FARC-EP spokesperson Palmera to be retried by U.S. imperialists

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) has been engaged in struggle against the Colombian capitalist state and their staunch ally, the U.S. government, for over 40 years.

Colombia—supported by the United States government—has utilized every available mechanism for attacking the

Palmera was extradited to the United States on bogus charges.

resistance of the Colombian people. This has included constant propaganda demonizing any form of struggle—whether armed or peaceful. In the case of the FARC-EP, the main thrust of the propaganda campaign has been to label the organization as narco-terrorists.

This propaganda campaign reached new heights with the arrest, extradition and trials of Sonia and Simon Trinidad. Both are members of the FARC.

Simon Trinidad is the nom de guerre of Ricardo Palmera. Palmera was recruited into the movement from the professional class—he was a lawyer. He eventually served as the chief peace negotiator in discussions with the Colombian government. In 2004, he was captured in Ecuador and then extradited to the United States.

In October 2006, he was tried in the U.S. on charges of assisting with the kidnapping of three U.S. defense contractors. The case ended in a hung jury. The retrial was set to begin again on March 26. But the presiding federal judge, Thomas Hogan, was forced to step down after reports revealed that he and the prosecution had colluded secretly against Palmera.

The new trial will begin again with a new judge on June 4. The government intends to follow this upcoming trial with another trial based on phony drug trafficking charges.

Despite the government’s machinations, Palmera remains a political prisoner who should be freed immediately and returned to his country.