The trial of the so-called "Colombia Three" is set to resume on February 5th next year following suspension of the proceedings yesterday as witnesses for the prosecution failed to turn up in court, writes Deaglán de Bréadún, Irish Times Foreign Affairs Correspondent, in Bogota.
Two defectors from the FARC rebel organisation were to appear at the trial in the Colombian capital but, when the proceedings opened in the morning, Judge Jairo Acosta read a deposition on behalf of one of the men, who said he was afraid to travel to Bogota by road as his life had been threatened.
The witness, Mr Edwin Giovanny Rodriguez, was described as a former FARC guerrilla, currently in detention for unspecified reasons in the town of Villavicencio, about an hour's drive from the capital.
When defence lawyers asked why he could not have been brought by plane, the judge, who is deciding the case on his own, said he would make a request to this effect for the resumed hearing and he would also ask for adequate security to be provided.
The two witnesses share the same surname of Rodriguez although they are unrelated. The court was told that although the second man, John Alexander Rodriguez, was in a state witness protection programme, he could not be found in time for this week's hearing.
The court was also told that two police witnesses for the prosecution could not be present as no budgetary provision was made for their travel expenses. Their identity or even nationality were not given but they are understood to be members of the Garda Special Branch from Dublin. Nor was it stated where the funds to pay for their flights and accommodation were to come from, although it is understood that these are normally provided by the host country.
The Independent TD for Dublin North-Central, Mr Finian McGrath, who was part of a group observing the court proceedings, commented last night: "After spending a week here and talking to all the different sides in the Colombian situation I am very, very saddened, dismayed and disappointed by the judgment today in the court. I found it unacceptable that the prosecution could not produce their witnesses despite the fact they had over 54 days' notice.
"I will be making my views known today to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs here in Colombia and I will also be giving a detailed report to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen and all the opposition parties and groups when I return to Ireland."
The Irish Ambassador to the region, Mr Art Agnew, took notes of the proceedings. The defendants again failed to appear in court.