DESCRIPTION OF BILL:
1. Closes the U.S. Army School of the Americas at Fort Benning,
Georgia.
2. Establishes the United States Academy for Democracy and
Civil-Military Relations.
PURPOSE OF THE ACADEMY:
1. to identify the proper role of the military in a democratic
society.
2. to improve civil-military relations and civilian control over
military matters in Latin American and Caribbean countries.
INSTRUCTION AT THE ACADEMY:
Instruction at the Academy shall be provided to civilian and military
personnel of Latin American countries and Caribbean countries,
through seminars, roundtable discussions, conferences, and a guest
instructor program in the following areas:
1. the principles of respect for democracy, human rights, and
civilian control of the military in a democratic society.
2. mechanisms and skills necessary for the exercise of civilian
control and oversight over the mission, structure, and operations of
security forces.
3. mechanisms and procedures for ensuring accountability within the
armed forces and for institutionalizing within the armed forces rules
of engagement and an approach to the conduct of military operations
in accordance with recognized principles of international law and
human rights.
4. mechanisms and skills necessary for the exercise of civilian
control and oversight over budgets of security forces.
5. mechanisms and skills necessary to establish and operate military
justice and disciplinary systems in accordance with international
human rights procedures.
6. mechanisms and skills necessary to ensure civilian control and
oversight over security force involvement in the civilian economy.
7. strategies designed to achieve responsible reductions in military
spending so that resources may be used to promote development in
Latin American and Caribbean countries.
OTHER IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF THE BILL
1. combat and lethal skills training shall not be offered as a part
of the curriculum at the Academy. (No courses such as Commando
Operations, Sniper Training, Counter-Insurgency Techniques,
Intelligence Gathering, Psychological Warfare and Low-Intensity
Conflict that are taught at the School of the Americas will be
allowed.)
2. instructors and students at the Academy will be screened.
Instructors shall consist of civilians and military personnel. Every
course and program at the Academy shall involve civilians, elected
officials and representatives of human rights and other civic
organizations. The number of civilians attending the Academy should be
at least 20 percent of the total number of students, with the goal of
reaching 50 percent within five years after the establishment of the
Academy.
3. The Academy will have an Advisory Committee comprised of five
members from civilian life and shall include representatives of human
rights organizations based in the United States and in Latin American
and Caribbean countries with widely recognized expertise in
investigating human rights violations in those countries. The
Advisory Committee shall approve all instructors of the Academy and
provide advice on establishing and operating the Academy and the
content of the curriculum.
4. the course catalogue and curriculum of the Academy shall be
available for public inspection.
COMMENTARY:
There can be no hope for change unless we come to the table and
communicate and resolve our conflicts through non violence. Peace
and justice is a process, an on-going struggle. There can be no hope
for the poor of Latin America until the military steps down and turns
over its power and control to civilians. The goal of the Kennedy
bill is to get the military OUT and the civilians IN.
The SOA Watch joins Witness for Peace, Veterans for Peace, the
Washington Office on Latin America, the Latin America Working Group,
and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in supporting the
Kennedy bill and asks for your support. At the same time, we respect
those who do not agree with the bill and welcome your input and
strategy to close the SOA.
1996 is the 50th anniversary of the SOA. LET THIS BE THE YEAR WE
CLOSE THIS SCHOOL OF ASSASSINS!