(26 Nov 1996) English/Nat

A former Nicaraguan rebel commander flatly denied allegations Tuesday, that the C-I-A was connected to cocaine trafficking in order to fund the Contra army .

The usual calm of a United States Congressional hearing in Washington D-C broke into mayhem after Adolfo Calero called the allegations "crap."

The accusations stem from a report in a Los Angeles newspaper, that concluded two Nicaraguan drug dealers with connections to a C-I-A-run guerrilla army, were responsible for proliferation of the cocaine trade in California in the 1980s.

The explosive prospect of C-I-A involvement in drug trafficking became apparent Monday, when a normally-sedate U-S Congressional hearing erupted into mayhem.

Since October, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has been conducting an inquiry into accusations, that agents of the C-I-A are connected to the sale of drugs in Los Angeles.

The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence heard testimony from former Contra leader Adolfo Calero and Eden Pastora, the former Southern Front Commander.

The hearings were prompted by a series of newspaper articles in California which appeared in the San Jose Mercury News.

Calero and Pastora came to Washington D-C to answer questions of the American Committee.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The San Jose Mercury News identified a number of individuals as being involved in the drug trade and of having possible connections with the CIA, and we have proceeded to try to determine what the evidence is and what the facts are."

SUPER CAPTION: Senator Arlen Specter

In the last couple of weeks officials from the U-S Department of Justice, the C-I-A and the Senate, have been questioned about the allegations.

To date, the Congressional committee has not been able to obtain any evidence supporting the newspaper reports.

The accusations have sparked debate in a tinderbox of controversy and race relations.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I would say that all of this story -- rather than about crack, is about crap. Rather than crack, it's crap. That's the way I look at it. It's a preposterous -- unfounded, ridiculous."

SUPER CAPTION: Former Contra Leader Adolfo Calero

Calero's testimony was interrupted by hecklers and protestors upset with the hearing process.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have a right to hear from (name inaudible). Michael Rupert (sp) that was at the meeting in California; he tried to testify three times. You guys haven't called him yet. Why? He has valuable information. These are the contra guys. They're not going to tell you about a crack deal." (Applause, affirmations.)

SUPER CAPTION: Heckler

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"John Deutch, the head of the C-I-A, admitted on CNN that he would investigate George Bush. Here is the evidence in a special report, if anybody cares to find out the truth."

SUPER CAPTION: Heckler

SOUNDBITE:
"We understand the high level of emotional involvement, and we are prepared to allow some leeway to allow you to express yourselves, although this is not in accordance with the regular rules. We are prepared to listen to you."

SUPER CAPTION: Senator Arlen Specter

Senator Specter who chairs the committee has promised the protestors an opportunity to speak out, but he didn't say when.

Meanwhile, officials at CIA headquarters in Langley Virginia, just outside of Washington DC, have been bombarded with questions about their involvement.

To date the head of the CIA has denied the allegations.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is an appalling charge. It is an appalling charge that goes to the heart of this country. "


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