DATE=8/5/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236592
TITLE=COLOMBIA / INSURGENCY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID DYAR
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

/// RE-RUNNING W/CHANGE FROM 70 TO 100 IN INTRODUCTION ///

INTRO:  A SENIOR FOREIGN POLICY SPECIALIST IN THE U-S CONGRESS 
HAS CALLED FOR AN INCREASE IN U-S COUNTER-NARCOTICS AID TO 
COLOMBIA. AS V-O-A CORRESPONDENT DAVID DYAR REPORTS, CONGRESSMAN 
BENJAMIN GILMAN MADE THE CALL IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT WAVE OF 
VIOLENCE IN THE SOUTH AMERICAN NATION THAT HAS LEFT MORE THAN 100
PEOPLE DEAD.

TEXT:  CONGRESSMAN GILMAN IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL 
RELATIONS COMMITTEE WITH A POWERFUL VOICE WHEN IT COMES TO 
SHAPING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION ON FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES.

ON WEDNESDAY, HE SHARPLY CRITICIZED COLOMBIA'S INSURGENT GROUPS 
FOR STAGING A SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY JUST 
PRIOR TO THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT ANDRES PASTRANA.

THE U-S CONGRESSMAN CALLED FOR RENEWED U-S EFFORTS TO HELP 
COLOMBIA FIGHT THE GUERRILLAS.

                      ////GILMAN ACT 1 ///

         NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS A TIME FOR OUR ADMINISTRATION 
         TO SEND A DECISIVE MESSAGE BY EXPEDITING BADLY NEEDED 
         COUNTER-NARCOTICS ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA.  IT WOULD BE 
         WRONG TO FURTHER DELAY COUNTER NARCOTICS AID BY TAKING A
         'WAIT AND SEE' APPROACH IN THE HOPES THAT THE NARCO 
         GUERRILLAS WILL LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND ABANDON THEIR 
         DRUG TRADE.

                          ///END ACT///

MR. GILMAN SPOKE AT A CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON COLOMBIA DURING 
WHICH HE CRITICIZED A PLAN BY PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA FOR 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONES IN SOME AREAS WHERE THE INSURGENTS 
OPERATE.

                       ///GILMAN ACT 2 ///

         ESTABLISHING DEMILITARIZED ZONES THAT INCLUDE ANTI-DRUG 
         OPERATIONS, I THINK WOULD BE TOO HIGH A PRICE TO PAY.  
         THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY ALLOW DRUGS TO BE CULTIVATED, 
         (AND) PRODUCED FREELY.  AND PEACE AT THE PRICE OF A FREE
         NARCO-PRODUCTION ZONE WOULD BE A FAUSTIAN BARGAIN (BAD 
         TRADE-OFF) THAT WOULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE OUR BILATERAL 
         RELATIONSHIPS WITH COLOMBIA.

                          ///END ACT///

MR. GILMAN'S COMMENTS CONTRASTED WITH SEVERAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND 
ACADEMIC PANELISTS WHO SPOKE AT THE HEARING, SUCH AS PROFESSOR 
MARC CHERNICK OF WASHINGTON, D-C'S GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.  MR. 
CHERNICK, WHO IS A SPECIALIST ON EVENTS IN COLUMBIA, SAYS THE 
PEACE PLAN OF PRESIDENT-ELECT PASTRANA SHOULD BE SUPPORTED.

                       ///CHERNICK ACT///

         THE PEACE PROCESS IS, IN FACT, THE MOST DIRECT AND 
         EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAY FOR THE UNITED STATES TO BE 
         ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS OF ILLICIT NARCOTICS IN 
         COLOMBIA.  THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE BY  NOT  FIGHTING THE 
         GUERRILLAS, AND  NOT  INCREASING THE WAR, (NOT) 
         INCREASING THE VIOLENCE, BUT, IN FACT, ENGAGING THE 
         GUERRILLAS.

                          ///END ACT///

THE CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON U-S POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA WAS HELD 
ONLY A FEW DAYS AFTER MR. PASTRANA MET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT 
THE WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED)

NEB/DWD/JO

05-Aug-98 6:19 PM EDT (2219 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.