Jim Byrne of Tucson, who helped organize the calls, said, “The U.S. government freeing Simon Trinidad will add to the process of achieving a lasting peace with justice in Colombia. It is time for the president to act.”

The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera said in their statement, “Ricardo Palmera, popularly known as Simon Trinidad in Colombia, is a political prisoner of the U.S. government. Simon Trinidad is being tortured in solitary confinement in the Florence, Colorado supermax prison.”

Negotiations between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government are making slow but steady progress. The U.S. recently sent a special envoy to work with the Colombian government as they talk with FARC. Now Simon Trinidad is needed to add momentum to the process. Trinidad participated in past peace negotiations and is an important leader to many of the poor, farmers, and working-class Colombians.

“I just sent this announcement out to the Latin American Solidarity Committee (LASC) list in Milwaukee so hopefully we can generate some more calls. The LASC has always worked for peace and social justice,” posted Babette Grunow after making her call to President Obama at the White House.

For more information, https://www.facebook.com/SupportTheColombiaPeaceProcess or www.freericardopalmera.org

#DenverCO #AntiwarMovement #FARCEP #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #SimónTrinidad #Americas

Please call the White House and say: “I want President Obama to support peace in Colombia, to free Colombian political prisoner Simon Trinidad. Simon Trinidad belongs at the peace negotiating table not in solitary confinement.”

Explanation:

We support the Colombian Peace Process and the people’s movements of Colombia in the struggle for peace with justice. We call for an end to the repression of the Marcha Patriótica and other social movements and groups in Colombia now.

We demand the U.S. release Simon Trinidad

Ricardo Palmera, popularly known as Simon Trinidad in Colombia, is a political prisoner of the U.S. government. Simon Trinidad is being tortured in solitary confinement in the Florence, Colorado supermax prison. Trinidad beat the U.S. government in three out of four court trials.

As the negotiations between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government continue in Cuba, Simon Trinidad is needed in the process. Trinidad participated in past negotiations, represents the people’s movement history, and is essential to the outcome. The FARC-EP is demanding Trinidad (Ricardo Palmera) be present at the peace talks table. For a lasting peace with justice in Colombia, the U.S. government must release Simon Trinidad.

We demand an end to Plan Colombia

We oppose the U.S. interference and military intervention in Colombia, called Plan Colombia. We demand the U.S. government stop funding, arming, training, and directing the Colombian military. Bring the U.S. military advisors and troops in Colombia home now, and end the extraditions of Colombians to the U.S.

The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera at www.Freericardopalmera.org

#UnitedStates #PoliticalPrisoners #RicardoPalmera #PeoplesStruggles #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #SimónTrinidad

We support the Colombian Peace Process and the people’s movements of Colombia in the struggle for peace with justice. We call for an end to the repression of the Marcha Patriótica and other social movements and groups in Colombia now.

We demand an end to Plan Colombia

We oppose the U.S. interference and military intervention in Colombia, called Plan Colombia. We demand the U.S. government stop funding, arming, training, and directing the Colombian military. Bring the U.S. military advisors and troops in Colombia home now, and end the extraditions of Colombians to the U.S.

We demand the U.S. release Ricardo Palmera

Ricardo Palmera, popularly known as Simon Trinidad in Colombia, is a political prisoner of the U.S. government. Palmera is being tortured in solitary confinement in the Florence, Colorado supermax prison. Palmera beat the U.S. government in three out of four court trials.

As the negotiations between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia—People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the Colombian government continue in Cuba, Ricardo Palmera is needed in the process. Palmera participated in past negotiations, represents the people’s movement history, and is essential to the outcome. The FARC-EP is demanding Ricardo Palmera (Simon Trinidad) be present at the peace talks table. For a lasting peace with justice in Colombia, the U.S. government must release Ricardo Palmera.

The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera at www.Freericardopalmera.org

#UnitedStates #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #PeoplesStruggles #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalRepression #PoliticalPrisoners

Over the past six months the revolutionaries of FARC have held exploratory talks with Colombian government representatives of President Santos. Negotiations will take place in October in Oslo, Norway, to be followed by more negotiations in Havana, Cuba, with Venezuela and Chile acting as observers. The FARC is advancing a people’s agenda that includes land reform for family farms, good jobs, healthcare, education, housing and the eradication of poverty. There is a great need for guarantees concerning the assassination and murder of trade unionists, community organizers and political candidates.

Tom Burke of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera said, “The U.S. government has no right to put Colombian revolutionaries on trial or in prison. The U.S. should pursue the crimes against and murders of union workers, poor peasants and indigenous people by Chiquita, Coca-Cola, Drummond Coal and big U.S. oil companies. The U.S. government ignores those crimes while militarily fighting the FARC and wrongfully punishing revolutionary leaders like Professor Palmera. The U.S. government should set Ricardo Palmera free immediately so he can plan a role in negotiations.”

The current FARC/Colombian government agreement advocates “Bilateral and definitive cease of fire and hostilities,” so the FARC proposed a bi-lateral cease-fire this week. President Santos immediately rejected it and demanded a one-sided cease-fire by FARC. President Santos’ negative response makes it likely these negotiations will be a contentious process.

