Pubdate: Tue, 01 May 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27

LAWMAKERS CRITICIZE PLANE RESPONSE

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers rebuked Bush 
administration officials Tuesday for what they called slow work on 
investigating the Peruvian military's downing of a civilian plane that 
killed an American missionary and her daughter.

"It's been 10 days," said House Government Reform Committee Chairman Dan 
Burton, angered that the U.S. investigative team only arrived in Peru on 
Sunday. "Why weren't they down there the next day?"

Further infuriating lawmakers was the officials' refusal to give details of 
the April 20 shoot-down -- even to confirm the U.S. surveillance plane 
carried a CIA-hired crew.

"No State Department plane was involved in this operation. Customs wasn't 
involved. DEA wasn't involved," Burton, R-Ind. said to representatives of 
those and other agencies.

"And yet no one can tell us if the CIA was involved because it's 
classified. Tell me, why is it classified? A plane was shot down. Americans 
were killed. ... Why can't you tell us?"

In the ensuing silence, Burton cried out: "Speak to me!" prompting some 
self-conscious laughter.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., similarly begged for answers, finally offering 
the panel a "lifeline" or to "call a friend," borrowing from ABC's "Who 
Wants To Be A Millionaire?" game show. No one took her up on it.

The CIA was invited to appear, but declined to testify in public, said Rep. 
Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of the criminal justice, drug policy and 
human resources subcommittee that held the hearing.

Eventually, the State Department's John M. Crow said Assistant Secretary of 
State Rand Beers, leading the team in Peru, hopes to complete most of the 
investigation in three to five days.

Other details remained elusive, including how many planes were shot or 
forced down during the 9-year-old U.S.-Peru program. Crow estimated 50 
planes, but said determining an exact number would be difficult.

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the subcommittee's top Democrat, said the 
program "permits, indeed promotes, the killing of people who are mere 
suspects."

A U.S. surveillance plane alerted Peru's air force to the Cessna's presence 
- -- part of the program in which a U.S. team detects air traffic in the 
drug-smuggling region and tells the Peruvians, who are to determine through 
established procedures if it is involved in drug business.

The Peruvians decide what to do about a plane deemed a drug-smuggler, but 
U.S. officials have said the American crew urged them not to open fire 
because of indications the aircraft was on an innocent trip.

The program was suspended pending the investigation and establishment of 
safeguards to prevent a repetition of the mistake that killed missionary 
Veronica "Roni" Bowers, 35, and her 7-month-old daughter Charity.

Officials cautioned against a long letup. Robert E. Brown, Jr. of the 
Office of National Drug Control Policy said drug traffickers "will seek out 
those areas not controlled by sovereign governments."

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., said he "strongly advocated continuing this 
information sharing," noting the 68 percent decline in Peruvian cocaine 
production since 1995.

The slain missionary's husband, Jim Bowers, 38, and their 6-year-old son, 
Cory, survived unhurt. The pilot, missionary Kevin Donaldson, was wounded, 
but managed to crash-land the pontoon plane on the Amazon River.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager