Resist the FTAA!

"Economic oppression and military repression are flip sides of the same globalization coin. The economic rape of the poor that accompanies globalization could not stand without the repressive military apparatus that brutalizes people who rise up to resist. Those who oppose the globalization of greed and those who work to end US training of repressive foreign armies are joined in one effort." - SOA Watch A16 Affinity Group/Cluster

The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) agreement aims to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) throughout the entire Western Hemisphere. Implementation of the FTAA -- which is expected to be adopted no later than 2005 -- would empower corporations to restrict governments from setting labor and environmental standards. Effectively, it would enhance corporate control at the expense of citizens and the environment throughout the Americas. Initiated in 1994 by the 34 countries of North and South America (excluding Cuba), the FTAA would create the worlds largest free market zone - affecting 650 million people and $9 trillion in capital. Governmental FTAA talks have been accompanied by the business sector every step of the way -- their discussions have been held under a veil of secrecy.

The Summit of the Americas
From April 20 - 22, 2001 Quebec City will host the Summit of the Americas, which brings together the heads of the states from North, Central and South America (except Fidel Castro). The stated purpose of the Summit is to put the final touches on the FTAA. Concerned citizen from all over North America will come to Quebec City to voice their opposition through protests and direct actions.Grassroots groups across the USA and Canada are doing educational work around the FTAA issue, as well as nonviolent direct action trainings in preparation for the protests in Quebec City.

The School of the Americas
The School of the Americas (SOA), recently renamed the "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation," is a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Initially established in Panama in 1946, it was kicked out of that country in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty. Former Panamanian President, Jorge Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the "biggest base for destabilization in Latin America." The SOA, frequently dubbed the "School of Assassins," has left a trail of blood and suffering in every country where its graduates have returned.

Over its 55 years, the SOA has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, "disap-peared," massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins.

SOA trains the military muscle to enforce the 'free' trade agenda
A recent Pentagon report to Congress states that combat training at the SOAsupports US policy towards Latin America which "Seek[s] to develop stable, free market democracies throughout the region." The mission of the US Southern Command (encompassing the SOA) includes "protecting the supply of strategic natural resources and access to the markets." From its beginning, the mission of the SOA has been to train soldiers to protect the interests of multinational corporations and maintain the economic status quo for the few rich and powerful in the US and their cohorts in Latin America. SOA graduates use their skills consistently against community organizers, unionists and others who are a potential threat to corporate interest.

SOA Used to "Beat Down" Opposition to NAFTA in Mexico
The example of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) shows that "free" trade agreements, such as the upcoming FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) will sharpen social inequalities and provoke resistance. Hours after NAFTA went into effect, indigenous communities in Mexico rose up to say "Ya Basta! - Enough!" The Mexican military responded swiftly and forcefully with troops, helicopters and artillery to squash the resistance.

At least 18 high-level Mexican officers who were involved in the civilian-targeted warfare campaign in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, and Oaxaca were trained at the School of the Americas. Mexico's Jose Ruben Pena, who took the SOA'sa elite Commando and Staff Course, called for the "training and support for self-defense forces or other paramilitary organizations in Chiapas." Certainly the strategy of using paramilitary groups for the military's dirty work is nothing new for SOA graduates. Roberto D'Aubussion established the Death Squads that were responsible for much of the violence in El Salvador in the 1980's. Today, SOA trained Colombian soldiers are working hand in hand with paramilitary forces in Colombias "War against the Poor"

The voices, of and for the poor represented by the Zapatistas and others - like Bishop Ruiz from the San Cristobal Diocese - threaten the powerful and wealthy. Corresponding to the growing economic justice movement in Mexico, the numbers of Mexican soldiers being trained at the SOA rapidly escalated.

SOA-style "Union Busting" in Colombia and Throughout Latin America
Over 10,000 Colombian soldiers have been trained at the SOA. Their names consistently top the lists of perpetrators in human rights reports from and about Colombia.

· Workers assassinated: SOA trained Capt. Tomas Monroy Roncanico was convicted of detaining six workers and slitting their throats.
· Banana workers murdered: 20 striking banana workers were brutally murdered. Eight of the 11 Colombian military officers cited for the slayings were SOA grads.
· Union members targeted: Unionists Maria Gomez and Miguel Quintanilla were two of the labor leaders targeted for torture and murder by members of the Colombian Air Force. SOA grad, Juan Raffael Bustillo, commanded the troops cited.
· Labor leader assassinated: The assassination of Union leader Manuel Gustavo Chacon Sarmiento in broad daylight incited five days of strikes and confrontations between military and civilians. SOA-trained Capt. Cenen Dario Jimenez Leon was cited in the assassination.

Bolivia’s “Water War”
Under a World Bank privatization plan, the Bolivian government sold off Cochabamba's public water system to the Bechtel corporation. Water rates immediately doubled (and sometimes tripled). For families earning a minimum wage of less than $100 per month they were told to pay over $20 and more, or have the tap shut off. For many of the rural poor, the rate increase equated to a family's total food budget for 2 weeks.

As thousands took to the streets, Bolivian president and former military dictator, Hugo Banzer (SOA graduate) sent out the forces. They attacked the civilians and pelted them with tear gas, resulting in 175 injured and two youths blinded. A few months later as residents staged a final city shutdown, the Bolivian government came to the corporation's rescue, declaring a "state of siege." The Banzer government ordered the arrests of protest leaders, they shut down radio stations, and sent the soldiers into the streets--firing directly into the crowd, a 17 year old boy was shot in the face--killed by SOA graduate and sharp-shooter, Captain Iriarte de La Fuente. According to AIN, a Bolivian human rights group, the Governor, Walter Cspedes, and the Mayor, Manfred Reyes Villa, are also SOA graduates.

CALL TO CIVIL RESISTANCE!
Become part of a growing resistance movement against corporate rule and work towards a culture of justice and peace.
1998: The efforts of tens of thousands of grassroots activists all over the world stops the implementation of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI).
1999: As the public water system in Cochabamba, Bolivia was privatized and the price of water immediately doubled, thousands of citizens took to the streets and forced the government to end its corrupt deal with the Bechtel Corporation.
2000: As the result of a Nonviolent Direct Action campaign the "impervious" Pentagon was pressured to engage in hiding maneuvers to keep the SOA open by changing the name of the school.

The resistance will not stop as long as the injustice continues... WE ARE DETERMINED TO WIN!

"A single voice among thousands stands alone...
but thousand voices united as one stand to make a difference!"

Join the mobilization against the FTAA April 20-22, 2001 in Quebec City!!!

Click here to view this info on a flier that we can send to you!
Field Guide to the FTAA Protest in Quebec City
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