First Dublin Republican Youth Forum a success

Last Wednesday the first Dublin Republican Youth Forum was held. The meeting was a discussion with life long republican and ex-prisoner Jim Monaghan. Jim recently released a book of his collected journals from his four years in prison in Colombia and spoke at length about his experiences. It was a very interesting and inspiring discussion.



While many young activists were involved or supported the "Bring Them Home" campaign Jim shone new light on the injustice and dirty tricks which kept him and his comrades imprisoned. He spoke of the claims that the FARC were using IRA technology which was later destroyed by an expert on the armed struggle, the tampered with forensics, all of which was provided by the United States which they refused to defend despite failing to withdraw such claims and "evidence". It was made quite obvious that these actions had damaged both the peace process in Ireland and Colombia. At one point it was claimed Jim and his comrades had been seen training FARC guerillas on dates which were refuted by video evidence, work timesheets and eye witness accounts from Irish and Cuban officials. Despite these disgraceful failings in the investigation the men were retried after being acquitted and sentenced to seventeen years.

Jim then spoke about his time in prison. The difference between the chaotic though communal Colombian run prisons and the regimented, cold and often brutal US run prisons where they cut and paste Thatchers policy of criminalisation to the Colombian conflict. He spoke of being housed in the paramilitary controlled wing and having a E40,000 contract on their lives. On one occassion the paramilitaries (a collection of drugdealers and murders who act as guns for hire for the rich and powerful) threw a bomb down the stairs to where they would usually be making their daily phonecall at that time. They were at most times in grave danger from these groups.

During a questions and answer session the right wing propaganda about Colombia and guerillas was discussed as well, analysis of the Colombian peoples struggle and the future for their peace process.

Ciarán Fitzgerald one of the organisers of the forum had this to say:

"The meeting was a great success. The informal and comradely nature of the discussion made sure everyone contributed and all questions were answered, although I'm sure we could have talked all night. Jim is an inspiration to young republicans and was the perfect choice to start this new venture."