WHITE HOUSE APOLOGIZES FOR PERU DEATHS

WASHINGTON -- After nearly a year, the White House has issued a formal
apology to the Bowers family for the shootdown in Peru that killed
Muskegon-based missionary Veronica "Roni" Bowers and her 7-month-old
daughter, Charity.

"The United States government and the government of Peru deeply regret this
tragic event and the resulting deaths of Veronica and Charity Bowers and
injuries to Jim and Cory Bowers, and their pilot, Kevin Donaldson," the
White House said in written statement late Wednesday night. "We offer our
sincere condolences to the victims and their families."

The Peruvian air force shot down the airplane carrying the missionaries
last April as they flew between Colombia and Peru, mistaking the plane for
drug smugglers. CIA contract employees helped identify the airplane.

The government's apology appears to have triggered a financial settlement
between the U.S. Department of Justice and the attorneys for the victims
and survivors, although an attorney for the Bowers family today said the
agreement hasn't been signed yet.

Donald Davis, an attorney representing the Bowers' missionary group, the
Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, said today that the Bowers
family has reached a settlement with the government. ABWE has reached a
separate settlement with the government of Peru.

"We're gratified that they've decided to settle with us," said Davis of the
Peruvian government. "In light of acknowledging their responsibility in the
crash, they agreed to be responsible for some of our expenses."

Those expenses total about $140,000 in medical, travel and funeral
expenses. In addition, the Peruvian government said it would purchase
another plane for ABWE and buy some recreation equipment for a school in
Iquitos, Peru, in memory of Roni and Charity Bowers.

Davis said that while he was pleased the White House apologized for the
shootdown, he was disturbed by the federal government's tactics in
negotiating the financial settlement.

"They said we had to sign a release to absolve them of any financial
responsibility for our expenses or they wouldn't reimburse the Bowers
family at all," Davis said. "That was a disappointment to us."

Karen Hastie Williams, the Bowers' attorney, said today that the federal
government and the families have come to an agreement but she declined to
divulge the details.

"It's in the works," she said, "but it's not been signed yet."

Davis said he knows there is a cash agreement between the U.S. government
and Jim and Cory Bowers along with Roni Bowers' parents and siblings. He
refused to say how much the settlement totaled.

Both sides had hoped to finalize a settlement before President Bush arrives
in Peru on March 23.

The White House's statement did address two continuing concerns: whether
Donaldson was responsible for the accident and whether U.S. drug
interdiction efforts will continue in Peru.

"Neither government believes that Mr. Donaldson was responsible for this
incident," the White House noted, confirming accident reports issued by the
Department of Justice and the U.S. Senate last year.

But the White House left open a decision about continuing its interdiction
efforts, saying that it is studying a series of reports on the accident and
the anti-drug program.

"The air interdiction program has been suspended since this incident
occurred, and no decision has been made on whether or how to resume it,"
according to the statement. "As we consider whether to resume the air
interdiction program, we will carefully examine the recommendations of
these reports. We will also consider the concerns expressed by the U.S.
Congress and the public, to ensure that any renewed program focuses on
enhanced safety procedures."

Members of Congress approved legislation last fall that suspended 2002
funding for interdiction efforts in Colombia and Peru until the
administration can come up with safety guidelines for the flights.

The office of U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, who sponsored the
language suspending funding, was not available for comment on the White
House statement, or the settlement.