Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the Revolutionarily Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Washington, DC – Ricardo Palmera (Simon Trinidad) negociador de paz de las FARC tomará el estrado de la corte para testimoniar en su propia defensa en la segunda semana de este mes. Los miembros del Comité Nacional para la Libertad de Ricardo Palmera (CNLRP), estarán presente el día 8 de abril en el juicio. El CNPLRP urge a todos los partidarios y simpatizantes de la lucha por la libertad del revolucionario colombiano a unirse a ellos.

Washington D.C. – Ricardo Palmera, a Colombian revolutionary and political prisoner held in solitary confinement by George Bush and the U.S. government, goes on trial for a second time on March 26. The first time, Palmera won a big victory when Judge Hogan was forced to declare a mistrial. Some of the American jurors found professor Palmera’s personal testimony convincing and failed to agree on a verdict. Not satisfied with this outcome, the Bush administration is trying Palmera again for the same charges.

Washington D.C. – The chant “Free Ricardo Palmera! Hands off Colombia!” rang out in front of the Federal Courthouse here, June 4, as members of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera held a picket line to demand his release. The picket line coincided with the onset of Palmera’s second trial. Members of Students for a Democratic Society from Asheville, North Carolina and the Colombian Action Network participated in the protest.

Colombian revolutionary proclaims innocence

Washington, D.C. – Anayibe Rojas Valderama, a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) also know as ‘Sonia’, was sentenced here, July 2 by Judge James Robertson to nearly 17 years in federal prison on charges of shipping cocaine to the United States.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera.

Washington D.C. – Protesters from eight U.S. states gathered here at the start of a new trial for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera, Aug. 20. The protesters chanted, “Free Ricardo Palmera! Stop Plan Colombia!” and “The people of Colombia are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” The activists then proceeded into the Washington D.C. Federal Court building.

Fight Back News Service is distributing the following press release from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera.

The Sentencing of Colombian Revolutionary Ricardo Palmera

On December 3rd Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera faces sentencing in a Washington D.C. federal court. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera will pack the courtroom in support of this brave freedom fighter.

Sisters and Brothers,

Due to the great interest in the release of several detainees by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Colombia’s largest rebel group, Fight Back! is circulating the following FARC statement.

Raul Reyes, a leading member of the FARC – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – was killed by the U.S. backed Colombian government March 1. Fight Back! asked Jess Sundin, who traveled to Colombia and met with Raul Reyes, to give her impressions of him and to speak about the significance of his slaying. Sundin is a member of Freedom Road Socialist Organization and an important leader in Minnesota’s peace and justice movement.

Washington D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera will testify in his own defense here in Federal Court the second week of April. Members of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera will be attending the trial April 8 and urge other supporters to join them.

Hear Podcast of Kati Ketz on today’s testimony

Washington D.C. – Fight Back! interviews Kati Ketz, who attended the trial of Ricardo Palmera here, April 8. Ketz is a member of Students for a Democratic Society in Asheville, North Carolina. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera urges all progressive people to attend the trial.

Washington, D.C. – In stunning defeat for the Bush administration, the attempt to frame Colombian rebel Ricardo Palmera on drug trafficking charges ended with a hung jury in Federal Court here, April 21. With the jurors unable to agree, Judge Royce Lambert declared a mistrial.

Following a State Department request, the U.S. prosecutor asked that all drug charges against Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera be dropped. This follows two mistrials where American juries failed to convict Colombian rebel, Palmera. The Bush Administration spent millions of taxpayer dollars on two lengthy trials where the deck was stacked against Palmera. Professor Palmera is an important negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).