YES, DRUG LORDS, THERE'S A SANTA

Christmas may come early in Colombia this year, at least for some drug
kingpins and crooked politicians who are in jail. And Santa is none other
than President Ernesto Samper.

There appear to be 6 million good reasons for his generous proposal to
allow the drug lords and their corrupt political pals up to 60 "vacation"
days from jail each year, plus weekend release after they serve 80% of
their time. In 1994, Samper's campaign got $6 million from the Cali drug
cartel, and the Colombian congress could find nothing wrong with his having
put the money into his campaign treasury.

The prison vacation bill that Samper sent to the Senate takes advantage of
a House bill aimed at relieving serious overcrowding in prisons. That bill
too would provide vacations, but it specifically excludes drug traffickers
and corrupt politicians.

It's true that prison conditions in Colombia are appalling. But Cali cartel
drug lords like Miguel and Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and the 14 jailed
congressmen who were convicted of corruption do not share the cramped and
violent quarters of common criminals. They are confined in specialand
comfortableprisons.

The United States, intent on combating international drug trafficking, is
furious with Samper's plan. The State Department called it "not an
encouraging development."

Samper is clearly paying back his political contributors before leaving
office next year.

But he is also hurting Colombia's chance to be certified by the United
States as cooperating in the war against drugs.

We think the certification process is an illconceived tool of foreign
policy, but actions like Samper's certainly provide fuel for its defenders.

If, next March, Colombia is once again decertified, Colombians will at
least know who is responsible. President Ernesto Samper, alias Santa Claus.

Copyright Los Angeles Times