U.S.-BACKED DRUG FUMIGATION RESUMES

Colombia: Some Say The Herbicides Are Sickening Farmers And Poisoning Rivers

BOGOTA, Colombia A fleet of planes and helicopters took off from a
southwestern airfield Tuesday to resume aerial spraying of drug crops, part
of U.S.-backed eradication efforts.

Bogota Judge Gilberto Reyes had ordered on Friday that the fumigation be
suspended until the Colombian government responds to health and
environmental concerns, but his office clarified Tuesday that the
suspension applies only to Indian lands in the Amazon rainforest.

Anti-narcotics chief Gen. Gustavo Socha then said he ordered the fumigation
to continue in accordance with the judge's decision.

Though their areas were excluded by the judge, Indians in southwestern
Cauca state blocked the Pan-American Highway to protest the spraying,
saying it poisons the rivers and harms farmers' health.

Thousands of other farmers also blocked highways across the country to
press for debt forgiveness, price supports and fewer food imports.

Protesters, some using tractors to block roads, said they were prepared to
block the roads indefinitely.

"We are trying to restore the rights of all the farmers and Indians to a
viable farming sector," said Angel Maria Caballero, one of the leaders of
the strike.

The three crop dusters that took off from the airfield in Popayan, in Cauca
state, were escorted by six helicopters, a Colombian counternarcotics
official said on condition of anonymity.

The spraying initiative is meant to reduce the flow of drugs to the United
States - and deprive Colombian rebels and paramilitaries of a fortune in
proceeds from the illicit trade.

The spraying of poppy and coca fields - which produce heroin and cocaine -
is funded by a $1.3 billion aid package from Washington.

Justice Minister Romulo Gonzalez said the government would contest the
judge's order against spraying Indian areas.

"It contravenes Colombian law, which orders the destruction of all illegal
crops and for growers of drug crops to be punished," Gonzalez said in
Bogota, the capital.

There are currently 11 U.S.-supplied spray planes in Colombia. Fourteen
more planes are due to arrive in Colombia no later than next March.

The planes are flown by Colombian pilots and by U.S. and other foreign
pilots contracted by DynCorp, a U.S. firm retained by the State Department.