ANTI-DRUG SPRAYING IN COLOMBIA RIPPED

SANTA ROSA DEL GUAMUEZ, Colombia (AP) - The planes swooped in at treetop
level, trailing a fine mist of herbicide over fields of coca, corn and
banana as combat helicopters clattered overhead, the door gunners ready to
crush any resistance.

For the governments of the United States and Colombia, the aerial spraying
mission in the Indian village of Santa Rosa del Guamuez was among the first
in a controversial counterdrug effort in the world's largest
cocaine-producing region.

But already the strategy is running into problems and fueling deep
resentment. The planes killed not only coca -- the base ingredient of
cocaine -- but the food crops and pasture.

Government investigators are inundated with complaints from farmers, and
are finding that some complaints of non-drug crops being sprayed are true.

Juan Martinez, of the government ombudsman office, confirmed that some
pasture sprayed with herbicide had died.