We are peace observers, say Colombia three

Three Irishmen linked to the IRA and accused of training Colombian rebels told a judge today were only observing a now-defunct peace process in the South American country.

They spoke for the first time as their nine month long terrorism trial in Bogota nears its end.

Looking healthy, with their hair recently trimmed and wearing ties, the three said they were innocent and were not members of the IRA.

James Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly were arrested in August 2001 at Bogota airport after visiting a safe haven of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, in the sweltering jungles and pasturelands of southern Colombia.

The men were travelling with false passports when they were arrested.

“In the summer of 2001, we travelled to Colombia principally to see the peace process but also to enjoy a holiday,” contended Monaghan, standing before Judge Jairo Acosta while wearing a bright turquoise shirt and reading from a statement through spectacles.

“The charge of training the Farc is a false charge, based on false evidence,” Monaghan said.

The three-year-old peace process between the government and the Farc ended in failure in February 2002.

Colombian authorities have scoffed at the contention that the three defendants - including McCauley who was wounded during a police ambush at an IRA arms dump in 1982 – came to the South American country to observe its peace process.

Prosecutors contend they trained Farc members in explosives and terrorist tactics.

It was the first public appearance in court by the trio.

They had previously refused to attend and instead remained in their prison cells, saying it was impossible for them to get a fair trial in Colombia because of the controversial nature of the charges.

The defendants acknowledged they travelled on false passports but said past persecution for their political involvement in the Irish peace process made that necessary.

All denied they were members of the IRA.

Monaghan was twice imprisoned in Ireland and Britain, once for 10 years.

He received a three-year sentence in 1971 for unlawful damage, conspiracy and possession of explosives.

In court today Monaghan said that while in the Farc’s safe haven, they met with rebels and discussed the prospect of becoming involved in a political system “they see as hostile.”

Connolly, who lived in Cuba for several years where he served as the Latin American representative for Sinn Féin, said he was invited to join the trip to Colombia because he spoke Spanish.

He said his interest in Latin America dated back to the 1980s when he spent time working with ex-combatants in Nicaragua and El Salvador, and he wanted to see the peace process in Colombia.

The three men where whisked into the Bogota court in a prison pick-up truck as some 30 prison guards looked on.

A small group of protesters in the street carried a sign saying: “We demand freedom for the three Irish prisoners in Colombia.”

In final arguments, defence lawyers were expected to say the men were in Colombia only to observe the country’s peace process. Once hearings end this week, Judge Acosta has 15 working days to issue a verdict.

Prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentence of 20 years for each of the men.

In previous hearings, witnesses testified that the trio tested weapons and trained Farc rebels in terrorist tactics while at the rebel safe haven, while defence lawyers presented witnesses who said the defendants were not in Colombia at the time prosecutors said they were.