Pubdate: Fri, 16 Aug 2002
Source: International Herald-Tribune (France)
Copyright: International Herald Tribune 2002
Contact:  http://www.iht.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/212
Author: Scott Wilson, The Washington Post

U.S. REQUESTS IMMUNITY FOR SOLDIERS POSTED IN COLOMBIA

BOGOTA Senior U.S. officials have asked President Alvaro Uribe to shield 
American military trainers in Colombia from prosecution by the 
International Criminal Court for any accusations of human rights abuses 
that may arise in connection with their work.

The request, made by Marc Grossman, undersecretary of state for political 
affairs, is part of a global campaign by the United States to prevent U.S. 
nationals from being tried at the international court. Arguing that future 
military aid hangs in the balance, U.S. diplomats have begun working here 
and with other allies to arrange such immunity agreements, which are 
allowed under the treaty setting up the court.

Under anti-terrorism legislation signed by President George W. Bush this 
month, U.S. military aid would be cut off from countries that have ratified 
the treaty, except those granted a waiver by the White House. The United 
States has made it clear that governments granting an immunity pledge to 
U.S. citizens will continue to receive aid.

"That turns out to be the way people advised us to protect ourselves," a 
senior U.S. official said here before meeting with Uribe. "We'd like to get 
it signed as soon as possible."

The Bush administration has opposed the treaty and is seeking the immunity 
agreements, U.S. officials have said, because it fears that Americans 
abroad could be subjected to politically motivated prosecutions.

The issue has special importance for the Colombian government, which 
formally recognized the court Aug. 5. Uribe, who was sworn into office two 
days later, is relying on U.S. aid to help him wage a broader military 
campaign against leftist guerrillas who have been fighting for years to 
replace the government with a Marxist state.

Colombia's 38-year war, rooted in social inequality and a culture of 
impunity, is being fueled by drug profits in the security vacuum left by a 
weak central government. The conflict matches the Colombian Revolutionary 
Armed Forces, or FARC, and a second, smaller Marxist- oriented insurgency 
against the U.S.-backed military and a privately funded paramilitary group. 
Last year, 3,500 people died as a direct result of the war, most of them 
civilians.

Colombia, the third-largest recipient of U.S. military aid, has received 
nearly $2 billion in U.S. assistance over the past two years. The nearly 80 
transport helicopters and hundreds of U.S. military trainers, among other 
aid, were initially meant to help the Colombian government attack the drug 
trade.

As part of the anti-terrorism package signed this month, the military 
equipment donated by the United States can now be used directly against 
guerrilla forces. The package also included $6 million to train a Colombian 
army unit to protect an oil pipeline in eastern Colombia that is a frequent 
target.

Another $500 million in aid has been proposed for Colombia in the 2003 budget.

Only two countries, Israel and Romania, have agreed to immunity pledges.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens