Two trade unionist leaders from Colombia recently shared updates at a videoconference of international trade unionists on the situation in Colombia and the stakes of the presidential elections. Marlon Puentes, a member of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), talked about how Colombia has been dominated by decades of a radical right-wing government. It is only with the 2022 election of Gustavo Petro that “working-class Colombians have had access to government but not power.”

Puentes recognized that while limited “because the Congress has blocked us,” there have been four years of reforms and key advancements in the Petro administration. He added, “We advance from Petro, but we find ourselves in the same situation as many years before: an ultraright and right wing, aligned with the ultraright of Latin America, aligned with the interests of the U.S. empire. We want to deepen the reforms we got through with Petro.”

During the following week’s videoconference on June 5, the group heard from Cindy Jimenez, a leader in the transport workers union in Colombia.

“We want to continue the wins we had under Petro, to reorganize political power to serve the people, and be a part of the movement across Latin America trying to push back capitalism and rising fascism,” Jimenez stated.

Jimenez added, “In this second round of presidential elections, the people have two choices: the continuation of Uribismo, Espriella’s career was to support the narcotraffickers and paramilitaries. He wants to eliminate the JEP, implement fracking, support Israel, and bring in North American influence.”

She added that amid all the disinformation and fear-mongering being put on the people, “we continue in hope, struggle, resistance and collective mobilization against the advance of fascism in our country.”

The JEP is a tribunal of special jurisdiction created out of the 2016 Peace Accords. It has been an important body to investigate cases of political violence from the 1980s into the 2000s. Its purpose is reconciliation and justice. Notably, the JEP has dropped the charge of rebellion against Colombian revolutionary and former FARC leader, Simón Trinidad. The JEP has also requested that Trinidad appear before the court in order to share his perspective and experiences from the political violence of the 1980s, when around 5000 members of the electoral coalition Patriotic Union were murdered by the far right. Presidential candidate Ivan Cepeda has firmly upheld the demand that Simón Trinidad be released from U.S. prison and repatriated to Colombia to help the peace process.

#International #Colombia #Labor #SimonTrinidad

Unas conjeturas sobre la injerencia y interferencia de los EE.UU. y la derecha colombiana surgieron inmediatamente. El senador conservador de Ohio Bernie Moreno, defensor de Turning Point USA, afirmó que EE.UU. quizá no reconociera las elecciones colombianas. Moreno, nacido en Colombia, cree que la condena del ex-presidente Alvaro Uribe, ligado al narcotráfico, es una represión política y él apoya la posibilidad de sanciones y otras medidas contra Colombia.

Moreno fue uno de los 88 oficiales de EE.UU. en Colombia durante la elección, lo que levantó sospechas de intimidación de los votantes.

Las movilizaciones populares a favor de Cepeda ocurrieron el 1 de junio, con muchos jóvenes manifestando junto a organizaciones comunitarias.

En 2019 y 2021, los movimientos sociales de Colombia mostraron su frustración con el gobierno de derecha en el poder. Dos huelgas nacionales históricas dieron lugar a movilizaciones masivas, especialmente en los centros urbanos, que unieron a una nueva generación de jóvenes colombianos con organizaciones de larga duración. El régimen pro-EE.UU. de Iván Duque respondió con represión por parte de la policía y las fuerzas armadas que resultó en cientos de víctimas. En particular, la policía disparó balas de goma a los ojos de los protestantes. Hubo más de 100 reportes de manifestantes con lesiones oculares.

Tras el sabotaje intencional por parte del gobierno de los Acuerdos de Paz de 2016 con las FARC, las huelgas nacionales resultaron en un cambio masivo en lo que las fuerzas populares están dispuestos a arriesgar para comenzar a transformar el país. Muchas de las fuerzas populares involucradas avanzaron, a través de la coalición Pacto Histórico, al candidato presidencial Gustavo Petro en 2022. Petro y la afrocolombiana Francia Marquez ganaron la elección.

En la lista del Pacto Histórico de este año hay Iván Cepeda, un senador desde hace mucho tiempo, y Aida Quilcue, una líder de una organización indigena. En la primera vuelta de las elecciones presidenciales, obtuvo el 40.9% y el candidato de derecha extrema, Abelardo de la Espriella, obtuvo el 43%. Esto reduce el campo de candidatos a Cepeda, un izquierdista, y de la Espriella, el candidato proisraelí, respaldado por EE.UU.

De ser elegido, la plataforma de Cepeda incluye una continuación de los objetivos del gobierno de Petro, con foco mayor en la reforma agraria y otros temas. Cepeda también fue un defensor de mucho tiempo de la repatriación del revolucionario colombiano Simon Trinidad. Trinidad, un ex-líder de FARC, está cumpliendo su 22do año como prisionero del imperio EE.UU. después de que cuatro juicios falsos por fin lograron una condena.

#International #Colombia #Elections

Speculations of U.S. and right-wing Colombian meddling and interference surfaced immediately. Conservative Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno, a Turning Point USA supporter, claimed that the U.S. might not recognize Colombia’s elections. Moreno, Colombian-born, believes the conviction of narco-connected past president Alvaro Uribe is political repression and supports the possibility of sanctions and other actions on Colombia.

Moreno was one of 88 U.S. officials in Colombia during the election, raising suspicion of voter intimidation.

Popular mobilizations in support of Cepeda occurred June 1, with many youths rallying alongside community organizations.

In 2019 and 2021, the social movements of Colombia demonstrated their frustration at the ruling right-wing administration. Two historical national strikes saw massive mobilizations, especially in urban centers, that united a new generation of younger Colombians with longstanding organizations. The pro-U.S. regime of Ivan Duque responded with repression from police and military forces that resulted in hundreds of casualties. In particular, the police targeted the eyes of protesters with rubber bullets; there were over 100 reports of protesters with eye damage.

In the wake of the government’s intentional sabotage of the 2016 Peace Accords with the FARC, the national strikes resulted in a massive shift of what popular forces are willing to risk beginning transforming the country. Many of the popular forces involved pushed forward through the Historic Pact coalition, the presidential candidate of Gustavo Petro in 2022. Petro and Afro Colombian Francia Marquez won the election.

On the Historic Pact ticket this year are Iván Cepeda, a long time senator and Aida Quilcué, an indigenous organization leader. In the first round of the presidential elections, they won 40.9 %, and the far-right candidate, Abelardo de la Espriella won 43%. This narrows the field of candidates down to Cepeda, a leftist, a de la Espriella, the pro-Israel, U.S.-backed candidate.

If elected, Cepeda’s platform includes a continuation of the Petro administration’s goals, with more focus on agrarian reform and other issues. Cepeda has also been a longtime advocate for the repatriation of Colombian revolutionary Simon Trinidad. Trinidad, a former leader of the FARC, is serving his 22nd year as a prisoner of the U.S. empire after four bogus trials finally secured a conviction.

#International #Colombia

The demands are for the creation of a judicial body that would have the power to resolve land disputes, advance agrarian reform, and for the Colombian Congress not to sabotage debate on the matter.

There have been recent one-day national strikes by organized sectors in Colombia recently in April, and by educators in July 2025. Historic national strikes in 2020 and 2021 lasting days and weeks faced violent repression from the right-wing Ivan Duque government, military and police forces.

The massive mobilizations made it clear that the Colombian masses had enough of the oligarchy and held firm for change. These actions transformed the conditions in the country and made possible the election of Gustavo Petro and Gladys Marquez in 2022. Petro has been one of the leading outspoken elected officials in the world standing in resolute solidarity with Palestine. His recent statement about Bolivia’s mass movements’ strike being a “popular insurrection” against President Paz has caused the expulsion of the Colombian ambassador.

As Colombian presidential terms are limited to one four-year term, Petro’s time is up and the first round of elections will occur on May 31. Currently, there are three main candidates, with the leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda having support from much of the social movements. One of the armed guerrilla groups, the Ejército Liberación Nacional (ELN) vows to uphold a three-day ceasefire during the election window to allow as many voters to participate. The ELN has carried a number of attacks on military and police stations recently.

In addition to supporting the “total peace” of the 2016 Peace Accords with the FARC, Cepeda has stood out in his support for the freedom of political prisoner Simón Trinidad. Trinidad is a former leader of the FARC and currently in his 22nd year being held in the U.S. supermax prison in Florence, Colorado. Organizers with the Committee to Free Simon Trinidad have recently filed for a commutation of Trinidad’s sentence.

#International #Colombia #Labor #Strike

Chicago, IL – On December 20, over 175 people gathered in the Chicago Teachers Union Hall to stand in solidarity with Gustavo Petro and the people of Colombia as their country faces an intensification of U.S. aggression.

