COLOMBIA PARAMILITARY CHIEF ADMITS CRIMES

Says Group Killed Civilians, Dealt Drugs

BOGOTA, Colombia -(AP)- Carlos Castano, chief of the paramilitaries that
battled Colombia's rebel armies, has acknowledged his forces massacred
civilians, extorted money and dealt drugs, but he claimed those acts were
"inevitable excesses" in a war to save the nation.

As his United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia prepare to disband as part of
a peace agreement with the government, Castano sought to justify the tactics
the outlawed right-wing militia group used to fight leftist rebels for
nearly two decades.

In a message posted on the Web site of the AUC, as the group is known by its
initials in Spanish, the paramilitary chief claimed his fighters prevented
guerrillas from taking over Colombia.

"We are not seeking gratitude," Castano said. "We are satisfied with the
results of our struggle." Members of the AUC must "face up" to their actions
either collectively or individually, he said.

Castano said that during the AUC's campaign, "massacres were committed, we
resorted to the finances of drug trafficking, we resorted to extortion, we
practiced some acts of pillage and corruption."

The Colombian government has said it is endorsing a plan in which
paramilitary leaders would avoid jail if they follow through on promises to
disarm. Castano has pledged to demobilize his 12,000 fighters by 2005.