DATE=7/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA-U.S. PLANE (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252227
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=

VOICE AT :

INTRO: U-S and Colombian officials are denying a 
newspaper report that a U-S military plane which 
crashed in southern Colombia Friday was gathering 
intelligence information on leftist guerrillas.  
As VOA's Bill Rodgers reports from Bogota, the 
officials maintain the aircraft was on an anti-
narcotics mission.


TEXT: The Colombian newspaper El Espectador 
reported Tuesday that the downed De Havilland RC-7 
plane was monitoring communications and gathering 
other intelligence on the Colombian Revolutionary 
Armed Forces, known as the FARC.  Citing the 
plane's manufacturer and other sources, the 
newspaper said the U-S military plane was carrying 
sophisticated electronic monitoring and recording 
equipment - similar to those used by U-S military 
intelligence flights over Bosnia and Kosovo.

The plane crashed in the mountains of southern 
Colombia Friday near the Ecuadoran border. It was 
carrying five American servicemen and two 
Colombian military officers. 

When the plane first disappeared Friday, Colombian 
and U-S officials said the aircraft was on an 
anti-drug mission. This was reiterated on Tuesday 
when the head of the anti-narcotics division of 
Colombia's police force, Colonel Leonardo 
Gallardo, categorically dismissed the newspaper 
report.

            /// Gallardo Spanish Act ///

He said the task being carried out by the aircraft 
was in support of anti-narcotics efforts.

The U-S drug policy director, Barry McCaffrey - 
who is on a visit to Colombia - also rejected the 
report but acknowledged the De Havilland plane is 
a reconaissance aircraft. 

            /// McCaffrey Act ///

      These are reconaissance aircraft. There are 
      two-thousand odd flights a year throughout 
      the region. The actual techniques are 
      classified but they're extremely effective 
      at what they do.


            /// End Act ///

The U-S drug official added that bad weather 
continues to hamper efforts by rescue workers to 
reach the plane's crash site.  

            /// Rest Opt ///

Mr. McCaffrey spoke to reporters while visiting a 
Colombian military base some 200 kilometers 
southeast of Bogota where a special anti-narcotics 
batallion is being trained by U-S adivsors. The U-
S official watched batallion members carry out 
several training exercises, including a special 
course to teach soldiers to respect the rights of 
their captives. The Colombian military has been 
accused of committing human rights abuses in its 
struggle against leftist guerrillas. (Signed)


NEB/WFR/TVM/PT


27-Jul-1999 21:51 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 0151 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.