITTEE CHASTISED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION
FOR  NOT  PROVIDING THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE WITH THE TOOLS 
TO DO THE JOB.  CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN GILMAN SAID WASHINGTON HAS 
FAILED COLONEL GALLEGO AND HIS MEN.

                       /// GILMAN ACT ///

         THESE C-N-P OFFICERS KNOW FIRST HAND THE IMPACT OF THE 
         ADMINISTRATION'S ILL-ADVISED AND ILL-CONCEIVED POLICY OF
         DENYING THEM VITAL AMMUNITION, SPARE PARTS, AND OTHER 
         MATERIALS THAT ARE SO SORELY NEEDED TO WAGE A REAL WAR 
         AT THE SOURCE, BEFORE THE DRUGS ENTER OUR OWN COUNTRY.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT THE TOP DEMOCRAT ON THE COMMITTEE -- LEE HAMILTON -- SAID THE
BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING THE NATIONAL POLICE IS A LACK OF WILL AT 
THE VERY TOP OF THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT.

                       ///HAMILTON ACT///

         I APPLAUD ALL THAT COLOMBIA HAS DONE.  AND I AM QUITE 
         AWARE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE DONE A LOT.  AND I DON'T
         MEAN TO CRITICIZE THAT IN ANY WAY.  BUT I AM ALSO AWARE 
         OF THE FACT THAT WHEN YOU PASS AN EXTRADITION LAW, YOU 
         DON'T MAKE IT RETROACTIVE.  I AM ALSO AWARE OF THE FACT 
         YOU ARE CUTTING BACK RESOURCES TO FIGHT DRUGS.  I AM 
         ALSO AWARE OF THE FACT THE PRESIDENT OF YOUR COUNTRY HAS
         NOT  SHOWN STRONG POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ON THIS QUESTION.

                          ///END ACT///

MR. HAMILTON IS A STRONG CRITIC OF THE ENTIRE DRUG CERTIFICATION 
PROCESS.  HE SAID IT IS TIME FOR CONGRESS TO RETHINK THE LAW 
WHICH REQUIRES THE ADMINISTRATION TO LINK FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO 
CO-OPERATION IN ERADICATING DANGEROUS DRUGS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/WDC/MMK



26-Feb-98 3:33 PM EST (2033 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.