Honduran Human Rights Defender Bertha Oliva to Come to the November Vigil to Close the SOA in Georgia

SOA's Hendrik Voss wrote:

Honduran Human Rights Defender Bertha Oliva to Come to the November Vigil to Close the SOA in Georgia

We just talked with Human Rights Defender Bertha Oliva from Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She is planning to come to the United States to stand with thousands and to speak out at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia during the November Vigil to close the SOA (November 10-22, 2009). She will bring the call for accountability and the anti-coup resistance to the place where the coup plotters received their training: the School of the Americas (SOA/ WHINSEC)!

Bertha wanted to relay her gratitude for all that people here are doing in solidarity with Honduras. We have kept her abreast of our efforts, and she senses the outpouring of solidarity, along with concrete actions.

She told us that, although she and everyone else are exhausted, and a few pounds lighter, that they are exhilarated at the energy and hope and spirit of the resistance movement. She feels so proud of her people at this moment.

I asked Bertha how we could be of help in addition to what we are doing. Her response was: Send concrete reports (photos, places, statements) about Honduran solidarity events that have taken place in the U.S. International solidarity is having a huge impact on Honduran society, and is putting pressure on the coup govt. By sending info about these expressions of solidarity throughout the U.S., you would make a huge contribution, according to Bertha. COFADEH's press team is very effective in getting things out widely there, as Father Roy and Lisa Sullivan have experienced in several visits, and they would get this info out. She mentioned several times that this would be very helpful.

Tom Loudon, who was part of the first SOA Watch Emergency Response Delegation right after the coup just returned to Honduras, where he is going to meet and strategize with members of El Frente Nacional de la Resistencia (English: National Resistance Front), a wide coalition in Honduras of grassroots organizations and political parties and movements that aims to restore elected President Manuel Zelaya, using the methods of massive civil disobedience, marches and strikes.

Wednesday, October 28, marks the 4 month anniversary of the SOA graduate-led military coup in Honduras. After consulting with our partners in Honduras, we are calling for local actions to mark that day with expressions of solidarity with the Honduran people and to close the SOA. You can organize creative street art actions or organize a vigil in your community. Please let us know what you are planning and email photos and report backs that we can post online and send to our partners in Honduras. We are looking forward to see you at the gates of Fort Benning, Georgia from November 20-22, 2009.

Abrazos,
Hendrik

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Hendrik Voss
Communications Coordinator
School of the Americas Watch
PO Box 4566
Washington, DC
202-234-3440
http://www.SOAW.org
http://www.SOAWLatina.org