Petro has had his visa revoked by the Trump administration, and the country is seeing attacks in the form of sanctions, tariffs and military threats. These attacks have been because of his un-fearful stance against U.S. imperialism, from calling out the U.S./Israel’s genocide in Gaza to defending the sovereignty of Latin American nations. Petro is a popular and progressive internationalist.

In attendance were members of the Colombian consulate, progressive Chicago politicians, and leaders in the people's struggle, speaking on what Colombia needs from the people of Chicago.

Our solidarity must be concrete as well

“We must stand in solidarity with Gustavo Petro and the beautiful people of Colombia, as they have stood with Palestinians in Gaza and beyond, with forces fighting for climate and environmental justice, as they have stood with their neighbors in Venezuela who are in the crosshairs of the U.S. military,” said Hatem Abudayyeh from the United States Palestinian Community Network (USPCN).

Abudayyeh continued, “Together we will reject sanctions, threats, intervention and war against the people of Colombia.”

Daniel Garcia-Peña, the Colombian ambassador to the United States, spoke on the achievements that Colombia has made under the leadership of Petro. He also spoke of the need for solidarity with the nation during rising tensions. Peña stated, “We are very concerned about what is happening in the Caribbean. It’s a clear sign of how the U.S. is threatening not only Venezuela but all of Latin America, which continue to be seen as a backyard that can be trampled on.”

Garcia-Peña noted “But me and President Petro have been clear, times are different. Colombians and Latin Americans are not going to stand for interventionism as they may have happened in the past. We need each other's solidarity. Palestinians can count on Colombians, but we also need the world to stand with Colombians and our Latin American neighbors in these trying times.”

Speakers from the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR), the Anti-War Committee (AWC) and the Coalition Against the Trump Agenda (CATA) also spoke, representing the progressive movements which they work in.

Alderperson Byron Sicho-Lopez echoed the message of late Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton on the need for solidarity. Lopez introduced the resolution commemorating the historic 2024 visit of Petro to Chicago – a city that, much like Colombia, is a beacon of hope in the resistance against the reactionary Trump administration.

#ChicagoIL #IL #International #Colombia #AntiWarMovement #CAARPR #AWCChicago #CATA #CTU #Labor #Teachers

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the National Committee to Free Simón Trinidad. His birthday is July 30.

Colombian revolutionary Simón Trinidad has lived 75 years on this earth and his last 21 have been spent as a prisoner of the U.S. Empire. Once a valuable thinker and peace negotiator for the FARC-EP, four sham trials based on bogus charges saw a U.S. federal court eventually sentence Trinidad to 60 years in the Federal Supermax prison in Florence, CO. The terms of his imprisonment included the psychologically challenging isolation of Special Administrative Measures (SAMs) and the restrictive access to legal support. His U.S. lawyer battled and helped win him access to his Colombian lawyer working on his cases in the U.S.-support Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) handling peace, justice, and reconciliation.

The international campaign to support has yielded messages of solidarity from freed Puerto Rican political prisoner Oscar Rivera Lopez, a Nobel Peace laureate and numerous human rights activists from over 18 countries. The magistrate from the JEP, who also ruled Trinidad free of the charge of rebellion, have asked that the U.S. return him to share his knowledge and experience of the country’s past. He is seen as a key asset to the peace process.

A landmark event occurred in the fall of 2024 when current Colombian president Gustavo Petro made a formal request that the U.S. release Trinidad into Colombian custody. Outgoing U.S. president Biden did not commute nor pardon before he left office.

As Simón Trinidad remains strong and endures the conditions in the empire’s prison, we salute his courage to have served his people and continue to present the best of Colombia’s revolutionary heritage. We urge all progressive forces and supporters of human rights to demand that President Trump free Simón Trinidad.

Join us on X and social media platforms to use #FreeSimonTrinidad in your posts and stories and tag @FreeSimonTrinidad

#International #Colombia #PoliticalPrisoners #SimonTrinidad #NCFST #Feature

Fight Back! is circulating this timely statement from the Committee to Free Simon Trinidad.

Call President Biden at 202-456-1111 and ask him to “Free Simon Trinidad!” Call between 11am-3pm Eastern, from Tuesday, December 10 to Thursday, December12.

Leave your message to “Free Simon Trinidad!” on the White House comment line. Now is the time to call before President Biden leaves the White House in January 2024.

Say: “I call on President Biden to ‘Free Simon Trinidad’ so he can return home to Colombia and strengthen the ongoing peace process. 20 years in lock down is too long. Please honor the request of Colombian President Petro for Simon Trinidad’s return. Trinidad was ordered to testify at the special court of justice (JEP) in Bogota, Colombia. Give the gift of peace these holidays! Free Simon Trinidad!”

Who is Simon Trinidad?

Known popularly as Simon Trinidad, he is a Colombian revolutionary and political prisoner of the U.S. held in the Supermax Prison in Florence, Colorado. The U.S. government extradited, held four trials, and now imprisons Trinidad under his birth name of Juvenal Ovidio Ricardo Palmera Pineda (BPO No. 27896-016).

Simon Trinidad was a leader and peace negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP). Prior to that, he spent his life organizing people for progressive causes and social change, including with the Patriotic Union (UP) political party.

What will he testify about at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP)?

Just as he did over the course of four trials in a Washington D.C. Federal Court, Trinidad will speak about his role in the FARC-EP revolutionary movement and then be cross-examined.

He can also detail the political violence against the Patriotic Union (UP) in the 1980’s and 1990’s when more than 4000 party activists, candidates, and elected officials were kidnapped, murdered, and assassinated. The Colombian government and right-wing repression closed the electoral avenue to change in this period. As a political candidate, Trinidad himself was a victim of this terror campaign and it caused him to join the rebel fighters of the FARC-EP at the age of 37.

Why ask President Biden now?

President Biden has the power to release Simon Trinidad in the last days of his term in the White House. It appears as a “now or never moment” for Trinidad and Colombia. We want Trinidad to return home to serve an important role: support and strengthen the ongoing Colombian peace process.

Biden is very familiar with U.S. policy in Colombia. Biden introduced Plan Colombia to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. war plan that spent 10 billion dollars to cause misery, poverty and death in Colombia. Joe Biden was then Vice President under President Obama when the U.S. supported the 2016 Peace Accords between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP).

What does Colombia’s President Petro want?

Today, the ongoing Colombian peace process with the FARC-EP and the Colombian government faces great challenges. Once back in Colombia, Trinidad will participate in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, a court backed by the Obama and Biden administrations to create justice and reconciliation.

Trinidad was left out of the peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and FARC-EP which resulted in an uneasy and sometimes faltering peace after 2016. A peace where the far-right paramilitaries continue to murder hundreds of former FARC-EP fighters who trusted the peace process by laying down their arms. The violence of the far-fight continues to claim labor and community leaders every single week to this day. Because of the lack of unity and trust, guerrilla groups like the ELN continue to fight in the countryside, and new ones, remnants of the FARC-EP are appearing.

What can we do?

The ongoing imprisonment of revolutionary Simon Trinidad is a violation of the sovereignty of Colombia. We can help end his imprisonment and now is the time.

Colombia’s President Petro and solidarity activists in the U.S. see Trinidad’s freedom and testimony as a way to reinforce the current peace efforts. Bringing Simon’s historical and institutional knowledge to the special court of the JEP would allow the country to hear and think about a better future. The weight of Simon Trinidad’s absence is heavy, and his leadership is sorely missed by those who he can rally, as well as others who he might persuade.

Freeing Simon Trinidad to face court proceedings under the Special Jurisdiction for Peace in Colombia will show consideration and goodwill from Biden as President of the United States. It will also strengthen the will of those who advocate for democracy in Colombia and in the U.S.

The Committee to Free Simon Trinidad!

info@freesimontrinidad.org and https://freesimontrinidad.org

#International #Colombia #SimonTrinidad #PoliticalPrisoners #Feature

“Frecuentemente se escuchan de horribles abusos de los derechos humanos en todo el mundo, pero a sólo dos horas de distancia se encuentra una de las violaciones más graves de los derechos humanos, que se encuentra en la prisión federal de máxima seguridad de Florence”, afirmó Mark Burton al inicio de su presentación sobre su cliente, el revolucionario colombiano Simón Trinidad.

Burton continuó describiendo a la atenta multitud de estudiantes las condiciones inhumanas del aislamiento prolongado que sufren aquellos a quienes “se intenta desechar y olvidar”. Aunque la mayor parte del mundo considera el aislamiento prolongado como una tortura psicológica, Estados Unidos no lo considera así.

Trinidad llevó una vida relativamente cómoda como profesor y banquero en Colombia cuando su interés en trabajar para cambiar a Colombia lo llevó al movimiento electoral de la Unión Patriótica. Lamentablemente, la Unión Patriótica sufrió violencia masiva por parte de los escuadrones de la muerte de extrema derecha en los años 80. A la edad de 37 años, Simón escapó a las montañas para unirse al ejército popular de las FARC-EP. Continuó su papel como educador en la organización revolucionaria y sirvió como negociador de paz.

Las FARC-P lucharon por la nueva Colombia y en su momento controlaron casi un tercio del país, lo que representó un serio desafío para la oligarquía colombiana. Durante muchas administraciones, Estados Unidos buscó inclinar la balanza a favor de la élite rica. Esto tuvo su expresión más grave en el Plan Colombia, que financió, armó, entrenó y comandó a las fuerzas militares colombianas, bajo el disfraz de la “guerra contra las drogas”, en tácticas antiinsurgentes.

A fines de 2003, una operación de inteligencia coordinada por Estados Unidos secuestró a Trinidad en Ecuador y, finalmente, el presidente de extrema derecha Álvaro Uribe trabajó con Estados Unidos para extraditarlo y enfrentar una serie de cargos falsos.

Se necesitaron cuatro juicios y varios cambios en los cargos para condenar a Simón por secuestrar a contratistas militares estadounidenses que realizaban vuelos de reconocimiento sobre el territorio de las FARC-EP. Todavía no hay evidencia real para probar el caso de Estados Unidos. El gobierno de Estados Unidos le dio efectivamente una sentencia de cadena perpetua de 60 años.

A pesar de las graves injusticias, el clima político actual tanto en Colombia como en Estados Unidos presenta las mejores condiciones para liberar a Simón Trinidad desde su captura.

“Necesitamos un diálogo entre el presidente Petro y el presidente Biden sobre el importante papel que puede desempeñar Simón en el tribunal único conocido como la Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz creada por los históricos Acuerdos de Paz de 2016. La experiencia de Simón como víctima de la violencia política en los años 80 y su conocimiento institucional de la guerra civil pueden movilizar y unir a muchos colombianos para apoyar el tambaleante proceso de paz”, agregó Burton.

Desde la firma de los Acuerdos de Paz a fines de 2016, las paramilitares de extrema derecha han continuado la violencia al matar a más de 1.300 líderes sociales y varios cientos de excombatientes de las FARC-EP que aceptaron deponer las armas. Mientras los escuadrones de la muerte aterrorizan a quienes trabajan por la paz, Simón Trinidad, un reconocido negociador de paz, languidece en una prisión en las montañas de Colorado.

El pueblo de Colombia está harto de la vieja forma de hacer las cosas. Años consecutivos de huelgas nacionales desafiaron el orden gobernante y trajeron una ola de cambios a la presidencia y vicepresidencia con la elección de Gustavo Petro y Francia Márquez. Claramente, la necesidad de paz con justicia y reconciliación es central en las mentes de los colombianos, ya que miles de personas se manifestaron en una vigilia en memoria de todas las víctimas de la extrema derecha desde la aprobación de los Acuerdos de Paz.

Con el apoyo social y político en Colombia y menos de 100 días en el mandato del presidente Biden, el momento de liberar a Simón Trinidad es ahora.

La multitud, compuesta por muchos capítulos de Estudiantes por una Sociedad Democrática (SDS) Nacional en colegios y universidades, rugió de aplausos cuando Burton concluyó con su compromiso de hacer “todo lo que sea posible y necesario para liberar a Simón Trinidad”.

El segundo día de la convención, SDS una vez más votó para apoyar el llamado del Comité Nacional para la Libertad de Trinidad con una resolución que describe la historia y la importancia de apoyar la paz con justicia en Colombia, y el papel central que Simón Trinidad debe desempeñar en eso.

La última sección de la resolución comienza así: “Simón Trinidad está ganando impulso popular ya que ahora tiene acceso a su abogado colombiano después de una demanda exitosa contra el gobierno de Estados Unidos. Necesitamos que el presidente colombiano Petro exija el regreso de Simón Trinidad en coordinación con la JEP. Necesitamos que el presidente de los Estados Unidos libere a Simón Trinidad. Pedimos a todas las fuerzas progresistas que difundan el llamado y exijan: ¡Libertad para Simón Trinidad!”.

Para obtener información sobre Simón Trinidad y la campaña para liberarlo, visite: www.freesimontrinidad.org

#International #Colombia #SimonTrinidad #PoliticalPrisoners #SDS #StudentMovement