Washington, D.C. – El revolucionario colombiano Ricardo Palmera (Simón Trinidad),obtuvo otra importante victoria contra la administración de George Bush y la política intervencionista y guerrerista de Estados Unidos (EE.UU), en la Corte Federal del Distrito de Columbia en la ciudad de Washington D.C..El juez Royce Lamberth fue forzado a declarar el juicio como nulo y viciado. Los fiscales federales de EE.UU. han rehusado comentar al respecto sobre su derrota en el juicio en que acusaban al professor Ricardo Palmera y a las FARC de tráficantes de estupefacientes (drogas)..La nulidad del juicio fue producto de un jurado que no se puso de acuerdo después de cinco semanas de deliberaciones, siete de los doce jurados querían un veredicto de “no culpable”. Esto es una gran victoria y muy significativa para el combatiente colombiano por la libertad, la justicia social y la paz.Y a su vez, destruye la tentativa del gobierno de los EE.UU. de pintar a las FARC como tráficantes de drogas y terroristas.

Sin embargo, el jefe de los fiscales McNell anunció que volverá a enjuiciar a Palmera presentando los mismos cargos. Además, hizo alardes de los suficientes recursos, dinero y personal a su disposición para este nuevo e irritante juicio en contra del reconocido revolucionario colombiano.

Ricardo Palmera (Simón Trinidad) ingresó a las FARC hace 20 años. Esto después de que la represión, la tortura y el asesinato de activistas políticos, lo llevaron a confirmar que la vía política pacífica para la lucha democrática estaba cerrada en Colombia. Palmera dio un testimonio a la corte y al jurado del porqué se decidió a ingresar a las FARC y tomar las armas. “Esto fue hecho pensando en Colombia. Mi generación nunca ha sabido que es la paz en Colombia. Y continuó,diciendo : “Esa decisión que él tomó le rompió el corazón pues estuvo mirando como partía su familia del país, dejando su casa y arriesgando su vida”. Palmera expresó, profundizó y resumió en pocas frases esa decisión de hace 20 años. “No podía tener el coraje de correr e irme fuera del país dejando a todos los muertos que asesinaron y respaldaron nuestra lucha política. Tuve que escoger entre mi familia y el deseo de luchar por un cambio real en Colombia”.

Repetidamente, la fiscalía trato de encontrar nexos entre las FARC y los traficantes de drogas, en este afán la fiscalía llegó a ir hasta más allá de los límites de la verdad. Y, ahora hablando de los testigos presentados por la fiscalía, el abogado defensor de Palmera, Robert (Bob) Tucker, quién le dijó al jurado.” Esta gente fue intimidada para dar su testimonio y su testimio ha sido bien absurdo, de hecho algunas de las evidencias están totalmente, totalmente son insultantes”..

Después de ser preguntado varias veces de que debía admitir los nexus de su organización las FARC con las mafias de la cocaína. El professor Palmera habló.del problema de la cocaína en Colombia, y dijó :” los campesinos que cultivan la hoja de coca tienen un gran problema.. Este es un problema serio que afecta enteramente a toda la nación tanto en lo económico, social, político como a las relaciones internacionales. Los campesinos pobres que cultivan la hoja de coca la miran como si fuera un espejo cuya producción los liberará de la miseria”.

También, Palmera testificó que durante los 20 años que ha estado en las FARC nunca conoció ni siquiera un laboratorio de cocaine controlado por su organización. De igual manera, que jamás vió o escuchó a ningún ser humano que hubiera motivado a otro ser humano para cultivar drogas, y que él nunca intercambió drogas por dinero. Finalmente, después de cinco días de deliberaciones el jurado le informó al juez Lamberth que no podían ponerse de acuerdo sobre el veredicto. Inmediatamente, el juez mencionado declaró (mistrial) el juicio como nulo y viciado.

Tom Burke, portavoz del Comité Nacional para la Libertad de Ricardo Palmera (CNLRP) dijó : “ Que felicidad tan grande, ver a Ricardo Palmera (Simón Trinidad) ganarle al imperio de EE.UU. otra vez”.No se puede negar que la administración de Bush está perdiendo la guerra en Iraq y en Colombia. Ya no puede ni derrotar a un revolucionario solo con todo lleno de adversidades contra él. Burke siguió. “ Este es un juicio político que no ha debido tener lugar en los EE.UU.. El professor Ricardo Palmera es un prisionero de guerra, de la guerra sucia que los EE.UU está peleando en Colombia para beneficio de las grandes corporaciones como Occidental, Drummond, Monsanto, Chiquita y otras.

