Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2001
Source: The Herald-Sun (NC)
Copyright: 2001 The Herald-Sun
Contact:  http://www.herald-sun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1428
Author: Susannah A Nesmith, AP

US WANTS COLOMBIAN REBELS EXTRADITED

BOGOTA, Colombia -- The U.S. government will try to extradite and put on 
trial Colombian guerrillas and right-wing militia members who are involved 
in drug trafficking or money laundering, the U.S. ambassador said Wednesday.

The announcement at an international money-laundering conference marks a 
new strategy in confronting Colombia's illegal armed groups, which finance 
themselves through drug trafficking.

Previously, drug kingpins have been extradited to the United States, but 
none of the rebels or paramilitaries has faced the U.S. justice system. 
Ambassador Anne Patterson said the extradition attempts form part of 
increased efforts to combat money laundering after the Sept. 11 terrorist 
attacks on the United States.

"We have focused our attention on all types of international organized 
crime, including money laundering," the envoy told the conference in the 
seaport city of Cartagena.

The U.S. requests would apply to two rebel armies -- the leftist 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and the National 
Liberation Army, or ELN -- as well as the right-wing paramilitary United 
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC.

All three groups are already on a U.S. list of foreign terrorist 
organizations, and have long been accused of financing and fueling 
Colombia's 37-year civil war themselves through drug operations.

"The United States wants to try the members of the three groups that are 
involved in drug trafficking and money laundering and will seek their 
extradition," Patterson said during the speech, excerpts of which were 
broadcast on Colombian radio.

Patterson said all three groups are "deeply involved in drug trafficking" 
and funnel their money through legal financial institutions.

She did not name any rebel or paramilitary members who could be extradited.

The United States is currently providing $ 1.3 billion in mostly military 
aid to fight drug trafficking in Colombia. Most of the money has been 
dedicated to the training of Colombian counternarcotics troops by U.S. 
special forces and the delivery of dozens of combat helicopters.

The U.S.-trained troops have been protecting fumigation planes, which are 
being used to wipe out drug-producing crops protected by the rebels and 
paramilitaries.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom