Friends,

This is a crucial week for making a stand for peace and justice in Latin America. Beginning as early as tomorrow, the House of Representatives will consider two important amendments to the annual spending bill for foreign aid. One would make a dent in Plan Colombia by transferring military aid for Colombia to instead assist refugees, such as those in Darfur. The other would close the School of the Americas. And, these amendments can only become a reality with your pressure on Congress!

The bill under consideration – the foreign operations appropriations bill – sets out how much Colombia receives under Plan Colombia for the following year. The current bill keeps the same pattern of sending hundreds of millions to the Colombian military ($802 million, to be exact). Representative Jim McGovern (MA) will offer an amendment to the bill to transfer $30 million from aerial fumigation of coca in Colombia to humanitarian assistance for refugees around the world.

Rep. McGovern will also offer another amendment that cuts funding to the School of the Americas/WHINSEC (SOA). The SOA, located at Fort Benning, GA, provides military training for Latin American security forces. Ten years ago, the Pentagon released training manuals used at the school that advocated torture, extortion, and execution. Despite this revelation and documented human rights abuses connected to soldiers trained there, no independent investigation into the SOA has ever taken place. This vote is expected to be very close— your support and action are crucial to helping close the SOA!

Starting today help us turn up the heat by calling your Representative. Tell them that you want them to vote YES on both the McGovern amendments to the foreign operations appropriations bill. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to connect with your representative. Ask to speak with the foreign policy aide – messages are okay, too! Here’s the basic message:

"I am a constituent of Rep. ____________, and I urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern amendments to the foreign operations appropriations bill, transferring funds from aerial spraying in Colombia to aid for refugees, and to cut funding for the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. Voting YES on these amendments sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. I want my tax dollars used wisely and to reflect my American values, not wasted on ineffective and dangerous aerial fumigation or training brutality and repression at the SOA."

For additional information and background on these votes visit www.lawg.org/countries/colombia/fy07action.htm and www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=1314.

Many in Congress are waking up to the atrocities of aerial fumigation and the SOA’s legacy. This presents an amazing opportunity, but does not guarantee a victory for peace and justice. That only comes with us pressing our elected representatives to do the right thing. We can do this. We must do this.

In solidarity,
Erik

P.S. Please call on us if we can help you in any way. Also, please email me back to share how your member of Congress reacted. Thanks!