Date sent: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 12:09:09 -0800
Send reply to: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <LABOR-L@YORKU.CA
From: Sid Shniad <shniad@SFU.CA
Subject: Joseph Kennedy on the School of the Americas
To: LABOR-L@YORKU.CA
January 12, 1997
SOA Graduates' Fingerprints On Mexico's Chiapas Policy
Dear Colleague:
As the investigation into the December 22 Chiapas massacre continues,
published reports link School of the Americas (SOA) graduates with the
Mexican Government's failed Chiapas policy. In the past four years, the
Mexican government's policy toward Chiapas has failed to bring about
peace in the region. Talks have completely broken down, and operations
have escalated into a low-intensity conflict involving members of the
Army, paramilitary groups, and local security forces.
Suspicions are high that the Mexican Army's complacency may have
allowed the recent massacre to take place. The Mexican government has
sacked numerous government officials, including President Zedillo's
interior minister and the governor of Chiapas. As the Army occupies much
of Chiapas, there is little sign that the violence will end. Amnesty
International has reported that the Army committed "widespread human
rights violations" during their operations in Chiapas throughout 1997.
On January 12, 1998 state police killed a woman during a protest in the
town of Ocosingo.
The press in Mexico has been quick to point out that the military's failed
Chiapas policy has been engineered and conducted in large part by SOA
graduates. Demonstrations are being held across the United States in
which protesters blame the war in Chiapas on the United States, citing
the role of SOA graduates in the conflict. According to School of the
Americas Watch, at least 13 SOA graduates who are now top military
officials have played a key role in the conflict in the Southern Mexican
states. Those officers include:
* Colonel Julian Guerrero Barrios (SOA, Class of 1981, Major:
Commando Operations) has been charged with the crime of "violence
against the people" and for his leadership in the torture and massacre of
over a dozen young men in Jalisco. (Source: La Journada)
* General Jose Ruben Rivas Pena (SOA, Class of 1980, Major:
Commando and General Staff). Rivas Pena's analysis of the Chiapas
conflict helped design the counter-insurgency strategy in Chiapas.
Included in this detailed plan are directives to censor local media, to
secretly organize sectors of the civilian population, and to conduct
psychological operations against civilians (Source: Proceso).
* General Juan Lopez Ortiz (SOA, Class of 1980). Lopez Ortiz was
commander of the 1994 operation in Ocosingo where suspected Zapatista
sympathizers were rounded up, placed alongside prisoners, and shot in the
town's market. Lopez Ortiz remains engaged in the Army's operations in
Chiapas. (Source: Covert Action Quarterly).
This is a familiar pattern: a story comes out about violence or
oppression in Latin America, and the names of School of the Americas
graduates emerge. Once again the US is shamed.
Graduates of the SOA will come back to haunt us every year, in different
countries and under varied circumstances. Every time an SOA grad is
implicated in a human rights violation, America's image suffers another
black eye. And as our image is further degraded, our credibility in Latin
America erodes.
It is time we disassociate ourselves with the School of the Americas once
and for all. Join 129 of your colleagues in closing down the School by
becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 611. To cosponsor, call Robert Gerber at
5-5111.
Sincerely,
Joseph P. Kennedy II
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Video - School of the Americas: An Insider Speaks Ou (fwd)
To: LABOR-L@YORKU.CA
Comments: Authenticated sender is <amanecer@mail.aa.net
From: "NUEVO AMANECER PRESS" <amanecer@aa.net
To: "NAP-E6"<amanecer@aa.net
Date: Fri, 23 Jan 1998 23:20:50 +0000
Subject: New Video - School of the Americas: An Insider Speaks Out
ORDER FORM FROM SOA WATCH
http://www.soaw.org/blair-video.html
SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS
An Insider Speaks Out
"The School of the Americas was the best place a Latin
American military officer could go to launder his drug money. And we
routinely had students at the school who were known human rights
abusers, and it didnt make any difference to us."Major Joseph Blair,
former Instructor
The U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), at Fort Benning,
Georgia, trains hundreds of soldiers from Latin America each year in
combat skills. Graduates of this school have left a trail of blood
and suffering in every country where they have returned. Thousands of
people around the country are working hard to close this scbool of
assassins, paid for by U.S. taxpayers.
Now, for the first time, a former instructor at the school speaks out!
Major Joseph Blair served 20 years in the U.S. Army, including 12 years
as a Latin American specialist and a tour of duty in Vietnam. During his
Army career, he received five Meritorious Service Avards and the Bronze
Star. Major Blair is the first insider to come forward and,from
first-hand experience as an instructor for three years, gives compelling
reasons why the SOA should be shut down.
This 15-minute video reveals the hidden world of the School of the
Americas and incorporates rarely-seen footage from Latin America. It is
an excellent up-to-date resource for the SOA Watch, church groups,
veterans, teachers, members of Congress, the media and anyone working
for peace and justice.
We regret that we are unable to take online orders.
Please print out this page and clip and return the bottom portion
with your payment to:
SOA Watch
1719 Irving Street NW
Washington, DC 20010-2612
Name/Organization:____________________________________________________
Address:_________________________City/State/Zip:_______________________
Phone:__________________________ Fax:______________________________
I would like to order______copies @ $15.00 each plus $3.00 S/H.
Total enclosed: $______________
___________________________________________________
NUEVO AMANECER PRESS- N.A.P.
_________________________________
Non Profit organization translating and distributing information
in support of the work in defense of human rights.
General Director: Roger Maldonado-Mexico
Assistant Director: Susana Saravia (Anibarro)
Director Spain: Darrin Wood amanecer@aa.net
_____________________________________________________________________
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