[Imc-newsroom] PRESS RELEASE regarding DeWine Trial Outcome

[margaret l knapke]

Ohio Working Group on Latin America
<http://mahost.org/owgla>

Contact numbers for defendants:
John and Paula Ewers 937-278-5446, ewers at donet.com
Oberlin students, 614-442-5915, jackied at riseup.net, mhershbe at capital.edu 


CHARGES DROPPED  !!

Columbus, Ohio
9 July 2002

Today, at the request of Senator Mike DeWine's office and the City
Prosecutor,  Judge Anne Taylor dismissed charges against eight human
rights advocates from various Ohio cities. The eight were among ten
arrested April 30 in the senator's Columbus office, while trying to
schedule a face-to-face meeting with 
him at his convenience.

Senator DeWine (R-OH) played a prominent role in crafting Plan Colombia,
which primarily consists of massive military aid and widespread toxic
fumigation. Six of the ten defendants, having travelled widely in
Colombia, want to share with him the concerns of Colombian civilians --
who bear the brunt of that U.S. policy toward Colombia.

Following a public outcry regarding Senator DeWine's refusal to meet with
his constituents, his staff has scheduled a face-to-face meeting for
August 13.  Defendant Paula Ewers of Dayton said, "I think it's a shame
that we had to spend 30 hours in jail to get a meeting with our senator,
but we are hopeful that this meeting will be the beginning of a dialogue
that can move the U.S. toward a more informed and humane
policy toward Colombia."

Ewers and the other nine defendants belong to the Ohio Working Group on
Latin America, whose members have tried unsuccessfully for more than two
years to speak directly to Senator DeWine about the detrimental effects
of U.S. military aid to Colombia. After hearing heartfelt statements from
several defendants,  Judge Taylor ended today's proceedings with "Let's
all pray for peace in Colombia."
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