CSN Petition to Close the School of the Americas

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President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright, and Members of Congress-

We, the undersigned, urge you to close the School of the Americas, and to oppose further U.S. aid to the Colombian military.

Many Colombian military officers, including a number who received training at the School of the Americas, have planned or approved actions against innocent Colombian citizens which violated their human rights. In addition, on numerous occasions Colombian military officers have facilitated the plans and movements of paramilitaries, either through action or omission, as these paramilitaries have carried out acts of brutality against the civilian population. The paramilitaries are also frequently linked to drug-trafficking, so U.S. aid to the Colombian military provided under the guise of a War on Drugs has on many occasions directly promoted the drug trade.

The peace process in Colombia should be promoted, through strenghtening of grass-roots civil society organizations and groups. The emphasis on the military, and military aid, undermines the work of these essential building blocks for peace with justice in Colombia.

Vote "NO" on U.S. military aid to Colombia and "YES" to peaceful efforts to end Colombia's civil war.