Por más de tres años el professor Ricardo Palmera ha sido mantenido en una celda de confinamiento solitario bajo el regimen de medidas especiales administrativas-(Special Administrative Measures).Es tiempo de que esto se acabe y sea puesto en libertad. Exigimos que el professor Palmera sea puesto inmediatamente en libertad.

#WashingtonDC #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #FARC #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #JudgeRoyceLamberth

U.S. prosecutors are refusing to comment on a their loss in a case where they claimed Professor Palmera and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are drug traffickers. The mistrial was declared as result of a hung jury. After four weeks of U.S. prosecutors telling the jurors Palmera was a narco-trafficker, seven of the jurors wanted a not guilty verdict. This is a significant victory for Colombian freedom fighter Palmera. It destroys the U.S. government’s attempt to paint the FARC as drug runners and terrorists. Despite this, U.S. prosecutor McNeil, with plenty of money and staff, is claiming he will try again.

Ricardo Palmera joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia 20 years ago, after mass repression, torture and assassination of political activists proved to him that in Colombia the road to peaceful change is closed. In court Palmera explains that his decision to take up arms was one that was made for the sake of Colombia: “It is our duty; my generation has never known one day of peace in Colombia.”

He told about how the decision he made was a heart-wrenching one – watching his family leave the country, leaving his home, risking his life – but as he put it in his own words, “I did not have the courage to take off running and leave all the dead bodies of the people who had struggled behind me. I had to choose between my family and the desire to work for real change in Colombia.”

Repeatedly, the U.S. prosecution tried to find ties between the FARC and narco-trafficking, stretching the truth beyond its limits. In talking about the prosecution’s witnesses, defense attorney Robert Tucker told the jury, “These people were just flat out intimidated…some of the testimony has been absurd, in fact some of the evidence is totally, totally insulting.”

After being asked to admit to ties to coca countless time, Professor Palmera himself spoke about the problem of cocaine in Colombia. “Farmers growing coca leaf is a big problem in Colombia. A serious problem that affects the entire country economically, socially and politically as well as affecting its international relations…The poor believe in the mirage of coca production to relieve them of their misery.”

During his trial Professor Palmera testified that in the entire 20 years he has been in the FARC he never knew of a single cocaine lab controlled by the FARC, that he has never encouraged another human being to grow coca and that he has never exchanged drugs for money.

After five days of jury deliberations Judge Lambert was forced to declare the mistrial.

Tom Burke, of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera, said, “What a joy to see Ricardo Palmera beat the U.S. empire again! It is no wonder the Bush administration is losing its wars in Iraq and Colombia, when they cannot defeat one lone revolutionary in a Washington D.C. court with everything stacked against him.”

Burke continued, “This is a political trial that should not be taking place in the U.S. Ricardo Palmera is a prisoner of war – a dirty war the U.S. is fighting to benefit big corporations like Occidental, Drummond and Chiquita banana. For three years Ricardo Palmera was held in solitary confinement under special administrative measures. We say it is time to set him free. Free Ricardo Palmera!”

#WashingtonDC #News #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #FARC #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #JudgeRoyceLamberth

We demand freedom for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera. The U.S. imprisonment and trials of Ricardo Palmera are a violation of the sovereignty of Colombia. Palmera has done nothing wrong. To the contrary, he is a freedom fighter in the service of the people of Colombia. Palmera fights against the corruption and terror imposed on his country by President Bush and those dreaming of U.S. Empire.

Professor Palmera is a political prisoner of Bush and company. He is held in solitary confinement outside of Washington D.C. – NO family, NO friends, NO reporters, not even his own Colombian lawyer is allowed to visit. Palmera has committed no crime, but only dedicated his whole life to the Colombian people.

Professor Palmera’s trial is bizarre. The first trial ended in a hung jury, so Palmera was retried on the same charges. At the start of the second trial, Judge Hogan had to step down because he was caught cheating with the U.S. prosecutor Ken Kohl. Hogan’s replacement Judge Lamberth refused to allow Palmera any witnesses. At the same time, Judge Lamberth allowed the U.S. prosecutor dozens of witnesses – paid informants, lying convicted drug runners, and corrupt Colombian government officials.

THE ONLY FAIR TRIAL IS NO TRIAL!

Picket line and press conference for Ricardo Palmera’s freedom!

Monday, January 28, 2008, 8:30 AM picket line

9:00 AM press conference

Federal Court Building (333 Constitution Ave NW), Washington, D.C.

For more info contact Tom Burke at 773-844-3612 or Mick Kelly at 612-715-3280

www.freericardopalmera.org

#WashingtonDC #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #Statement #PoliticalPrisoners #JudgeHogan #JudgeRoyceLamberth #paidInformant

Ricardo Palmera, who served as a peace negotiator for Colombia’s largest rebel group, the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and is now a political prisoner held the U.S., had faced Prosecutor Kohl at past trials. In two previous trials, prosecutor Kohl failed to prove terrorism charges against Professor Palmera.

