The following is from the SOA Watch organization, which is trying to close the School of the Americas (renamed WHINSEC).  Go to http://www.soaw.org for more information on how our government exports torture and blackmail to Latin America, all from Ft. Benning, GA.

House of Representatives Votes to

Force the Pentagon to Release

Information to SOA Watch

Thanks to your efforts and hard work in defense of human rights, the culture of secrecy and lack of accountability surrounding Defense Department policies suffered a blow today when the U.S. House of Representatives approved the McGovern-Sestak-Bishop (GA)-Lewis (GA) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2010. (Click here to tell the Senate to follow their lead!)

The amendment forces the public release of names, rank, country of origin, courses and dates of attendance of WHINSEC's graduates and instructors to the public. The amendment was approved with a 224 to 190 vote! This is a major victory for the international human rights community! You spoke up and now we are one step closer to transparency and to closing the SOA/ WHINSEC!

But it's not over...

We will continue to update you on our progress for ensuring this language becomes law, so please continue to visit the Legislative Action Index and learn how to stay plugged into our legislative campaigns over the summer and leading up to the November Vigil.

Also, please consider making a contribution to SOA Watch to support our legislative campaign in the U.S. Senate. Your support will help make this campaign a success!

AND LET ME ADD...A COUP IN HONDURAS...also from SOAWATCH.org

Military Coup in Honduras

A military coup has taken place in Honduras this morning (Sunday, June 28), led by SOA graduate Romeo Vasquez. In the early hours of the day, members of the Honduran military surrounded the presidential palace and forced the democratically elected president, Manuel Zelaya, into custody. He was immediately flown to Costa Rica.

A national vote had been scheduled to take place today in Honduras to consult the electorate on a proposal of holding a Constitutional Assembly in November. General Vasquez had refused to comply with this vote and was deposed by the president, only to later be reinstated by the Congress and Supreme Court.

The Honduran state television was taken off the air. The electricity supply to the capital Tegucigalpa, as well telephone and cellphone lines were cut. Government institutions were taken over by the military. While the traditional political parties, Catholic church and military have not issued any statements, the people of Honduras are going into the streets, in spite of the fact that the streets are militarized. From Costa Rica, President Zelaya has called for a non-violent response from the people of Honduras, and for international solidarity for the Honduran democracy.

While the European Union and several Latin American governments just came out in support of President Zelaya and spoke out against the coup, a statement that was just issued by Barack Obama fell short of calling for the reinstatement of Zelaya as the legitimate president.

Call the State Department and the White House

Demand that they call for the immediate reinstatement of Honduran President Zelaya.

State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414

Visit www.SOAW.org and www.SOAW.org/presente for articles and updated information.
__________________________________________

For more on the School of the Americas Watch and their annual November vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, see an old post of mine-- Torture, Blackmail, Executions, and the Death of My Father.

http://open.salon.com/blog/deliablack/2009/04/26/torture_blackmail_executions_and_the_death_of_my_father

Thanks for your support!