The last time peace negotiations took place in 1998-2002, the FARC continued to wage war against the Colombian military. A decade before that, the FARC called a ceasefire in the mid-1980s while negotiating. This ceasefire led to the formation of Colombia’s most successful left political party, the Patriotic Union. However the Patriotic Union suffered close to 5000 assassinations and murders at the hands of the Colombian military and government death squads over the next few years. It was at this time that Ricardo Palmera left the Patriotic Union and joined the FARC in fighting the corrupt Colombian government. The U.S. government continues to spend nearly $1 billion per year funding, arming, training and directing the Colombian military.

#Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaPeoplesArmyFARCEP #PoliticalPrisoners

Burke’s presentation dealt extensively with the U.S.-funded war against trade unionists and farmers that is being conducted in Colombia. He detailed atrocities such the mass murder of trade unionists and the use of chemical herbicides to decimate crop production in the countryside.

Having provided Utah Valley University students with a background in Colombian politics, Burke went on to explain the plight of Ricardo Palmera, a peace negotiator for the FARC, Colombia’s largest rebel group. Palmera was kidnapped and brought to the U.S., given an unfair trial and is currently being held in the Supermax prison in Colorado.

“Ricardo Palmera is a hero in every since of the word. He has devoted his entire life to the fight to free Colombia from exploitation and oppression,” said Burke.

Burke also spoke about the campaign of repression being carried out by the FBI against members of the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera, the Palestine Solidarity Group and Students for a Democratic Society.

Burke encouraged solidarity with these activists, who have been the subject of raids and grand jury subpoenas and spoke of the need for activists across the country to be vocal in denouncing the grand jury witch hunt.

Burke’s visit to Utah Valley University has helped raise awareness about these issues and encourage the students here to join in the struggle to free Ricardo Palmera and stop FBI repression.

#OremUT #InJusticeSystem #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #TomBurke #September24FBIRaids #Americas

Denunciamos al Buro de Investigaciones Federales, FBI. Por el hostigamiento a los activistas del movimiento Anti-Guerra y de Solidaridad en varios estados a través de país.

El FBI comenzó visitando seis casas en Chicago y Minneapolis esta ma ñana, Viernes, 24 de septiembre de 2010, a la 08:00 a.m. Tiempo del Centro. El FBI entrego Citatorios de Corte para testificar ante un Gran Jurado Federal a cerca de una docena de activistas en Illinois and Minnesota. Ellos además intentaron de intimidar a otros activistas en California y en Carolina del Norte.

“El gobierno espera usar un Gran Jurado para tender una trampa para acusarlos falsamente de actividades ilegales a los activistas. El objetivo de esas redadas es hostigar y tratar de intimidar el movimiento contra las guerras y ocupaciones militares de U.S.A. y a los que se oponen al apoyo de U.S.A. a regimes represivos,” dijo el activista de solidaridad con Colombia Tom Burke, uno de los que recibió un Citatorio de Corte por el FBI. “Ellos están diseñando para suprimir la oposición y la libertad de expresión, a dividir el movimiento pacifista y despejar el camino para mas intervenciones militares de U.S.A. en el Medio Oriente y Latinoamérica.

Esta supresión de los derechos democráticos esta dirigida hacia aquellos quienes dedican mucho de su tiempo y energía para apoyar las luchas de los pueblos de Palestina y Colombia contra la ocupación y guerras financiadas por U.S.A. Los activistas están involucrados con bien conocidos grupos anti-guerra, incluyendo muchos de los líderes de las grandes protestas en contra de la Convención Nacional de los Republicanos en St. Paul, MN. En Septiembre de 2008. El FBI enfatiza que el Gran Jurado estuvo investigando a los activistas por posibles cargos de terrorismo. Esto es un intento del gobierno de U.S.A. para silenciar a esos que apoyan la Resistencia a la opresión en el Medio Oriente y Latinoamérica.

Los activistas involucrados No han hecho nada ilegal y están rechazando a ser atraídos dentro de conversaciones con el FBI acerca de sus puntos de vista político ó la organización contra las guerras y ocupaciones. Los activistas están involucrados con muchos grupos, incluyendo el Grupo de Solidaridad con Palestina, Estudiantes por una Sociedad Democrática, el Comite Anti-Guerra Ciudades-Gemelas, Red de Accion por Colombia, la Organizacion Socialista Camino de Libertad y el Comite Nacional por la Libertad de Ricardo Palmera (Un Prisionero Político Colombiano).

Steff Yorek un activista anti-guerra por mucho tiempo y uno de los activistas a quienes sus casas fueron cateadas, llamó las redadas “Una indignante expedición de pesca.”

Nosotros Urgimos a todos los activistas progresistas a mostrar solidaridad con estos individuos señalados como objetivos por el gobierno de U.S.A. Los activistas tienen el derecho a No hablar con el FBI y son animados a negarse cortésmente, solo decir “NO.”

Por favor contactarse: info@colombiasolidarity.org ó info@fightbacknews.org si le gustaría proveer apoyo a los activistas.

#EstadosUnidos #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #PalestineSolidarityGroup #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #AntiWarCommittee #ColombiaActionNetwork #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #FederalBureauOfInvestigationFBI

We denounce the Federal Bureau of Investigation harassment of anti-war and solidarity activists in several states across the country. The FBI began turning over six houses in Chicago and Minneapolis this morning, Friday, September 24, 2010, at 8:00 am central time. The FBI handed subpoenas to testify before a federal grand jury to about a dozen activists in Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan. They also attempted to intimidate activists in California and North Carolina.

