Venezuela trend concerns top U.S. officer

www.kansascity.com Breaking News Posted on Thu, Mar. 13, 2003 By KEN GUGGENHEIM Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Directing unusually blunt language at Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the top U.S. military officer in Latin America said Thursday he sees a trend toward authoritarianism in the troubled country.

Gen. James. T. Hill, head of the U.S. Southern Command, gave his assessment of the situation in Venezuela during an appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hill also said U.S. efforts to help Colombia fight leftist guerrillas have been successful, but the country's conflict will not be resolved solely by military means.

He said the Colombian military is gaining momentum in its battle against the guerrillas and right-wing paramilitaries.

On Venezuela, Hill described the street protests during the two-month general strike that crippled Venezuela's economy as, "for lack of a better term, democracy in action." The strike crippled oil exports in what had been the world's fifth-largest oil exporter.

He said that following the strike, Chavez's "actions may portend a move toward greater authoritarianism. In my mind, that bears watching very carefully. I have directed my people to do that."

Since the strike ended, Chavez has come under international criticism for cracking down on political opponents. Chavez has accused the United States and other nations of conducting a smear campaign to discredit his government. He continues to have strong support among Venezuela's many poor people.

Hill said he has not personally been in contact with Venezuela's military, but praised it as professional and said it has good relations with the U.S. military.

"The Venezuela military did not go out in the street and kill its citizens, nor did they conduct a coup," he said. "I think that's an important aspect of what's going on."

The Bush administration long has been wary of Chavez, who has befriended Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Cuban leader Fidel Castro and other U.S. adversaries. But after appearing too eager to support a failed coup attempt last April, the United States has been cautious in its criticism. It is following the leadership of the Organization of American States in seeking a peaceful resolution of Venezuela's political crisis.

Hill created a stir in Venezuela last week when he said terrorist organizations were operating on the country's Margarita Island, as well as in border areas of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Venezuela's foreign minister, Roy Chaderton, called on him to provide evidence.

On Colombia, Hill said the guerrillas and paramilitaries will never be eradicated. But the government can reassert its authority in parts of the country where the groups have freely operated.

"There will never be a purely military solution to the problem that is Colombia," Hill said. "They recognize that and we recognize that, but I remain cautiously optimistic."

The United States has provided about $2 billion in assistance to Colombia in recent years, most of it in anti-drug aid.