The seven members of Danish firm Fighters+Lovers that were sentenced to six months in jail for funding the FARC through the sale of t-shirts, say they will not give up the support for the "unfairly branded as terrorist" guerrillas.
In an interview with Colombian newspaper El Espectador, Ulrik Kohl, sentenced to six months in jail, but awaiting his appeal in freedom says his conviction was political and unjust.
After being acquitted the first time, Kohl was sentenced for supporting terrorist organizations the second time.
EE: Why were acquitted the first time, but sentenced the second time?
UK: The judges of the first instance were very independent and objective. In the second instance there was a very strong political pressure and the judges didn't have the necessary courage to resist it.
EE: How did this political pressure manifest itself?
UK: In the verdict, the judges said whether Colombia is a democracy or not had to be left out of consideration and just look at the actions of the FARC. With that logic, the resistance movements in Europe against the Nazi regime in Hitler obviously also would be terrorist.
EE: The court stated the FARC are terrorists?
UK: Yes, because there are civilian fatalities due to armed actions by the FARC.
EE: Do you think so?
UK: We don't deny this. That's why it's important to stop the war. The political recognition of the insurgency is necessary to have dialogues and end the war, because in every conflict there are civilian casualties.
EE: You will continue to support the FARC, despite the ruling?
UK: Of course, and not just through our own initiative. Other organizations like that of the Victims of Fascism in World War II or the survivors of Nazi concentration camps are supporting the Colombian insurgency. There's also Rebellion, a solidarity movement. Danish unions are very concerned because they see that Colombia is the country where most labor unionists are assassinated. We will continue making music, fragrances, hats and ringtones.
EE: How do you see the situation in Colombia?
UK: This year 40 labor unionists were murdered, the practice of the armed forces of killing civilians and then presenting them as guerrillas killed in combat continues with over a thousand killings during the Uribe government, the social injustice goes on. So, we will continue to show solidarity with popular movements in Colombia.
EE: Why did Fighters+Lovers choose the FARC to support?
UK: The FARC is one of the tools created by the Colombian people to defend themselves against a mafia regime. It is the most widely known organization in Scandinavia. We use it as an example why there is a rebel movement in Colombia. It is totally unfair to brand the legitimate movement as terrorist.
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written by Adriaan Alsema (author), October 22, 2008
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Radical Socialists under any name are dangerous.