Pubdate: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/ Author: Elizabeth Becker CLINTON SAYS AID PROPOSAL IS URGENT FOR COLOMBIA DRUG EFFORT WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 - The Clinton administration today announced a $1.3 billion, two-year emergency aid package to fight narcotics in Colombia, deepening American involvement in that country's long war against both narcotics traders and rebels. President Clinton said the aid was "urgently needed" to help Colombia and to keep "illegal drugs off our shores." The plan received immediate praise from Congressional Republicans, who said it mirrored their legislation, introduced last autumn, with the exception that Mr. Clinton wants to spend even more money. Most of the money that Mr. Clinton asked for would be spent on military training and equipment for the Colombian armed forces and police in their drug effort. But significant money would also go to improving the judicial system and institutions protecting human rights and to bolstering the economy. The Colombian government, which already is the third largest recipient of American aid, could begin receiving the money as early as March. President Andres Pastrana welcomed the program, saying that fighting the narcotics trade is a "shared responsibility." The Colombian military would receive 30 Blackhawk helicopters and 33 Huey helicopters to ferry soldiers into two southern provinces that have become the center of coca production. In addition, $600 million set aside for military assistance would include money to train and equip two more counternarcotics battalions. Colombian farmers who grew coca or poppy and villagers displaced by the drug effort would receive $145 million to help find new livelihoods and new homes. And $93 million would be spent to strengthen Colombia's judicial system in its drive to protect human rights, enforce drug laws and crack down on money laundering. "This is a comprehensive approach that could be the basis for the peace process," Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright said today at a news conference. "It is based on the program President Pastrana has developed." Dr. Albright will visit Bogota this weekend to go over the program and to figure out how to persuade other countries to contribute, said James P. Rubin, the State Department spokesman. Republicans said today's proposal showed that the president had come to accept many of their ideas for combatting drugs before they reach the United States. Representative Bill McCollum, Republican of Florida, applauded Mr. Clinton's proposal, saying it took many ideas from his own legislation that became law in 1998. Senator Mike DeWine, Republican of Ohio, also welcomed the plan. He had offered somewhat more modest legislation, co-sponsored by Senator Paul Coverdell, Republican of Georgia; it called for spending $1.6 billion, but over three years. Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the administration has "benefited from the debate" with Republicans. He said he expected that both sides could reach an accord on immediate aid. But some Democrats cautioned that this strategy would require many more years and billions of dollars - with no assurance that the United States could avoid being tainted by or even drawn into the dirty side of a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people over 40 years. "Everyone wants to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, but we have spent billions trying to do that, and the flow has gotten worse, not better," said Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont. "What we are seeing is a dramatic ratcheting up of a counter-insurgency policy in the name of counterdrug policy." The drug trade underwrites the insurgency. The rebels earn as much as $100 million a year from the narcotics trade. Another problem voiced by human rights groups is the right-wing paramilitary groups that protect and profit from traffickers and have ties to officers in the Colombian Army. "We're talking about giving money to an army that is deeply wedded to paramilitary groups that are the main human rights abusers," said Robin Kirk of Human Rights Watch. "This is a very dirty war, and you have to ask where will U.S. tax dollars ultimately end up." Colombia already receives $300 million from this year's budget; with the new money, the two-year package would total $1.6 billion. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D