“The government hopes to use a grand jury to frame up activists. The goal of these raids is to harass and try to intimidate the movement against U.S. wars and occupations, and those who oppose U.S. support for repressive regimes,” said Colombia solidarity activist Tom Burke, one of those handed a subpoena by the FBI. “They are designed to suppress dissent and free speech, to divide the peace movement, and to pave the way for more U.S. military intervention in the Middle East and Latin America.”

This suppression of democratic rights is aimed towards those who dedicate much of their time and energy to supporting the struggles of the Palestinian and Colombian peoples against U.S. funded occupation and war. The activists are involved with well-known anti-war groups including many of the leaders of the huge protest against the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN in September 2008. The FBI agents emphasized that the grand jury was going to investigate the activists for possible terrorism charges. This is a U.S. government attempt to silence those who support resistance to oppression in the Middle East and Latin America.

The activists involved have done nothing wrong and are refusing to be pulled into conversations with the FBI about their political views or organizing against war and occupation. The activists are involved with many groups, including: the Palestine Solidarity Group, Students for a Democratic Society, the Twin-Cities Anti-War Committee, the Colombia Action Network, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera (a Colombian Political Prisoner).

Steff Yorek, a long-time antiwar activist and one of the activists whose homes was searched, called the raids “An outrageous fishing expedition.”

We urge all progressive activists to show solidarity with those individuals targeted by the U.S. Government. Activists have the right not to speak with the FBI and are encouraged to politely refuse, just say “No”.

Please contact info@colombiasolidarity.org or info@fightbacknews.org if you would like to provide support to the targeted activists.

Contact: Tom Burke, 773-844-3612; Steff Yorek, 612-865-8234

#UnitedStates #AntiwarMovement #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #StateRepression #PalestineSolidarityGroup #RacismInTheCriminalJusticeSystem #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #AntiWarCommittee #ColombiaActionNetwork #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #FBI #FederalBureauOfInvestigationFBI #September24FBIRaids

Happy Birthday Greetings to Ricardo Palmera!

The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling on supporters to send birthday cards to Ricardo Palmera, a Colombian revolutionary and prisoner of the U.S. Empire. July 30th, 2010, marks Professor Palmera’s 60th birthday, which he will celebrate alone in a Colorado Supermax prison.

Ricardo Palmera is a brilliant man who dedicates his whole life to the Colombian people and their fight for independence. Even from his prison cell, even with a gag over his mouth, Professor Palmera inspires thousands in the struggle for peace and justice. Many see Ricardo Palmera as a modern day Che Guevara. As a young man from a wealthy family and attending the naval academy, Palmera could not accept the violence, exploitation, and oppression he saw in his own country. He wanted no part of it. He turned towards organizing reform movements of peasants, workers, and progressive Colombian professionals demanding change. Palmera was tortured for his efforts and most of his friends were murdered by the Colombian military. In the mid-1980’s he became an organizer for the Patriotic Union, a peaceful, leftist electoral coalition. But when the Patriotic Union made gains, the Colombian military and their death squads assassinated 4000 of their activists and elected officials. With the electoral path to social change blocked, Palmera decided to go to the mountains and join the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) at the age of 37. It was in his capacity as a peace negotiator, traveling in Ecuador on a mission to meet a UN official, that he was seized by U.S. agents and extradited to the United States.

Palmera faced ten charges in Washington DC trials that were designed to find him guilty, thereby criminalizing the Colombian national liberation struggle. However he turned the tables on the U.S. prosecutor, judges, and government. Judge Hogan had to step down when he and U.S. prosecutor Ken Kohl were caught cheating after the first trial ended in a hung jury. Professor Palmera’s testimony put the U.S. war and military intervention in Colombia on trial. Palmera sounded like a true patriot dedicated to the defense and liberation of his people, while the witnesses of the U.S. State Department, the FBI, the Colombian military and U.S. military contractors came across as arrogant and sketchy.

At his trial, Ricardo Palmera said, “ Colombia has been at war for more than 60 years, with the growing participation of the USA. Today the war against the insurgents of the FARC is disguised behind other arguments. The war on drug trafficking is a disguise the US uses for greater interference in the Colombian conflict, sending advisors, spies, weapons, and investing millions of dollars in the war. This financial and military support emboldens the Colombian oligarchy and sustains the conditions that cause the Colombian conflict, but provides no solutions. Simon Bolivar said, “the destiny of the US is to plague America with misery in the name of liberty.”

Today, while Ricardo Palmera is in solitary confinement with no human contact, the U.S. is building and occupying seven new military bases in Colombia to intensify the counter-insurgency war against the Colombian people and the FARC. Beyond fighting the FARC, the U.S. plans to use the bases to harass and intimidate Colombia’s neighbors —Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador where revolutionary and progressive governments rule. More U.S military intervention will only create more Ricardo Palmera’s throughout the Americas. For the Colombian people, it promises more poverty, displacement, and death. We must demand “NO to US bases in Colombia!”

We are asking people to send birthday cards and greetings for Ricardo Palmera to our friends at Fight Back! newspaper. We will then organize a delegation to visit a U.S. Attorney General’s office with the request that U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder deliver the birthday cards to Ricardo Palmera. Eric Holder is the enforcer of the “Special Administrative Measures” that do not allow Ricardo Palmera to receive mail from his U.S. supporters. Please mail Ricardo Palmera birthday cards to:

Ricardo Palmera

C/O Fight Back!

P.O. Box 582564

Minneapolis, MN 55440

U.S.A.

#UnitedStates #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners

Ricardo Palmera is a Colombian revolutionary dedicated to the struggle of his people and to ending the oppression and exploitation in his country by the small rich elite and their U.S. backers. Professor Palmera has fought all his life for peace. He began as an organizer for the Patriotic Union (UP), a peaceful, leftist electoral coalition. But when the UP made some gains, the Colombian military and their death squads assassinated 4000 of their activists and elected officials. With the electoral path to peace firmly closed, Palmera with no choice but to go to the mountains and join the FARC. It was in his capacity as a peace negotiator, meeting with a UN official in Ecuador, that he was arrested and extradited to the United States.

The Free Ricardo Palmera Facebook group grew to over 700 members from the U.S., Colombia and Latin America and the group was up for about three years with no problems. Facebook refuses to give any details or explanation behind their move, leaving activists to speculate that the State Department or some other government agency is behind the censorship.

In explaining their activism, Tom Burke said, “The National Committee’s goal is to free Professor Palmera, a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP), who is held in solitary confinement, under special administrative measures by the U.S. government. These ‘special measures’ mean the press cannot interview Professor Palmera and he is not allowed letters or visits from his American supporters. So Facebook is a good way for people to find out what is actually happening with Professor Palmera’s trials and imprisonment by the U.S. empire. You know, there is really only democracy and freedom of speech for rich people or those claptraps who serve their interests in this country.”

The actual “Free Ricardo Palmera!” group that was taken down by Facebook presented revealing information, none of it hateful or obscene, but possibly ‘threatening’ to U.S. war and intervention in Colombia.

Tom Burke said, “We would like to think our committee is a threat to the U.S. dirty war in Colombia. We want to end the U.S. intervention and bring home the U.S. advisors, troops, and mercenaries. For the U.S. to seize, deport, imprison and torture a Colombian revolutionary from his own country certainly seems like something the U.S. State Department would want to keep quiet. It is ugly work – not the image the White House wants to promote. The corporate press in our country refused to cover Palmera’s case, despite widespread coverage in Colombia and Latin America. The Obama administration certainly does not want to advertise its dirty war against revolutionaries fighting for the independence of their own country, especially not now that Obama’s seven U.S. bases are being built in Colombia. The U.S. invasion has begun, just as the FARC's founder Manuel Marulanda predicted more than ten years ago.”

The two other administrators of the “Free Ricardo Palmera!” group, Angela Denio and Josh Sykes, were reinstated last week by Facebook after a campaign of calling, emailing and inviting friends to the new anti-censorship group which has rapidly grown to nearly 700 members. They are leading the charge to get Facebook to reverse its censorship of the “Free Ricardo Palmera!” group and to reinstate Tom Burke’s account alongside theirs.

Tom Burke received the following message from Facebook on July 14, in response to his appeal:

Hi Tom,

After reviewing your situation, we have determined that you violated our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. One of Facebook's main priorities is the comfort and safety of our users. We do not tolerate hate speech. Targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or disease is a serious violation of our standards and has resulted in the permanent loss of your account. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.

Thanks,

Kimmie

User Operations

Facebook

Josh Sykes sent out a denouncement of this letter and policy to the members of the protest group on Facebook saying, “This is outrageous! Tom Burke is a consistent fighter against every one of these things Facebook is charging him with!

“Is the U.S. State Department putting pressure on Facebook to silence the Ricardo Palmera activists and its spokesperson, Tom Burke, just like they put pressure on the judges during Ricardo Palmera's frame-up trials in their attempt to criminalize the national liberation struggle in Colombia?

“The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is asking people to take a few moments to demand that Facebook stop their censorship and reinstate the ‘Free Ricardo Palmera!’ group and Tom Burke’s account.

“Share this group http://www.Facebook.com/group.php?gid=136562699701718 and invite your friends. Write about this on blogs and in whatever other media is available to you. Continue to call and email Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at (650) 543-4800 and email Facebook at info@Facebook.com

“Change your Facebook status to Reinstate the account of Tom Burke and reverse the censorship of the ‘Free Ricardo Palmera!’ group!”

#UnitedStates #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #facebook #censorship #TomBurke #PoliticalPrisoners

Despite solitary confinement in the Florence, Colorado Supermax prison, Ricardo Palmera continues his fight for freedom. Born into a wealthy family, Palmera spent most of his life organizing with peasants, workers and professionals to make reforms benefiting the people. However, wealthy landlords and big business, backed by U.S. corporations and the U.S. military, opposed progressive change. Most of Palmera’s fellow activists were tortured and killed by the Colombian military and their death squads. At the age of 37, Palmera’s dedication to the Colombian people in their struggle for equality, peace and justice led him to join the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). As an armed guerrilla in the countryside, he spent much of his time travelling to collect economic data and teaching peasant fighters. He also became a peace negotiator in talks with the Colombian government.

In this new role as peace negotiator, he travelled to Ecuador on his way to meet UN officials. Despite an agreement with the Colombian government, U.S. intelligence kidnapped Palmera, extradited him to a Washington DC prison and put him through four trials. The trials were slanted and corrupt. Chief Judge Hogan was caught cheating with Prosecutor Ken Kohl and forced to step down. The U.S. government repeated the trials until they won. Despite never committing a crime in or against the U.S., Ricardo Palmera is now serving a 60-year sentence.

Jeremy Miller of the Colombia Action Network said, “The U.S. government is mistreating and abusing Ricardo Palmera. It is part of U.S. intervention in Colombia and Latin America. It sends a message to anyone who rebels. If you are someone who loves your own country and your own people, then the U.S. will make you pay!” Miller continues, “Now the Obama administration is escalating the U.S. war in Colombia by occupying seven new military bases. Support for revolution grows in Colombia, while the U.S. is losing its grip on Latin America. The Pentagon has command and control over the Colombian military, but is still losing after ten years. So direct U.S. intervention is the next step in the war. Just like Vietnam, Obama is looking more like Kennedy.”

As a U.S. prisoner held under ‘Special Administrative Measures,’ reporters are not allowed to interview Palmera. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons denies letters from his American supporters and his lawyers are not allowed to speak about his trials. The latest oddity is that the Colombian government is conducting a trial of Ricardo Palmera while he sits in a U.S. jail cell. This ‘virtual trial’ means Professor Palmera cannot face his accusers in person, just by video. This virtual justice adds to the perception that Ricardo Palmera is a political prisoner of the U.S. empire.

The petition to Free Ricardo Palmera can be found here: petition to free Ricardo Palmera.

#UnitedStates #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaPeoplesArmyFARCEP

Professor Palmera is held by the U.S. government in solitary confinement, under inhumane conditions in the Florence, Colorado Supermax prison. Tom Burke says, “We need friends and sympathizers to support freedom for professor Ricardo Palmera (popularly known in Colombia as Simon Trinidad). We denounce the wrongs committed against Ricardo Palmera by the U.S. and Colombian governments, along with the abuses and violations of human rights.”

Following four unfair trials in Washington D.C., including one where Chief Judge Hogan was forced to step down after cheating with U.S. Prosecutor Ken Kohl, Professor Palmera is now the victim of a new judge, named Montado, sent by the corrupt Colombian government of President Uribe.

In a public denouncement, Ramiro Orjuela Aguilar, Palmera’s Colombian lawyer said “Ricardo Palmera is in chains, with electric shock equipment attached to his body that paralyzes him if he moves abruptly. This is the third time this happened in front of the ‘virtual’ courts of Neiva.” The Colombian government is accusing Palmera of planning a FARC guerrilla attack that killed six travelers and injured six more on May 7, 2000.

“Ricardo Palmera is handcuffed, with his feet shackled, and then chains running between his hands, waist and feet” says the Lawyer Orjuela Aguilar. “He is taken to the courtroom with a machine that shocks him. They attach equipment to his body so if Ricardo moves too much, then it shocks him with enough voltage to paralyze him. During the trials, he cannot move easily enough to see the documents in front of him,” the lawyer explained.

Ricardo Palmera was one of the negotiators in the discussions for peace between the Colombian government of Andres Pastrana (1998-2002) and the guerrilla organization FARC-EP that ended in San Vincente del Cagauan, in Caqueta, Colombia.

Following these negotiations in 2002, Palmera was illegally detained in Ecuador by U.S. intelligence agents, then extradited, put on trial, and imprisoned by the U.S. government. Palmera went to Ecuador to meet James Lemoyne, a UN official working for the prevention and resolution of internal conflicts, including the 60-year-old social and armed conflict in Colombia.

Next Palmera faced four trials in Washington DC. Two of the trials were repeated because the American juries refused to convict Palmera. The U.S. State Department demanded new trials, until Palmera was found guilty of one charge – membership in the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). During the four trials Palmera was proud to say and explain why he belongs to the FARC, the largest rebel guerrilla army in Latin America. However, the U.S. government defines FARC as a criminal conspiracy.

There is nothing normal about Ricardo Palmera’s case: the UN official was not allowed to testify in his trials, he is held in solitary confinement, the U.S. press cannot interview him, he cannot make phone calls, he is not allowed to interact with other humans, to breath fresh air, nor to see the sky. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera recently denounced the U.S. Bureau of Prisons for not allowing Professor Palmera to read letters sent by his American supporters.

Instead of allowing a peaceful negotiation to the 60-year-old armed conflict, the U.S. is choosing war. The U.S. government is abusing the U.S. court system in an effort to criminalize the national liberation struggle of the Colombian people. Tens of thousands of Colombian revolutionaries are not criminals. Solidarity is necessary and urgently needed. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera urges friends and sympathizers to denounce U.S. authorities for these violations against this brave fighter for peace, justice, and the Colombian people. Free Ricardo Palmera!

“Free Ricardo Palmera” letters can be addressed to:

Eric Holder, the US Attorney General

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20530-0001

To contact the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera write to info@colombiasolidarity.org or call Tom Burke 773-844-3612.

#UnitedStates #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #Americas

Speaking with Fight Back! Dec. 15, a leader of the U.S.-based National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera, Tom Burke, slammed a Nov. 12 lawsuit filed in Florida Middle District Court against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Burke stated, “This is nothing more than an attempt by a group of U.S. mercenaries to gain publicity and put some more money in their pockets. The lawsuit fits into a larger agenda – to criminalize the main Colombian rebel group, the FARC, an organization that is fighting for a free, just and independent Colombia.”

