Ask Nicaragua to Withdraw from the SOA

Five Latin American countries have already announced their withdrawal from the School of the Americas (renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation). Please sign the petition, co-sponsored by the Nicaragua Network and SOA Watch, asking Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to withdraw Nicaragua from the SOA.


(Español abajo) TO: The Honorable President of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega FROM: The Undersigned Progressive People of the United States and Friends of Peace Around the World Dear President Ortega, As you are aware, since 1990 progressive people in the United States have struggled to close the Army School of the Americas (now named the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.) This year we are close to victory and we appeal to you to give your solidarity support to our efforts by pulling Nicaragua out of the SOA. As you know, prior to the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution, no army sent more troops to be trained at the SOA than Somoza's National Guard. In 1996 the Pentagon was forced to admit that torture was taught at the SOA when the training manuals were revealed to the public. Withdrawal from the SOA is a way of honoring the thousands of lives lost in Nicaragua at the hands of National Guard who trained at this institute and who led the contra attacks against the Nicaraguan people. For 20 years after the Triumph Nicaragua did not send troops to the SOA. We were disappointed when, under the Bolaños government, Nicaragua's military officers again began attending SOA training at Ft. Benning, GA. In 2008 Nicaragua sent 78 officers to the SOA. Five countries have announced their withdrawal from the SOA: Venezuela (2004), Argentina (2006), Uruguay (2006), Costa Rica (2007) and Bolivia (2008). The announcement of Nicaragua´s withdrawal could be the final step to close the doors of the SOA. In 2007 a vote in Congress to close the school lost by only 6 votes. Another congressional vote to de-fund the school will take place this year, with a new line-up of members. Our hope is that the withdrawal of a 6th country will give the necessary momentum to close the school. During the 1980s Nicaraguans often told North Americans that what they could best do to support the Revolution was to change the US government. With respect for Nicaragua’s sovereignty and right to self-determination, we appeal to you to help us accomplish that task by publically ending Nicaragua’s involvement in the SOA. (En Español) A: Su Excelencia Daniel Ortega, Presidente de Nicaragua De: Los abajo firmantes individuos y organizaciones progresistas de los Estados Unidos y amigos de la paz de todo el mundo Estimado Presidente Ortega: Como Ud. sin duda sabe, desde 1990, personas progresistas en los Estados Unidos han luchado para cerrar la Escuela de las Américas del Ejercito de los Estados Unidos (llamada ahora el Instituto del Hemisferio Occidental para la Cooperación en Seguridad-WHINSEC). Este año estamos cerca a la victoria y apelamos a Ud. para que nos dé apoyo solidario a nuestros esfuerzos sacando los soldados y oficiales de Nicaragua de la Escuela. Como Ud. sabe, antes del triunfo de la Revolución Popular Sandinista, ningún ejército envió más tropas a entrenarse en la Escuela de las Américas que la Guardia Nacional de Anastasio Somoza. En 1996, el Pentágono tuvo que admitir que se enseñaba tortura en la Escuela cuando se reveló al público los manuales de entrenamiento. Salir de la Escuela es una manera de honrar a los miles que perdieron sus vidas en Nicaragua en manos de los Guardias que recibieron entrenamiento en esa Escuela. Esos soldados también encabezaron los ataques de los contrarrevolucionarios contra el pueblo de Nicaragua. Durante veinte años después del Triunfo, Nicaragua no mandaba soldados a la Escuela. Nos sentimos entristecidos cuando, bajo la administración del Presidente Enrique Bolaños, los oficiales del Ejército de Nicaragua empezaron de nuevo a recibir entrenamiento en Fuerte Benning, Georgia. En 2008, Nicaragua envió a 78 oficiales a la Escuela. Cinco países han anunciado el retiro de sus oficiales de la Escuela: Venezuela (2004), Argentina (2006), Uruguay (2006), Costa Rica (2007) y Bolivia (2008). El anuncio del retiro de Nicaragua podría ser el paso final para cerrar las puertas de la Escuela de las Américas. En 2007, un voto en el Congreso EE.UU. para cerrar la Escuela perdió por solamente seis votos. Otra votación en el Congreso para cancelar los fondos para la Escuela tomará lugar este año, con nuevos miembros en la legislatura. Nuestra esperanza es que el retiro de un sexto país nos dará el ímpetu necesario para cerrar la Escuela. Durante los años 1980, los nicaragüenses a menudo dijeron a los norteamericanos que lo que podríamos hacer para ayudar más a la revolución era cambiar a nuestro propio gobierno. Con pleno respeto a la soberanía y al derecho a la auto-determinación de Nicaragua, apelamos a Ud. para que nos ayude a lograr ese propósito, anunciando públicamente el fin de la participación de Nicaragua en la Escuela de las Américas.

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The petition is co-sponsored by the Nicaragua Network and SOA Watch.

0-25 of 2533 signatures

Number	Date	Name	Location	additional comments
2533	March 06, 2010	June Malament	Pacific Grove, CA
2532	March 03, 2010	David Philippart	Chicago, IL
2531	March 01, 2010	Amrita Burdick	Kansas City, MO
2530	February 27, 2010	Michele Ann mareck	ESCONDIDO, CA
2529	February 26, 2010	Bob and Joy Johnson	HARMONY, MN
2528	February 25, 2010	Michael Butler	Albuquerque, NM	Tomas Borge and Carlos Fonseca, would do the right thing and so should you!
2527	February 24, 2010	Mary Anne Perrone	Ann Arbor, MI
2526	February 23, 2010	Veidre Thomas	South Bend, IN	For the sake of all your children, for the sake of your country, please do not send any more individuals to be trained at the SOA/WHINSEC. Let there be a way for peace and prosperity to come to your country without military interference. Mrs. Veidre Thomas
2525	February 22, 2010	Barbara Joyce	Nantucket, MA
2524	February 21, 2010	Sarah Klepner	Little Silver, NJ
2523	February 20, 2010	Niva Langreck	Elm Grove, WI
2522	February 20, 2010	Jorge A. Escobar	Ottawa, ON	Por favor para la paz mundial y la paz de Nicaragua. Hay que construir puentes que llevan a la paz y no a la guerra y abusos de derechos humanos.
2521	February 20, 2010	Claire surmik	Erie, PA
2520	February 20, 2010	John Amidon	Albany, NY
2519	February 20, 2010	Phil Mueller	Crown Point, IN
2518	February 20, 2010	Ana Hallman	McAllen, TX
2517	February 19, 2010	Martha Bushnell	Boulder, CO
2516	February 19, 2010	Doug Russell	Dallas, TX	President Ortega, If you endorse the request of the SOA Watch, you will be helping many of the oppressed people in the Western world.
2515	February 19, 2010	Patrick Lesher	Corvallis, OR
2514	February 19, 2010	Robert Soper	Portland, OR	The SOA was instrumental in the success of the recent coup in Honduras, and SOA graduates are right this moment torturing those who opposed the coup. Please reject this inhumane institution!
2513	February 19, 2010	Linda Graham	HAYWARD, WI
2512	February 19, 2010	Rita Gerardot	St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN
2511	February 19, 2010	Mary C Rocks	Waynesboro, PA
2510	February 19, 2010	Lee Boucher	Portola Valley, CA
2509	February 18, 2010	David Knightly	Oxford, ME

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