Sinn Fein hits back at Colombian allegations
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Irish republican movement attempted to defend itself yesterday against the latest allegations concerning its activities in Colombia, where IRA techniques are said to have been adopted by left-wing guerrillas.
Colombia's Prosecutor General, Luis Camilo Osorio, claimed hundreds of people were being massacred by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) with mortar bombs resembling those previously used by the IRA.
He claimed the IRA had tested weapons in the Colombian jungle, adding: "The techniques that the Farc have developed in recent years show that they have had technical assistance and used technology similar to that used by the IRA."
Mr Osorio said that in one attack, 115 people were massacred, "most of them children and defenceless women".
Three Irish republicans arrested in Colombia a year ago are expected to be tried there in October. Sinn Fein's chairman, Mitchel McLaughlin, claimed the Prosecutor General's remarks had prejudiced the chances of the men receiving a fair trial.
The republican stance is that the three men are innocent, with the IRA declaring that it sent no one to Colombia. But Sir Reg Empey, an Ulster Unionist minister, said: "To believe those men were travelling around to look at the local birds and the local flowers is absolute nonsense."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments