COLOMBIA'S RIGHT WORSE THAN ITS LEFT

While the role of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in that
South American nation's interminable civil war is unforgivable, a thorough
assessment of the Colombian tragedy must also assail the right-wing
paramilitary organization that calls itself the United Self-Defense Forces
of Colombia (AUC) (''Colombian mayors in guerrillas' cross hairs,'' News,
Wednesday; ''Colombian mayors,'' Letters, Monday).

For years, both organizations have terrorized the country with violent acts.
The FARC at least justifies its atrocities with ideology, while the AUC's
mercenaries are motivated by greed and a predilection for pure violence.

The FARC's contributions to the nation's turmoil -- while considerable --
are easily trumped by those of the AUC, which accounts for more than half of
all forced refugee displacements and most of Colombia's human-rights
violations, making the country's record easily the worst in the hemisphere.

For years, the U.S. State Department has identified the FARC as the chief
evil in the Colombian civil war. Recently, the controversial assistant
secretary of State for Latin America, Otto Reich, suggested that the
Colombian military go in for the kill. By providing the Colombian military
with aid, Washington is indirectly supporting the AUC.

The military's connection with the AUC is well documented. It is a near
certainty that some of the funds of ''Plan Colombia'' -- the USA's $1.3
billion package designed to counter drug trafficking and beef up the
Colombian military -- will end up in its hands.

We would be wise not to let our horror at one group's transgressions blind
us to those committed by its opponents.

Laura McGinnis, research associate

Council on Hemispheric Affairs

Washington