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
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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
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* 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!
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¡Presente!
Winter 2007
www.SOAW.org
¡Presente!
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¡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
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2007
Winter
2007
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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