U.S. SHOULD REWARD BOLIVIA'S DRUG-FIGHTING PRESIDENT

Bolivia's President Hugo Banzer needs and deserves help. The United States
should give it to him.

It's no exaggeration: Mr. Banzer is probably the most successful fighter of
illegal drugs in Latin American history. Elected to a five-year term in
1997, he pledged to drastically reduce Bolivia's production of coca, the
raw material for cocaine. He has been more than true to his word. Under
him, Bolivia has eradicated 80 to 85 percent of its illicit coca crop.
"Within 12 months Bolivia will be completely out of the cocaine circuit,"
said U.S. ambassador to Bolivia Manuel Rocha.

It is a singular achievement. And it is everything that the United States -
the world's largest consumer of illegal drugs - could hope for from an ally
and fellow American republic.

But Mr. Banzer's efforts have cost him and Bolivia, the second-poorest
country in Latin America, after Haiti. Bolivia has lost $700 million in
illegal drug income over the last two years. Families that used to grow
coca are having difficulty making the transition to less-lucrative licit
crops. Early last month, angry coca growers demonstrated and blocked
highways, joining teachers and peasants upset over low wages. The turmoil
sent a shudder through the former army general's coalition government.

The United States is already doing much for Bolivia. It should do much more.

As part of the recent emergency spending bill for drug-swamped Colombia,
President Clinton proposed giving Bolivia an extra $30 million for
alternative development and $6 million for drug interdiction. Congress
wisely increased the amounts to $85 million and $25 million, respectively.
The money complements the $115 million in development aid that Congress had
already given Bolivia for fiscal 2000.

But money alone won't save Bolivia. Congress should open the U.S. textile
market to more Bolivian exports. And it should reauthorize the Andean Trade
Preferences Act - which slashes tariffs on certain goods from Bolivia and
the other struggling Andean countries - before it expires next year.

Last and most important, Congress should grant the next U.S. president
enhanced authority to negotiate free-trade agreements so that Bolivia could
become an early candidate for free trade with the United States.

There is danger in inaction. Unless Bolivians begin to see fruits of Mr.
Banzer's anti-drug policies, the next president might reverse course. The
United States should do everything in its power to ensure that Mr. Banzer
succeeds, that he survives and that his anti-drug policies live after him.