At issue is this: On Feb. 13, 2003 a spy plane carrying military contractors Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes, Tom Janis and a Colombian intelligence agent was shot down over territory controlled by the FARC. A firefight ensued in which one of the U.S. contractors, Tom Janis, and the Colombian intelligence agent were killed. The three U.S. mercenaries were captured by the FARC and became prisoners of war. The three mercenaries were released after an ill-advised 'rescue mission' by the Colombian authorities that could just as easily resulted in the contractors' deaths. Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and the some family members of Tom Janis are now suing in Federal Court.

The former prisoners of war allege they were mistreated by the FARC, claiming that they had to carry heavy backpacks when they were moved from place to place. “The mercenaries came home healthy and happy, which is something you cannot say about a lot of the prisoners the United States holds in Iraq and Afghanistan, where beatings and torture are commonplace,” Burke stated.

In a bizarre twist, the lawsuit also targets about 100 Colombians who are alleged to be FARC members, including Ricardo Palmera and Anayibe Rojas Valderrama, (also know as Sonia.) Ricardo Palmera is the well-known FARC peace negotiator, who is currently being held in the Colorado Super Max. Sonia is being held in a Texas prison. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera has campaigned for the immediate release of both prisoners.

“The mercenaries went to another country to fight in a civil war. They were helping to keep Colombia's death squad government in power and ending up getting caught. They now are using the U.S. court system to attack the FARC, an organization that is fighting for freedom and justice in Colombia,” says Tom Burke.

#UnitedStates #FARCEP #Colombia #PoliticalPrisoners #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera

Fight Back! Forum at the SOA: No to U.S. Intervention in Colombia!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Location: Howard Johnson Presidential Room

1101 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus, GA

No To US Bases In Colombia!

Close the School of the Americas!

Free Lily Obando!

The US is expanding its dirty war in Colombia. Training death squads at the School of the Americas is a big part of that, but there is more. The Pentagon will soon occupy seven bases in Colombia, adding to the $7 billion spent on a war against the Colombian people over ten years. US troops will increase to 1400, with 600 US mercenaries fighting in the counter-insurgency war. The US will pour $46 million into the Palenquero base alone for “refurbishing”. This is bad news for the Colombian people who live under a corrupt and criminal government led by President Uribe. It is also bad news here at home too, as we face the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression—as well as a health care crisis, a housing crisis, and two ongoing US occupations. Why is the White House escalating the war in Colombia instead of seeking peace? Our HOPE is for peace with our neighbors, not more US bases! We want CHANGE, not more US intervention!

The fact is that the US Empire is in decline and is losing its grip on Latin America. Throughout the region, people’s movements are sweeping into power, with democratic, reform minded, and socialist leaders. Militarizing Colombia is central to US plans to stop this progressive wave and reverse it. However, Plan Colombia, the current US war plan, is failing. Plan Colombia is aimed against the most powerful revolutionary group in Latin America—the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The FARC organizes poor peasants and the disenfranchised to defend themselves against the rich Colombian elite and to take back their country from US corporations. Inside Colombia, the revolution, both armed and unarmed, is deepening and spreading, even reaching the cities. In the face of this, the White House and Congress are siding with the wealthy land owners and big corporations by funding and supporting Colombia’s corrupt government—nearly tripling the Colombian Military in ten years. The new US bases will clearly threaten Colombia's neighbors too.

Colombian Death Squads – “Made In America”

Colombia sends more soldiers to the School of the Americas than any other country in Latin America. Colombia also has the highest number of human rights abuses. The Pentagon directs the Colombian Military and their training at SOA, and gives the nod to their death squads. Colombia's former top general, Mario Montoya trained and instructed others at the SOA. Montoya along with two other Colombian generals and 24 Military officers were forced to resign last year due to the “false positives” scandal – they “hired” unemployed men in the cities, shot them dead in rural areas, and then dressed them in FARC uniforms to claim success against the revolutionaries. We say, “Close the SOA!”

Free Lily Obando

Liliani “Lily” Obando is a political prisoner of the Colombian government. Unfortunately, Lily's story is all too familiar—she works as union organizer with FENSUAGRO, the largest peasant and farm worker federation. She produces documentary films and writes about the struggles of those who work the land. Here films show that in Colombia, there are more displaced people – around four million, than in Iraq. It is outrageous! Thousands of labor unionists and other activists are routinely assassinated and threatened by death squads. Coca-Cola, Drummond Coal, and Chiquita Banana are all known for funding death squads.

Like many unions and other groups, FENSUAGRO is heavily repressed. The Colombian Army and their death squads killed 1500 members of FENSUAGRO over the past 30 years. Counting 450 murdered since President Uribe took over in 2002. Lily Obando was about to release her study of these assassinations when Uribe ordered her arrest in August 2008. Besides assassinating popular leaders, arrest and detention is the new tactic of the reactionary government. Liliani Obando is charged with “rebellion” and “managing resources related to terrorist activities”. Despite the danger, Lily is willing to challenge the injustices that are imposed by the US supported war in Colombia. Now Lily is fighting for the rights of women prisoners. Since her imprisonment, Lily’s two young children and her elderly mother barely scrape by. We demand “Free Lily Obando!”

