[Peace] Fwd: Call Congress Now ! - SOA/ WHINSEC Vote is Soon

[Belden Fields]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: School of the Americas Watch <info at soaw.org>
> Date: May 21, 2008 10:00:25 AM CDT
> To: a-fields at uiuc.edu
> Subject: Call Congress Now ! - SOA/ WHINSEC Vote is Soon
> Reply-To: info at soaw.org
>
> North and South, the People Say, Close the SOA! Donate
>
> Call Congress Now! - Vote on the SOA/WHINSEC This Week
>
> PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY!
>
>
> 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!
> (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!
>
> For more information, visit the SOA Watch website and  
> theLegislative Action Index.
>
>
> Make a Donation
>
> For SOA Watch to become a movement that has the power to make real  
> change and to close the SOA/WHINSEC once and for all, the  
> organization needs your financial support. Every dollar is needed.  
> Please take a moment now to make a donation. Thank you!
>
> Local SOA Watch Groups
>
>
>
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>
> On the Line is an inside look at the people behind one of the  
> largest nonviolent movements in America today: the movement to  
> close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. In a world where  
> politics, passion, and Constitutional rights collide, protesters  
> discuss their activism, the dark side of U.S. foreign policy, and  
> the challenges of protesting since 9/11. (55 min.) - Click here to  
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>
> We appreciate your interest! You are subscribed to this list as a- 
> fields at uiuc.edu.
>
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>
> Contact us.
>
> Our mailing address is:
> SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA
>
> Our telephone:
> (202) 234 3440
>
> Donate to Support the Campaign to Shut Down the SOA/WHINSEC

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