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August 11, 2005

Ireland Should Adhere to International Obligations In Dealing With Colombia Three

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

IAUC CALLS ON IRELAND TO ADHERE TO ITS RESPONSIBILITIES
UNDER INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS IN DEALING WITH THE
COLOMBIA THREE

The Irish American Unity Committee (IAUC) supports
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's statement regarding the Colombia
Three that Ireland would "fulfill its international
obligations subject to the scrutiny of the Irish courts."

In particular, the IAUC urges the Irish Government to
review the situation of the "Colombia Three" in light of
the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or
Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the "Convention"), which
Ireland ratified on April 11, 2002. Under the terms of the
Convention, an Irish national must not be returned to a
country where s/he faces torture at the hands of
paramilitary groups, and where it has been demonstrated
that the government is likely to acquiesce, or turn a blind
eye, to any torturous acts.

These three men were incarcerated in La Modelo prison in
Bogotá, which ranks as one of the most dangerous prison
regimes in the world. According to Human Rights Watch, some
1,200 Colombian inmates were killed in the decade leading
up to 2001, a disproportionate number of them in La Modelo
prison.

Amnesty International ("AI") in its Annual Report 2005 on
Colombia clearly set out a compelling argument why the
three men must be protected according to the terms of the
Convention:

"AI continued to document strong links between the security
forces and paramilitaries. Despite a fall in certain
indicators of political violence such as kidnappings and
massacres, reports of extra judicial executions carried out
directly by the armed forces increased in 2004. Cases of
'disappearances' and torture remained high. Civilians were
targeted by all sides in the armed conflict - the security
forces, paramilitaries and armed opposition groups."

IAUC Human Rights Chair Eamonn Dornan said: “There is no
bilateral extradition treaty in existence between Ireland
and Colombia. The IAUC also notes that the Irish courts
are well versed in extradition law, and in particular with
Sections 9 and 50 of the Extradition Act, 1965, which
raises the defense of the "political offense exception" to
extradition requests, as well as the right of an Irish
national to challenge any ruling ordering him extradited,
if it would be "unjust, oppressive or invidious to deliver
him up."

In light of the above, the IAUC urges the Government of
Ireland to adhere to its international obligations, and to
refuse to entertain any extradition requests or demands
that the Colombia Three be returned to face torture at the
hands of paramilitaries with whom the Colombian military
has demonstrably colluded.

# # #

Contact: Deanna Turner

IRISH AMERICAN UNITY CONFERENCE
National Office
611 Pennsylvania Ave, SE #4150
Washington, D.C. 20003

Tel: 1-800-947-4282
Fax: 1-248-671-0429
Email: iauc@iauc.org
Web: http://www.iauc.org

IAUC Press & Publicity Officer, Jay Dooling can be reached at: rdooling@swbell.net

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