revolutionary spirit
29th June 2002, 16:09
>>>>>> Irishmen's lawyers in Colombia on death list
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has
expressed her concern over threats made to human rights defenders
in Colombia, including the Lawyers Collective representing the
three Irishmen held in Bogota.
Recently, the members and directors of the "Jose Alvear Restrepo"
Lawyers Collective were subjected to public threats in an
anonymous poster campaign orchestrated by right wing
paramilitaries.
In a statement issued from her office in Geneva, the High
Commissioner called for an intensification of efforts to protect
the defenders of human rights in Colombia.
She expressed her profound concern "at the increase in hostility
and violence against human rights defenders in Colombia". She
said the commitment and moral integrity of the Jose Alvear
Restrepo Lawyers Collective and the Popular Feminist Organisation
were damaged by the serious allegations made against them.
"This contributes to a climate in which criminals feel they can
threaten and attack human rights defenders with impunity," she
said. "I have personally seen the commitment and courage of the
Colombian human rights defenders who, in spite of horrendous
violence and permanent instability, continue to work tirelessly
to build peace and respect for fundamental human rights in the
country." Said Mrs. Robinson.
The Bring them Home campaign, which is seeking the return to
Ireland of Niall Connolly, Jim Monaghan and Martin McCauley, who
are facing charges of training FARC guerrillas and using false
documents, said that the threats against their lawyers makes it
impossible for the men to obtain a fair trial.
"Already the adverse and prejudicial publicity surrounding the
case since their arrest last August had made it impossible for
them to get a fair trial. Their lawyers have been intimidated and
harassed by the prison authorities over many months and now they
are facing public death threats. The men should be released and
returned home to their deeply worried families immediately," said
campaign spokesperson Caitriona Ruane.
"We have made the Irish government aware of these threats to the
lawyers and we presented a copy of poster to the Colombian
Embassy in London last week and called on them to protect the
men's lawyers," Ruane said.
The trial of the men is expected to open in Bogota within weeks,
after the appointment of a judge to hear the case is confirmed.
The Dublin government is expected to send official observers to
monitor the case.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has
expressed her concern over threats made to human rights defenders
in Colombia, including the Lawyers Collective representing the
three Irishmen held in Bogota.
Recently, the members and directors of the "Jose Alvear Restrepo"
Lawyers Collective were subjected to public threats in an
anonymous poster campaign orchestrated by right wing
paramilitaries.
In a statement issued from her office in Geneva, the High
Commissioner called for an intensification of efforts to protect
the defenders of human rights in Colombia.
She expressed her profound concern "at the increase in hostility
and violence against human rights defenders in Colombia". She
said the commitment and moral integrity of the Jose Alvear
Restrepo Lawyers Collective and the Popular Feminist Organisation
were damaged by the serious allegations made against them.
"This contributes to a climate in which criminals feel they can
threaten and attack human rights defenders with impunity," she
said. "I have personally seen the commitment and courage of the
Colombian human rights defenders who, in spite of horrendous
violence and permanent instability, continue to work tirelessly
to build peace and respect for fundamental human rights in the
country." Said Mrs. Robinson.
The Bring them Home campaign, which is seeking the return to
Ireland of Niall Connolly, Jim Monaghan and Martin McCauley, who
are facing charges of training FARC guerrillas and using false
documents, said that the threats against their lawyers makes it
impossible for the men to obtain a fair trial.
"Already the adverse and prejudicial publicity surrounding the
case since their arrest last August had made it impossible for
them to get a fair trial. Their lawyers have been intimidated and
harassed by the prison authorities over many months and now they
are facing public death threats. The men should be released and
returned home to their deeply worried families immediately," said
campaign spokesperson Caitriona Ruane.
"We have made the Irish government aware of these threats to the
lawyers and we presented a copy of poster to the Colombian
Embassy in London last week and called on them to protect the
men's lawyers," Ruane said.
The trial of the men is expected to open in Bogota within weeks,
after the appointment of a judge to hear the case is confirmed.
The Dublin government is expected to send official observers to
monitor the case.