Sir, – I strongly disagree with the assertion by the Colombian ambassador, Mauricio Rodríguez Múnera (December 8th), that the inordinate delays experienced by trade unionists and human rights activists in obtaining a fair trial in that country are not motivated by political considerations.
There are currently hundreds of such who have been held in prison for two years or more without due process. They are invariably held on charges of “rebellion” or “conspiracy to commit a crime” without any evidence being presented to substantiate these charges. In many cases, the charges are based on testimonies of former paramilitaries from the areas in which those detained were working to defend trade union and human rights.
The persecution of Rosalba Gaviria Toro, who visited Ireland in recent days, is a case in point. She was held in prison for 27 months on charges of “rebellion”. Only through external pressure on the Colombian authorities from concerned people both in the UK and Ireland, and the students in Kenmare in particular, did Rosalba’s case come up for review by the Colombian justice system.
There are hundreds of others languishing in appalling conditions in prison as they await similar reviews. Does the wider world have to bring pressure to bear on the Colombian authorities for each individual case before they will get justice? It is the responsibility of any government to ensure its judicial system is fair and above reproach.
In this matter alone, Justice for Colombia (Ireland) would say the Colombian government has failed its citizens.
We are seeking to raise awareness of a case similar to that of Rosalba Gaviria Toro. On August 8th, 2008, Liliany Obando, an academic and a researcher into the use of violence against trade unionists in Colombia, was taken from her home and has been held in prison for more than three years without being convicted of any crime. The charge against her is that of “rebellion” and her arrest was made days before she was due to publish, to an international audience, the findings of her research.
Justice for Colombia (Ireland) will campaign for Liliany’s release and asks the Irish people to support us in this endeavour. – Yours, etc,