Launch of 'Diego: the true story of a Colombian guerilla fighter"

Saturday January 31, 2009 21:54

by Rose

Jim Monaghan, one of the Colombia 3, launched a new book last evening (January 30th). The book is the remarkable story of an ELN guerrilla, called Diego, who Jim met in the Modelo Jail, in Bogota.

“Diego“ is the story of a typical child of poor campesinos, who joined the ELN. He tells of his experiences in the war, in which rebels are fighting against the oligarchs who rule by appalling and indiscriminate violence perpetrated by the Government, the army and their militias, the AUC, who are funded by and protected by the regime and their backers in the US. Government.

It is a war against the communities, trade Unionists, and people, for power in a country rich in resources, where the poverty of people is gruelling and widespread.
It is a war which reaches across every country in South America.

Diego lost both hands in the war, and wrote the book, in prison, holding a biro between the stumps of two arms. His first manuscript was confiscated and burnt by the Prison authorities. Jim persuaded Diego to rewrite it, and smuggled the manuscript out, sent it back to Ireland where, on his return here, he has organised the transcription, translation, illustration and publication first into Irish and now into English.

At the launch, Jim spoke openly about the frightening violence of the political situation in Colombia, as it was then – just before the ending of the Peace Process in 2002, and the exciting developments in South America, which have emerged over the past decade, and which, as he explained, have given hope to the world- to challenge and overthrow the rule of the oligarchs who maintain their power through the ‘Contra Strategy’ as it has been exercised by Washington across the continent.

“Diego” is available in the Sinn Fein bookshop, 58 Parnell Square, costing €10.

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Comments (3 of 3)

fair play

by francis hughes

Sun Feb 01, 2009 14:43

brilliant book. i suggest eveyone reads it. And about time people get the real insight of the internationalism of the 3 Irish Republicans that became known as the Colombia 3. Even on here over he years i feel there wsnt as much information to counter the propaganda against the men. great interview. more of them please. maybe of the other two lads

Great stuff

by Northside

Sun Feb 01, 2009 20:10

Was at the launch myself. Great book and great work with the interviews guys.

Best wishes to Diego.

by Pepe

Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:19

Fair play Jim! The book is a much needed testimony... often we hear stories about the "great men" in popular movements, about the leaders but seldom we have an insight in the ordinary rank and file militant. The story of Diego is a story of many poor peasants in Colombia living a reality as harsh as it can possibly be imagined. It is important that this testimony comes out and is read, because we are facing a massive propaganda machine, paid by the Colombian government and the US, and with the full support of the EU.

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Launch of 'Diego: the true story of a Colombian guerilla fighter"

Comments (3 of 3)