Ricardo Palmera goes on trial for a second time on March 26th. Palmera, known in Colombia as Simon Trinidad, is a political prisoner of George Bush and the U.S. government. Palmera's first trial resulted in a hung jury and Judge Hogan was forced to declare a mistrial. Even though it hand-picked the judge, the prosecution, and the defense, the Bush Administration was not able to convince the jurors of its bogus accusations. Not satisfied with this outcome, the government is trying Palmera once again under the same charges.

Palmera, a top-level peace negotiator for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC, was kidnapped on the streets of Quito, Ecuador and then extradited from Colombia to the U.S. Palmera is being tried under U.S. domestic law for participating in a revolutionary movement in his own country of Colombia!

There is nothing fair about these trials. Palmera is not allowed visits from family, friends, supporters, or his own Colombian lawyer. He is held in solitary confinement and has no contact with anyone. The U.S. Government handpicked his lawyer. The media is not allowed to interview him or the lawyers. It is only Palmera's own testimony that convinced many jurors that the trial was a joke. Similarly, the ongoing trial of "Sonia", a woman rebel of the FARC, is another travesty of justice.

In the first Palmera trial, the U.S. prosecutor was allowed to present as many witnesses as he wanted, including corrupt Colombian Military officials and paid informers given free passage to the U.S. Judge Hogan ruled Palmera could not have his two witnesses. One, an official from the U.N., and the other a professor living in exile in Sweden because state-sponsored death squads in Colombia prevent her from returning home. The new trial will be more restricted if the prosecution and judge have their way.

The fact this trial can take place at all is an affront to Colombian sovereignty. The trial is an extension of Plan Colombia--the undeclared U.S. war against the Colombian people. We are protesting the extradition, imprisonment, and trial of Ricardo Palmera by Bush and the U.S. government.

The victory of the National Committee to Free Ricardo Palmera created more support and we will have a large protest on March 26th. Our protests and our presence in the courtroom had a big impact. We are building a movement for peace and justice in solidarity with Colombia. We look forward to hearing Ricardo Palmera's eloquent testimony again.

Free Ricardo Palmera! For more information, contact Tom Burke at 773-844-3612 or Mick Kelly at 612-715-3280 or send an email to info-AT-freericardopalmera.org