Reproducimos la carta enviada hace unos días por nuestro amigo Laurens Vancrevel.
Dear friends,
Our surrealist friend in Colombia, poet Angye Gaona - who was unexpectedly arrested last year January without any written charge (she was released on caution in July after much international pressure) has now been charged formally by the Colombian prosecutors of 'Rebellion' and drug trafficking. The trial is announced to start on 23 January at the special criminal court in Cartagena de Indias.
Angye is completely innocent of these charges. She has passionately defended in several press articles and interviews the case of Colombian Indians (many of whom are being killed by paramilitary gangs on order of land developers; Angye has called this 'genocide') and that of working class people and their unions (who are constantly being repressed by industrials, supported by the government). Angye has also called the present Colombian government 'a terrorist government'. She is now being considered a nuisance by the ultra-conservative government, because Angye's voice has a considerable influence on young Colombians. But 'rebellon' or 'drug trafficking', no.
Her trial may have a very dramatic outcome if nothing is being done. Colombia is known for its political trials. At the moment some 7,000 political prisoners serve long sentences in terrible and overcrowded prisons. It is necessary therefore to try to make known to the judiciary officials, that Angye's case is being followed closely worldwide.
On this moment, it will be important that the examining judge will receive many letters, asking for a fair trial.
If you want to write such a letter, the address is as follows:
Al Sr. Juez de Conocimiento
Centro de Servicios Juzgado Único Penal
del Circuito Especializado De Cartagena Adjunto
Centro Barrio San Diego,
Calle De La Cruz No 9-42,
Antiguo Colegio Panamericano 2º Piso
Cartagena de Indias
Colombia, South America
You may send a copy (by email or postage) to the local ambassador or consul or Colombia, to increase the pressure. For your information, I add two links on the case, one in Spanish and the other in French:
Let's hope for the best!
Best wishes,
Laurens Vancrevel