Speakers Include:

• James Jordan from the Campaign for Labor Rights
• Angela Denio from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera
• Sarah Buchner from Students for a Democratic Society
• Jeremy Miller from the Colombia Action Network
• Kosta Harlan from Freedom Road Socialist Organization

#ColombusGA #ColumbusGA #Colombia #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #ColombiaActionNetwork #SchoolOfTheAmericas #LilianyObando #Americas

Palmera, quien fue casi secuestrado de Latino-América por el gobierno de los EE.UU, está siendo juzgado con unas acusaciones cómicas de tráfico de estupefacientes. El último juicio sobre las mismas acusaciones término en un NO VEREDICTO. Palmera es un conocido marxista que está preso en una celda de confinamiento solitario en los alrededores de Washington D.C..

Tom Burke, portavoz del CNLRP, dijó, “Ricardo Palmera debe ser puesto en libertad inmediatamente. El gobierno de EE.UU no tiene ningún derecho a juzgarlo. Este juicio es una farsa. Los nombres de los testigos del gobierno son secretos y el mismo gobierno admite que están siendo pagados. Además, que estos testigos son unos mentirosos de los pies a la cabeza.”

Para más información visite el portal (web) www.freeRicardopalmera.org

#WashingtonDC #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaFARC #PoliticalPrisoners

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

Tom Burke of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera says, “Ricardo Palmera is a Colombian patriot and freedom fighter who deserves the support of both the Colombian and American peoples. Palmera has done nothing wrong, only to love his country and fight for the Colombian people. As a peace negotiator and arranger of prisoner exchanges for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – the FARC – Palmera’s extradition and solitary confinement in the U.S. is outrageous. The U.S. government is out of bounds. This trial should not be happening. It violates the sovereignty of Colombia.”

In early March, the new Colombian foreign minister, Fernando Araujo Perdomo, demanded that the Swedish government shut down a conference that was hosting a speaker from the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera. The conference proceeded and support for Ricardo Palmera is now being organized in Europe. Back in Washington D.C. at a March 19 pretrial hearing, Judge Hogan discussed radically limiting the scope of Palmera’s testimony in his upcoming trial.

Burke commented, “This trial will be grossly unfair. It will be difficult to win. Judge Hogan is seeking to gag Professor Palmera – to not allow the same testimony as the first trial. The American jurors were swayed by Palmera’s words and understood he is no criminal. That Palmera is a man who chose to fight for the people, for liberty and equality. The jurors understood Palmera’s only alternatives were exile or worse – a violent death at the hands of right-wing paramilitaries. In the first trial, Professor Palmera cleverly put U.S. intervention and the undeclared U.S. war in Colombia on trial. Judge Hogan will do everything in his power to make sure the U.S. prosecutor wins this time.”

Free Ricardo Palmera!

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

March 26, 2007 / 8:30 a.m. picket line / 9:00 a.m. press conference

Federal Court Building (333 Constitution Ave. NW)

#WashingtonDC #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaFARC #JudgeHogan #FernandoAraujoPerdomo

Judge Hogan presided over Palmera’s first trial, where Palmera, the peace negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), faced injustice after injustice. In the end Judge Hogan’s cheating finally caught up with him.

At a March 19 pretrial hearing it was revealed that the judge and prosecution had secret dealings with one another. After the first trial ended, Judge Hogan had allowed the prosecution to speak to the jury foreperson about the mistrial. Their request was sealed, meaning the defense was never told that this was happening.

Paul Wolf, a lawyer closely observing the trial, explained what happened, “There was so much cheating going on, the prosecutor was simply unable to keep track of it. Last week, while arguing that the defense was trying to ‘politicize’ the case, Ken Kohl, the lead prosecutor in the case, referred to [an] ex parte interview of the jury foreman. For Kohl, this was a fatal mistake. Not only Mr. Kohl, but the judge himself was caught breaking the rules.” In demanding that Judge Hogan recuse himself, U.S. public defender Bob Tucker told the court that the unmerited partnership of the judge and prosecution against Palmera had, “cast a cloud over the fairness of this [judicial] system.”

In his farewell to the court, Hogan said that he was forced to step down because of the intense public interest in the case of Ricardo Palmera.

On the day of the trial, ten protesters demanding Palmera’s freedom were sitting in the courtroom. Solidarity actions against the trial were held all over the globe – including Argentina, Peru, Sweden, Germany, New York and San Francisco.

One of the protesters, Doug Michel of Students for a Democratic Society, explained that he came out to the trial because, “We support the call to free Ricardo Palmera. His trial is unfair and he is grossly mistreated. The U.S. has spent nearly $5 billion on Plan Colombia, and we say no to this U.S. intervention.” Between the scandal in Colombia and the protests around the trial, things are only getting worse for the entire spectacle of ‘legitimacy’ around Plan Colombia.

After the trial, Tom Burke, spokesperson for the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera stated, “The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is already preparing to protest the next trial of Ricardo Palmera. We look forward to professor Palmera putting U.S. aggression and war on trial for a second time. These trials only get more bizarre – solitary confinement, no freedom of the press, no witnesses for the defense, no visits from friends, family or supporters, handpicked government lawyers, the judge and prosecutor caught cheating. If the U.S. runs their dirty war in Colombia the way they run Palmera's trial, it is no wonder they are losing.”

