Statement Issued by the three Irishmen in Colombia� on 31st January 2002 we made a personal decision to travel to Colombia to exchange experiences with conflict resolution. We were arrested by the army which had no legal powers to do so. The military had no legal right to get a foreign power (US Embassy) involved.
There was a fabrication of evidence by US embassy officials in order to undermine President Pastrana's efforts to reach a peace settlement. The international community has now been restricted from entering the demilitarised zone. Elements of the British security services used the arrests to damage the Irish Peace Process. The presumption of innocence has been ignored. There has been illegal behaviour by the army supported by the Fiscalia. Confidential details of the case have been given to the media in order to damage our defence and the prospect of a fair trial.