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.
Chicago, IL – Los aficionados del equipo de la liga mayor el Chicago Fire le mandaron un mensaje a los dueños del equipo de que los fanáticos no tolerarán el racismo por parte de los guardias de seguridad hacia los fanáticos latinos. El Sector latino es un grupo compuesto primordialmente por jóvenes mexicanos que apoya al Chicago Fire. Desde su fundación en 2005 han sido tratados diferente en comparación de otros grupos de aficionados en el Toyota Park, el estadio que alberga al Fire. Ellos se han quejado de inspecciones agresivas y de ser perseguidos por guardias de seguridad en el estadio.
He was “unarmed, brutally assaulted and murdered, kicked and beaten on the ground while he was handcuffed, tasered, placed in a body bag but not zipped up…”
Desde la prisión federal de Victorville, California, Gerardo Hernández envía un mensaje a todos aquellos que apoyan la lucha en favor de la liberación de los cinco cubanos: “Nuestra alegría y felicitaciones a todos nuestros compañeros y compañeras cuya solidaridad ha hecho posible este triunfo”. Al comentar el fallo emitido el 9 de agosto por la corte del Onceno Circuito, que revoca las sentencias y ordena un nuevo juicio fuera de Miami, Hernández reitera su firme convicción en la victoria.
Dice a revolucionarios Colombianos: 'Vengan a D.C.'
Washington, D.C. – Un Juez de Estados Unidos puso un aviso en periódicos de Colombia la ultima semana de agosto, “ordenando” a las FARC – las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, presentarse en su corte en Washington D.C. Esto se suma a una lista de extraños procedimientos relacionados con la extradición, encarcelamiento y juicio de Ricardo Palmera, un importante líder de las FARC. El Juez de Distrito de Estado Unidos Thomas Hogan ridículamente afirma que miembros de las FARC deben salir de su patria y venir a los Estados Unidos para comparecer los cargos de, “secuestrar rehenes en violación de leyes norte americanas.”
Washington D.C. – Ricardo Palmera, a Colombian revolutionary and political prisoner held in solitary confinement by George Bush and the U.S. government, goes on trial for a second time on March 26. The first time, Palmera won a big victory when Judge Hogan was forced to declare a mistrial. Some of the American jurors found professor Palmera’s personal testimony convincing and failed to agree on a verdict. Not satisfied with this outcome, the Bush administration is trying Palmera again for the same charges.
Washington, D.C. – In an intense start to the second trial of Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera, the presiding judge, Thomas F. Hogan, was forced to step down March 26, thus ending his involvement in the Palmera case. Participants in the International Day of Action to Free Ricardo Palmera were present in the courtroom and hailed this turn of events.
Washington D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera will go on trial for a second time in early June. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling for a protest to demand his immediate release on June 4 at the D.C. Federal Court Building to coincide with the opening day of arguments in his case. Palmera’s supporters will then pack the courtroom.
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.
Washington, D.C. – Advocates for the families of 173 people murdered in the banana-growing regions of Colombia filed suit, June 7, against Chiquita Brands International, in Federal District Court in Washington, D.C. The families allege that Chiquita paid millions of dollars and tried to ship thousands of machine guns to the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, or AUC. The AUC is a violent, right-wing paramilitary organization supported by the Colombian army. Its units are often described as ‘death squads.’
Fight Back News Service urges all our readers to join the June 18 protest to demand freedom for Ricardo Palmera. We are circulating the following statement from his defense committee. Also, click here to see the Colombia Action Network statement endorsing the June 18 protest and freedom for Ricardo Palmera.
Birmingham, AL – In northwestern Colombia in 2001, the president and vice president of the mining union Sintramienergetica were taken off a Drummond bus and shot to death by paramilitary death squads hired by the corporation. Later that year, paramilitaries also killed the new president. These men were all killed during negotiations with Drummond.
Washington D.C. – The Bush administration is continuing legal action against Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera. Another trial will start here Aug. 20. The National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera is calling a protest at the D.C. Federal Court Building to demand Palmera’s immediate release. Professor Palmera’s supporters plan to picket the courts prior to jury selection.
Washington D.C. – Protesters from eight U.S. states gathered here at the start of a new trial for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera, Aug. 20. The protesters chanted, “Free Ricardo Palmera! Stop Plan Colombia!” and “The people of Colombia are under attack. What do we do? Stand up, fight back!” The activists then proceeded into the Washington D.C. Federal Court building.
Washington D.C. – The defense lawyers for Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera asked Judge Lamberth for a mistrial at 4:50 p.m. in a dramatic end to the day, Sept. 4. Palmera’s U.S. attorneys argued that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are on trial instead of Ricardo Palmera. The latest witness, Daniel Beltran, was giving speeches against the FARC and not answering questions about Ricardo Palmera. Judge Lamberth said, “The motion is denied,” and he will draft a reply and present it on the morning of Sept. 5.
Washington, D.C. – Colombian revolutionary Ricardo Palmera won another victory against the Bush administration and U.S. policy in court today. Judge Royce Lamberth was forced to declare a mistrial.
