Dear Friends, I am just returning
from an emergency delegation to
El Salvador
with Bishop Tom Gumbleton. I am embarrassed
to say that prior to my travels I had not heard of the story of
Suchitoto (see below), and it seems many of my friends and colleagues
are in the same situation - or at least for many, the extent of the
military operation is not widely known. When we have the final
report of our trip compiled (we are working with SHARE), I will be
sure and forward it on. In conjunction with
SOA Watch/NE, Optical Realities and the Romero Interfaith Committee we
will hold a rally, including street theater and music on Sept 28 in The 14 were originally
charged with "public disorder," but the government changed
these charges to apply to their new "anti-terror" law that
criminalizes protests as "Acts against the State." One
of the 14 had their charges dismissed. State Sponsored Terror:
The We heard stories of
military troops chasing down children who were trying to give water to
the injured. Despite being
as young as 5 years old, the troops chased them into their homes and
gassed them as well. Some of those facing
charges were actually rounded up en route to the protest.
They were singled out as some of the organizers.
Even more troubling about the arrests is that not only did the
organizers notify the government about the rally, but they were given
permits for the event. One of the 14 who was arrested, Patricio
Valladeres Aquino, recounted how he nearly died in prison as a result of
the wounds inflicted upon him. Medical
attention was delayed for several days despite his deteriorating
situation. In addition, he was placed in a communal high security prison
among some of the country’s most violent criminals.
The women spoke of having to sleep on the floor of a rat-infested
cell blocks and being denied food and water. Back to the 80’s…
we heard first-hand accounts of individuals being flown by helicopter to
maximum security prisons. En route, they were terrorized with a variety
of intimidation tactics that included threats of being thrown from the
helicopter. SOA / ILEA Connection: Many of these forces did not have any identification on their uniforms - and had their faces covered with black (balaclavas) masks. As you may already be aware, for the past year the SOA, despite their stress on “transparency,” have refused to make public the names of officers being trained at the School. But last month the House of Representatives approved a report accompanying the FY 2008 Defense Appropriations bill that demands the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC) release to the public the names of all students and instructors who attended the school during the fiscal years of 2005 and 2006. The directive also requires that the same information be available to the public in all future fiscal years. While we won a victory
to have the names of the grads revealed ... it seems many countries are
using the guise of "anti-terrorism" as a means to conceal
the identity of those partaking in such actions against civil society.
For this reason, even 2 months after the military incursion, no
one, not even the government appointed Human Rights Ombudsman,
has information on who was responsible for carrying out the orders.
In March, Roy, Lisa,
Carlos and myself were accompanied by a Salvadoran Human Rights worker
to ILEA (dubbed by some “the new SOA”).
Prior to this visit it seemed to me premature to make accusations
of the connection between this school and the SOA/WHINSEC.
After hearing the details of the attack in Suchitoto, I feel
quite certain that the mission of ILEA and that of the SOA are one in
the same. The primary
difference is that the vast majority of those being trained at ILEA are
“police.” Quotations are
placed around this designation because when I questioned the State
Department Rep at ILEA about whether he can confirm or deny that many of
the police being trained were former military, he said he did not have
this information. July 2 was also
symbolic to the Suchitoto community as it marked the 1 year anniversary
of the brutal torture and murders of an elderly couple (Manzanares-Monjaras)
by a ‘death squad.’ Their
daughter was working on a project to recoup the historical memory of Please add your
support to the campaign to demand: 1- all charges be dropped
against the Suchitoto 13, and that a thorough investigation occurs into
the violent conduct of the military and police on July 2nd. 2- the introduction of
Legislation to repeal decree #108,
the "Special Law Against Acts of Terrorism". 3- the introduction of
Legislation to repeal the laws passed in August 2007 that increase jail
time against those convicted of "public disorder." For more information please also visit: Check
back for photos and a complete report of
the delegation. Many
thanks for your support and solidarity! - Linda Panetta To
co-sponsor the Sept. 28 event or for more info please contact
SOA Watch/NE: Linda Panetta (215) 473-2162 / |
Sponsored
by: Join us in
Philadelphia on Location: City Hall Be Visible & Vocal to Demand: 1- all charges be dropped against the Suchitoto 13, and that a thorough investigation occurs into the violent conduct of the military and police on July 2nd. 2- the introduction of Legislation to repeal decree #108, the "Special Law Against Acts of Terrorism". 3- the introduction of Legislation to repeal the laws passed in August 2007 that increase jail time against those convicted of "public disorder." Hear Testimonials, Partake in Street Theater, Raise your Voice in Song & Solidarity! -------------------- To learn how you can make a significant difference by sending a few letters!
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