Pentagon Forced to Release Information to SOA Watch

[roody]

Source: School of the Americas Watch

We Won the Vote in Congress!
Pentagon Forced to Release Information to SOA Watch

Thanks to your efforts and hard work in defense of human rights, the culture of secrecy and lack of accountability surrounding Defense Department policies suffered a severe blow today when the U.S. House of Representatives approved the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2009. The amendment forces the public release of names, rank, country of origin, courses and dates of attendance of WHINSEC's graduates and instructors to the public.

The amendment was approved with a 220 to 189 vote!

This is a major victory for the international human rights community!You spoke up and now we are one step closer to transparency and closing the SOA/WHINSEC!

In recent years, WHINSEC has denied information that in the past has been vital in identifying the perpetrators of massacres, targeted assassinations, and human rights abuses committed in Latin America. In response to WHINSEC's lack of transparency and its willingness to undermine public attempts of exercising oversight of the institution, human rights advocates and constituents have taken a stand for justice and demanded Congress to hold WHINSEC accountable.

The access to information regarding students and instructors attending WHINSEC will allow human rights organizations to continue to monitor the school and identify those graduates and instructors who have violated human rights or taken part in criminal activities in their home countries.

Information is power, and the more information we have, the closer we are to closing the SOA/WHINSEC once and for all!

We Won the House, Now Comes the Senate

The approval of this amendment will now lead us to face a new challenge to insure that WHINSEC also be held accountable by the U.S. Senate, in the coming weeks we will continue to keep you updated so we can work together towards another victory.

As our Legislative campaign will now move on to the Senate, please consider making a contribution to SOA Watch. Thank you!




Read more: www.soaw.org

[LeighAnn]

1. Woot!

Just saw that in my email and came here to see how folks were taking the good news!

[Norrin Radd]

2. kr

[sce56]

3. Great as long as you remember King George will just do a signing statement to fix this! n/t

[NoGodsNoMasters]

4. A long time coming...

This is so fantastic, it's just one of many steps, but it is a step in the right direction. SOA Watch is a great organization, I encourage anyone not already familiar or affiliated with the group to check them out and get involved, they have an extensive and informative homepage as well as a myspace page. Together, we can make the SOA history.

[Judi Lynn]

5. It will be very interesting to see how the Senate approaches this. Surely the Republicans know

they are NOT going to be able to return Latin America to the 1950's, and domination by U.S. corporate interests. If they don't know now, and it appears people like John McCain doesn't, they're going to find out soon enough.

Thank you so much to the House of Representatives. Hope your good work will inform the slow learners in the Senate.

[Agony]

6. One tiny step in the war on torture and disappearances.

Thanks for the update.

For anyone wondering why this is a big deal... (obviously go to www.soaw.org) you could watch "John Pilger - The War On Democracy" School of Americas -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5L1VdlktOw

If you have never heard of John Pilger find and watch every documentary he has every made (23 or something like that).

Cheers,
Agony

[Kaleko]

7. Thanks for the video link.

And welcome to DU :hi:

[maryf]

11. Thanks

this is a great source to share and educate!

[katmondoo]

8. Everyone should watch this

It is so inspiring. I am ready to go to Georgia in Nov and protest with others to close The School of Americas. I learned so much from this video.

[roody]

18. I was there last November, and someone said

"This is the premier protest event in the country." See you there!
I loved the intra-generational aspect. And the music, and the dancing.

[Puzzle]

9. Isn't that a very misleading title?

The way I read it, the Pentagon has not been forced to release anything. The senate could reject it, or the Resident could veto it or add a signing statement as mentioned above.

[roody]

19. Yes! Keep the pressure on, please.

[annabanana]

10. This is good news. Each step in the right direction is a

step closer to where we need to be.

[LynneSin]

12. Joe Sestak - what a great breath of fresh air over that bloated Curt Weldon

Pennsylvania got themselves a great representative there - perhaps a future senator

[happygoluckytoyou]

13. YEARS IN THE MAKING....so expect the powers to take 2 days to VETO USING IT

[libodem]

14. Very good news

[Zorra]

15. Bet they're gonna have some 'splainin' to do about who's operating in

Colombia.
:thumbsup:

[Sam Ervin jret]

16. The time is NOW to get this done. They had better seize the day while BushCo is on the ropes.

[maryf]

17. kick

too important to get lost...

[roody]

20. k