Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jul 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Author: Margarita Martinez, Associated Press Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Colombia

COLOMBIA DRUG CROP SPRAYING HALTED

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - A Colombian court on Friday ordered a suspension of 
aerial eradication of drug crops using the chemical glyphosate, the main 
prong of a U.S.-backed counterdrug offensive in the South American country.

The ruling by a Bogota district court came in response to a petition by an 
organization representing Colombia's native Indian communities.

President Andres Pastrana said his legal experts were studying the ruling. 
He did not indicate whether he was ordering an immediate stop to the 
spraying against the plants used to make cocaine and heroin.

Addressing a news conference, Pastrana reiterated his government's official 
policy of spraying herbicides only against large-scale drug plantations and 
of inviting poor peasant farmers to join voluntary manual eradication programs.

But Indian groups, small farmers and environmentalist say that poor 
farmers' drug crops are also being wiped out by planes dumping herbicides 
and that the spraying is poisoning rivers and making people sick.

"As a provisional measure, all aerial fumigation with glyphosate is ordered 
suspended," the ruling said.

The court decision comes amid growing opposition in Colombia to herbicide 
use against drug crops and as Congress considers additional drug fighting 
aid for the country. Last year U.S. lawmakers approved a $1.3 billion package.

Washington is bankrolling the offensive against coca and poppy fields in 
Colombia. The aid program provides crop-dusting aircraft and escort 
helicopters that carry out spraying missions using glyphosate - the main 
ingredient in the commonly used backyard fertilizers.

A court official, speaking on condition that he not be identified, 
emphasized that Friday's ruling was preliminary. He said it a more 
definitive verdict would be issued within 10 days.

The officials said the court would clarify as early as Monday whether the 
suspension applied to spraying in the entire country or only on Indian 
reservations. Judge Gilberto Reyes could not be reached for comment.

His ruling asked the government to respond within three days to a series of 
questions about the legal framework, precision and the possible health and 
environmental damage caused by the fumigation program against coca and 
poppy plantations.

Colombia is the world's leading producer of cocaine and a growing exporter 
of heroin to the United States and Europe.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth