Pubdate: Sat, 19 May 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27
Author: Andrew Selsky, Associated Press Writer

COLOMBIAN CHIEF SELLS COCAINE PLAN

VILLA GARZON, Colombia (AP) - Months after the arrival of U.S.-trained 
troops and fumigation planes, President Andres Pastrana ventured into the 
world's cocaine heartland to sell the "soft side" of his Plan Colombia 
antidrug initiative.

It was a hard sell.

In a sun-splashed plaza in Villa Garzon, chanting demonstrators repeatedly 
drowned out the president this week as he tried to explain that the 
biggest-ever injection of economic development aid into Putumayo state had 
begun.

Tens of thousands of peasant farmers in the southern state grow coca - the 
main ingredient of cocaine - because it is about the only business that 
will give them a meager profit.

Plan Colombia has drawn criticism, because while the aerial fumigation of 
coca and the deployment of U.S.-trained counternarcotics troops and 
helicopters began late last year, the social side - also supported with 
U.S. aid - has lagged far behind.

By making his symbolic visit to Putumayo on Thursday and Friday, Pastrana 
tried to show that delivery of infrastructure improvements and funds for 
alternative development was underway, and would gather steam. But in a 
state historically neglected by the central government, Pastrana found 
skepticism.

"We must make a new Putumayo, one that is tranquil, at peace and without 
coca," Pastrana, flanked by Cabinet ministers and military commanders, said 
during his first stop in this town nestled below emerald mountains.

"We will make Putumayo a model state," Pastrana declared from a 
balloon-festooned podium.

"Liar!" someone shouted from 3,000 people packed into Villa Garzon's plaza. 
A few dozen people picked up the chant: "Liar, liar!"

They then switched chants: "Pastrana, Pastrana, don't deceive the people!"

Pastrana, wearing a white polo shirt emblazoned with the words "A New 
Putumayo," plowed ahead with his prepared remarks and ignored the protesters.

Putumayo produces most of the coca in Colombia, which in turn produces most 
of the world's cocaine. The crops are protected and "taxed" by leftist 
rebels and rival paramilitary forces.

To stem the flow to the United States and beyond, Washington has deployed 
fumigation planes and trained soldiers to protect them from being shot 
down, and is sending combat helicopters.

Anger in Villa Garzon at Washington's military support was evident, 
underscored by a sign that read: "We don't want more weapons or 
helicopters, but instead more classrooms and books."

"The United States thinks they're the boss here," fumed a resident. "We 
don't want fumigation, and we don't want money from Uncle Sam."

The audience of villagers and farmers, many of them coca growers, looked on 
blankly as Pastrana, making the first visit ever by a Colombian president 
to Villa Garzon, told of the huge sums that would be spent.

Pastrana's aides said $60.9 million in Colombian government funds, some of 
it loaned by the World Bank (news - web sites) and similar institutions, 
would be spent in Putumayo. About three-fifths of the money would go for 
schools, hospitals, aqueducts, expanding the electrical system and other 
projects, and the rest for roads.

The only burst of applause came when he announced that paving had started 
on a highway leading from the state capital, Mocoa. There are few roads in 
Putumayo, and most are pitted dirt tracks.

Two young coca harvesters drank cold sodas alongside Villa Garzon's plaza, 
listening to Pastrana's speech.

"The money will never reach the people," predicted one, Jorge Ceron. "It 
always goes into the politicians' pockets."

Pastrana said it would be up to communities to ensure the funds are 
properly spent. He insisted he was not coming with empty promises.

He handed out vouchers to a dozen poor families in Villa Garzon. The 
government is also building a processing plant for heart of palm, one of 
the crops being touted as an alternative to coca, near the village of Santana.

Pastrana said 20,000 families had agreed to cut down their own coca plants 
in exchange for aid.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth