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Rights, Freedoms and Repression
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The Saker Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
Lockdown Skeptics
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Calls for Irish Government to demand justice for “Colombia Three” international |
rights, freedoms and repression |
press release
 Sunday January 18, 2004 23:22 by Catriona Ruane - Bring Them Home Campaign
 Delegation of Parlamentarians to travel to Colombia next week 4 Irish parliamentarians Niall Andrews, MEP, FF, Sean Crowe, T.D, Sinn Féin, Senator Mary White, FF and Caitríona Ruane, MLA SF travel to Colombia next week to seek justice for the three Irishmen Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and Jim Monaghan. They will be joined by US lawyer Steve McCabe. Whilst in Colombia they will be meeting with senior members of the Colombian Government, Catholic Church, the United Nations and other international human rights organisations, EU embassies in Bogota. They will also be visiting the three men in the notorious La Modelo Gaol. A press Conference, hosted by Niall Andrews, MEP was held at the European Parliament offices this morning Niall Andrews, MEP said “This will be my second visit to Colombia, I observed the final stages of the trial in July and the delay in giving a verdict is of grave concern to me. It was obvious in July that given the lack of evidence in the prosecution case that these three men should have been home with their families many months ago. They are three European citizens and I have met with the Vice President of Colombia, Mr. Santos to express my concerns about the case” Caitríona Ruane, of the Bring Them Home Campaign “thanked the parliamentarians for their consistent support for the human rights of the three Irishmen. Niall, Martin and Jim have been in jail for 584 days each. A team of 16 international observers, comprising lawyers and politicians from 3 continents stated categorically in their reports that these men are not getting a fair trial and expressed concern about the politicisation of their trial. “ Senator Mary White said “ I have raised my concerns with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and Minister Brian Cowen, these men should be sent home to their families immediately. The hallmarks of the Judicial process is that everyone is innocent until it is shown beyond certainty that someone is guilty. I am particularly concerned at the prejudicial comments made by senior members of the Colombian Government (including the former president, President Andres Pastrana and current president, Alvaro Uribe) and the former head of the Armed Forces, General Mora” Sean Crowe T.D said “ We will be meeting with a wide range of opinion in Colombia and our message will be that it is not acceptable that three Irish and Eu citizen’s rights have been violated so blatantly. It is also worrying how this case has been used by opponents of the Peace process in Ireland. We are calling on the Irish Government to use the European presidency to ensure that the Judge is free to make a decision free from political and military interference when deciding the fate of three Irish and EU citizens” Ends For Further Information contact: Caitríona Ruane on 353 86 8311311 Bring them Home Campaign website : www.bringthemhome.ie Editors notes: 1. The three men were arrested on August 11, 2001. They have been charged with a) use of false public documents and b) Training the FARC 2. During their trial “civilian witnesses” gave evidence saying that they saw the men training the FARC in Colombia on particular dates and times. An Irish Diplomat Sile Maguire, gave alibi evidence for Niall Connolly, stating that on one of the dates concerned she was having dinner with him in Cuba with Fine Gael’s Jim O’Keeffe T.D, Senator Madeleine Taylor Quinn and Fianna Fáil’s Ben Briscoe. 3. Videos were presented to the court showing Jim Monaghan in Ireland on these dates. Detailed work records were presented proving that Martin McCauley was in Ireland on those dates. |
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Comments (13 of 13)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13Theres two hopes of Bertie and the boys calling for justice in this case. The mere sniff of an allegation regarding these men being connected with the IRA and our esteemed government didnt want to know. Regardless of the fact that 3 of our citizens are being held unjustly in a prison system with a less than satisfactory record. These 3 men are being used as puppets by the Yanks, Brits and the Columbians. And who is little Bertie to question their motives? Hes a coward at the end of the day who is afraid to stand up for the rights of his people. Bear in mind this is the same man who couldnt say a bad word about Ray Burke or Liam Lawlor. Shows where his loyalties are.
