DATE=3/31/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229032
TITLE=CONGRESS-COLOMBIA DRUGS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:    THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS WORKING ON A NEW 
STRATEGY TO FIGHT NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING IN COLOMBIA.   BUT AS 
V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE 
COMMITMENT OF COLOMBIA'S ELECTED LEADERS.

TEXT:     RANDY BEERS HAS BEEN ON THE JOB AS HEAD OF THE STATE 
DEPARTMENT'S COUNTER-NARCOTICS OFFICE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS.  HE 
HAS SPENT MOST OF THAT TIME WORKING ON A PLAN FOR COLOMBIA.

HE SAYS IT INCLUDES EXPANDED EFFORTS TO INTERDICT DRUGS AND 
DESTROY COCA AND POPPY FIELDS.   THERE WILL ALSO BE A GREATER 
EMPHASIS ON SHARED INTELLIGENCE -- SUCH AS PHOTOGRAPHS OF REMOTE 
AREAS OF COLOMBIA TAKEN BY U-S SATELLITES FAR ABOVE EARTH.  

MR. BEERS TOLD MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 
COMMITTEE HE HAS DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL WITH COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS,
AND THEY APPEAR SUPPORTIVE.

                         ///BEERS ACT///

         I HAVE TALKED WITH MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH 
         RESPECT TO THE  EXPANDED PROGRAM WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED 
         TO YOU AND THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THEIR COMMITMENT TO
         PURSUE THAT PROGRAM.

                          ///END ACT///

BUT GENERAL CHARLES WILHELM -- THE COMMANDER OF U-S MILITARY 
OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE (THE U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND) 
-- HAS CONCERNS.   WHEN LAWMAKERS ASKED IF COLOMBIA'S LEADERS 
HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL TO TAKE ON THE DRUG TRADE, HE WAS 
UNUSUALLY BLUNT.

HE POINTED TO A MAN SITTING NEARBY DRESSED IN THE UNIFORM OF THE 
COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE.   GENERAL WILHELM SAID JOSE SERRANO - 
THE DIRECTOR OF THE POLICE FORCE --  HAS SHOWN HIS COMMITMENT TO 
FIGHT NARCO-TRAFFICKERS, AS HAS COLOMBIAN ARMY CHIEF JOSE BONNET.

                        ///WILHELM ACT///

         I THINK WE SEE FRACTIONAL COMMITMENT IN COLOMBIA.  
         GENERAL JOSE SERRANO IS SITTING RIGHT OVER HERE. HE'S 
         COMMITTED.  GENERAL JOSE BONNET IS COMMITTED.  I WOULD 
         TELL YOU THAT I DON'T THINK THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP IS.

                          ///END ACT///

GENERAL SERRONO DID NOT ADDRESS THE COMMITMENT OF HIS COUNTRY'S 
POLITICAL LEADERS.   INSTEAD, HE PROMISED HIS FORCES WILL 
CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE DRUG TRADE.  HE ACKNOWLEDGED IT IS A 
DIFFICULT COMPLEX BATTLE THAT HAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS 
OF HIS MEN. HE STRESSED NARCO-TRAFFICKERS AND GUERRILLA GROUPS 
HAVE JOINED IN A WELL-FUNDED, WELL-ARMED ALLIANCE.

            ///SERRANO (IN SPANISH) AND TRANSLATOR///

         THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST FINANCED, AND SOPHISTICATED 
         GUERRILLA MOVEMENTS IN THE WORLD.  THEY HAVE MODERN 
         ARMS. WE HAVE INFORMATION THEY ARE WORKING TO OBTAIN 
         MISSILES.

                          ///END ACT///

THE DRUG TRADE IS ONE SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR THE GUERRILLAS. 
KIDNAPPING IS ANOTHER. EIGHT AMERICANS ARE BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY 
INSURGENTS IN COLOMBIA. THEY INCLUDE THREE MISSIONARIES WHO WERE 
SEIZED FIVE YEARS AGO. (OPT) THEIR WIVES FOLLOWED THE MILITARY 
MEN AND DIPLOMATS TO THE WITNESS TABLE IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS HEARING ROOM.  EACH HELD UP A LARGE PICTURE OF HER 
HUSBAND FOR NEARBY TELEVISION CAMERAS.

TANIA RICH SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HER CHILDREN.

                         ///RICH ACT///

         THE GIRLS RECENTLY ASKED ME "MOMMY, DO YOU THINK PEOPLE 
         KNOW IT IS NOT JUST HARD FOR US TO HAVE DADDY 
         GONE....BUT THAT IT ACTUALLY HURTS INSIDE?

                     ///END ACT (END OPT)///

A SPOKESMAN FOR THEIR MISSIONARY GROUP -- THE NEW TRIBES MISSION 
--  SAID THE FAMILIES GOT A MESSAGE LAST DECEMBER FROM THE MAIN 
GUERRILLA  GROUP IN COLOMBIA.   THE GROUP DENIED ANY ROLE IN THE 
KIDNAPPING, BUT DID STATE IT HAD SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE 
HOSTAGE TAKERS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/PW/WDC/PLM

31-Mar-98 8:01 PM EST (0101 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.