Pubdate: Thu, 25 Oct 2001
Source: Seattle Times (WA)
Copyright: 2001 The Seattle Times Company
Contact:  http://www.seattletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/409
Author: Sussannah A. Nesmith, The Associated Press

ENVOY SAYS U.S. TO TRY COLOMBIA'S DRUG LORDS

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 yesterday.

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.

Patterson said all three groups are "deeply involved in drug trafficking" 
and funnel money through legal financial institutions. She did not name any 
rebel or paramilitary members who could be extradited.

The United States is 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.

Some Colombian officials have expressed concern that U.S. policy- makers 
might shift their attention elsewhere.

Colombian President Andres Pastrana, whose talks with rebels branded 
terrorists by Washington are at a standstill, will travel to the U.S. next 
month, a government official said yesterday.

Pastrana had been due to host Secretary of State Colin Powell here on Sept. 
11, but the visit was called off after the attacks.

Much of the U.S. money is going to beef up Colombia's military, partly in 
the hope that choking off cocaine exports will deprive Marxist rebels of a 
large chunk of their funding.

Colombian media has speculated that Bush's post-Sept. 11 announcement that 
he intends to stamp out terrorists wherever they may be could lead to a 
tougher U.S. line on Colombian guerrillas or even direct military intervention.

Powell had been expected to declare support for Pastrana's strategy of 
negotiating with the FARC.

With 10 months left in office, Pastrana is under pressure to obtain some 
sort of concession from the FARC, which the military says uses the 
"demilitarized zone" to imprison kidnap victims, run a cocaine business and 
train for war.

Despite a series of provocative FARC actions - including the killing of 
former Culture Minister Consuelo Araujo - Pastrana recently extended the 
life of the enclave until Jan. 20. But he said the guerrillas must agree to 
a cease-fire by that time, a move that, if enacted, could at last dampen a 
war that has continued to rage despite peace talks.

Information from Reuters is included in this report.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens