History Latin American Working Group

8/2/2019 History Latin American Working Group

1/46

Becon Bette NehbosTales fo Oanzn fo a Just U.S. Polc towads Latn Aeca

Latin america Working group/Latin america Working group education Fund

EditEd by WinifrEd tatE

ievews We te, Jee Le,Cl Gllhe, a bel


2/46

CONTENTS

Bnn People Toethe fo Chane ......................................................................................... 2

OUr CAmPAigNS

inteestn Tes: The Cental Aecan Was.........................................................................18

Cental Aeca: Afte the Was ..............................................................................................28

Cuba Polc: movn an Unovable Object ..............................................................................30

Just the Facts: Sheddn Lht on mlta Ad and Tann ......................................................... 34

Coloba: Standn b the Vcts ...........................................................................................36

meco: Huane Bodes .........................................................................................................40

cv : clb vss r p ls mjs

2009 by L a W g

L a W g e F

Latin amEriCa WorkinG Group

424 c S ne, Wsh, dc 20002www.lawg.org [email protected]

al 2009


3/46

F

or more than 25 years, the Latin America Working Group (LAWG) has been

a central force working to change U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America to

promote human rights and social justice. LAWG brings together a broad spectrum of

human rights groups, faith-based organizations, humanitarian agencies and grassroots

groupsbelieving that our efforts have greater power when we work together.LAWG mobilizes individual citizens and organizations to call for just U.S. policies, educates the

public about the impact of U.S. policy, and conducts direct advocacy with Congress and the

administration. We work with Latin American civil society partners to make sure their voices are

heard in policy debates that take place in distant Washington but can often shape their lives.

Much of this work takes place out of the limelight, behind the scenes, mediating and strategizing

with coalitions of like-minded organizations. As we reect on and celebrate 25 years of activism,

we believe it is important to map the contributions made by LAWG, better understand the roads

we have traveled, and celebrate the journey we have made together.

In 1983, seeking to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Central America and to U.S. policiesthat backed armies that brutally slaughtered civilians, U.S. churches, grassroots and policy groups

sought a coordinated way to respond. Working out of borrowed ofce space, with only one or

two paid staff, the Central America Working Group, as it was then called, served to organize,

educate, and inspire generations of activists advocating peace and justice in Central America.

CAWG developed allies in Congress, the media and the public to end military assistance to

the Salvadoran and Guatemalan governments and the Nicaraguan Contras. After the wars

ended, CAWG coordinated efforts to encourage implementation of historic peace agreements

and support the search for truth by helping to spur the declassication of thousands of U.S.

documents for Central American truth commissions.

In the early 1990s, the groups participating in CAWG coalition decided, rather than to disband,

to expand their issues, becoming the Latin America Working Group. The LAWG has worked since

then to call for generous disaster relief and development aid to the region, successfully lift the

embargo on the sale of food and medicine to Cuba, lift the restrictions on Cuban-American travel

and advocate for an end to the full travel ban, cut military aid and increase humanitarian aid to

Colombia, support the struggle for fair elections in Mexico, and advocate for just border policies

that recognize the human rights of migrants and border communities. LAWG is organized as a 501

(c) 4 nonprot, which carries out advocacy, while its afliated organization, the Latin America

Working Group Education Fund, a 501 (c) 3 nonprot, carries out educational activities.

As the Working Group passed the quarter century milestone, the LAWGEF and LAWG boardsasked activists, partner organizations, and former and current Working Group staff to recount

some of the stories about the struggle for just U.S. policies towards Latin America. Through the

memories and reections of staff and U.S. and Latin American activists, we hope to show the

way the Working Group brought us all together to make change.

Here are their words.


4/46

Connecting grassrootsactivists to policyGARY COZETTE, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on LatinAmerica, and LAWG Board Member

i h -1980s, whl sv s psby ly ss

w el Slv h hs w, i vs

Wsh, dc. a v ws shl w el

Slv. a ll v l caWg,

wh s lbby ss b s h

cl Bl lbby z by h lvs s ss

w h wy h f v. i h w ills

bs css y ss. i h vs ss.

