When people complain about how their tax dollars are spent, they commonly refer to welfare, ballistic missile defense, or “pork barrel” legislation. What if you were told that your tax money creates human killing machines? The reality is sobering; $22 million of your tax money is spent each year to train Latin American soldiers in torture, terrorism, and other tactics for repression. This “education” occurs at Fort Benning, Georgia, at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, better known by its former name – the School of the Americas.
The School of the Americas was established in 1946 in the Panama Canal Zone. After a brief pause in operations in 1984, it moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, to comply with the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. According to a brochure published by the SOA, the goals of the school are to “provide doctrinally sound, relevant military education and training to the nations of Latin America; promote democratic values and respect for human rights, and foster cooperation among multinational military forces.” The school’s instructors have completed the “Human Rights Instructor Certification Course.” Ironically, their own graduates are guilty of the worst Latin American human rights abuses since the arrival of the conquistadors.
Among the most notable atrocities: the 1980 rape, torture, and murder of two Catholic nuns and two lay missionaries from the Cleveland diocese (3 of 5 officers cited were SOA grads), the assassination of Archbishop Romero while he was celebrating the Mass (2 of 3 officers cited were SOA grads), the 1981 massacre of 900 civilians at El Mozote, El Salvador (10 out of 12 officers cited were SOA grads), and the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and the housekeeper’s daughter (19 of the 26 officers cited were SOA grads). Additionally, notable international criminals such as Manuel Noriega and Leopoldo Galtieri – who helped to kill and/or cause the “disappearance” of thirty thousand people in Argentina – are also proud SOA graduates. And lest you think that these atrocities are a remnant of the turbulent Latin American past, as late as 1994, three top Peruvian officers (also SOA graduates) were convicted of the murders of nine university students and a professor.
Despite the carnage that follows SOA graduates back to their homes, the school still remains in operation. Since the 1980’s, thousands of people make an annual pilgrimage to Fort
Benning to protest the school on the November anniversary of the murders of the Jesuit priests and their housekeeper. Here are two compelling reasons to close the school. In trying to “promote democratic values and respect for human rights,” the SOA has failed miserably in fulfilling its stated mission. On the other hand, the SOAWHISC has succeeded deftly in the accomplishment of its tacit objectives: the overthrow of constitutional governments, the persecution of progressive religious leaders, and the installation of regimes that can be easily manipulated by the United States, with little regard for the human and civil rights of Latin American citizens. The success of this sinister agenda further necessitates immediate closure of the school.
There is an active grassroots movement to close the SOAWHISC, and its success depends on the support of people from all walks of life, including the university community. SOA Watch is the largest national group; more information can be obtained at www.soaw.org.
House Bill H.R. 1810 was introduced during this congressional session, and calls for a ten-month closure of the school accompanied by a joint congressional task force to assess the school’s education program. Last year, a similar bill was introduced and defeated by only 10 votes. SOA Watch believes that passage of H.R. 1810 is possible if more people contact their representatives to express their opposition to SOAWHISC. The university and surrounding areas (district 15) are represented by Deborah Pryce, who can be reached via e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at (202) 225-2015. District 12 (the other half of Franklin county) is represented by Patrick Tiberi, who can be reached at (202) 225-5355. Funding of the school need not continue. A visit to the SOA Watch Web site and a call or a letter to your representative are the first steps you can take today to ensure that the SOAWHISC will not continue into tomorrow.
Further discussion or questions concerning U.S. human rights abuses can be directed to Patty Cunningham II at [email protected] or to Diane Horvath at [email protected]. Keepin‚ it real.
