Excerpt: State Department on Aerial Spraying Suspension in Colombia

30 July 2001

Excerpt: State Department on Aerial Spraying Suspension in Colombia

Police halt anti-coca spraying following legal injunction

Police in Colombia are seeking clarification of a recent Colombian court ruling ordering the suspension of the aerial spraying of coca plantations, Acting State Department Spokesman Chuck Hunter told reporters July 30.

"We understand that aerial spraying has been temporarily suspended while Colombian legal experts examine the legal basis of the injunction. The Colombian National Police wish to be sure that they act in accordance with the law and with legal requirements, and they expect to resume spraying as soon as legal experts clarify that injunction," Hunter said.

The spokesman described the spraying campaign as a "key component" of Plan Colombia, which is the Colombian government's comprehensive strategy for fighting drug trafficking and restoring civil order. The strategy also involves financing for alternative development programs and interdiction activities in the region.

The following excerpt is from the official transcript of the daily State Department news briefing:

(begin excerpt)

DAILY PRESS BRIEFING
Charles F. Hunter, Acting Spokesman
Washington, D.C.

July 30, 2001

QUESTION: Yes. Do you have any comment on the Colombian court decision to suspend spraying of coca plantations in Colombia and what effect will this have on the U.S.-backed program?

MR. HUNTER: We understand that aerial spraying has been temporarily suspended while Colombian legal experts examine the legal basis of the injunction. The Colombian National Police wish to be sure that they act in accordance with the law and with legal requirements, and they expect to resume spraying as soon as legal experts clarify that injunction.

As you know, aerial spraying is a key component of our counter-narcotics efforts under Plan Colombia, in conjunction with increased alternative developments and interdiction activities in the region. The Colombian National Police were spraying major illicit drug cultivations all over the country. Since this past December, they have sprayed approximately 50,000 hectares or about 120,000 acres of coca.

Now, I should point out that there have been some allegations recently in the press that the herbicide being used in that spraying, glyphosate, has resulted in health side effects to the exposed populations. But I would like to point out that aerial spraying of illicit drug crops has been carried out on a continuing basis in various departments of Colombia for more than 10 years without any apparent ill effects on the health of the population in these areas. This particular herbicide is one of the least harmful available on the world market. It is used throughout the United States and in over 100 other countries, and has been rigorously tested for safety with respect to animals and humans. And the exhaustive body of scientific literature shows that it is not a health risk.

That said, we nonetheless feel compelled to probe assertions that it is making people sick in Colombia, and so our embassy, with assistance from the regional Environmental Protection Agency representative, is sponsoring a study on the issue. In addition to that, an embassy-contracted physician, who is Colombia's leading toxicologist, has completed an evaluation and treatment of several hundred individuals in Putumayo, and that was on June 20th that he completed those processes. His report, however, is not yet complete on the results of those examinations.

But the same physician has completed a similar study in the Nari�� Department in May, considering the same type of health problems as have been alleged in Putumayo, and he found that the cases that he reviewed were inconsistent with glyphosate exposure, and that in fact many of the cases had been reported well before any aerial spraying was conducted in the area.

So we feel, in short, that this shows once again that this herbicide is safe, and that its use is appropriate with regard to the spraying. The police are taking the appropriate steps based on the court decision, but spraying obviously is an important component in the fight against coca in the region.

QUESTION: Can I just have a quick follow-up on that?

MR. HUNTER: Please.

QUESTION: I think you said -- I just wanted to double check -- that the spraying was suspended; the police had suspended the spraying.

MR. HUNTER: That is our understanding.

QUESTION: Have they told you that -- ?

MR. HUNTER: It is our understanding that spraying has been suspended temporarily.

QUESTION: It's your understanding?

MR. HUNTER: That is correct.

QUESTION: And it is also your understanding that they have committed themselves to suspend spraying until another court or until this court issues a ruling to -- otherwise?

MR. HUNTER: The police are seeking clarifications of that injunction, exactly what it will mean for the program, we will leave it to them to pursue those clarifications and to take steps as appropriate.

QUESTION: Can you say -- you didn't answer the question of what effect this would have if it were prolonged. Is this a serious setback for the US-backed eradication program?

MR. HUNTER: It is a decision that has just come down. We will leave it for the future to see how long that suspension may go on. As I did indicate, spraying is a key component of our counter-narcotics effort.

QUESTION: Can I follow up? In addition to the suspending of spraying, you also have a suspension of the aerial interdiction program. So can you say in total, I mean, there are several aspects of the program that are suspended now. Are you concerned that there might be an increase in growth in trafficking?

MR. HUNTER: I am not prepared at this point to give an overall assessment of what impact various steps that have been taken in recent months may have had on the program which nonetheless, I think, everyone has agreement on -- is in agreement on the importance of regarding the Andean Regional Initiative and Plan Colombia.

QUESTION: Forgive me if this has been covered; I've been away for a while. What is the latest on the aerial interdiction? Is the report -- there was a report under preparation. Is that --?

MR. HUNTER: The report is still under preparation. We expect it to be ready for release in the very near future but I don't have a date for you.

(end excerpt)