In the last case, Kohl was caught colluding with the judge and the judge had to step down. Kohl’s cheating set the stage for Judge Lamberth to take over. In the retrial, Judge Lamberth approved dozens of prosecution witnesses, while not allowing Palmera even one. U.S. prosecutor Kohl’s sentencing arguments were outrageous distortions.

In response, public defender Bob Tucker argued for a lesser sentence. Tucker’s arguments emphasized the political background of the trial and the U.S. government’s intervention in Colombia’s civil war. Tucker spoke of how Judge Royce Lamberth influenced the jury by instructing them to use wide definitions in finding Ricardo Palmera guilty of belonging to a conspiracy – the FARC. Tucker also pleaded to the judge to show some leniency due to Palmera’s honesty in his testimony, contrasted with the coached testimony and lies of many prosecution witnesses.

For the next hour, Ricardo Palmera spoke with honor and pride. These are excerpts:

“I speak as a member of the FARC, an insurgent organization that takes up arms against the Colombian government. I have been a member since 1987. The Colombian oligarchy has used arms to oppress the people; this gave rise to the FARC, which uses arms to free them. The FARC are part of the Colombian people. They use arms and protests and various other ways to express opposition to the violent and elitist regime.”

Professor Palmera spoke about various FARC leaders, like Marulanda, and their backgrounds including farmers, workers, indigenous, women and student leaders and their struggle for a “pluralistic, democratic and peaceful Colombia with social justice.” Later he added “The ruling regime uses a policy of violence – employing murder, assassination, threats and death squads to keep themselves in power.”

Palmera went on to speak about economic inequality. “Latin America represents the greatest economic disparity. Colombia is third in Latin America in economic and social disparity. 24 million Colombians live below the poverty line and subsist on one or two dollars per day.”

Referring to the trial, Palmera said, “What takes place here is a political trial from beginning to end, no matter what the U.S. government may try to claim. The political nature of this trial is pleasing to me because it allows me to present the ideas of the FARC and the Secretariat to the judge and the jury, and to explain the ideas and goals of the FARC to the American people. I am also quite satisfied because despite the great lengths the U.S. government went to, the jury did not find me, Ricardo Palmera, guilty of being a terrorist, which I believe the U.S. government has mistakenly classified the FARC as. I take the opportunity here, on behalf of the FARC and myself, to make a condemnation of all terrorism no matter its origin. I will never forget that it is the terrorist actions of the Colombian state that brought me to become a member of the FARC and I will never allow it to become our practice.”

“The FARC – and I as a member of the FARC in particular – reject extradition. It is a neo-colonial policy that violates the sovereignty of the Colombian people. It is used as a weapon by the U.S. to blackmail men and women who fight for a just cause, including Sonia and myself. On the charge of conspiracy itself, I bear no guilt. The charge pertains to problems in my country and not beyond. It reflects real problems of the conflict and ways to exchange prisoners on both sides. I sent a letter to FARC leader Marulanda asking that my freedom not become a barrier for the freedom of others in Colombia. I think that the Prisoner Accords will become an important factor to achieve peace and justice in Colombia. A political solution has always been a part of any conflict and it has always been part of the FARC platform to find a political solution. As I have already had a meeting with the U.S. Department of State, I am willing for further meetings to take place to increase dialogue. When I joined the FARC, I was aware I might lose my life or liberty to obtain peace and justice for the Colombian people.”

Palmera’s arguments were coherent and clear. He was unrepentant and defended all of his actions on behalf of the Colombian people. He described and spoke with pride about the FARC and its leadership. Palmera thanked the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera for their support. He thanked Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba for meeting with him prior to the sentencing. Then Palmera ended his speech with slogans and a quote from Bolivar: “Viva La FARC! Viva Marulanda! Viva Bolivar!”

Following Ricardo Palmera’s speech, Judge Royce Lambert praised Ricardo Palmera’s intelligence, his belief in principles, and while emphasizing his own ‘judicial independence’ sentenced Palmera to 60 years in prison, calling him a terrorist and saying his activity in Colombia broke U.S. law. A few months earlier, Judge Lamberth would not allow criminal proceedings against the executives of Chiquita Banana who armed and paid right-wing paramilitaries to kill union workers and leaders.

