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
.