oaxaca libre
Transcripción
oaxaca libre
www.SOAW.org Cónclave Latino COLUMBUS, GA - Nuestro movimiento alcanza una fuerza máxima cuando compartimos nuestras labores entre nuestros/as colegas con diversas perspectivas. Tenemos mucho que aprender de nuestras hermanas y hermanos de América Latina y el Caribe. Información en español Página 11 ¡Presente! Page 1 Resistance and Repression in Mexico OAXACA LIBRE After the midterm election success Tell Congress: “Shut it Down!” February 20: National Lobby Day WASHINGTON, DC - SOA Watch is organizing a national Lobby Day in Washington, DC on Febr uary 20 to promote new legislation in the 110th Congress that would suspend operations at the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC) and investigate the history of torture and oppression associated with this notorious institution. The November midterm elections were an amazing victory for grassroots activists. Thirty-four opponents of last year’s amendment to cut funding for the SOA/ WHINSEC lost their seats in the House of Representatives! This development dramatically improves our chances of shutting down this institution in the newly-elected Civil Rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Congress -- if we keep a leader in the campaign to close the SOA up the pressure, educate our communities and hold Congress accountable. “Shut it Down!” Continued on Page 4 School of the Americas Secrecy Blacked Out SOA/WHINSEC refuses to comply with Freedom of Information Act WASHINGTON, DC - Illustrating the increasing climate of government secrecy, military officials blacked-out the names of all 2005 SOA graduates in documents they were obligated to release to SOA Watch. Their defiance of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is aimed at preventing research into SOA/WHINSEC atrocities. Activists have traced hundreds of human rights abusers back to the school through previously released lists of SOA graduates. Photo by Barucha Calamity Peller The Mexican Federal Preventative Police have used tear gas, batons and other weapons to attack thousands of teachers and other protesting Oaxaca residents since protests began in June 2006. OAXACA, MEXICO - With millions of dollars in U.S. military aid and SOA training, Mexico has undergone a massive militarization over the past decade. SOA graduates have played key roles in civilian targeted warfare in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca. At least 18 top military officials involved in the conflict ar e SOA graduates. General Jose Ruben Rivas Peña, who took the SOA's elite "Command and In July, the APPO initiated a series of direct actions to force Govenor Ulises Ruiz’s resignation. In response the police and paramilitaries started shooting at protesters, and arrested APPO leaders. Protestors created barricades as protection from attacks. Negotiations in Mexico City between the APPO and the Minister of the Interior stalled, and in November, the Federal Preventative Police (PFP) occupied Oaxaca City. In this day and age, there’s no room for the SOA approach that promotes military repression as a legitimate means to ‘solve’ social conflict. Staff ” course, authored the ar my’s "Campaign Plan Chiapas 94" which calls for "training and support for paramilitary organizations." The militarized response to a teachers’ strike in Oaxaca made it clear that the Mexican authorites are still practicing what the SOA teaches. Grassroots research has only uncovered the tip of the iceberg. The SOA/WHINSEC has consistently refused to institute a serious mechanism to review the performance of the graduates and their adherence to human rights standards. Unless a review process is implemented, more reports are declassified, and the SOA releases all the names of its graduates, it will be impossible for the public to fully realize the scope of violence that has resulted from the training provided at the School of the Americas. In June, teachers went on strike demanding better pay, improved working conditions and increased spending for school meals, setting up protest camps in Oaxaca City. Governor Ulises Ruiz sent over 1,000 state police to break up the teachers’ camps using tear gas and clubs. The teachers were able to regroup and resumed their protests. All names in the SOA graduate lists were blacked-out. SOA Watch is appealing the FOIA request denial. Civil society groups then formed the People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca (APPO). On November 25, APPO organized a massive march. During the march there were a series of violent incidents between the protestors and the PFP. In confrontations, fireworks were set off, and stones and molotov cocktails were thrown. The PFP used tear gas, beat people, entered houses arbitrarily, and arrested hundreds of people. Various human rights organizations have documented excessive force, including the fact that many of the arrests included torture and sexual abuse. November 30 brought another wave of violence by police, paramilitaries and government officials that included arbitrary arrests, indiscriminate search and ransacking of homes and schools. Dozens are dead, hundreds have disappeared, and armed groups have begun issuing death threats and burning offices of organizations sympathetic to the people's movement SOA Watch is monitoring the situation closely. Activists in Mexico, the US and throughout the world took action in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca. We demand an end to the repression and freedom for all political prisoners. For updates visit: www.SOAW.org February 18, Washington, DC SOAW Strategy Meeting Convene your local groups now and send a representative to the SOA Watch Strategy Meeting. There are amazing opportunities ahead of us in the campaign to close the SOA. To succeed, it will take all of us. More info on Page 4 202.234.3440 www.SOAW.org Page 2 ¡Presente! Winter 2007 ! ¡P resente ¡Presente!, the newspaper of the movement to close the School of the Americas is published three times a year by SOA Watch and sent to 32,000 subscribers. SOA Watch would like to thank Cesar Maxit for his graphic design and layout work and Christy Pardew for editing this issue of ¡Presente!. SOA Watch Organizing Regions and Council Representatives: GREAT LAKES: Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana Liz Deligio, [email protected], 773-910-2444 and Morgan Roddy, [email protected] MIDATLANTIC: DC, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Western Pennsylvania MIDWEST: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma NEW ENGLAND: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Eastern Canada Palmer Legare, [email protected] NEW YORK: New York NORTHEAST: Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey Deirdre MacDermott, [email protected], 215-601-4805 and Linda Panetta, [email protected], 215-473-2162 NORTHWEST: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Western Canada Greg Speltz, [email protected] ROCKIES: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah Brendan McCrann, [email protected] ¡Presente! is the title of th e newspaper of the movement to close the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC). ¡Presente! means "here" or "present" in Spanish. It is used in the ritual at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia, and throughout the Americas when we remember those who suffered and were martyred by the graduates of the School of the Americas. We pronounce their names and bring their spirits and witness before us as we respond: ¡Presente! You are here with us, you are not forgotten and your death was not in vain. 1 New Congress Could Mean End of the SOA/WHINSEC 34 Members of the House of Representatives who voted to keep the School of the Americas in buisness, lost their seats in Congress. Mobilize your community for an all-out grassroots lobbying effort on February 20, 2007. 1 Oaxaca Libre Resistance and Repression in Mexico. 1 SOA/WHINSEC Secrecy SOA/WHINSEC blacks-out hundreds of graduate names in documents released to SOA Watch in defiance of the Freedom of Information Act. 3 News Briefs from the Americas News and Updates from Bolivia and more 4 National Strategy Meeting in Washington, DC Planning the next steps in the campaign to close the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) and to change U.S. foreign policy (February 18, 2007) 4 April 25-27, 2006 - Close the SOA Fast Fasts and nationally coordinated actions in your community 5-8 Bi-Lingual Broadsheet about the School of the Americas and the campaign to Shut it Down. Educate your fellow students, co-workers, and neighbors etc. about what their tax dollars are being used for. Order additional copies from SOA Watch. 9 Report from the November Vigil and Nonviolent Direct Action School of the Americas on trial in January as 16 human rights defenders are charged with carrying the protest to close the SOA onto Fort Benning. 10 Mapa de la Acción Acción coordinada por la Paz y contra toda forma de militarismo en América 11 ¡Crear, Crear, Poder Popular! Informe sobre la vigilia de noviembre 11 Cónclave Latino 18 de Noviembre en Columbus, Georgia SOUTH: Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas SOUTHEAST: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee Randal Pfleger, [email protected] SOUTHWEST: Arizona, New Mexico Richard Boren, [email protected] WEST: California, Nevada, Hawai'i, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Marianas Cile Beatty, [email protected] and 510684-6444 and Theresa Cameranesi, [email protected], 415-876-1455 Additional members of the Council include: Marge Clark, Leadership Conference of Women Religious, [email protected]. Wayne Wittman, Veterans for Peace, [email protected]. Torture Abolition Survivor Support Coalition Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) Carlos Mauricio, Stop Impunity Project SOA Watch Staff: Roy Bourgeois, Pam Bowman, Aisha Brown, Joao Da Silva, Eric LeCompte, Emily Nelson, Lisa Sullivan-Rodriguez and Hendrik Voss November 2006 a t the ga tes of Fort Benning at gates The November vigil and action was a huge success and a major step in the campaign to close the SOA. The vigil drew a record attendance - the largest demonstration in front of a U.S. military base since the Vietnam War! Mass mobilizations have been a key element of every successful movement for social change. The Nov. 17-19 events represent the culmination of movement building in local communities throughout the country. Page 9 Contact: School of the Americas Watch PO Box 4566 Washington, DC 20017 Phone: 202.234.3440 Fax: 202.636.4505 Email: [email protected] .org wPwhowne.S: 2O02A-23W 4-3440 A large puppet, representing the resistance in Oaxaca is mourning the teachers that are being killed. Photo by Ted Stein www.SOAW.org community similar to the European Union. To receive SOA Watch Updates regularly by email, sign up on the web at www.SOAW.org In addition for calling on South American governments to withdraw its troops from the SOA, the Social Summit also called on social movements throughout Latin America to join in the campaign to close the School of the Americas. Military “Solutions” Extradite Goni USA Today repor ted on November 10, 2006 of the Bush Administration's decision to further militarize the hemisphere by increasing training and aid for the militaries of Latin America. According to the report, the White House decided on October 2 to waive restrictions on US military training and funding in an attempt to "blunt a leftward trend" in Latin America. (The restrictions had been in place to pressure nearly a dozen governments throughout the hemisphere to promise immunity to US soldiers in the International Criminal Court.) The School of the Americas, whose graduates have a history of overthrowing elected civilian gover nments opposed to U.S. domination, is ready to deal with the changing political landscape SOA-style. Americas Social Summit A call for complete withdrawal of all South American troops from the School of the Americas was one of the key recommendations made by 4,000 representatives of social movements gathered in Cochabamba Bolivia in December at the Social Summit for the Integration of the Peoples. The social summit was held parallel to the Summit of the South American Community of Nations which brought together presidents and envoys of 12 South American nations. The SOA recommendation, along with others in areas such as water, human rights and migration, was offered to the South American leaders at the conclusion of the Social Summit. Bolivia´s president Evo Morales opened the summit of leaders calling for his fellow presidents to close "the open veins of Latin America," in reference to Eduardo Galeano's well-known book. Morales went on to say that "we seek that South America be forever a region of peace that works to solve the economic problems of its historically abandoned majority,". The leaders of South America agreed to create a study group to look at the idea of forming a continent-wide Bolivia's former president Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, a.k.a. "Goni," is responsible for the murders of 67 people, yet he lives in the U.S. as a free man rather than facing justice for his crimes. During his reign, Goni pushed neoliberal policies onto the largely unwilling population of Bolivia. He privatized state-owned enterprises and proposed tax increases on the working poor. His privatization policies led to higher unemployment and an increase in poverty. In October 2003, the "Gas War" beg an in El Alto. Citizens protesting Goni's plan to further privatize gas and oil were fired on by government troops under the command of School of the Americas graduates. Twenty-eight people were killed, and during the protests that followed in El Alto and La Paz, the military killed another 39 people. SOA Grad Faces Justice In November 2006, ex-Chilean military officer Enrique Sandoval confessed to the murder of the first underage victim of the military dictatorship in Chile, 14-year old Carlos Fariña Oyarce. The SOA graduate has been convicted for kidnapping and murder and could face a prison sentence. Carlos Fariña Oyarce was kidnapped from his home on October 13, 1973 and killed execution style; his burned body was buried in an undisclosed location, becoming one of Chile’s many disappeared. His body was found during an excavation in Santiago in July 2000. A few months prior to the murder and the military coup of September 11, 1973, Enrique Sandoval had Page 3 ¡Presente! attended the School of the Americas, then located in Panamá. His reputation landed him a post at Villa Grimaldi, one of the dictatorship’s most notorious torture centers. In 1977, he became part of the CNI, Pinochet’s secret police, whose mission was to “neutralize” opposition leaders and political dissidents. It is time that the people responsible for the development and use of torture manuals at the SOA are held accountable as well. art ©Peter Kuper Dear Friends, We have seen exciting developments in our ever-growing movement. You can help strengthen SOA Watch with your financial support, so that together we can further advance our capacity for the tasks ahead of us. Three recent accomplishments made possible with your help are: SOA Watch opened its first Latin America office, facilitating stronger relationships with grassroots groups in South American countries. Argentina and Uruguay joined Venezuela and denounced the SOA/ WHINSEC and cut all ties with the notorious institution. Grassroots activists achieved a partial victory as the amendment to cut SOA funding was only narrowly defeated in Congress. Thirty-four of our opponents were voted out of office in the midterm elections (Page 1). The November vigil brought together civil rights movement veterans and torture survivors and energized the movement. (Page 9) These and other events have infused great hope and a new sense of possibility into the campaign as we move forward to keep up the pressure on decision-makers. Now, we need your support to cover the expenses of the prisoner support work, for the February Lobby Day, the Strategy Meeting, for the coordination of local events in April and more. Thank you, The SOA Watch Staff The SOA problem-solving approach of military repression did not work out for Goni, as massive protests following the massacre forced him out of office. He and two of his ministers fled to the U.S., where they have been MAKE A DIFFERENCE! living ever since. Bolivian SOA graduates Juan Veliz Her rera, former Military Chief of Staff, and Gonzalo Roca bado Mercado, former Commander in Chief, are currently facing charges of torture, murder, and violation of the constitution for their role in the death of the 67 civilians. Both of them attended the “Small Unit Warfare” course at the SOA. The Bolivian people have demanded that Goni and his cabinet ministers, be returned to their country to face trials as well. Although Bolivia requested that Goni and his ministers be served with subpoenas over a year ago, the U.S. government has still not complied. The refusal to serve these criminals with their subpeonas is a subversion of democracy and a slap in the face to the Bolivian people. Support SOA Watch The work to close the School of the Amer icas (SOA/WHINSEC) and to change U.S. policy depends on the generosity of individuals like you. Thank you! Donation Type: One-Time Donation Monthly Recurring Donation Donation Amount: $15 $25 $50 $100 $500 Other _______ Name: ______________________________ _____________________________ Address: _________________________ ________________________________ City: ______________________________ ___ State: _____ Zip: ____________ E-mail: ______________________________ _____________________________ My check or money order, payable to “SOA Watch,” is enclosed. My check for a tax-deductible gift of $100 or more, made out to the “A.J. Muste Institute / SOA Watch,” is enclo sed.* Please charge my contribution in the amou nt of $ ________ to my: MasterCard Visa Credit Card No. ____________________ ________________________________ Expiration Date: ____ / ____ Signature: _________________________ ____ * SOA Watch is not a 501(c)3 organization and due to restrictions by our fiscal spons or, donations under $100 are not tax-deductib le, and must be made payable to SOA Watch. Clip and mail form to: SOA Watch ~ PO Box 4566 ~ Washington, DC 20017 Page 4 ¡Presente! Winter 2007 Nationally Coordinated Fasts in April 2007 As we prepare for a win in Congress, this April 25-27 will be a time of fasting for SOA Watch, a time to organize fasts in your community to bring attention to those targeted by SOA graduates and an opportunity for each of us to commit ourselves to closing this place of injustice. As Congress prepares to vote on the SOA, local fasts nationwide will educate new Members of Congress and put pressure on returning Members to work with our movement to close this institution. When we fast in front of Federal buildings, we raise awareness about one of the great evils that our government sustains. We can invite those who witness our fast to thank their local Member of Congress for their support, help educate a new Member with a phone call, or express their concern that their Representative supports oppression in Latin America. When we fast in front of local Congressional offices – those that have consistently voted the wrong way — we can use our fast to show the media and the public that this Representative needs to take into consideration the concerns of her or his constituents. Some of us will be unable to join a public fast. Fasting individually from April 25 to 27 can be just as effective. SOA Watch is asking those who fast individually or publicly to sign a national petition. All fasters will have a fasting sticker that you can wear to help educate your friends and family during your personal fast. Materials are available to use in contacting your Representative about your fast, closing the SOA, and the upcoming votes your Member will need to support. You can participate in this three-day fast by organizing a place for you and friends to fast together, by joining one of the fasts that will be taking place nationwide or by fasting individually. If you would like information about fasting and organizing a fast, visit www.SOAW.org. If you are going to organize a public fast, email Emily Nelson at [email protected]. ‘Para-Politics’ Scandal Rocks Colombia This past November the Colombian Supreme Court arrested several government officials, including four members of Congress, a former governor, and several local officials for allegedly colluding with paramilitary groups politically and financially. Over 20 members of congress and two directors from the Administrative Department of Security are among the almost 30 officials accused thus far. There are many well-documented cases of state security forces in Colombia collaborating with paramilitaries in attacks against civilian populations. Colombia has sent more than 10,000 soldiers to train at the SOA. The results are chilling. SOA Watch has documented cases in which SOA graduates and instructors have been involved in massacres, the killing of striking workers, assassinations and torture. The 1993 human rights report State Terrorism in Colombia cites 247 Colombian officers for human rights violations. Fully one half of those cited were SOA graduates. Some were even featured as SOA guest speakers or instructors or included in the "Hall of Fame" after their involvement in such crimes. Webster University Cuts Ties with SOA/WHINSEC School officials at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri formally ended a credit transfer agreement with the SOA/WHINSEC after receiving numerous requests for it from students, faculty, and university supporters, including members of the Sisters of Loretto—the Catholic organization that founded Webster. Under the former agreement, students at the SOA/WHINSEC could transfer up to 12 credit hours from their classes to certain Webster graduate programs. The campaign to end the affiliation between the two schools began soon after an article published in Webster’s student paper, The Journal. Webster faculty members, students, and the Sisters of Loretto composed a letter to the administration outlining their disappointment with the affiliation, and calling for its termination. The Sisters of Loretto have a long history of taking action against the SOA/WHINSEC, and SOA Watch congratulates them on their victory. “Shut it Down!” Cont. from Page 1 We need you to join us in Washington on February 18-20 to reach the many newly elected House members and to build support from our long-time allies. Activists from around the country will mobilize in Washington, DC for two days of grassroots advocacy. The Lobby Days will begin on Monday, February 19 with a legislative training led by SOA Watch’s Legislative Working Group. We will prepare our movement to flood the halls of Congress the following day with hundreds of meetings with Members of Congress. The many unexpected successes of last year’s legislative campaign — including the support of over 130 co-sponsors of House legislation and the introduction of an amendment on the House floor that lost by only a 15-vote margin — prove that grassroots power produces results! These successes were possible because of the your efforts and your commitment to peace and justice in Latin America. This is a great opportunity to join SOA Watch for an exciting and empowering legislative campaign! Come and be a part of our work to pass legislation in the 110th Congress that will shut down a school connected to some of the worst human rights atrocities in Latin America’s history. Join us in Washington, DC in February and plug into a highimpact strategy meeting and legislative advocacy session to mobilize the growing movement that will shut this school down. Visit our website at www.soaw.org for information on housing, travel and transportation for the weekend. For additional questions, contact Legislative Coordinator Pam Bowman at 202-234-3440 or p b o w m a n @ s o a w. o r g. Mobilize your community for this all-out grassroots lobbying effort, and help us fill the halls of Congress with justice. SOA Watch Strategy Meeting Februar y 18 in Washington, DC: The Strategy Meeting is an opportunity for members of the movement to come together for conversations about goals, tactics and strategy of the movement to close the School of the Americas. It’s a time for all of us to share our work both regionally and nationally and to coordinate our efforts. We will evaluate the work of the past year and look towards future actions.. This year we have combined our strategy meeting with our spring lobby days. We ask you to convene your local group and, together, select one or more representatives to attend this important meeting on February 18. Please organize a larger delegation to join us for our legislative training and lobby day on February 19 and 20. Contact SOA Watch before February 1 for a registration form. A detailed schedule will be sent out to all registered participants in early February. It could be helpful to schedule a meeting with your group or organization between February 9 and February 16 in order to gather input before attending the Strategy Meeting. For questions regarding registration and logistics, please contact Emily Nelson at the national office at 202-234-3440 or [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in February. www.SOAW.org ¡Presente! Page 5 Page 6 ¡Presente! Winter 2007 www.SOAW.org ¡Presente! Page 7 Page 8 ¡Presente! Winter 2007 www.SOAW.org ¡Presente! Page 9 November Vigils and Protests to Close the SOA People Power in Action Tens of thousands throughout the Americas call for the closure of the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) and for an end to Militarism. Mass mobilizations have been a key element of every successful movement for social change. The Nov. 17-19 events represent the culmination of movement building in communities throughout the country. Crear, Crear, Poder Popular! (Create, create, People Power!) was one of the many slogans one would commonly hear in Chile throughout the 1980’s. It was a chant used by Chile’s working class majority who had been deprived of their rights to free speech and to demand better working conditions. The country they’d helped build with their own hands was now under a military dictatorship which seemed to be working to benefit an extremely wealthy minority and to meet the economic needs of foreign first world nations while governing with a complete disregard for human rights. Systematic state-sponsored violence and the deprivation of their basic human needs had driven the people of Chile to the last possible resort: organize and express discontent. sponsored violence and human rights abuses, the people chose democracy. Like the Independence Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India and the Civil Rights Movement led by Rev. Martin Luther King in the U.S., “People Power” was the key element that brought democracy to Chile. Sixteen years later, I was fortunate enough to see People Power once again in action. On the weekend of November 17-19, 2006, thousands gathered at the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia, to demand that the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation -formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas, be shut down and held accountable for aiding and collaborating with repressive military dictatorships in Latin America throughout its 60-year history. The people of Colombia and Mexico today can testify that in spite of a name change, the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) has continued to train and indoctrinate Latin American military and security personnel, many of which have returned to their home countries and committed human rights violations. All in the name of defending U.S. interests in the region. In Colombia alone, where 20 people die as a result of political violence per day, names of SOA/WHINSEC trained military and paramilitaries constantly appear in human rights reports. Photo: Al Viola Ann Wright together with Iraq veterans on stage A widespread national and international grassroots effort forced General Augusto Pinochet to call for a public referendum so Chile could choose whether to remain under military rule or return to democracy. After 17 years of systematic state Father Roy Bourgeois’ Speaking Schedule: January 8 - 27 Nicaragua, Colombia and Panama February 5 - 10 Sacramento/San Francisco, CA Contact: (916) 480-2105 February 14 Yale University, New Haven, CT Contact: (315) 468-2293 February 18 - 20 Washington, DC Strategy Meeting and Lobby Day Contact: (202) 234 3440 March 3 - 25 Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador March 31 - April 3 Syracuse, New York Contact: (315) 468-2293 April 10 - 13 Harvard College, Boston, MA Contact: (415) 342-6904 April 16 - 17 Albuquerque/Santa Fee, New Mexico Contact: (505) 264-2838 This year’s three day event attracted people from all walks of life and different parts of the Americas who gathered to denounce SOA/ WHINSEC sponsored violence in Latin America. Torture and civil war sur vivors Adriana Portillo (Guatemala), Patricia Isasa (Argentina), Hector Aristizabal, Genaro Jacinto Calel from the International Mayan League offers a Mayan