This is a great victory for Ricardo Palmera and all of those interested in the wellbeing and sovereignty of the Colombian people. Judge Hogan had already earned himself the nickname of the ‘crazy judge’ after he took out ads in Latin American newspapers demanding that the leadership of the FARC present themselves in his D.C. courtroom.

A new judge is assigned to the Palmera trial, and the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is preparing another round of protests . The movement to free Ricardo Palmera can only continue to grow.

#WashingtonDC #News #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #StudentsForADemocraticSocietySDS #PoliticalPrisoners #mistrial #JudgeThomasFHogan

Ricardo Palmera was a peace negotiator for Colombia’s rebels – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. He was kidnapped in Ecuador and extradited to the United States where he sits in solitary confinement.

Palmera’s first trial ended with a hung jury. Afterwards, presiding Judge Hogan had to recuse himself from the case, when the it came to light that Hogan was secretly colluding with the prosecution. The upcoming trial will be presided over by Reagan appointee, Judge Royce C. Lambert.

“The U.S. government has no right to proceed with this case,” says Tom Burke of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera. “He has done nothing wrong. Palmera has spent his entire life fighting for social justice and the liberation of the Colombian people, who live under a U.S.-backed death squad government.”

Mick Kelly, also of the National Committee, urges all progressive people to join the June 4 protest, stating , “The Bush administration is trying to criminalize the fight for justice and freedom. Everyone should keep their eyes on this trial. There are reports that Palmera will not be allowed any witnesses on his behalf and that the prosecution will try to limit what Palmera can talk about. The only fair trial is no trial – and we need to demand Professor Palmera’s immediate release.”

Free Ricardo Palmera!

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

June 4, 2007; 8:30 a.m. picket line, 9:00 a.m. press conference

Federal Court Building (333 Constitution Ave. NW)

Washington, D.C.

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

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.

Palmera’s first trial ended with a hung jury. Presiding judge Thomas Hogan then had to remove himself from the case, when the defense brought to light Hogan’s secret maneuvering to give the prosecution an unfair advantage. Reagan appointee Judge Royce C. Lambert is presiding over the current trial. .

“Ricardo Palmera is a hero who has devoted his entire life to working and fighting for the liberation of the Colombian people,” said Mick Kelly, of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera, speaking outside the courthouse. “He has done nothing wrong. The only fair trial is no trial and what is going to take place in that courtroom is the real crime. There are reports that Ricardo Palmera will be allowed few or no witnesses on his behalf. And we know that a number of the witnesses for the prosecution are liars who can not keep their stories straight.”

After the picket line and press conference, supporters of Palmera entered the courtroom where the final stages of jury selection were under way. Palmera flashed a big smile as his backers discreetly raised their fists and gave him the thumbs up sign.

Palmera, who is also known as Simon Trinidad, is a leading member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and represented the rebel group in peace negotiations with Colombian government. Palmera was kidnapped in Quito, Ecuador by the FBI, brought to Colombia and sent to United States. Currently he is in solitary confinement in Washington D.C. Incredibly enough, he is charged with ‘hostage taking,’ in relation to an incident in Colombia where the FARC shot down a plane that had some U.S. mercenaries on board.

The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is organizing a:

Picket line and press conference for Ricardo Palmera’s freedom

June 18, 2007; 8:30 a.m. picket line, 9:00 a.m. press conference

Federal Court Building (333 Constitution Ave. NW)

Washington, D.C

#WashingtonDC #News #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #PoliticalPrisoners #RevolutionaryArmedForcesOfColombiaFARC #JudgeHogan

Washington D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera is on trial for a second time under orders from the Bush Administration. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling for a protest to demand his immediate release on June 18th at the D.C. Federal Court Building. Professor Palmera’s supporters will then pack the courtroom.

Ricardo Palmera is a peace negotiator for Colombia’s rebels – the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. He was kidnapped in Ecuador and extradited to the United States where he sits in solitary confinement.

Palmera’s first trial ended with a hung jury. Afterwards, presiding Judge Hogan had to step down or recuse himself from the case. Judge Hogan was caught colluding with U.S. Prosecutor Ken Kohl. Judge Royce Lambert, a Ronald Reagan appointee, is Hogan’s replacement on the bench.

“The U.S. government has no right to put Ricardo Palmera on trial, let alone keep trying him until they get a guilty verdict,” says Tom Burke of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera. “Palmera is a good man who has done nothing wrong. Palmera spends all his energy fighting for social justice and the liberation of the Colombian people, who live under a U.S.-backed death squad government. President Bush and President Uribe are desperate because of growing public concern in both countries about lying, cheating, and paramilitary death squad murders.”

Angela Denio, also of the National Committee, urges all progressive people to join the June 18th protest, stating, “The Bush administration and the increasingly isolated President Uribe are criminalizing the fight for freedom and justice. People around the world are watching the travesty of Palmera’s trial. Palmera is not allowed witnesses, and the Judge and Prosecutor are even trying to limit what Palmera can say. The only fair trial is no trial – we demand Professor Palmera’s immediate release.”

Free Ricardo Palmera!

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

Monday, June 18th, 2007

8:30 a.m. picket line, 9:00 a.m. press conference

Federal Court Building (333 Constitution Ave. NW)

Washington, D.C.

National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera

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

#UnitedStates #Colombia #RicardoPalmera #FARC #NationalCommitteeToFreeRicardoPalmera #Statement #PoliticalPrisoners