Subj: OBSERVER: British Chemical Company ICI Pulls Out of Cocaine War

Date: 7/1/01 7:41:56 PM Mountain Daylight Time

====================================================

'Massive spraying in Colombia has been a hostile act

against the environment and people that live there.

The decision by ICI not to have anything to do with

this program is sensible and will be a wake-up call

to Washington.'

______________ ====================================================

THE OBSERVER [London]

British Chemical Company ICI

Pulls Out of Cocaine War

----------------------------

By Antony Barnett and Solomon Hughes

ICI has pulled out of the controversial US project to spray vast areas of

Colombia with herbicides in an attempt to eradicate its cocaine and heroin

trade.

The British chemicals company's decision, which came after an Observer

investigation revealed its involvement, will be a major embarrassment to

the US government and will dent the credibility of the plan.

ICI does not want its name dragged into such a program, particularly as

there have been reports of children in Colombia who have inhaled the

chemicals falling ill.

The $1 billion program, instigated by former President Bill Clinton, will

also be hit by revelations that an individual working for the US company

fumigating the coca and opium plants has been suspected of smuggling

heroin back into the US.

According to an official document from the US Drug Enforcement

Administration obtained by The Observer, on 12 May last year Colombian

police intercepted a parcel sent from Dyncorp's Colombia offices to its

base in Florida. The police found two small bottles of a thick liquid

which, when tested, was found to be laced with heroin worth more than

$100,000.

A Dyncorp spokeswoman said the company had investigated the issue and

found no evidence of wrongdoing.

ICI's decision to refuse to allow its products to be used is likely to

worry the US government. Hospitals in sprayed areas have reported

increases in skin rashes, diarrhea, stomach aches and respiratory

problems. Food crops have also been destroyed and livestock poisoned.

In January, the US State Department claimed the only chemical used in the

aerial eradication is glyphosate. This pesticide, commonly known as 'Round

Up', is made by the biotech corporation Monsanto.

However, the department was forced to admit it was mixing the glyphosate

in an untested brew with another chemical called Cosmo Flux, a sticky

soap-like substance which helps the pesticides stick to the leaves of

plants. One of its key ingredients is made by ICI.

ICI was forced to admit its products were being used when presented with

documents from The Observer obtained by Colombian scientist Dr Elsa Nivia

of the Pesticides Action Network.

Ed Hammond of the US campaigning group Sunshine Project said: 'Massive

spraying in Colombia has been a hostile act against the environment and

people that live there. The decision by ICI not to have anything to do

with this program is sensible and will be a wake-up call to Washington.'

Copyright 2001 Guardian Newspapers

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