[STOPNATO] FWD: Rebels say Colombian 'peace' plan paves way to war, more confrontation and more intervention in Colombia's internal affairs." >_____________________ ====================== >REUTERS >Thursday, 9 March 2000 Rebels say Colombia peace plan paves way to war. > -------------- >BOGOTA -- Marxist rebels accused Colombian President Andres Pastrana >Thursday of paving the way to more war despite a vow that his $7.5 >billion U.S.-backed "Plan Colombia" aimed to solve the root causes of >the long-running conflict. >A proposed $1.6 billion U.S. package of mostly military aid, due to be >voted on by the House Appropriations Committee Thursday, would be a >mainstay of the controversial three-year plan to fight both the >guerrillas and the rampant drug trade. >Colombia hopes Europe and Japan will also donate heavily to the plan, >which includes funds to bolster the military, boost the economy and >tackle social problems such as poor health care and education. >One guerrilla leader says the plan has been dictated by Washington, >desperate to smash what it alleges are the close ties between the >guerrillas and narcotraffickers. They fear the plan will drag the United >States deep into the conflict that has cost more than 35,000 lives in >just the last decade. >"We need greater clarity about the objectives of Plan Colombia. It seems >even the government isn't fully clear about the plan," said Raul Reyes, >a senior commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). >He was speaking after FARC chieftains met with government National >Planning Department head Mauricio Cardenas and special presidential >advisor Jaime Ruiz in a Switzerland-sized area of the southeast cleared >of security forces as a forum for year-old peace talks. >"At the moment (this plan) means more war, more confrontation and more >intervention in Colombia's internal affairs," Reyes added. >The government and FARC, Latin America's largest surviving 1960s rebel >force, launched slow-moving peace talks more than a year ago. In a >series of recent visits, a number of government officials have met the >FARC to explain aspects of Pastrana's economic policy. >The Pastrana administration has described Plan Colombia as an effort to >"build a better and safer country for the generations of today and >tomorrow" and create "social justice that protects citizens and their >rights". >Some of the $7.5 billion outlined in the plan are for nonlethal projects >such as helping peasant farmers switch from growing illegal drug crops >to legal produce and assisting thousands of internal refugees who have >fled their homes to escape the cross-fire of the war. >But more than half is destined to strengthen the police and army. >In contrast to the U.S. offer of aid, Europe has so far offered no cash. >But Colombia hopes a donor's meeting scheduled for mid-year in Spain >will yield fresh finance. > Copyright 2000 Reuters >______________________________________________ >********************************************** >* CLM-NEWS is brought to you by the COLOMBIAN LABOR MONITOR at * >* http://www.prairienet.org/clm > * >* and the CHICAGO COLOMBIA COMMITTEE > * >* Email us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or > * >* Dennis Grammenos at [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * >* To subscribe send request to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * >* subscribe clm-news Your Name > * >********************************************** > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
