CITIZEN ALERT v1.43
REPORT FROM THE SOAW
An update from THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS WATCH
www.soaw.org
SOA Watch representatives Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Lisa Sullivan, Linda Panetta and Carlos Mauricio returned last week from an inspiring and incredibly successful trip to Chile, Peru and Ecuador, where they met with local human rights organizations, community organizers, and local government authorities to request that their respective governments discontinue sending military and police officers to be trained at the SOA/WHINSEC.
In Chile the four had the opportunity to meet with Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot, who agreed to “suggest” to the army that they no longer send officers and troops to train at the SOA/WHINSEC. Congressperson Tucapel Jimenez, a member of the human rights commission of Congress, promised to introduce legislation which would require the president to order withdrawal of Chilean troops from the SOA/WHINSEC, hopefully at the beginning of October. Congressperson Jimenez’s father was a labor leader and was killed during the Pinochet regime. The person responsible for his murder, now serving jail time, is Carlos Herrera Jimenez, a graduate of the SOA. Over a half dozen human rights groups committed to organizing a vigil in Chile to correspond with the November 19 vigil at Ft. Benning.
In Ecuador, where the presidential race is ongoing, the SOA Watch delegation met with Presidential Candidate Leon Roldos, who was well aware of the role of the SOA in Ecuador and all of Latin America. He enthusiastically agreed to support the withdrawal of Ecuadorian troops from the SOA/WHINSEC.
And in Peru, SOA Watch met with Peru’s Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo, only one day after his new cabinet was approved by Congress. SOA Watch shared concerns about Peru’s participation in the SOA/WHINSEC, and the Prime Minister expressed surprise that Peru was continuing to send troops there. He took information and promised to look into the matter with his cabinet. Congressperson Nancy Obregon indicated that she will make sure that the Prime Minister follows up with this request and offered to help in getting more Peruvian government officials on board with the work of withdrawing their troops from the SOA/WHINSEC.
www.soaw.org
SOA Watch representatives Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Lisa Sullivan, Linda Panetta and Carlos Mauricio returned last week from an inspiring and incredibly successful trip to Chile, Peru and Ecuador, where they met with local human rights organizations, community organizers, and local government authorities to request that their respective governments discontinue sending military and police officers to be trained at the SOA/WHINSEC.
In Chile the four had the opportunity to meet with Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot, who agreed to “suggest” to the army that they no longer send officers and troops to train at the SOA/WHINSEC. Congressperson Tucapel Jimenez, a member of the human rights commission of Congress, promised to introduce legislation which would require the president to order withdrawal of Chilean troops from the SOA/WHINSEC, hopefully at the beginning of October. Congressperson Jimenez’s father was a labor leader and was killed during the Pinochet regime. The person responsible for his murder, now serving jail time, is Carlos Herrera Jimenez, a graduate of the SOA. Over a half dozen human rights groups committed to organizing a vigil in Chile to correspond with the November 19 vigil at Ft. Benning.
In Ecuador, where the presidential race is ongoing, the SOA Watch delegation met with Presidential Candidate Leon Roldos, who was well aware of the role of the SOA in Ecuador and all of Latin America. He enthusiastically agreed to support the withdrawal of Ecuadorian troops from the SOA/WHINSEC.
And in Peru, SOA Watch met with Peru’s Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo, only one day after his new cabinet was approved by Congress. SOA Watch shared concerns about Peru’s participation in the SOA/WHINSEC, and the Prime Minister expressed surprise that Peru was continuing to send troops there. He took information and promised to look into the matter with his cabinet. Congressperson Nancy Obregon indicated that she will make sure that the Prime Minister follows up with this request and offered to help in getting more Peruvian government officials on board with the work of withdrawing their troops from the SOA/WHINSEC.
posted by Bobot Adrenaline at 12:20 AM
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