The three Irish men recently arrested in Bogotá have been have been the
object of intense demonisation by the bourgeois media world wide. This is an
indication of the tabloid nature of the bourgeois media and the class
interests it serves. All kinds allegations and rumours have been
circulated by both print and broadcasting bourgeois media.
The point is that little or nothing is known concerning the circumstances in
which these three men have been arrested. Their relationship, if any, to
Sinn Fein/IRA has not been even established.

It is well known that it is quite common for a variety of different kinds of
people to visit the area from which FARC operates. This area has been
officially designated by the Colombian government as a FARC controlled area.
Even Pastrana himself, I believe, has negotiated with FARC within that area.

It is clear that the presence of these men in Colombia was a well
established fact known by the CIA for some time. It is clear that Washington
had
no real problems with their presence there. It is clear that the CIA, the
Washington and London administrations agreed
that these three men be arrested at the time when they were. It is clear
that it was done to embarrass, discredit and exert pressure on Sinn
Fein/IRA.
The approximate timing of the arrests was significant. The plan may have
been to use the arrest tactic to force Sinn Fein/IRA to cave into
British imperialism's demands on decommissioning, policing  and perhaps
other matters. It would appear that this has not happened as
of yet. The arrests are a card that American/British imperialism hope to
use to blackmail Sinn Fein/IRA into further surrendering their positions.

They are saying to the Provos that they will release these men and allow
others, on the run, to become free men again in exchange for a move on
decommissioning or policing. The arrests are the pretext for an anti Provo
media blitz that includes  threats of ostracism etc from bourgeois
politicians on both
sides of the Atlantic. Imperialism is sending out  a clear signal to the
Provos --if they do not
co-operate things can be made difficult for them. Who knows making things
difficult may even include a policy of selected assassinations of certain of
its leaders  whose demise would be convenient concerning imperialism's
plans for Ireland in the context of globalisation.

George Pennefather