RIGHT-WING COLOMBIAN WARLORD WANTS FOREIGN MONEY TO DEMOBILIZE

BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's most feared far-right warlord, whose militias
have killed thousands of civilians and leftist rebels, asked international
donors to help pay for his paramilitary fighters to lay down their arms.

Carlos Castano told local television in an interview late Monday his United
Self-Defense Forces of Colombia would congregate in three months under
government supervision to begin formal peace talks.

But the renegade former army scout, wanted in the United States for drug
trafficking and in Colombia for dozens of murders, warned that other
far-right chieftains would take his place if the government did not deal
fairly with his men and combat their Marxist rebel foes.

``If society doesn't do its bit and society doesn't strengthen the state and
the international community doesn't intervene, then Castano could be away in
a university in England or extradited to the United States or wherever and
other defense groups will emerge,'' said the paramilitary chief.

Castano founded his illegal militias to seek revenge 22 years ago when
rebels kidnapped and killed his father. He argues the government's failure
to protect ordinary citizens justified his war, which often targeted
civilians suspected of collaborating with Marxist guerrillas.

In a call that could discomfort many governments that have condemned his
record of slaughter, Castano said the Colombian government's lack of cash
meant foreign donors should foot part of the bill for demobilizing his
13,000-strong force.

``Where is the international community, which has denounced all the human
rights violations by the paramilitaries, as they call us? So, they are only
around to denounce but not to help with demobilization?''

Washington Helping Rehabilitation

Castano's private army, known by its Spanish initials AUC and notorious for
brutality, is regarded with horror in Europe and classified as ``terrorist''
by the United States. But Washington, which funds Colombia's drive to stamp
out cocaine production, is already paying to rehabilitate some AUC fighters.

The interview was a typically vehement display by Castano.

Dressed in camouflage fatigues, he gesticulated violently and spat out his
words, his hoarse voice rising to a shout as he spoke about the need to end
Colombia's 39-year cycle of violence.

But Castano is an astute manager of public relations. Less than two years
ago, the largest rebel force was involved in peace talks with the government
and hobnobbing with international dignitaries. Now the AUC, despite its
record of massacres, torture and assassinations, is about to begin
negotiations and the guerrillas are fighting in the jungle.

``We all have to forgive each other,'' Castano said, adding he would like to
visit Disney World and study at a university if he escapes punishment and
the United States drops attempts to extradite him.

Promising his fighters would crack down on cocaine production, he suggested
Washington could send an official to the negotiations, and he would welcome
United Nations representation.

Asked how he would react if confronted by people who had suffered from
paramilitary violence, Castano replied: ``I am a victim of violence, I am a
victim of the absence of the state in this country.''