The School of Americas and Human Rights

The U.S army general Martin E. Dempsey recognized a Colombian officer at The Western Hemisphere Institute of Security Cooperation in Fort Benning as a leader in Human Rights training.

On November 6th, The Colombia military went on to release the following press release:

Colombian army is recognized by the United States as a leader in Human Rights training.

Which says, "The military institution was recognized for the commitment and advance work on Human Rights. The Colombian Army stood out as unique in the world with leadership in human rights and with human rights offices in the divisions, brigades and battalions."

Here is a short story to demonstrate their commitment to human rights. (details omitted for security reasons).

In this particular region of Colombia, the army has a history of killing community leaders and posing them as killed revolutionary army members. One organization has 4 leaders killed in the last 4 years by the army. Just recently, the army entered a community and stayed for about half a day. ( Illegal under international law) While the army was present, four people entered the community with black T-shirts and hand guns looking for a particular person. It is unknown wheather the four individuals where Army, paramilitary and/or both. What is obvious is that they were working together. The particular person ran for his life into the jungle and survived. Later that week, The army was asking where a particular community member lived and public announced they they wanted to kill him. That community leader now needed to displace to so that the army cannot find him.

While in the countryside that week, I had a chance to talk to the Commander of the Battalion that was present in the area. This time, just like every other time they repeatthe words of the press release that they have received human rights training. They say, " we are here to protect and service the communities. we have our training in human right you don't have to worry."

While the US army is offering human rights awards to Colombia Army. There is a large base of people that will come the School with another message. Thousands of people will rally at the gates of WHINSEC remembering the history of the school and their role in the some of the worst atrocities in Latin America. Currently, Colombia is the country receiving the most training at this school and the country with the worst human rights record in the western hemisphere.

This weekend, November 20-22, there will be a mass mobilization to call for the closer of this school. If you don't don't know much about this school, check out The School of Americas Watch. . If you are considering going and live around the Cleveland, Ohio area, you can contact The InterReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia for more information.