Is Peace Possible in Colombia?

Thursday, January 28th
7pm – May Day Books
301 Cedar Ave. S, Minneapolis

Speakers: Jen Nie Colombian, Rob Trousdale, Jess Sundin and Meredith Aby-Keirstead

The Colombian civil war is more than 50 years old. The US has played a consistent role in supporting the Colombian right wing government in their dirty war through military aid and advisors – frequently sold to the American public as part of the “war on drugs” or the “war on terror”.

In 2012 the Colombian government and the FARC (the oldest and largest rebel group) sat down in Havana, Cuba to negotiate an end to the war. One of the main demands from the FARC has been for Simon Trinidad, also known in Colombia as Ricardo Palmera, to be released from US custody. Trinidad is one of the FARC’s lead diplomats. CounterPunch reports, “Simon Trinidad was a leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) with responsibilities for political education, financial overview, and peace negotiations. He participated with the FARC in talks with the Colombian government in 1998-2002. In Ecuador prior to his capture in January 2004 – with CIA help – he was preparing to meet with United Nations representative James Lemoyne to review the situation of FARC prisoners of war.” Many have seen his imprisonment in solitary confinement in a Colorado Supermax as a barrier to peace.

In September both sides announced a transitional justice process and a deadline for the guerrilla group to start disarming which, according to the New York Times, “means that an end to the conflict now appears within reach.” Is this true?

Come hear from Anti-War Committee members who have travelled to Colombia and will be going back soon. We will discuss the conflict and how, in order to achieve a just peace, the solidarity movement needs to demand the release of Simon Trinidad and an end to US military aid to Colombia.
Organized by the Anti-War Committee
antiwarcommittee.org *facebook.com/AntiwarMN * twitter.com/AntiwarMN