POWELL APPROVES AID IN COLOMBIA'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRADE

WASHINGTON - Citing Colombia's efforts to sever its ties with paramilitary
forces and curtail human rights abuses, Secretary of State Colin Powell
Tuesday paved the way for Colombia's armed forces to receive $31.6 million
in aid for its ongoing battle against drug trafficking.

Powell's certification that Colombia has met standards set by Congress --
part of an annual process required by law to release funds to the massive
U.S. assistance program, Plan Colombia -- drew immediate criticism from
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Although the amount certified Tuesday represents only a small portion of
overall U.S. assistance to that nation, the implicit endorsement of
Colombia's human rights efforts sparked a barrage of criticism from the
rights groups, which have long complained of blatant abuses in a country
where thousands die each year as a result of politically motivated attacks.

Much of the violence is blamed on armed rebel forces. But some of the
deaths and other human rights violations have involved paramilitary
organizations that have allegedly worked with the Colombian military.

Overcritical?

''If our funds are going to military personnel who are directly engaged in
human rights violations or are in collaboration with paramilitaries who are
committing human rights abuses, the money should be cut off,'' Eric Olson,
of Amnesty International, said in a telephone interview.

Human Rights Watch also issued a statement condemning the certification.

Both organizations also said the certification was hypocritical in light of
the recent suspension of military aid to Colombia and 34 other countries
that have yet to sign an immunity agreement shielding Americans from
prosecution before an International Criminal Court. Negotiations continue
with the affected nations, including Colombia, which risks losing $5
million this fiscal year.

''When the U.S. perceives that the human rights of U.S. military personnel
is at stake, they will cut off funds, but not when the human rights of
Colombians are at stake,'' said Olson of Amnesty.

'EXCELLENT MOMENT'

However, Colombian Defense Minister Martha Lucia Ramirez, in a statement
issued in Bogota, said, ``With this decision, it's clear once more that the
cooperation from the United States [with] our country is enjoying an
excellent moment and shows that the aspects of the bilateral relationship
mentioned lately in the press are strictly technical, are normal, and leave
no room for a possible suspension of aid.''

The State Department said in a statement that Colombia has met five
conditions for certification, including:

• Severing links with paramilitary organizations;

• Suspending and prosecuting military officers credibly alleged to have
committed rights violations or to have assisted paramilitary organizations;

• Executing outstanding orders for the capture of paramilitary leaders.

''The secretary's determination is based on a thorough, careful evaluation
of the conditions in U.S. law and the relevant actions and policies of the
government of Colombia and the Colombian armed forces,'' department
spokesman Philip Reeker said in the written statement.

Reeker also said that despite notable progress, the State Department
recognizes "that more needs to be done to improve the human rights
performance of the armed forces, including ending military-paramilitary
collaboration.''

Herald staff writer Frances Robles contributed to this report.