International Viewpoint
Issue 394
November 2007
The International Commission of Jurists, an independent human rights organization of lawyers, recently concluded that 14,444 people have been kidnapped (most murdered) by government collaborating para-militarists.
never disarmed nor been a part of the legal political party UP.
Amnesty International’s 2006 report states that FARC kidnapped 200 people in 2006.
“The state’s case is weak and her witnesses exposed for incompetence,” said one.
The defense argued that FARC is not a drug trafficker, although it does not prevent small farmers from growing cocaine. They are taxed as is any other producer or property owner. On the other hand, there is evidence that government and parliamentary officials, including the president, profit from large drug traffickers and their paramilitarists terror actions.
Another problem facing the state is its discriminatory use of the law, exposed in a national newspaper, Politiken. It reported that another Danish organization, veterans of World War resistance movement, had donated money to the FARC, in early 2006, and sent a letter of its action to the Minister of Justice, in a challenge to the repressive terror law. The government declined to initiate action. Its terror law apparently does not apply to old heroes only to newer ones.
Rabasa defended Plan Colombia—the $50 billion US-Colombia operation to eliminate cocaine plants and the guerrillas—with which RAND has played a role. It helps the government be “an open society” with a “free press” and an independent democratic court system, he said. The defense introduced IACHR reports, such as #2005, paragraph 55, showing that “officers of the court are under pressure to legitimize the arrests made by military and police personnel,” which includes being arrested themselves, fired or subject to “disciplinary investigations”. United Nation reports (among them #2005, page 25, and 2007, page 30) show that witnesses in court cases, attorneys and judges have been attacked in cases involving military and paramilitary terrorist units. Both the OAS and the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights have released numerable reports, as late as 2005-7, showing that journalists face threats and violence for “providing news and comment viewed as independent and even critical of the Government” (UNHCHR 2006, annex 3, page 51).
In between sessions concerning FARC and PFLP, defendants expressed relief.
Ron Ridenour’s journalistic career started in the movement against the Vietnam war and in the US alternative press. In Cuba between 1982 and 1996, he translated, wrote and edited for the foreign publishing house, Editorial José Martí, and news agency, Prensa Latina. He now lives in Denmark. His books, ’Cuba Beyond the Crossroads’ and ’Cuba at Sea’, are published by Socialist Resistance. Other recent articles: Denmark Court delivers a victory for liberation fighters the world over - December 2007 Red Green Alliance maintains parliamentary representation by narrow margin - November 2007 Copenhagen City Court terror trial verdict postponed - November 2007 Trial to judge PFLP and solidarity activist rights November 2007 Red-Green Alliance conference - May 2007
Defense attorney Torkil Hoeyer disputed the state’s witness’ credibility. In cross-examination he exposed Rabasa, a purported expert on Colombian affairs, because he was unaware of UN and OAS documentation of atrocities made by Colombian governments and the military. Furthermore, Rabasa contradicted reality by contending that FARC had 33