Statement of Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-New York), June 28, 2001

Statement of Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-New York), June 28, 2001
Statement of Chairman Emeritus Benjamin A. Gilman

On Andean Ridge Initiative

Hearing before the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

2172 Rayburn Building - 11:00 AM - June 28, 2001

Mr. Chairman. Thank you for calling today’s hearing on the Andean Initiative and providing me this opportunity to testify. I welcomed the Administration’s new Andean regional plan of more than $ 800 million. It is a natural progression after our Plan Colombia $ 1.3 billion dollar counter-narcotics aid program.

PERU

We are making progress in our fight against illicit drugs in the Andean region, especially in Peru and Bolivia. We need to stay the course. It’s time to get off the dime and restore the shoot down policy over the skies of both Peru and Colombia after we build in whatever safe guards are clearly needed to prevent, the tragic, unfortunate April 20th missionary incident.

We must not throw out the baby with the bath water and allow the loss of any more innocent lives from illicit drugs coming from the Andean region to our communities and towns, while we procrastinate over what to do about this tragic mistake in Peru, which we all sincerely regret.

BOLIVIA

With regard to drug trafficking in Bolivia, we find a success story in a sea of unfounded pessimism. Bolivia’s total elimination of coca leaf in the Chapare region, and its efforts to control the small remaining illicit crops in the Yungas area, is a model for the world. Bolivia gives us all hope. Our continued support to sustain this startling Bolivian drug fighting success, is essential.

Bolivia has provided some important lessons for its neighbors about how strong political will has taken one’s nation out of the illicit drug business, and has controlled the supply of precursor chemicals. In Bolivia today, it’s a crime equal to drug trafficking, with the same punishment, if you engage in illicit precursor chemical trafficking. Others should follow that example. It has had a major impact on the purity and availability of Bolivian drugs. For without these chemicals, there is no drug production.

COLOMBIA

In Colombia, it is gratifying to hear we have resumed opium eradication. According to the anti-drug chief of the Colombian National Police (CNP) and our embassy in Bogota, we may be able to totally eliminate opium in Colombia by the end of this year using the Black Hawks which our Committee led the way in obtaining. They will save lives and help protect our children here at home from the deadly scourge of Colombia heroin which has impacted our east coast.

THE SUPPLY LINE

We still need to solve the supply line problems in Colombia, the "Achilles heel" of Plan Colombia, as we all know, and have long recognized. The State Department’s proposal of a costly-to-operate C-27 transport plane–with parts that have to come from Italy, along with more American contract crews in Colombia, and which can’t land on 80% of the airstrips the CNP needs to bring fuel and herbicide to–won’t do. It’s a non-starter. We should get the CNP the Buffalo supply planes the police leadership have asked for themselves to fly these past years.

THE FARC

I remain concerned about what deals, if any, the Colombian government may have with the FARC to limit coca eradication spraying; and the safety and security of Americans in Colombia as we aggressively go after drugs. It’s time to drop the fiction of anti-narcotics aid only. Americans are at risk and targeted in Colombia. For example, we should help the CNP’s anti-kidnaping unit with lift capacity. It has reduced kidnaping in Bogota by 50%, and just captured 50 criminals and guerillas linked to the kidnaping and killings of American oil workers in Ecuador.

Overall, we need to keep going and do more in the region. We must sustain what we have begun in places like Peru, Bolivia and Colombia, and also help Colombia’s neighbors like Ecuador, Venezuela, Brazil and Panama that face the spill over affect of the fight against drugs there. Ecuador, which has helped with the new forward operating base after we left Panama, deserves our strong support, especially as it faces a new FARC inspired and trained insurgency. We must continue to show we are serious, and do even more.

ANDEAN TRADE PREFERENCE

This year, Congress ought to also renew the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), a ten year old initiative initially intended to help the region in our common fight against illicit drugs. Renewal of the ATPA is an essential part of the regional package to help make alternative crops and development viable. I urge the Administration to lobby hard and effectively for its renewal. It sends an important message that we are serious, good partners, and reliable allies in the region.

E.U. SUPPORT

Finally, I call upon the State Department, along with governments in the Andean region, to demarche the European governments and the EU to do their share to help stem the flow of drugs from the Andean region. One-third of the cocaine from this region is headed for Europe, and places like Holland, Belgium and others in Europe, provide large uncontrolled quantities of the precursor chemicals to the region that help make drugs, which in turn, flow back to Europe.

The Europeans should not be standing idly on the sidelines. We need their cooperation in controlling these precursor chemicals, and for more alternative development aid, as we and our Andean neighbors, do our share and do the tough part. Since, illicit drugs affect all of us, and it isn’t too much to expect some European help in America’s backyard.

Thank you.

As of June 29, 2001, this document was also available online at http://www.house.gov/international_relations/gilm0628.htm