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<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;font-style:italic'>[The CISPES
National Office has received this important action alert from the School of the
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Americas</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Watch. We urge you to respond! For more information, visit <a
href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102619703912&s=4996&e=001i50NRM0ZjDAEjglZCXcMRlIaz9PqLXK8ktqu5ry1YsKUzEgg4AVROwWid0cqA-874TTv8feEgma_PYpBFXseMMZNvJx0ZfS4yBKu7PoOQEE="
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<h2 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt'>Congress to Vote on
Amendment to Force the SOA/ WHINSEC to Release the Names of Graduates and
Instructors.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h2>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=VA1gBLy1Lc4duOln0b7pSZCynTv2IgCp"></a></span></font><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
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<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=lBcyheht2wjFm%2BSzCvQdKpCynTv2IgCp">Click
here to send an email and fax to your Representative.</a> Start calling
Congress NOW!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>SOA Watch has received confirmation that Congress will vote on an
amendment to the Defense Authorization Act that would require that the School
of the Americas/ WHINSEC to release the names, ranks, country of origin,
courses and dates attended of students and instructors at the institute.<br>
<br>
The amendment will be offered by Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Representative
Joe Sestak (D-PA), Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Representative John
Lewis (D-GA) and <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>we expect the vote to happen
on Wednesday, June 24.</span></b><br>
<br>
For the past few years, despite the WHINSEC PR machine proclaiming an open and
transparent school, the WHINSEC has been unwilling to provide information about
the students and instructors. The Pentagon secrecy took effect after research
revealed that the SOA/ WHINSEC continues to train known human rights abusers,
and that instructors have been involved in numerous crimes. Freedom of
Information Act requests since FY 2005 have all been denied, proof of WHINSEC's
unwillingness to submit to oversight from the public whose tax-payer dollars
help fund the school.<br>
<br>
Access to information regarding SOA/ WHINSEC graduates of previous years has
been a valuable asset to human rights organizations who have been able to
identify Latin American military officers and police that have committed human
rights abuses or engaged in criminal activity in their home countries after
attending the school as instructors or students.<br>
<br>
SOA Watch supports the release of this important information at all <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> military
training facilities in the spirit of openness, transparency, and the public's
"right to know." We see gaining access to the names of SOA/ WHINSEC
graduates and instructors as a crucial step towards closing the SOA/ WHINSEC
for good.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>We expect a close vote and it is crucial for
the success of this amendment that you contact your Representative TODAY and
TOMORROW!</span></b> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'><a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=hzU4mTjBoD0fUXmTfkN8DZCynTv2IgCp">SEND
AN EMAIL AND FAX TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVE NOW!</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>Be sure to click the "<a
href="http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=bstO%2BgQq4PSR0P2yr1jVEpCynTv2IgCp">Send
a Fax</a>" box to have the fax sent.</span></font></i> <o:p></o:p></p>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.5pt'>CALL
YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!!! -- TUESDAY, June 23 AND WEDNESDAY, June 24<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Call the Congressional
Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>toll free at
1-800-473-6711</span></b><br>
<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Ask to speak with the military legislative
assistant. Here is a suggested message for you to convey:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-style:italic'>"Hello, My name is __________,
and as your constituent, I urge you to vote YES on the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop
(GA)-Lewis (GA) amendment to the National Defense Authorization bill.<br>
<br>
The amendment would release the names, country of origin, rank and dates of attendance
at WHINSEC for graduates and instructors. This amendment is supported by
Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Congressman Ike Skelton.<br>
<br>
As you may know the School of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region>,
renamed WHINSEC, has a notorious history linked to serious crimes and human
rights abuses throughout <st1:place w:st="on">Latin America</st1:place>. In the
past few years under WHINSEC, known human rights abusers have attended the
school and WHINSEC instructors have been arrested in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Colombia</st1:place></st1:country-region> for returning home and
aiding the drug cartels. None of this information would be known if the basic
information about enrollment at WHINSEC were not disclosed. This information is
vital to the work of Congress and human rights organizations who seek
protection of human rights and promoting transparency, however all FOIA
requests for this information are now being denied.<br>
<br>
What is WHINSEC hiding?! Voting YES on the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA)-Lewis
(GA) amendment is a vote FOR human rights and FOR transparency. I urge your
boss to vote YES!!! </span></font></i><o:p></o:p></p>
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