Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2001
Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard
Contact:  PO Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188
Fax: (541) 338-2828
Website: http://www.registerguard.com/
Author: Carl Berg, Alvadore

PULL PLUG ON PLAN COLOMBIA

I read with great interest the article by Pam Fitzpatrick and Paul Dix of 
Witness for Peace (Commentary, March 4). They point out with great effect 
the futility and damage caused by implementation of the Clinton 
administration's Plan Colombia. One can only hope that our newly elected 
president, who purportedly espouses the conviction that we should interfere 
little in other countries' affairs, would do just that and work to reverse 
the U.S. policy.

Not reported in their article is the effect that Plan Colombia is having on 
neighboring countries such as Venezuela and Ecuador. Having been a Peace 
Corps volunteer stationed in northeastern Ecuador (near the Colombian 
border) in the 1980s, with continuing close ties to the area, I can speak 
with personal knowledge of the current situation. Lawlessness in the Lago 
Agrio/Coca Ecuador region has escalated dramatically in the past few years 
as the coca trade spills over the border to escape the "heat" in Colombia - 
perhaps most dramatically noted with the recent kidnapping of U.S. oil 
workers. The victims you'll never hear of are the likes of Shuar and Secoya 
Indians who have been forced out of their tribal lands (near the Colombian 
border) into refugee camps to avoid persecution by the coca traders.

Hopefully the powers that be will see the light and pull the plug on Plan 
Colombia and work on the problem from the home front, where the money would 
be much more successfully spent in prevention and treatment programs.

CARL BERG
Alvadore
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