SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS

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Telling the Truth for a Better America
School of the Americas Background - 2

More Honorees and Graduates

Pinochet, Augusto.

Former dictator of Chile, installed by CIA Plot in 1973.
Michael Katz-Lacabe reports (23 Oct 1998-- >SOA Watchx that while Pinochet is not a graduate of the School of the Americas, his influence is held in high esteem. In 1991, visitors could view a note from Pinochet, and a ceremonial sword donated by him, on display in the office of the Commandant (Charles Call, MH, 8/9/93)
In addition, Pinochet's son, Augusto Pinochet Hiriart attended the School of the Americas in 1970.

Resources

Video about SOA. Major Joseph Blair served 20 years in the U.S. Army, including 12 years as a Latin American specialist and a tour of duty in Vietnam. During his Army career, he received five Meritorious Service Avards and the Bronze Star. Major Blair is the first insider to come forward and,from first-hand experience as an instructor for three years, gives compelling reasons why the SOA should be shut down. This 15-minute video reveals the hidden world of the School of the Americas and incorporates rarely-seen footage from Latin America. Major Joseph Blair, SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS An Insider Speaks Out" Order Form from SOAW

Discussion boards on the School of the Americas are maintained by The NonViolence Web Action Campaign and by the School of the Americas: At War With Democracy

Fines Upheld

The 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld the sentences and fines U.S. District Court Judge J. Robert Elliott levied against 22 U.S. Army School of the Americas protesters.
The six-month prison terms and $3,000 fines Elliott imposed Jan. 21 for each protester were unreasonable and their convictions were based on insufficient evidence, attorneys for the 22 contended in the appeal.
The three-judge panel's finding, filed Saturday and forwarded to the parties and court on Monday, rejected the arguments and affirmed Elliott.
The protesters were among more than 600 arrested Nov. 16 during an annual protest at the main gate of Fort Benning, home of the School of the Americas. The protesters contend the school, which trains Latin American soldiers, has produced graduates who have committed human rights violations.
The 22, including the Rev. Roy Bourgeois, SOA Watch founder, had previously been ordered not to return to Fort Benning and were charged with violating that prohibition. After a nonjury trial, Elliott convicted each.
There was "no manifest miscarriage of justice" caused by Elliott's reliance on return-receipt cards to show that most of the protesters had received letters from Fort Benning's commanding general warning them not to return to the post, the judges ruled.
Elliott's decision to give all the defendants maximum prison terms was reasonable, the judges wrote, to promote respect for the law and to deter criminal conduct.
The $3,000 fine also does not violate standards, the judges wrote, noting that Elliott's decision to impose a fine appeared calculated "in hope of dissuading the protesters from future trespassing." Elliott also offered to drop the fine for defendants who would provide written promise not to re-enter Fort Benning, but none would do so.
"While this approach may be novel, it is not 'plainly unreasonable.' We therefore conclude that we must affirm the sentences," the judges wrote.
Bourgeois, who already has served the six-month prison sentence and been released, could not be reached for comment on the decision.
Souce: Jim Houston, Staff Writer, "Fines Against SOA Protesters Upheld," Columbus Ledger Enquirer," October 6, 1998.

Secretary of the Army visits Benning (Tony Adams, Staff Writer, September 23, 1998)

While his visit included a briefing on the post and its Infantry School, the U.S. Army School of the Americas drew most of Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera's attention. Following a quick tour of the school's headquarters, he talked with reporters before flying by helicopter to watch Chilean soldiers tackle an obstacle course.
"He's basically getting the same (tour) that everybody gets when they get here, whether it's a protester that walks in off of the street or whether it's the vice president or whoever," said Capt. Kevin McIver, a School of the Americas spokesman.
The School of the Americas has been criticized harshly by opponents, including some in Congress. They say the institution is graduating Latin American police officers and soldiers who return to their countries and commit atrocities. Protests against the school at Fort Benning's main gate have grown over the years, with more than 1,000 turning out for a demonstration in November.
As the School of the Americas' new boss, Caldera defended the institution and its mission of training Latin Americans to wage battle against drug dealers in their homelands. He said it's important that America uses its influence to keep Central and South American nations on the democratic path.
"All countries don't respect human rights to the extent that we do in our country, but the only way that they're going to get there is if we engage them and challenge them to do so," Caldera said. "So if there are abuses in other countries, it's in spite of what has gone on here, not because of what goes on here."
Source: Tony Adams, Staff Writer, "Secretary of the Army visits SOA", Columbus Ledger Enquirer, September 23, 1998,