What were members of the IRA doing in a FARC controlled area with false passports??
And even SF have no agreed that the videotape was doctored to show a different date..
Many politicians including Mo Mowlam and Mary Banotti also visited this area. Do you think they were also training FARC? You are raving about the video, but then you know that already.
Mo Mowlam is a well known Farc symapthiser. Her actions are just as disgraceful as the IRA members.
I don't think she was carrying a false passport though...
Your comment has exposed you as a nitwit.
Far be it from me to agree with a "nitwit" but this person does raise an interesting point which you have failed to answer.
What were IRA members doing in Farc controlled terrorities with false passports?
And you arguement involving Mo Mowlam is flawed. Yes she was there, and it would be ludicrous to suggest that she was involved in training FARC guerillas, but that does not mean by extension that the IRA members are also innocent of this.
Mo Mowlam was there to tackle the issue of Drugs. If I follow your arguement through to its (rather illogical) conclusion, does this mean that the IRA members were there for the same purpose???
I think not. Particularly when I see IRA members involved in drug importation and organised crime. (Check out their connections in tallaght if you doubt this, or check out the ongoing Gardai investigation into these matters which are now a matter of public record in Dail Eireann). These funds ar most likely making their way to supporting SF's criminal politcal candidates (but that is another arguement)..
You are a troll. As you well know there is no IRA involvement in the importation of drugs. If you have any evidence feel free to produce it. Note: unsubstantiated eantings from "Independent" Newspapers Group is not evidence. How many members of the IRA have been charged with these crimes?
Actually both Mo Mowlam and Mary Banotti were both in the FARC area to observe the ceasefire and how civil society was maintained in the FARC area. There is no reliable evidence of the 3 being involved in arms training anymore than there is of Banotti and Mowlam.
Nothing odd about using false passports. It is something that progressive political activists often have to do when they are passing through proto-fascist ruled countries like Colombia. Its safe for Mowlam and Banotti to travel on their own passports but it would be unwise for known Republican Socialist activists to do so. I dont suppose you ever heard of the Right Wing paramilirary death squads or the Colombian Army and Police Death Squads? A bit like the UFF, UVF, LVF, SAS and RUC.
I would refer you to the Irish Times political correspondent Mark Brennock who in his column on 17 January pointed out that neither McDowell or Kenny had produced any evidence or proof. Unsubstantiated claims in Leinster House are not proof. Speaking words in that august house does not magically make one speak the truth. In fact its an assembly where Pinnochio would feel at home.
MOre crap about republicans being involved in drugs. Not one conviction. And you can bet your life if the cops could catch even one vaguely connected provo with even an ounce of smoke you would hear all about it. Off the top of my head I can think of a FF Councillor caught with hash and a former Labour councillor from Clare, appointed to the Civil Aviation Authority by Spring, who was caught with a large cache of nose candy. Now no-one is claiming that either FF or Labour are involved in the drugs trade.
As for the insinuations about FARC, I always find it amusing that people who probably consider themselves lefties should be repeating the same shite as the right about groups like FARC. Just proves I suppose that when it comes to internationalism the republican movement as always is miles ahead of the armchair creatures.
Could you let me know which politicians were caught with drugs.. I appear to have run out and need to make a connection with a new dealer..
Hebe, you make a good point. Do you know if there are any further actions planned by our govt, or the opposition to try and at least have this case brought to trial in the short term?
Is there any resource available (web or otherwise) which details the facts of this case?
If not, would it be a good idea to produce something like this so people like Paul above could reference it before being so quick to judge. In my experience, the false passports is what has to be defended in most arguements, and if this were to be cleared up and published where a large number of people can see it , it may bring more of the public on side which in turn pushes the govt.. ( sometimes )
perhaps you could bring this up with a young FF'er (the republican party after all) on his messageboard. If you follow this thread you will see he has quite strong views on the IRA and how they should not even give up any arms.
http://www.michaelturley.com/home/?postid=26
More info here: