Pubdate: Tue, 01 Jan 2002
Source: Financial Times (UK)
Copyright: The Financial Times Limited 2002
Contact:  http://www.ft.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/154
Author: James Wilson

PLAN COLOMBIA FAILS TO CUT SUPPLY OF DRUGS

Just over a year ago, the people of Putumayo province watched the launch of 
'Plan Colombia', the US-supported anti-drug programme. For weeks, 
helicopters patrolled and crop-spraying aircraft deposited a fine mist of 
herbicide over Putumayo's huge fields of coca, the raw material for cocaine.

In El Tigre, at the heart of the drug-growing area, there has been one big 
change since then: the village, which used to live under leftwing guerrilla 
control, is now dominated by illegal rightwing paramilitaries.

On a recent visit, lined up on the village football pitch, a squad of about 
50 paramilitary troops could be seen drilling. This is something that the 
Colombian army, despite its boasts to be combating paramilitary groups more 
forcefully than ever, has apparently not spotted.

Enrique, the paramilitary chief in Putumayo, says his enemies - the rebels 
of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) - have retreated 
towards the nearby border with Ecuador. "I support Plan Colombia 100 per 
cent," says Enrique, who claims to command about 800 troops.

That professed support probably makes the US squeamish. After all, 
paramilitaries and guerrillas alike are considered terrorist enemies of the 
US. But Washington is likely to be just as concerned by what has not 
happened in El Tigre and elsewhere in Putumayo: so far, there are not many 
signs that Plan Colombia is succeeding in cutting the supply of illegal drugs.

Local prices for semi-processed coca paste (a useful indicator of 
availability) have barely changed, and fields left brown by herbicide 
spraying are now once more sprouting with coca.

Although the paramilitaries say they agree with eradication because it 
helps to reduce the guerrilla presence, coca still flourishes in areas they 
control: they charge less tax than the leftwing groups. Both guerrillas and 
paramilitaries depend heavily on drug money.

The authorities began a new round of crop-spraying in Putumayo late last 
year. But this only rekindled local anger that legitimate crops are also 
being killed, before crop-substitution pacts, another key part of Plan 
Colombia, have had a chance to be properly financed and implemented.

Some 35,000 families have signed crop-substitution agreements to rip up 
37,000 hectares of coca. Aid is in most cases still to be handed out: tools 
and agricultural supplies up to a value of 2m pesos ($870) per family. That 
amount is far less than the value of a single harvest from one hectare of 
coca - and coca gives at least four harvests a year.

Jamec Aguirre, whose two hectares of land was split between coca and new 
food crops of beans and yucca, saw cropdusters destroy everything last 
month. He says he had not planted new coca. No crop substitution aid has 
arrived. He still has pigs - but nothing to feed them with. "I will have to 
sell them," he says. "I have no cash."

Gonzalo de Francisco, an adviser to President Andres Pastrana with 
responsibility for security issues in Putumayo, admits there have been 
problems and delays that dent peasants' confidence. "All we can do is work 
harder," he says.

An enthusiastic supporter of crop substitution, Mr de Francisco 
nevertheless also emphasises drug eradication efforts to convince peasants 
that the government is serious about ridding Putumayo of coca. If their 
coca is repeatedly destroyed, he thinks, they will eventually get the message.

By Mr de Francisco's estimate, there were around 66,000 hectares of coca in 
Putumayo before the spraying offensive began a year ago. That offensive 
probably eradicated about 20,000 ha. But with new planting having taken 
place, there may still be 50,000-60,0000 ha of coca in Putumayo.

Publicly, US officials say they always knew the drug eradication effort 
would be a long haul. Crop-spraying will be stepped up next year, while 
investment is continuing in Putumayo to try to make legitimate agriculture 
easier. However, some officials connected with drug eradication efforts say 
the US is depressed at the lack of progress so far.

Members of the US Congress have been critical of lack of progress in 
spending social aid and creating alternative development. Aid approved for 
Colombia falls short of the Bush administration's request.

Mr de Francisco knows patience is short. "I think we have to see results in 
the next three months in the social part," he says. "We can do a very good 
technical job, plan and invest the money, but if we do not stop the 
planting of coca . . . that is the only thing we can be measured by."
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