Act for Justice for Colombian Three

A brief summary of the story of the Colombia 3 followed by an action appeal.

The trial, before a single Colombian judge, of Irishmen Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan began on October 4, 2002 and concluded on August 1, 2003 after 7 adjournments. The men were courageously represented by Colombian human rights lawyers. Judge Acosta delivered his verdict, acquitting the men of the major charges, in April. The judgement was appealed by the state and the men were released on bail.
The Colombian government needs to know that the world is watching how fairly and independently their judicial system operates. We are asking that Judge Acosta’s judgment be upheld and defended from political or military pressure from Colombia, the U.S. or any other outside influence.
The evidence is clearly on the side of Connolly, McCauley and Monaghan. Based on the evidence it provided at trial, the prosecution had NO case with regards the principle charge of training FARC military.
- The men were arrested in August 2001 in the open Peace Zone. Peace advocates from around the world have also travelled there, including elected political leaders and human rights activists from around the world. The three men declare they were in the zone to share their experiences from the Irish peace process and to bring back to Ireland what they learned from the Colombian peace process, which was ongoing.
- The prosecution’s case was filled with inconsistencies and allegations refuted by clear video evidence, countered by testimony from credible defence witnesses and authenticated affidavits placing the defendants elsewhere when they were supposedly training FARC. These include Irish government diplomats and human rights organization workers who testified at trail, former employers, and others.
- The forensics do not support the case against the men either. Dr Keith Borer, a famous, independent forensic scientist, examined al the materials in regard to the forensic tests carried out at the US Embassy [a very suspect event in itself and an indictment agains Colombian independence in the case] and stated in court that there is NO forensic evidence against the men. Colombian forensic tests proved negative after 113 tries to find a positive result. Dr. Borer also testified that FARC technology is unchanged during this time and that FARC and IRA technology were and remain very different. In other words, there is no evidence, real or theoretical, that these men were training FARC.

CONTACTS:

Contact Colombian embassies and consulates throughout the world.

Address your remarks to President Alvaro Uribe and the various ambassadors and consul generals.

In England, Scotland & Wales Contact:

Colombian Embassy
3 Hans Crescent
London SWIX OLN
Tel. 0207 589 9177 / 589 5037 (Human Rights Officer’s extention is 112)
Fax 0207 581 1829 / 589 4718
website www.colombianembassy.co.uk
email mail@colombianembassy.co.uk

In the US, contact:

Ambassador Luis Alberto Moreno,
The Embassy of Colombia,
2118 Lero Place NW,
Washington, D.C. 20008;
Phone: 202 387-8338; Fax: 20 232-8643;
E-mail: emwas@colombiaemb.org

There are Consulates in the following cities: Atlanta, New York, Houston, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. These can be accessed through https://www.colombiaemb.org

Anywhere:

Write a message directly to the Colombian President Alvaro Uribe by logging in to https://www.presidencia.gov.co and clicking on ESCRIBALE AL PRESIDENTE at the bottom of the page

Urgent Appeal