From: Barry Stoller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: US: rattling sabres at FARC [WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK] HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- AP; AFP. 25 October 2001. US Envoy Criticizes Colombian Rebels; FARC denies charges of links with drug trafficking. BOGOTA -- The U.S. ambassador ratcheted up criticism of the country's main rebel group Thursday, saying the guerrillas were little more than drug traffickers and their "cynicism and hypocrisy" matched that of terror suspect Osama bin Laden. Ambassador Anne Patterson spoke at a money laundering conference in Bogota after her announcement Wednesday that the United States would seek the extradition of leftist guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary fighters involved in drug trafficking. Just as "the Taliban regime and Osama bin Laden do not represent Islam," Patterson said "the terrorist and drug trafficking groups in Colombia show their cynicism and hypocrisy when they say they are seeking social justice." The escalating criticism adds pressure on President Andres Pastrana to firm up his stance toward the guerrillas, even as he tries to engage them in peace negotiations to end a 37-year conflict. Pastrana has refrained from calling the guerrillas drug traffickers, despite ample evidence that they tax drug operations to finance their fight. He has accepted that they have a legitimate political agenda, despite their drug ties and kidnappings. But Patterson said Thursday that information from southern Putumayo state, where a massive U.S.-financed anti-drug effort is concentrated, proves the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia "is a drug trafficking organization." Excerpts of her speech at the two-day conference were broadcast on local radio. The rebel group known as the FARC, Colombia's largest, makes "several billion" dollars a year from drug trafficking, Patterson said. Radionet, a radio station, broadcast a brief statement Thursday night that it said was from FARC. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia denied any connection between its Marxist followers and drug trafficking, responding to recent charges by the United States. "It is necessary to reiterate that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) do not, on ethical principle, have any dealing, negotiation or relationship with drug trafficking," FARC leaders said in a statement broadcast on Radionet. Drug trafficking is "incompatible with democracy and civil life because it generates corruption, impunity, crime and social decay, as well as affecting youth worldwide," the group added. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews with continuing coverage of WWIII _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
