FALSE EVIDENCE! Free Colombian Trade Unionist Lily Obando Now
Colombian trade unionist Lily Obando is imprisoned based on phony evidence a court revealed last week. In another case, Colombian police investigator Captain Ronald Hayden Coy Cortiz admitted there were no emails found on the computers of Raul Reyes. Commander Reyes and 25 other members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) were killed when Colombian troops under U.S. command illegally bombed and raided a FARC camp inside Ecuador. Lily Obando is facing "terrorism" charges because of the non-existent emails. The corrupt and criminal government of Colombian President Uribe claims labor leader Lily Obando was fund raising for the FARC. "We have not seen any emails, I have not found them so far. They found a large number of email addresses, but Reyes kept these in a Word document..." said Captain Coy the Colombian police investigator. Like Lily Obando, several trade unionists, social justice activists, journalists, politicians, and even President Correa of Ecuador and President Chavez of Venezuela are accused of having ties to the FARC by the phony Colombian Intelligence (DAS) reports on the computers.
Free Lily Obando Now!
Lily Obando is a Colombian trade union organizer with FENSUAGRO, the largest peasants and agricultural workers federation in Colombia. Lily produces academic papers and documentary films about the struggles of those who work the land. Lily, now in prison, is the sole breadwinner for her two young children and her mother. Like many Colombian families, Lily's family is struggling to get by.
Arrest With No Evidence
Lily Obando was arrested and imprisoned on August 8th, 2008 by the "anti-terrorism unit" of the Colombian National Police. She is charged with "rebellion" and "managing resources related to terrorist activities". These charges are used against those who speak out and organize for social change against the corrupt and murderous government of Colombian President Uribe. Meanwhile death squads that work hand and glove with the Colombian Military are allowed to roam the country intimidating and killing.
At the time of her arrest, Lily Obando was conducting a study on assassinations of FENSUAGRO union members by paramilitaries death squads and the Colombian Military. In the past 30 years, 1500 members of FENSUAGRO have been killed, with 450 killed since President Uribe took office. More than 40 Colombian trade unionists were assassinated this year alone. Furthermore, there is a 70% increase in the forced displacement of peasants and indigenous people under Uribe's regime.
U.S. Intervention: "PLAN COLOMBIA"
The arrest and imprisonment of Lily Obando happens in the context of U.S. military intervention in Colombia. Lily's arrest is symbolic of how the U.S. views Colombians-- anyone organizing against the interests of U.S. corporations is treated as an enemy. On the other hand, Chiquita in Cincinnati, Coca-Cola in Atlanta, and Drummond Coal in Alabama can fund death squads without ever facing trials or justice in the U.S. At the same time, the White House and Congress fund and direct a war against the Colombian people. The U.S. "Plan Colombia" spends $6 billion to fight a dirty war against the oldest and largest rebel group in Latin America-the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Pentagon's Southern Command directs the war and knows they are fighting a large, strong, and determined revolutionary movement--both armed and unarmed. Besides fighting the FARC directly, the Pentagon strategy involves attacking and terrorizing the unarmed peasants and workers who are organized and demanding social change all over the country.
State Sponsored Terrorism: The School of the Americas (SOA)
The School of the Americas plays an important role in the U.S. dirty war in Colombia. Colombian Military Officers receive training in "state terrorism" at the SOA. This past month 3 Colombian Generals and 24 Military Officers were fired for kidnapping homeless and unemployed men from the cities, murdering them in rural northern parts of Colombia, and then claiming they were guerrilla fighters with the FARC. Colombia's top General, Mario Montoya, trained and then instructed others at the SOA. General Montoya was forced to resign by the murder scandal. Only when the SOA shuts down will there be the beginnings of peace in Latin America. Closing the SOA will benefit all the peoples of Latin America. That is the change we want!
WHAT CAN YOU TO DO TO HELP FREE LILY OBANDO?
- Gather signatures to "Free Lily Obando" and mail the petition to us.
- Bring a CAN or CLR speaker. We can educate Americans about Lily Obando's case and U.S. government support for war and repression in Colombia, including the murderers trained at the U.S. Military's "School of the Americas".
- Organize support for Lily Obando with resolutions from your student groups, anti-war coalitions, solidarity organizations, religious groups, and motions from local unions and international conventions.
Free Lily Obando! Close the School of the Americas! Stop Plan Colombia!
Campaign for Labor Rights www.clrlabor.org
Colombia Action Network www.colombiasolidarity.org
