FRONT-RUNNER PROUD, SERIOUS

But Some Say His Priorities Are Misguided

Bogota, Colombia --- His campaign song is a burst of Latin pop that would
make heartthrob singer Ricky Martin envious.

But Alvaro Uribe Velez, Colombia's leading presidential candidate, isn't
the kind who likes to grin and swivel his hips. Proud of his roots as a
rural landowner and expert horseman, Uribe is a serious, wiry man who is
struggling with his tendency to be combative with the press.

His family has suffered during Colombia's long war. When Uribe's father was
killed by leftist rebels in a shootout in 1983, his brother was wounded and
his sister nearly kidnapped.

He has received praise from some quarters as an able government
administrator, perhaps one who could make a dent in Colombia's legendary
corruption.

But others say Uribe has a clouded vision of the challenges he could face
should he win Colombia's presidency and take the reins of power in August.

Uribe, 49, was mayor of Medellin, a senator and governor of Antioquia
state. He studied law at the University of Antioquia and, as a student,
started a restaurant chain --- El Gran Banano.

He was director of the Aerocivil in Antioquia, which supervised runways and
licenses, at a time when the number of illegitimate permits and clandestine
airstrips grew --- a phenomenon suspected of being linked to drug
trafficking. But Uribe has dismissed suspicions, arguing federal
anti-narcotics forces had full access to review the agency's activities.
Uribe also has been accused of links to the vicious right-wing paramilitary
movement.

"My only link is with the constitution," Uribe said during an interview
last week, brushing off such allegations. "I'm not interested in rumors, in
gossip. I'm interested in protecting my people."

A Latin American diplomat in Colombia who spoke on condition of anonymity
said he thought it was unfair to brand Uribe a friend of the
paramilitaries. "Every business in Colombia has had to deal with these
armed groups at some point," he said.

But Marco Romero, a political analyst, said, "The eventual government of
Uribe could have a lot of problems with the paramilitaries. They think he's
their candidate."

If he doesn't take a stand against the paramilitaries, Romero said, Uribe
could face criticism from countries concerned about human rights.

Robin Kirk, a Colombia specialist in Washington at the international
organization Human Rights Watch, said Uribe's proposals for combating the
war are his prime problem.

Uribe said his idea of enlisting 1 million civilians into networks to pass
information to police and soldiers is akin to a U.S.-style "neighborhood
watch."

"We have to organize all the people in the rural communities," he said.
"The businessmen and peasants [must] help the army and the police. It's the
only way, or else the country will remain in the hands of the guerrillas
and the paramilitaries."

He said he wouldn't supply arms to the civilians but that he supports
current law, which allows private guards to carry registered handguns.

But Kirk said Uribe and other governors have tried to set up such networks
in their states. "They turned civilians into combatants and targets by
making them into spies," Kirk said, and the groups had to be disbanded.

Uribe again brushed off the criticism.

"With a stronger state, with a more effective state due to people's
cooperation, we will dissuade, we will contain violent groups," he said.
"And with containment, they will reconsider their role. My hope is that if
they see a government serious enough to protect people, they will accept to
get into a dialogue."

Uribe also has ambitious plans to double Colombia's 55,000 combat troops
and double the number of national police to 200,000. He's a fierce advocate
of lifting restrictions on U.S. military aid so it can be used not just to
fight drug trafficking but also the leftist insurgency. Using U.S. aid for
that purpose currently is prohibited.

In response to grumbling that Colombians won't want to foot a $1
billion-a-year bill to achieve Uribe's goals, the candidate said he'd be
willing to raise taxes on businesses to finance military expansion.