[Peace-discuss] School of the Americas Watch: Ask Rep. Johnson to support SOA transparency amendment

[Robert Naiman]

It seems plausible that Rep. Johnson would support this modest amendment.
Switchboard is *202-224-3121.*

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: School of the Americas Watch <info at soaw.org>
Date: Wed, May 21, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Subject: Call Congress Now ! - SOA/ WHINSEC Vote is Soon
To: naiman.uiuc at gmail.com


    North and South, the People Say, Close the SOA! <http://www.soaw.org>
Donate <http://www.soaw.org/site/article.php?id=546>  [image: SOA Watch News
& Updates] <http://www.soaw.org>

 Call Congress Now! - Vote on the SOA/WHINSEC This Week

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!
[image: Call Congress]

*SOA Watch has received confirmation that Congress will vote on an amendment
to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009 that would require
that the School of the Americas/WHINSEC release the names, ranks, country of
origin, courses and dates attended of students and instructors at the
institute*. The amendment will be offered by Representative Jim McGovern
(D-MA), Representative Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Representative Sanford Bishop
(D-GA) and we expect the vote to happen on Thursday, May 22.

For the past few years, despite the WHINSEC PR machine proclaiming an open
and transparent school, the WHINSEC has been unwilling to provide
information about the students and instructors. Freedom of Information Act
requests for FY 2005, 2006 and 2007 have all been denied, proof of WHINSEC's
unwillingness to submit to oversight from the public whose tax-payer dollars
help fund the school.

Access to information regarding SOA/WHINSEC graduates of previous years has
been a valuable asset to human rights organizations who have been able to
identify Latin American military officers and police that have committed
human rights abuses or engaged in criminal activity in their home countries
after attending the school as instructors or students. SOA Watch supports
the release of this important information at all U.S. military training
facilities in the spirit of openness, transparency, and the public's "right
to know".

*It is crucial for the success of this amendment that you contact your
Representative TODAY and TOMORROW!*

* SEND AN EMAIL AND FAX TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
NOW!<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=MI7%2FTWw6pos%2BAtlnW68QbvmlrnzEvDL7>
*
*(Be sure to click the "Send a Fax" box to have the fax sent)*

*CALL YOU REPRESENTATIVE!*

*WEDNESDAY, May 21 - THURSDAY, May 22:*
*202-224-3121*
(Congressional Switchboard Number)

Once your call is forwarded to the office of your Representative, ask to
speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant. Here is a suggested
message for you to convey:

*"Hello,
My name is __________, and as your constituent, I urge you to vote YES on
the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA) amendment to the National Defense
Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2009. The amendment would release the
names, country of origin, rank and dates of attendance at WHINSEC for
graduates and instructors. This amendment is supported by Chairman of the
Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ike Skelton.

As you may know the School of the Americas, renamed WHINSEC, has a notorious
history linked to serious crimes and human rights abuses throughout Latin
America. In the past few years under WHINSEC, known human rights abusers
have attended the school and WHINSEC instructors have been arrested in
Colombia for returning home and aiding the drug cartels. None of this
information would be known if the basic information about enrollment at
WHINSEC were not disclosed. This information is vital to the work of
Congress and human rights organizations who seek protection of human rights
and promoting transparency, however all FOIA requests for this information
are now being denied.

What is WHINSEC hiding?! Voting YES on the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA)
amendment is a vote FOR human rights and FOR transparency. I urge your boss
to vote YES!!!"*

* SEND AN EMAIL AND FAX TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
NOW!<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=xvch7%2BzR7%2FYB9SEmEWppn%2FmlrnzEvDL7>
*

For more information, visit the SOA Watch
website<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=K%2B8M8B3S06GVS1rNt7RLK%2FmlrnzEvDL7>and
the Legislative
Action Index<http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2FGbUOW5AL5Fdi%2FQ%2FbGGKrPmlrnzEvDL7>.


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On the Line is an inside look at the people behind one of the largest
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