Blessing, honoring "our grandfather the sun, our mother the earth, and the life-giving universe." Photo: Linda Panetta human rights advocates all Renato Areiza (Colombia), Maria converged as one united front in the Guardado, Carlos Mauricio, Neris name of freedom, peace and justice. Gonzalez and Frankie Flores (El Salvador) came and shared their As the annual vigil to close the SOA testimonies and experiences with us. took place in Georgia, simultaneous Civil Rights Movement activists who events denouncing torture and marched from Selma to Columbus militarism took for the place throughout Living the As the annual vigil to close the SOA the Americas. The D r e a m “Movimiento de campaign took place in Georgia, simultaneous Cristianos por la reminded events denouncing torture and Paz con Justicia y us that militarism took place throughout the Dignidad” played n o n Americas. an instrumental violence is role in organizing the key to these hemisphere resolving wide actions (Page 10). social and political conflicts. One thousand grandmothers who paid November 17-19, 2006 was a shining tribute to the dead and disappeared example of People Power in action. showed us how a simple act of love is more powerful and lasting than bullets will ever be. Musicians, artists, social justice activists and Support the Prisoners of Conscience The criminals are those who are responsible for torture and murder, not those who stand up for justice and accountability Sixteen human rights activists were arrested at the November vigil after carrying the protest onto the Fort Benning Military Reservation, making a bold call for justice and accountability. 15 were released on bail. Margaret Bryant-Ganer opted not to post bail and remains in prison. The 16 face up to six months in prison and will apprear in federal court on January 29 to put the SOA itself on trial. The “SOA 16” are: Margaret Bryant-Gainer, 38, Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia Tina Busch-Nema, 48, Kirkwood, Missouri Rev. Don Coleman, 69, a co-pastor of University Church, from Chicago, IL Valerie Fillenwarth, 64, a homemaker from Indianapolis, Indiana Philip Gates, 70, a retired school teacher from Prescott, Arizona Alice Gerard, 50, a freelance journalist from Grand Island, New York Joshua Harris, 30, San Diego, a graduate student at Claremont University Melissa Helman, 23, a student from Ashland, Wisconsin Martina Leforce, 22, Berea, Kentucky Julienne Oldfield, 69, Syracuse, New York (Katherine) Whitney Ray, 17, a college student from Indianapolis, Indiana Sheila Salmon, 71, Sebastian, Florida Nathan Slater, 23, Berea / Edmonton, Kentucky Mike Vosburg-Casey, 32, piano tuner and chicken farmer from Atlanta, GA Grayman Ward, 20, a fitness equipment specialist from Raleigh, North Carolina Cathy Webster, 61, a peace activist and grandmother from Chico, California “If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law.” - Henry David Thoreau Melissa climbs over the fence at the main gate of Fort Benning Photo: Linda Panetta Página Page 1010 ¡Presente! ¡Presente! Invierno 2007 Winter 2007 www.SOAW.org www.SOAW.org ¡Presente! ¡Presente! Página Page 11 Informe sobre la vigilia de noviembre ¡Crear, Crear, Poder Popular! Fue uno de los muchos lemas que se podían escuchar comúnmente en Chile durante toda la década de 1980. Fue un canto utilizado por la clase trabajadora chilena que había sido privada de su libertad de expresión y su derecho a demandar mejores condiciones de trabajo. El país que los trabajadores ayudaron a construir con sus propias manos estaba ahora bajo una dictadura militar que parecía estar trabajando para beneficiar a una minoría privilegiada y para atender las necesidades económicas de las naciones del primer mundo, mientras gobernaba con un desprecio total por los derechos humanos. La violencia sistemática apoyada por el Estado y la privación de sus necesidades humanas básicas, llevaron al pueblo chileno al último recurso posible: a organizarse y expresar su descontento. Un amplio esfuerzo nacional e internacional de los grupos de base obligó al general Augusto Pinochet a convocar un referendo público para que Chile pudiese elegir si permanecer bajo gobierno o retornar a la democracia. Después de 17 años de violencia sistemática patrocinada por el Estado y de abusos contra los derechos humanos, el pueblo eligió la democracia. Como el movimiento por la independencia dirigido por Mahatma Gandhi en India y el movimiento por los derechos civiles dirigido por el Reverendo Martin Luther King en los EE.UU., “El Poder Popular” fue el elemento clave que trajo la democracia a Chile. Dieciséis años después, tuve la suerte de volver a ver, una vez más, el “Poder Popular” en acción. Durante el fin de semana del 17 al 19 de noviembre de 2006, miles de personas se reunieron ante las puertas de Fort Manifestantes recuerdan a las victimas de la represion en America Latina. Foto: