Pubdate: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2001 San Jose Mercury News Contact: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/390 RELIGIOUS LEADERS WANT BUSH TO DROP DRUG PLAN Prominent Latin American religious leaders have joined more than 100 civic, political and intellectual figures from the region to call on President Bush to suspend Plan Colombia, the U.S.-funded anti-drug initiative, and place more emphasis on peace initiatives. In a Monday letter to Bush, the leaders said Plan Colombia, which increases U.S. support for the that country's military to curb the drug trade, is militarizing the long-standing conflict in the South American nation. The leaders, who include retired Bishop Samuel Ruiz, the former bishop in Chiapas, Mexico, and Cardinal Paulo Evaristo Arns, archbishop emeritus of Sao Paulo, Brazil, said they believe Plan Colombia's "predominantly military emphasis" will only intensify the internal conflict and undermine the peace process. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D