A last-ditch attempt to defend a bereaved father from ‘trumped-up’ terrorism charges in Colombia has been made by human rights lawyer Yenly Mendez.

Mendez was in London this week to drum up international support for community leader Miguel Angelo Gonzales, whose son earlier this year became one of more than 1,100 victims of extra-judicial killings in the country since 2002. She said Gonzales was arrested ten months ago with five other leaders of the peasant farmer movement, four of whom have since been released. The trial was set to start yesterday (Wednesday).

Mendez told the Gazette: ‘Political opponents of the government are accused of working with the rebels and branded terrorists on trumped-up charges. As such, they become fair game to the security services and paramilitaries.’ Her client can hope for a fair trial ‘only if international attention focuses on his case and demands justice’, she said.

Meanwhile, UK-based lobbying group Justice for Colombia urged the British government to stop training Colombian armed forces.