Andi Gelsthorpe Benning, Georgia, para pedir que el Instituto de derechos humanos. Todo ello en es la clave para resolver los Cooperación para la Seguridad nombre de la defensa de los conflictos sociales y políticos. Las mil Hemisferica (Western Hemisphere intereses de EE.UU. en la región. abuelas que rindieron homenaje a los Institute for Security Cooperation) Sólo en Colombia, cada dia mueren muertos y los desaparecidos nos antes conocido como la Escuela del veinte personas como resultado de mostraron cómo un sencillo acto de las Américas (U.S. Army School of la violencia política, los nombres de amor es más poderoso y más the Americas), se clausurase y se militares y paramilitares graduados duradero que las armas. Músicos, hiciese responsable por ayudar y de la SOA/ artistas, colaborar con las dictaduras militares W H I N S E C Los días 17 a 19 de noviembre de activistas por la represivas en América Latina durante a p a r e c e n justicia social y sus sesenta años de historia. 2006 fueron un claro ejemplo de constantemente luchadores por “Poder Popular” en acción. Los pueblos de Colombia y México en los informes los derechos pueden atestiguar hoy que, pese a sobre derechos humanos su cambio de nombre, la Escuela de humanos. convergieron todos como un frente las Américas (SOA/WHINSEC) ha unido en el nombre de la libertad, la La vigilia en Georgia atrajo a seguido formando y adoctrinando a paz y la justicia. personas de todas las procedencias personal militar y de seguridad y de distintas partes de las Américas Cuando se celebró la vigilia anual latinoamericano, muchos de los que se reunieron para denunciar la para clausurar la SOA/WHINSEC cuales han regresado a sus países y violencia patrocinada por SOA/ en Georgia, eventos simultáneos han cometido violaciones a los WHINSEC en Latinoamérica. denunciando la tortura y el Sobrevivientes de la tortura y de la militarismo se celebraron en guerra civil como Adriana Portillo Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, (Guatemala), Patricia Isasa El Salvador, Ecuador, Paraguay, (Argentina), Héctor Aristizábal, Canadá, Irlanda, Arizona y Renato Areiza (Colombia), María California. El “Movimiento de Guardado, Carlos Mauricio, Neris Cristianos por la Paz con Justicia y González y Frankie Flores (El Dignidad” tuvo un papel Salvador) vinieron y compartieron fundamental en organizar estas sus testimonios y experiencias con grandes acciones hemisféricas (ver nosotros. Activistas del movimiento página 10). por los derechos civiles que Los días 17 a 19 de noviembre de caminaron desde Selma a Columbus 2006 fueron un claro ejemplo de por la campaña “Living the Dream” “Poder Popular” en acción. nos recordaron que la no violencia Cónclave Latino Noviembre 2006 Los integrantes del Movimiento Popular Unido de los EEUU (UPM-USA) se reunieron por segunda vez en el Centro de Convenciones de Columbus, Georgia, creando un precedente para la creación de un nuevo movimiento social al interior de la organización SOA Watch, y los esfuerzos por cerrar la Escuela de Asesinos. En el Conclave Latino, que se realiza en el Centro de Convenciones, tuvimos una excelente concurrencia de público, contando con la participación de más de 45 mujeres, hombres y jóvenes latinos. Durante el encuentro se realizo una muestra del documental “25 Años Después” que entrega importantes antecedentes sobre el Obispo Romero y su teología profética, la participación de la comunidad Latina en el esfuerzo por cerrar la SOA/WHINSEC, y otros testimonios sobre los derechos humanos y la lucha por la justicia social en América Latina. El productor de este documental es Luis Alvarenga, un integrante de la UPM-USA que vive en Boston, MA. Más de 100 personas asistieron a la presentación de este exitoso documental. Felicitamos a Luis Alvarenga por su gran trabajo y éxito. En el encuentro, el UPM-USA se decidió hacer una llamada a realizar una campaña de boicot contra el Canal Univision, un canal de televisión latinoamericano que apoya las políticas de desestabilización contra los gobiernos independientes de América Latina tales como Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua y ahora Ecuador. También acordamos enviar cartas de agradecimiento a los gobiernos de Uruguay, Argentina y Venezuela por decidirse a descontinuar el envió de soldados para recibir entrenamiento en la SOA/WHINSEC. Felices fiestas para todos ustedes y los alentamos a continuar en la lucha por la paz y la justicia social en sus comunidades. Movimiento Popular Unido de los EEUU (UPM-USA) [email protected] ¡Presente! Fall 2006 Page 12 Winter 2007 Nonviolence
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NORTHWEST: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Western Canada Greg Speltz, [email protected] ROCKIES: Colorado, Wyoming, Utah Brendan McCrann, [email protected] SOUTH: Alabama, Arkansas, L...
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