World Notes COLOMBIA

Has a group of murderous thugs ever sounded so sweet? "We acknowledge the triumph of the state, of the institutions and the legitimately established government," said the Extraditables, the front group for Colombia's drug traffickers, in a communique last week. Admitting defeat in the drug war launched by President Virgilio Barco Vargas five months ago, the narcolords pledged to surrender their arms and abandon their trade if granted "legal guarantees." Translation: immunity from prosecution for the spasm of violence they committed in response to Barco's crackdown, and freedom from extradition to the U.S.

The cocaine gangs have made peace offers before, but the Colombian , government has never bought them. The day after the Extraditables issued their statement through two kidnaping victims they had released, Barco's administration rejected the dope dealers' overture, telling them to save it for the judge.