B i h v -- wh s. S h,

h-S al dx, ly , by

hs wy v. i ll : S dx! i gy

cz, psby h hs w el Slv

ch, ills! pls v no ly el Slv!

BriNgiNg PEOPLETOgETHEr FOr CHANgE

LAWg, and the CAWg befoe t, bns people toethe fo dffeent oanzatons to wok fo

coon polc oals. A cental pat of ths effot s helpn assoots oanzatons aound the

count be effectve n the advocac b connectn assoots actvsts to polc. LAWg woks to

ake deocac eal b helpn ctzens have a voce n the polc pocess, not based on the one

o connectons but on the pncples and belefs. We look fo alles wthn a ane of ovenental

nsttutons wlln to poote pncpled polces, statezn wth alled conessonal ades and othe

polcakes. LAWg has also developed close elatonshps wth Latn Aecan patnes, thouh nfoaton

shan vsts to the eon and bnn Latn Aecan actvsts to Washnton.

Wokn n coalton wth dffeent oanzatons can be both a jo and challene, as these oups shae coon

oals but a have dffeent deas about the best was to acheve the. LAWg has plaed a ctcal ole

edatn conct, poducn consensus postons and eble jont statezes to pull n the wdest spectu of

oups wth the eatest possble polc pact. Havn the nsttutonal eo and polc epetse fo eas

of ths wok has also allowed LAWg to pla an potant ole buldn count and enton new actvsts.

BECOmiNg BETTEr NEigHBOrS2

W

ikkie/istockphoto.com


5/46

H l , s, h s h lv. H

v ys ly , h ly h sx

Js ss w ll el Slv. th ws y s

wh caWg, w LaWg. B h s 20-y

sss sh vy.

i 1989, ciSpeS h ch m Sy all

z wh wl b h ch rls Lsh

nw L a (crLn), w ls

h ls y s ssvly s u.S.

ly cl a, s whh h s

h ly bl bshs ss l

ssbly sls. i l caWgs h b-wly s

wh s b zs h s h

l ss u.S. ly js. thh

h 1990s, i wl l y s wh ills

ssl ss Wsh, dc wh

hs LaWg s, whh v -- b js y Hs S vss.

Whl w l s s, s s s

lll ss s LaWg. LaWg vs ch-bs

w wh sl ly ly s ls

as hl, s s h ll s ss h

y. crLn shs hs wh s 600 bs,

s y ys wh hly ls, w hh l

s ls. o bs, , sh LaWg

, by h w sl x L

I called out: Senator

Dixon! Im Gary Cozette,

a Presbyterian human

rights worker in El

Salvador from Chicago,

Illinois! Please vote

NO on military aid to El

Salvador!

GARY COZETTE

Tales fo Oanz n fo a Just U.S. Polc towads Latn Aeca 3

cag Rlg Ladr Nwr

n Lan Ara g Wangn.


6/46

a, wh h bs css, s wll s wh h

zs whh hy bl. eh s, crLn ch

w wl z l 15-30 bs vl

Wsh, dc wh bs css ills,

lly, h ly ss. p vss, LaWg

s y ss xs LaWg zs hv lwys

v b . ths bs v

w bs sly.

o y, Ls h h p,

bsss, h s s h hlls

css vy y. o vss b h s h

sy, vl sl ss h hs

ss bs wl hws h. i w sh Lss

wh h w h w z wh

ssl s.

GAIL PHARES, founder of the Carolina Interfaith Taskforce on CentralAmerica and one of the founders of Witness for Peace

ov h ys, i lwys l h LaWg s

bl ly h . Wh i w w

wh sy css, i b bl ll h s

LaWg b bl h lyss h i w i s

wh lwys sss zs wh s.

MARTY HOOPER, International Team Member for Witness for Peace

from 2003 to 2006, primarily in CubaLaWg s Wsh; whh w w h L a sll w uSa, w l LaWg

s lls. i b wh i ll mvs

as h ll h, w h sh ws h Hll.

i ws b l wh i wh sh ws, b sh

ss h y qss w v l

sws y qss s v hw z

ssl s. i ws vy ss bs

shw h lhh LaWg h Wsh w

bs, hy w ly l h sss .

SILVIA WILHELM, founder of Puentes Cubanosthh h ys, LaWg hs b y vy s

h wy. LaWg s z h ly s b js

h hs L a, i h v,

w , ssl vs wh hy w

sh wh s ls s .


W

ikkie/istockphoto.com


7/46

W ly h wl sl LaWg s

bs css.

d y 13 ys ls ss wh LaWg, w hv

sh h w, y s lhs. i h LaWg

s y ls l lls y ys ,

v w lsh l j sh u.S. ly

ws cb.

ON WORKING WITH CONGRESS:

SEAN GARCIA, LAWG Senior Associate, now at Refugees InternationalW vy h LaWg b wh w

lys. i y w h h h h h

hs sv, w ll y wh , w ll y

hw . i y w b w hl y. F hs

bs wh w b, wll, hs wh w hv

f, b wv v q h. th y

l h Hll wh s hs sv w lly v

h sh h sby ls . i s b

h s w , hy w w v s

h w. o lly s bs h hs. W

s y ss, w yh slvs

s h lly s l wy.


If you want to do the

right thing from the

human rights perspective

we can tell you what to

do, we can tell you how

to do it. If you want to be

guided we can help you.

SEAN GARCIA

cAWG lra cnral Ara r.


8/46

LISA HAUGAARD, current LAWG Executive Directori hv yl vw css y ys

w wh cl Hll. Bs h y bs wh

sly h b , h

l s . th y bs wh ly b

h h h h hs, b hl vy,

bs l ny pls, p Lhy, n Lwy, esb

ts, Js S, c mll, t Ls, Jh p,

J Shwsy, rssll Fl. th ls shl . B h

s i w bs S pl Wlls, whs ws l

sy, s l lly S (x,

lwys, Lhy hs bll t rs, wh h

h sl h hs h S) wh w w s

y js clb b. W l hly v y

b css s h s clb w sw, bs

hy wl vl u.S.-bssy ss s s ls

s --y shws. i wl s wh h s wh ll s s hw s h h bsss

wl b v ss w B vs h hs

s wl ss s h vss bssy

l y, v h bs s h. th chl,

S Wllss , ll . Ls, sh s, Wh s

h s s l clb pl , sll

b vs tsy? Wll, w h ss

h, Bbj, wh y vss svv

s by v ls h l h y. H

w wh ms vss v h bs y

s h. i ws h ss ys y l wh h .


LAWG g award

Rrna Nan pl.

c

otesebAstieN/istockphoto.com


9/46

a rsv J mgv. alwys h h

h hs s h vy. th l blss ss b J, b wh s s s h bly

b h hs vss hs s w wh h,

hv h ls wh l s h

sss hs wl l-l msshss wh h

x ss wl b. a h wl lwys b h hs

ss wh h. alwys. Y s h h.

ADAM ISACSON, Director of Programs, Center for International Policya w ys b, h l w ws s

s h s bll, h 4- s h Hll. W wh

d ssl , whh w sz

bh. H q l h w bs.

Y x l wh 4 s?! d y lz w

h y h? Hw y ys hv y ll b w

h?! W l blv w w s hs h

s . o s l hs l, l wh ws

h 4- h bll .

ON WORKING WITH LATIN AMERICAN PARTNERS:

LISA HAUGAARD, current LAWG Executive Directori b vll Hs wh Jy ols b

h by h s h hs bs,

L Vlls, wh h js h hs

Hss s, The Facts Speak for Themselves. H v

s hh w tl,

I dont have a cynical

view of Congress after

my fteen years of

working with Capitol

Hill. Because the many

members who dont care

simply fade into the

background for me, and

the dedicated people

stand out.

LISA HAUGAARD


LAWG Drr La hagaard and r dagr ella ngrala snar pal Wlln.


10/46

wh h ss vs wh s bl hlls

vll. F s hs, bh s h w .

my s wh ws wh i

l ss hl xs lls vls by h

clb y. clb h hs s, z hs

s s w bly sh, bh

wsss lvs vs ll v h y sy

s. i y B, l wh y Ssh

lwy bs, w ls s s s

w ll s h lv s wh h b

h ll by h y. m w y sh wh . a

w l hw sls h h hsb. Bl h

h hl h sll hs. a h h hsb

hh h h, s h sh h hl l h hs ss,

h s l x h hs. a h h x ,

bw b l h bl. i w why, b h

i b w h h h s wsh sy ly whs h h b h vls ll

v h v hs by. ths y ls

h ys sh, b wy lbl lls by

hs, h hs v by hslvs h

l h h, . i ws b s by

h bl bvy h vs ls h xy,

w hs h hs vss.

i b B wh dvl gap cs r

s l h imF Wl B b hw ns

sl js l ws l h l y. H ws

bll, v s v h vbl xs. i sh why h s h b hs, h y hs hs

s h i l l hs ls. thy w lly lls. i

, h s. Hs ws o Sls, ys l, h

wly ss b l s cs r.

th h vss wh wh h s sl s

l b w wlls y h y. Hl m,

ss gl hls my m. Sh

v s, v slw, sh ws lbl. i b

b h h css wh WoLas rhl gs,

Hl s h l. W shw whlh

S ss , whl h h S. ivc, l h vs v clb s

s, s h sh s, hs b

vl s hs vss.

th h ws h wh Bsy msh h az

all z vs by s l

by h u.S.- l sy clb, w

hl vss u.S. s. W w h epa,


i

vANushkA/istockphoto.com


11/46

h s l h bh wh h s s

wh hs h l l hls s j. ths s

h y sy, hy s. ths s y. ths s

l hbs whh y sy. a hs hs s

s l. S j , hy w ll. th

epa ls ls h h y l , lhh hy

vy ll l h . B h l inL, h S

ds s b, w lss vbl s

. Ss y js hv wh h

u.S. ls wh h .

Whv i bh h hs vs h S

d v ly, i lwys h h s

alb es h s h by. i h hl hl

sss, i es vs l ll

wl. H ss h s hll w, wh hs b wh

h s l. B h ws ls vs h,

s h qs h bs h s shw. es hl y b s vws S.

IVN CEPEDA, founder, Colombian Movement of Victims of State Crimesth s i h u Ss ws h 2005,

whh s wh h vs v [b h vs

ly ly vl] s . Ls vs


LAWG really helped

us open doors, and

to positively position

the movement It

established the merit of

the movement, because

we had been insisting

that these crimes

committed by state

agents existed, while the

government had always

denied them.

IVN CEPEDA

cla v vln r

r und Nan.


12/46

clb, i l h hw w w h vs v

hv hh l. th s wh h Js p lw [

vsl lw v h blz h ls]

ws s b sss. Ls vy s sl,

h w j , vs s s h wh h

vs ll . th h v b b.

Wh h vs v w h ly h ssss b

vl lsh wh h ss ly bs

l sls, asz. mly ojl, h

h asz, h vy l vs b h s

l sls wh h sy s hslvs,

s s wh h s. o

s, w ly h s z . W h b

bl vs wh mly, w hh h h wl

b vy sl. W sh ss y sss. W w

v h . mly ws v s

h, js s. W w ll s h js s whv h. W ll h h v

h. W h vl h ls h vs.

S h s h w vs v,

h ss h ls h s (ass),

asz, s wll s h Sll . i ws

x s w h h. W s

, s, b hs s s wh y

hv h y w h hs wh hs

, wh hs h ly. t w wh l s l

vy, h s h l s whs. H hs

sy h b s, ls mly h sy. Wh s hv lv s s.

Wh s clb, h ly, wh h w

ll y, h u p, s. ev wh

l b h ll s h , h h

s h x s w h.

Wh mly, w sss. th w,

h Vs mv, wl qs

h , mly wl s h, js

vs h ls.

W Wsh lly s l l

clb. th h wh h h hs s, s whh S d. W h l vw wh h Wsh

ps, w ls vss, h wsh wh h

c tsl Js nw Y, s h

u ns. Ls xl s hw y lbby h

h u Ss, sh s ll h s.

LaWg lly hl s s, svly s

h v. By h u Ss, hs


c

otesebAstieN/istockphoto.com


13/46

lvl h v, h ssbly

. i sblsh h h v, bs

w h b ss h hs s by s s

xs, whl h v h lwys h.

