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--- On Fri, 2/19/10, SOA
Watch <info@soaw.org> wrote:
From: SOA Watch <info@soaw.org>
Subject: Death Threat against SOA Watch Vigil Speaker,
Video: U.S. Military in Colombia
To: marabard@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, February 19, 2010, 1:06 PM
Death Threat against Martha Giraldo Martha Giraldo, a Colombian human rights activist and a featured speaker at the 2009 November vigil to close the SOA ( video), was subjected to a chilling death threat earlier this week in Cali, Colombia. Two SUVs with tinted windows -- the vehicle
of choice of Colombian assassins -- tried to run her car off of the road. As they pulled up beside her, they pulled out guns
and pointed them at her. They never fired a shot, but the message was clear: we can kill you, and if you don't keep quiet,
we will. Martha Giraldo and her family continue to tell the truth about how the Colombian army killed her father,
a campesino, and dressed him up in guerrilla clothing to make the murder look like a "combat kill." Colombian human
rights organizations report that extrajudicial executions of civilians by the Colombian Armed Forces is on the rise. Please take two minutes
out of your day today to call one of the Colombia specialists at the State Department, Terry Steers-Gonzalez (202-647-4173)
or Susan Sanford (202-647-3142). Click here for the message Martha would like you to communicate.Video: U.S. Military in Colombia In the fall 2009, U.S. and Colombian officials signed an agreement granting the U.S. military access to seven Colombian bases
for ten years. ( Watch the 21min. video about the agreement) SOA Watch is extremely concerned about the drastic increase of U.S. militarization in Latin America. The bases
agreement operates from the same failed military mindset that has given rise to the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC).
The purpose of the bases and the purpose of the SOA/ WHINSEC are the same: to ensure U.S. control over the region through
military means. Already, the SOA/ WHINSEC is deploying "Mobile Training Teams" to Colombia and other
Latin American countries, that train hundreds of soldiers annually. Over 10,000 soldiers of the Colombian military (the military
with the worst human rights record in the Americas) have received SOA/ WHINSEC training and used the lessons learned in their
brutal war that has left thousands dead and millions displaced. Click here to read the article Seven Bases by Diane Lefer and Hector Aristizábal, in which they take a look at the history of each of these bases as well as
conditions in the surrounding communities and Colombia as a whole. Take Action Send a message to President Barack Obama. Demand a change in U.S. foreign policy, away from militarization and towards a culture of justice and peace. Demand an end
to U.S. military bases in Latin America, a stop to all U.S. military aid to Colombia and an executive order to shut down the
School of the Americas, now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/ WHINSEC). Click here to send a message to the President.
Even more importantly; help to build a grassroots movement that has the power to ensure that our demands
are being met. Join us for SOA Watch's April events in Washington, DC, the United States Social Forum and the SOA Watch Encuentro in June 2010 in Latin America. In peace and solidarity, SOA Watch
We
appreciate your interest! You are subscribed to this list as marabard@yahoo.com. To unsubscribe from all emails from SOA Watch,
click here 
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Haiti Relief Update
"It is a tragedy that defies expression; a tragedy that compels all people to the highest levels of human compassion
and solidarity."
- Militarily ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide
We are grateful for
the outpouring of support and solidarity following the Haiti Appeal that we sent out yesterday. Today, we are forwarding
$9,356 to grassroots groups on the ground in Haiti through the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, to help them rebuild
what has been destroyed. Your donations provide much needed aid to those most hit by the earthquake.
 Join the Presente Activist Distributor Network
Spread the word about the School of the Americas and the reality of U.S. foreign policy.
Click here to pre-order and distribute 150 copies of the upcoming Spring 2010 issue of Presente, the newspaper of the movement
to close the SOA, for only $26!
 Along with a two page, full-color comic depicting the history of the SOA created by artists Dan Archer and Nikil Saval,
the upcoming February issue of Presente will also feature a report from the January 25, 2010 trial of the SOA 4. The SOA 4, Nancy Gwin, Michael Walli, Ken Hayes, and Fr. Louis Vitale, were arrested for nonviolently taking our call to end U.S. backed repression in Latin America onto Fort Benning on the morning
of November 22, 2009. Their January 25th trial will be an opportunity for them to speak truth to power in the courtroom, and
there will be no better place to read all about it then in the Feburary issue of Presente! Help to spread the word about the SOA 4.
February's bilingual and union printed issue of Presente will be sent to over 60,000
individual addresses. By ordering a box with 150 copies of Presente to distribute in your city you become a member of the SOA Watch Presente Activist Distributor Network! This network has been responsible for getting an extra 50,000+ copies of Presente out at local events, coffeehouses, universities,
libraries, bookstores, meetings, and gatherings of friends and family. Interested in becoming a part of this effort?
