May 1st - June 26th, 2006

Por Campaña en Bolivia por el cierre de la Escuela de las Américas

Motivated by:

• The visit of Father Roy Bourgeois, founder of the School of the Americas Watch (SOAW), and his letter to the president of the republic on March 19, 2006, requesting the return of Bolivian troops from the SOA.
  
  
• The commitment from the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela to not send any more soldiers to the U.S. military school.
  
  
• The large number of Bolivian troops trained in schools by agencies of the United States.  In 2004, Bolivia was the third highest recipient of military training by the United States, behind Afghanistan and Colombia.  A total of 1,975 troops were trained, primarily to work in the anti-drug struggle.
  
  
• News of the intervention by United States Military Group commander in Bolivia on March 3, 2006.  On this occasion, a United States commander announced the de-certification of the Bolivian Anti-Terrorism Unit (FCTC by its Spanish acronym), and the elimination of assistance and training for the FCTC.  The commander’s note indicates that the United States will take the following measures: “effective immediately given recent changes in command, the United States Armed Forces feel that our forces no longer share the same vision.”  They demand the return of all arms and equipment previously given to the Bolivian Anti-Terrorism Unit.
  
  
• Evo Morales’ immediate and dignified response to the United States’ demand. Morales commented, “the mass media previously indicated that the United States Embassy placed ministers, vice ministers, military authorities and police, and with good cause, but now no commander will be changed at the behest of the North American Armed Forces.”  He continued, “It does not frighten us to take away $70,000, $200,000, or communications equipment.  Those are crumbs; those are resources to control Bolivia, to have intelligence agents.”

Before these acts, we, citizens and Bolivian citizens and foreign supporters, in solidarity with the Bolivian people, sign and make public the following declaration:

First:  We ask the Bolivian government to immediately stop sending Bolivian soldiers to the School of the Americas, or, as it is now called, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), and we firmly support the campaign to close said military school.

Second:  We reproduce the notice of de-certification of the Bolivian military unit, so that all may recognize the blackmail strategy practiced by the Bush administration, especially against poor countries.

Third:  We express our rejection of all foreign interference to the sovereignty of those peoples, and in this specific case, Bolivia.

Fourth:  We emphatically support and congratulate Bolivian President Evo Morales for his absolute rejection of this form of blackmail and for making public this infamous behavior by the United States military.

Fifth:  We feel relieved by the withdrawal of this false help, which makes a government dependent on its military.

Sign in support of the campaign