A delegation of nine observers is due to attend the trial of the so-called "Colombia Three", which resumes in Bogota tomorrow.
The group includes the Sinn Féin TD, Mr Sean Crowe; Senator Mary White of Fianna Fáil; Mr Paul Hill, one of the Guildford Four, who served 15 years in British prisons before their convictions were overturned; and six lawyers, Mr Pat Daly and Mr Ronan Munro from Ireland; Mr Steve McCabe and Ms Natalie Kabaskalian from New York and Mr Shaun Kerrigan and Mr Ian Latham from Australia.
The case concerns three Irish nationals, Mr James Monaghan (56), Mr Martin McCauley (40) and Mr Niall Connolly (36) who are charged with training the Marxist rebels of FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in bomb-making techniques, and with using false passports. If convicted on the bomb-making charge, they could face 15 to 20 years in jail.
The three men were arrested at Bogota's El Dorado airport on August 11th, 2001 and are currently detained at a high-security prison in Combita, 90 miles from the Colombian capital. They have so far declined to attend the trial, claiming the proceedings were unfair.
At the last session of the trial, which is being heard by a judge sitting without a jury, two key prosecution witnesses failed to appear. One was reported to fear for his safety while the other man's whereabouts could not be ascertained.
Both witnesses are said to be former members of FARC. They are now scheduled to give evidence but defence lawyers have objected to a ruling that one of the witnesses can be interviewed in the northern Colombian city of Medellin, because the authorities cannot afford to bring him to Bogota.
An interim report prepared by observers who attended the December hearing expressed concern about the conduct of the proceedings to date as well as fears that the three men could not obtain a fair trial.
Senator White called on the Government to "convey to the Colombian government their serious doubts about the status of the main case against the three Irish accused, the lack of merit in the prosecution case . . . and the inability of the prosecution to produce the two key witnesses".
She added: "There are many precedents for the Irish Government and other governments making representations on behalf of their citizens who are facing charges in foreign countries or in prison in a foreign country." In addition, she said, the Government should not authorise members of the Garda Síochána to appear at the trial, "as their evidence is not central to the main accusations and any evidence they give is likely to be distorted and manipulated to the detriment of the interests of the accused by a prosecution which has so far dismally failed to support its main charges".
Mr Crowe called on the Government to send "an official legal observer" to attend the trial. He also expressed concern about the safety of defence lawyers in the case. "They are working in very difficult conditions and the Colombian authorities, by moving the men from jail to jail, under the pretext of security, are making it very difficult and dangerous for lawyers to consult with their clients and prepare for a trial."
The interim report also expressed concern over "prejudicial" comments by senior Colombian and US officials and elected representatives.
In an interview published in the Chicago Tribune last December 17th, the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, said the accused men were "members of the IRA in Colombia, sharing experiences, sharing knowledge, doing heaven only knows what".