Pubdate: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
Source: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)
Copyright: 2000 San Francisco Chronicle
Contact:  http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/
Forum: http://www.sfgate.com/conferences/

EUROPEANS BALK AT FUNDING THE DRUG WAR IN COLOMBIA

What do Europeans know about the big international anti-drug campaign in 
war-torn Colombia that the United States government doesn't?

European nations, nervous about the civil war there, are backing off from 
$2 billion in commitments to the Colombian drug war.

The Bogota government, too, is having a hard time coming up with $4 billion 
it promised to support the ``Plan Colombia'' campaign.

If neither the international community nor Colombia itself will finance the 
anti-drug effort, the United States, which has donated $1.3 billion in 
mostly military aid, will be left holding the bag, neck deep in a civil war.

The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that European nations are getting 
cold feet after many humanitarian organization declined money aimed at 
refugee relief, helping farmers switch from illicit crops and giving 
peasants a means of support without joining the rebels.

No fewer than 38 groups, including the International Committee of the Red 
Cross and World Vision, have refused funding because they are skeptical of 
Plan Colombia and are fearful for their workers' safety, according to the 
Times.

Amnesty International says the Colombian government is unwilling or unable 
to protect the humanitarian workers.

Colombia's ugly civil war has been raging for 36 years, pitting two leftist 
rebel groups financed by drug money against government security forces and 
their right-wing paramilitary allies. No end is in sight.

With the prospect of an infusion of American money, helicopters and 
military ``advisers,'' joining the fray, peace talks have stalled, the 
fighting has intensified and civilian noncombatants are being murdered, 
kidnapped and terrorized by all sides.

Just last weekend, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels 
invaded the tiny village of Ortega and massacred 13 people and torched 20 
homes, a school and a church. The butchery was in response to the 
villagers' refusal to join the rebels.

Failing to heed the red flags and warning bells, the Clinton administration 
is stumbling into a civil war in a country controlled by rebels and drug 
lords on one side, and by a corrupt government, paramilitary killers and an 
army out of control, on the other.

Of all the missteps in the drug war, the commitment of American troops to 
Colombia could be the biggest mistake of all.
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