Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Ballinasloe backs Colombia Three

At a function in Ballinasloe last Friday night a brother of one of the Colombia Three was presented with a cheque by Dermot Connolly of Sinn Féin. Dan Connolly, a brother of Niall Connolly, thanked all those present and said the families were grateful to Sinn Féin members North and South of the border for their continued fundraising activities. Money is needed for the expected trial, family visits, legal visits and the upkeep of the men while they are held in La Picota high security prison in Bogota.

Dan Connolly welcomed the statement from Richard Haass that day, saying that the US government had told the Colombian government that the security of the men must be guaranteed; they must get a fair trail and that they must get access to their lawyers. He stated that this was an indication of the international focus needed for the men's trial, and an indication that the efforts of the campaign for the release of the men were bearing fruit. To highlight this need for international scrutiny, Connolly said that the men's lawyers had been refused access to La Picota the previous day. "The US assertion that Colombia is a democracy is continually challenged. The latest example is that 35% of the candidates returned in the recent Congressional elections were backed and funded by right wing paramilitaries he stated.

Connolly urged people at the function not to be shy about pressurising general election candidates on the issue of the Colombia Three. "The further polarization of Colombian society places greater responsibility on this and future Irish governments to intervene directly for their release as they have failed to do up to now," he said. "The dangers to their welfare increases while the opportunities of due legal process diminish."