The U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), located at Ft. Benning, Georgia, is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers. In its 50 year history, the SOA has trained 60,000 Latin American troops in commando tactics, military intelligence, psychological operations, and sniper fire. These soldiers are taught to make war against their own people. They have massacred entire villages of women, men, and children.
SOA graduates target grassroots leaders for assassination, torture, rape and intimidation - especially religious workers, student organizers, and LOCAL UNION LEADERS. The School's unstated mission is to silence leaders who organize for the rights of working people and the poor.
Our tax dollars train Latin American union busters at the SOA. Union members in the U.S. know that an attack on workers anywhere is an attack on the rights of workers everywhere. U.S. workers must speak out and join in solidarity with those trying to close this anti-union, anti-American institution.
Workers on both sides of the border know that NAFTA is anti-labor. NAFTA puts U.S. jobs in jeopardy and guts the bargaining power of both Latin American and U.S. workers. When transnational corporations can hire Latin American workers for shamefully low wages and get away with inhuman shop conditions, U.S. plants close to chase higher profits in the South. Workers in the U.S. and in Latin America suffer.
Hours after NAFTA went into effect, Mexican indigenous workers rose up to say "NO!" and they have paid a dear price for their opposition. The Mexican military moved in immediately with troops, helicopters, and artillery. At least 13 of the high level officers who planned the repression campaign trained at the School of the Americas. The elite few in Mexico and the U.S. who benefit from NAFTA acted quickly to bolster the military "muscle" to silence the opposition. Shortly after the initial uprising, Mexican soldiers began to pour into the School of the Americas for training. Mexico now sends more soldiers to the SOA than any other country.
In 1996, the Pentagon was forced to release training manuals used at the SOA up until 1991. These manuals advocated interrogation techniques such as torture, execution, blackmail, and arresting the relatives of those being questioned. Labor organizers were one of the groups singled out in these manuals.
SOA Training Manuals Advocated Targeting Those Who...
* do "union organizing or recruiting"
* pass out "propaganda in favor of the interests of workers"
* "sympathize with demonstrations or strikes"
* "make accusations that the government has failed ... to meet the basic needs of the people"
Consistently, the countries in Latin America with the worst human rights violations against labor leaders and others have received the most SOA training.
Colombia, for example, has sent over 10,000 military personnel to train at the School of the Americas - more than any other single country. Tragically, the training has worked. Colombian SOA grads have left a trail of blood and suffering in their home country, and union members have been a prime target. In the early 1990's, one Colombian trade unionist was killed every other day. 180 a year. By 1996, the number increased to 253. Of every 10 trade unionists killed in the world in recent years, 4 were from Colombia. SOA grads are trained to help lead the campaign of terror and intimidation against union members.
The UN Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, released March 15, 1993, cited over 60 Salvadoran officers for the worst atrocities during that country's brutal civil war. Over two thirds of those named were alumni of the U.S. Army School of the Americas. For example:
3 of 3 cited for the murder of union leaders
2 of 3 cited for the assassination of Archbishop Romero
|10 of 12 cited for the El Mozote massacre of 900 villagers
|19 of 26 cited for the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests
Report: "Nunca Mas" ("Never Again")
This 1998 report from the Archdiocese of Guatemala chronicles the violence during the 36 years of civil war. Numerous military officials cited in the report were SOA graduates. For example:
3 directors of the notorious D-2(G-2) intelligence agency|
2 of 3 cited for the murder of anthropologist, Myrna Mack
3 officers cited for cover-up of Michael Devine murder
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"This institution costs millions of dollars a year and identifies
us with tyranny and oppression."
- Rep. Joseph Kennedy (MA)
According to recent Pentagon figures, the SOA costs U.S. taxpayers almost $20 million a year.
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"The money spent on the SOA could be put to much better use in
programs that support working people."
- Basil "Buzz" Hargrove, President, Canadian Auto Workers
"For 50 years the school has participated in the training of
foreign despots and mercenaries operating well outside the bounds of
freedom, democracy and decency."
- Veterans for Peace, National Convention Resolution
"... the SOA runs contrary to the very principles of human rights
and democracy for which our nation's veterans have sacrificed
..."
- Veterans of Foreign Wars, Santa Cruz chapter, Resolution To Close
the SOA
"Be it resolved that the 40th Constitutional Convention of the
Minnesota AFL-CIO go on record to join with others to call the close
of the U.S. Army School of the Americas."
- submitted by UAW MN State CAP Council, passed 1997
"The School of the Americas is a cold war dinosaur and should be
closed."
- Maj. Joseph Blair, U.S. Army, Ret., former SOA instructor
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What can I do to close the SOA?
* Pass "Close the SOA" resolutions in your Local, Central Labor Council, and International.
* Call AFL-CIO President, John Sweeney. Urge him to support an AFL-CIO resolution to close the SOA. Call (202) 637-5000.
* Call you Member of Congress. Urge him/her to cut SOA funds. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121.
* Order "School of Assassins" - Oscar-nominated film. Show the 18 min. video to others. $14.95 Maryknoll World Productions (800) 227-8523.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
SOA Watch P.O. Box 4566 Washington, DC 20017 (202) 234-3440 www.soaw.org
[This is the text of a leaflet handed out during the November 22 demonstration at the U.S. Army School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia. An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 people gathered for speeches and singing before more than 2,370 defied police orders and marched onto Fort Benning to demand closure of the SOA. It was not clear from the leaflet who had authored its text.]
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NUEVO AMANECER PRESS-N.A.P.To know about us visit:
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