"Restructuring the Struggle", [undated] an SOA document provided by Mr. Joseph C. Leuer, an SOA official, to a college student, he Struggle" (undated) asserts that socialism is a primary threat to the stability and security of Latin America, that the left is attacking U.S. security assistance programs "because of their role in truncating socialist advancement", and that these "forces of instability and unrest" should not be allowed to "reenter the political scene". Source: Arnold J. Oliver, Ph. D., Vietnam Veteran and Professor of Political Science, Heidelberg College, Tiffin Ohio 44883, An Open Letter to the School of the Americas. Because of the impact of this idealogy in targeting individuals for repression, Dr. Oliver accuses present and former SOA officials as "intellectual authors" of widespread crimes against humanity.

SOA Watch, Nov 4, 1998: "Eleven SOA Grads Among Chilean Officers Cited in Spanis Human Rights Case." On March 13, 1998, plaintiff lawyers Joan Garces and Manuel Murillo presented a writ to the Central Instruction Tribunal Number 6 of the Audencia Nacional in Spain in which they requested that Judge Manuel Garcia Castellon immediately indict Augusto Pinochet and 30 other high-ranking officials of the Chilean dictatorship for the crimes of genocide, terrorism, torture, and illegal arrest followed by disappearance. Eleven of those military officers are graduates of the U.S. Army School of the Americas. They include:

Ernesto Baeza Michelsen (Comando y Estado Mayor, 1964): Former head of Investigations Police who allegedly chose 50 members of his institution to take part in the action known as Covem, in which 14 people were arrested. Of the 14, one, a journalism student, Eduardo Jara died as a consequence of the torture he received.
Humberto Gordon Rubio (Infantry Weapons, Operaciones y Mantenamiento de Radio, Tank Gunnery Course, 1954-1955): Former head of the CNI secret police and also former member of the military Junta.
Eduardo Iturriaga Neumann (Basic Airborne Course, 1965): Head of the DINA's international operations. According to testimony by Luz Arce (ex political prisoner arrested by the DINA secret police, who later became a DINA collaborator) Iturriaga and other officers of the DINA used political prisoners that had been tortured into collaborators as secretaries and analysts in their offices.
Miguel Krassnoff Marchenko (Containsurgencia Urbana, 1974): Former member of the DINA, known by political prisoners held and tortured at Villa Grimaldi, Tres Alamos and Cuatro Alamos. Implicated in the death by torture of former Spanish diplomat Carmelo Soria in 1976. Took part in the assault on the residence of former president Salvador Allende who was deposed by the Army in Sept. 1973. Known for his violent treatment of prisoners.
Fernando Laureani Maturana (Combat Arms Orientation, 1971): Former DINA member. Implicated in the 1974 kidnapping and disappearance of brothers Juan Carlos and Jorge Elias Andronico Antequera, Lauriani's was one of the few cases of military crimes to be tried after Pinochet's brutal dictatorship. Unfortunately, Pinochet brought all of his influence to bear and the case was finally handed to a military court, which absolved Lauriani and closed the case.
Odlanier Mena (Comando y Estado Mayor, 1970): First head of the CNI secret police. Luz Arce, a political prisoner who was tortured by DINA officials, testified that Mena offered her freedom in exchange for working three years as a spy for the DINA.
Guillermo Salinas Torres (Contrainsurgencia Urbana, 1974): Linked to the assassination of Spanish citizen Carmelo Soria.
Other SOA graduates that face charges in the Spanish court case include: Pablo Belmar Labbe (Basico/ Orientacion para oficiales, 1968) Washington Carrasco Fernandez (Contra-Resistencia, Informacion Militar para Oficiales, 1961) and Rene Patricio Quilhot Palma (Combat Arms Orientation, 1971).

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Updated February 27, 1999

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