Tom Burke of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera said, “This verdict is the equivalent of a life sentence for Ricardo Palmera. It is a slap in the face to the Colombian people and anybody who believes in the sovereignty of their own country. Professor Palmera can be proud that despite solitary confinement, cheating prosecutors and biased judges, he has beaten nine other charges during three trials. Like their wars in Iraq and Colombia, the Bush administration “made an underestimation” in deciding to put Ricardo Palmera on trial. Palmera’s speech was brilliant.”

It remains to be seen whether Ricardo Palmera or Colombian revolutionary Sonia, held in a Fort Worth, Texas prison, will be included in any prisoner exchanges. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera plans to protest an upcoming re-trial of Ricardo Palmera in late March.

#WashingtonDC #News #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombia #JudgeHogan #JudgeRoyceLamberth #KenKohl #juryTampering

As you read this, Professor Palmera is held as a political prisoner in solitary confinement by the Bush regime. However, it is the war criminal President Bush and the corrupt, narco-trafficking President Uribe of Colombia who are the criminals deserving of punishment.

The extradition, trials and imprisonment of Ricardo Palmera have nothing to do with justice. Those who fight for the exploited and oppressed, both our brothers and sisters in the oppressed countries as well as those of us within the U.S. empire, cannot receive justice in U.S. courts. U.S. courts are of, by and for the rich.

Ricardo Palmera’s trials are a joke, a mockery of justice. Chief Judge Hogan was caught cheating and forced to step down, only to be followed by the biased rulings and extreme sentencing from Judge Royce Lamberth. The U.S. judges and prosecutors are more corrupt than those in Colombia. As Palmera himself said, “My trials are political from start to finish, no matter how much the U.S. government denies it.”

Ricardo Palmera should not be tried in U.S. courts. It is a violation of the sovereignty of the Colombian people. Colombia is its own country; the U.S. has no place putting any Colombian revolutionary on trial. The Bush administration is expanding its interference in Colombia through these trials. It furthers the U.S. war strategy, known as Plan Colombia, that brings nothing but poverty, misery and death to the Colombian people.

The U.S. has intervened in Colombia’s civil war for 44 years. The civil war involves the armed insurgency of the FARC – peasants and workers – against the corrupt thieving elite that runs the Colombian state. The U.S. is on the wrong side; it is on the side of the big capitalists, big landowners and those who are up to their elbows in the blood of Colombian trade unionists and peasant organizers. U.S. corporations are robbing Colombia blind of its natural resources while arming and paying paramilitary death squads.

The U.S. military commands the Colombian military through the Pentagon’s U.S. Southern Command. There are at least 800 U.S. ‘military advisors’ and 500 ‘military contractors’ participating in Colombia’s civil war. The U.S. Command, the Colombian military and the paramilitary death squads kill thousands every year, displace hundreds of thousands from their homes and unleash a reign of terror upon the people. The U.S. is losing its counter-insurgency war in Colombia, so it is thrashing around for new ways to preserve the rule of the rich Colombian oligarchs.

The trials of Ricardo Palmera and comrade Sonia are a desperate attempt by the Bush regime to criminalize the Colombian national liberation movement, to claim FARC are not freedom fighters. Under Bush and company’s new paradigm of the ‘war on terror,’ national liberation struggles are portrayed as criminal, not political.

From the sands of Iraq to the mountain peaks of the Philippines to the rain forests of Colombia, we know the armed people’s movements against imperialism are gaining strength and strategically defeating the might of the U.S. and its military. Uncle Sam is growing older and weaker, while brave men and women – ordinary peasants and workers – along with revolutionary and patriotic people rise to join forces to overthrow corrupt despotic regimes backed by the U.S. The true criminals are the imperialists of the developed countries, led by the Bush administration and its massive military. Anti-imperialists, revolutionaries and communists throughout the world stand in solidarity with Ricardo Palmera and comrade Sonia.

In the 21st century, the FARC carries forward the legacy of Simon Bolivar, of Che Guevara, of Colombia’s revolutionaries. Today, FARC commander Manuel Marulanda represents the living embodiment of these revolutionary icons. The Venezuelan government recently recognized the status of belligerence the FARC-EP is entitled to; it recognized the FARC’s legitimacy as a political-military force for national liberation and swept away the ‘terrorist’ label that Bush wrongly promotes.

The FARC-EP stand firmly at the head of an unstoppable movement that will bring peace and justice to Colombia and Latin America. The revolution in Colombia promises to turn all existing social relations upside down and put workers and peasants in power!

Free Ricardo Palmera!

You can jail the revolutionary, but you will never jail the revolution!

Long Live the FARC!

#UnitedStates #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #Statement #PoliticalPrisoners #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaPeoplesArmyFARCEP #JudgeHogan #JudgeRoyceLamberth #USSouthernCommand