Ananova. 7 January 2002. More Republicans 'linked up with Colombia rebels.'
Up to 25 Irish republicans could have linked up with Marxist rebels in Colombia, it is claimed. The claim has been made by authorities in Bogota investigating three Irishmen who were arrested last August. They believe between 15 and 25 Irishmen visited the zone controlled by FARC rebels. They also believe two other republicans were in the rebel-controlled zone at the time of the arrests and may have escaped through Venezuela. New details which have emerged also allege the Irishmen trained rebels in the construction of an anti-personnel mine. The three men detained last summer are expected to face charges later this year but following the disclosure of alleged even greater involvement by republicans, Ulster Unionists have demanded decisive action by the US authorities against Sinn Fein. Stormont economy minister Sir Reg Empey claimed: "The issues of visas and fund-raising have to be looked at. There is a clear case to answer." "It is clear the IRA have been heavily involved in helping FARC develop new terrorist capabilities designed to inflict mass murder and carnage on innocent people." "At a time when the forces of the democratic free world are being mobilised against Islamic terrorists, there is no justification for leniency against Irish republican terrorists or their representatives, when they are in clear collaboration with sworn enemies of the United States." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