CLICK HERE TO BULK ORDER PRESENTE FOR ONLY $26
…And spread the word about Closing the SOA/WHINSEC!
Once again, the cost
per box (printing, shipping and handling in the U.S.) is only $26. To check out our current distributor network, click here.
Grassroots activists like you keep the struggle for peace, justice, and accountability strong--we need your
grassroots power! Please respond with your order before Thursday, January 21st!
Questions?
Contact Liz Albanese by emailing liz@soaw.org or calling 202-234-3440.
In Solidarity,
Liz and the Presente Team
www.soaw.org/presente
SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance, legislative
and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change oppressive
U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent. We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout Latin
America and the the Caribbean for their inspiration and the invitation to join them in their struggle for economic and social
justice. | We appreciate your interest! You are
subscribed to this list as peacelongbeach@optonline.net.
Click here to unsubscribe.
Contact us.
Our mailing address is:
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA
Our telephone: (202)
234 3440
Click here to support the campaign to close the SOA. |
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2010 Delegations
Travel with Father
Roy Bourgeois to El Salvador, Learn about ALBA in Venezuela, and Stand in Solidarity with the People of Honduras and Colombia.
El Salvador
Travel to El Salvador - land of martyrs, with Father Roy Bourgeois on an Oscar Romero Legacy Delegation, from March
19 to 26, 2010.  Join Fr. Roy in events commemorating the 30th anniversary of Monseñor Romero´s  assassination at the hands of SOA graduates. Walk in the footsteps of martyrs Ita Ford, Maura Clark, Fr. Ignacio Ellacuria,
Celia Ramos and others. Accompany SOA Watch's Partnership America Latina (PAL) Coordinator Lisa Sullivan in visiting high
level Salvadoran government officials in asking that El Salvador send no more soldiers to this school of assassins. For more
information and to apply, write Lisa Sullivan at LSullivan@soaw.org
Click here to download the delegation flyer (pdf).
Venezuela
Come to Venezuela from April 9-18 on the anniversary of a people's victory in overturning
a coup d'etat and learn about how the 8 member countries of ALBA  are forging a new and exciting new economic model of cooperation and solidarity. Join SOA Watch's Lisa Sullivan in
getting a different view from within of this country where she has lived for 25 years. Meet with Colombians in exile in Venezuela
and hear from them and from Venezuelans about their concerns for US militarization along the Colombian border of Venezuela.
For more information and to apply, write Lisa Sullivan at LSullivan@soaw.org
Click here to download the delegation flyer (pdf).
Honduras
Respond to the request of human rights leaders in Honduras to come to their country to
help prevent further atrocities from taking place.  World attention towards Honduras has diminished after US-approved November elections legitimized the June coup, while assassinations
of resistance members has increased.
Click here to listen to a soon to be aired "Making Contact" radio program on the SOA graduate-led military coup in Honduras. Also, hear an excellent one hour unedited web interview with Lisa Sullivan (scroll to center of page for interview).
Leaders of the human rights community have requested a constant presence of international visitors to bring attention
to this situation and help protect the lives of Hondurans. We are urging SOA Watch activists to join the Task Force on the
Americas delegation to Honduras from March 13-20, 2010 (for more information write Dale Sorensen, geodale1@earthlink.net), a Quixote Center delegation (contact Jenny Atlee, jennya@quixote.org) or the January 24-31, 2010 Rights Action delegation (contact Grahame Russell, info@rightsaction.org)
Colombia
With over 10,000 troops trained at the school, Colombia is the SOA's largest customer and has the worst human rights
record in Latin America.  The 8th Day Center for Justice and Witness for Peace are organizing a delegation to Magdelena, Colombia from August 7-17,
2010. The delegation will focus on human rights, corporate abuse, military repression and internal displacement. Delegation
participants will meet with community leaders, displaced persons, and human rights defenders.
For more information: Contact
Erin Cox, Erin@8thdaycenter.org, 312 641 5151 or Ashley Valchek, Ashley@8thdaycenter.org or email wfpmagdelena@gmail.com.
SOA Watch is a nonviolent grassroots movement that works through creative protest and resistance,
legislative and media work to stand in solidarity with the people of Latin America, to close the SOA/WHINSEC and to change
oppressive U.S. foreign policy that institutions like the SOA represent. We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout
Latin America and the the Caribbean for their inspiration and the invitation to join them in their struggle for economic and
social justice. | We appreciate your interest!
You are subscribed to this list as marabard@yahoo.com.
Click here to unsubscribe.
Contact us.
Our mailing address is:
SOA Watch, PO Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017, USA
Our telephone: (202)
234 3440
Click here to support the campaign to close the SOA. |
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FR. ROY LI VISIT FLIER
SOA Latin America Agenda
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