From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: BOLIVIA: MOUNTING US PRESSURE ON DRUGS
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 09:23:07 GMT

/** reg.samerica: 150.0 **/
** Topic: IPS:Bolivia: Congressmen Warn **
** Written 10:47 am  Jul 27, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: IPS:Bolivia: Congressmen Warn

/* Written 12:12 am  Jul 27, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: BOLIVIA: CONGRESSMEN WARN OF MOUNTING US PRESSURE ON DRUGS

la paz, jul 24 (ips) -- leaders of the bolivian congress have
warned of mounting pressure by the united states on the issue of
illegal drugs and have cast doubts on the effectiveness of agents
of the us drug enforcment agency (dea).

the escape from prison of colombian drug-baron, pablo escobar
gaviria, alleged leader of the powerful medellin drugs cartel,
could have serious repercussions in latin america, according to
the presdient of the senate commission on drugs, lorgio rivera.

he warned that recent events in colombia might encourage the
us to carry out further extra-territorial kidnappings of
suspected drug-traffickers, and might also strengthen the drug
trade throughout the region.

the fact that escobar has 'thumbed his nose' at the colombian
government, could prompt washington to take advantage of the
recent us supreme court ruling and seize any suspected
drug-trafficker wanted by the us justice department, rivera
explained.

this, he said, would have serious consequences for the war on
drugs, both in bolivia and in the rest of latin america.

rivera said latin american countries should be alert to all us
decisions in this regard, especially at a time of electoral
campaigning, when politicians will say or do anything to appeal
to voters.

for his part, the president of the narcotics commission of
bolivia's chamber of deputies, gonzalo mercado, said us
anti-narcotics agents operating in bolivia lack the necessary
skill to handle the delicate task of fighting the drug trade.

to assist in the war against illegal drugs, us agents must
''prove that they are better than the bolivian police,'' said
mercado, of the ruling revolutionary left movement (mir).

mercado also cast doubts on the effectiveness of members of
the us drug enforcement agency (dea), which is supposed to
coordinate intelligence work, plan anti drugs operations and
advise the bolivian police force.

''they never catch the 'big fish', only the 'pisacocas'
(bolivian peasants employed to process coca leaves into cocaine).
and they only find abandoned drug factories,'' mercado said.

he said the next group of dea agents sent to bolivia would
have to prove their skill and efficiency as policemen and
investigators, and this requirement should be clearly specified
in any new bilateral agreements on drug interdiction signed by
the governments of the us and bolivia.

mercado's remarks echo recent protests against the dea
presence in bolivia, by politicians, trade unionists and civic
groups, who have accused us agents of committing abuses against
bolivian citizens. (more/ips)
----


bolivia: congressmen (2)

these protests intensified in the wake of an incident on july
12, in the northern town of santa cruz, 903 kilometres from the
capital, when dea agent bryan donaldson shot and injured an
innocent bolivian citizen.

according to witnesses, donaldson later fled to the united
states with the complicity of local policemen and the us consulate
in santa ana. (ends/ips/trd/jcr/oh/cg/92)
----



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