W l h, wh l zs

l h H rhs Fs w. a l h s

w s bs wh h u.S. css,

, wll-w l h u Ss. a hs s ll

hs h s s h Ls v s. S w lly

h wh vs clb. th hs hh

hs ss hv b vy ss. a s h hh l h

v h h u.S. s h s h llws s b

bl sy clb w. kw h sh

s llw y l s, h s h vs

l, Ls hs Wsh, s vy w.

On the joys and struggles of coalition work:

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director ofWashington Ofce on Latin America (WOLA)

LaWg s z l, h bs ls

i hv v s. th ss bl, l hv b

w h l , llly l s. n

vy s h s lly, b s s wh

l l h hs .

o sy ws vy h s , ws

wl. i b h ws wh vss

l b lslv sl. i b i h bbys,


Not everyone is

on the same page

automatically, but it is a

space where people could

ght things out.

JOY OLSON

LAWG lda ar.


14/46

bs y hsb e ws w i ws h h

i wl wh h h . B h

hy w ll , hy sh . S i ysl

l u S, i l y b. illy hy

s ws bsl, ly-h s. B sx hs l

hy w ll b. a y l w w lslv ls.

th s h LaWg hs ls by y s

ly l, s bs s by s h s y

l z. ms ls hv s wh hv sh

ssbly w wh z. th sh

wss LaWg h w ls: w wh

y b zs s, w w y

z l. W zs

h s. n s s h. B

b s h s h LaWg l ls s l.

SEAN GARCIA, LAWG Senior Associate, now at Refugees InternationalWh i , h s h w w b sss

w ly h-bs s. thy s sly

y bl, hs i lwys . is y

ssl z. a s i w h y s

h l hy bh v h chss

ss, l mx y wh y

h jy ey. thy h -w h

ss s h b, llls wh s

h u.S. h fh ey. thy h h ss

h Wsh wh hy h S c.th x y, wh y w, i shw s ly b 20

s s hy l sy, W hv y

, y b Jsh. S hy v hs s i

ss , s, cl Hll b s by

l i y lbby hs ls. th ws

oh y g wh hv i ysl .

ths ws s h i js ws s . Bh Ls i

bs h b w z h vl

hv h h lls y why y shl b sh.

Wh Ls i lll bl hy h. W

z h h s s h l, b lh s hw h s hll. th w v y

lshs h v h ls whh i hh ws vy

ssv h l.

Fh-bs s v lsh h l, ws ly

s h lsh. d s wh w h h v 500

hs h s, w w s wss cl Hll.

W h lbls hss w bls


LAWG ard r Wal own prran

cr (usA) and mar Dnn marnll o

r Glal cnrn.


15/46

w lbls: J rz hv hs w bl wh h

h az s. B ls l h

s, v ys X bll. W hs h, h Sb y

w vs wh h ss w wl

h s h cl. W h s 2,000

bls w, l yb 200 ss bs. i

ws . i h l s

wss. Shly h s h bs h l

s s w b bs hs

y. W s h vz w blv h

w shl b y. th hs ws h

ls l cl a wh hy vz w. as

h s i s wh hy w , wh

s ssvy vy ss v y .

i h w s h . th ws hs s

w y hv vy svs, l

s h y wh yslths bls sly h w h

LaWg s y hv hs hs l

bss Y w hs l lss y wll

h s . Ss y hv l ll s

vlv b xhs b y hv b wll b h

. ths s w , S wh y h,

hw y hs w, hw w ?

KATE DOYLE, Analyst, National Security Archives

all hs zs wh s hs ss h w ww y, h s h w l s ls

sl ss ly , LaWg sv h l

v. i ws LaWg h hl s

h, s bl h h s

. i ws LaWg h hl s v h

hs ss, ws LaWg h v h lsh

w b bl s l whh s wh w

b l ys.

MARTIN SHUPACK, Associate Director for Public Policyfor Church World Service

o y s s h LaWg ws s b-wly

s 1995 s wb Wsh. alhh i h js

b svl ys gl mx, i l

y h h y ys xs Wsh. i

ws LaWg s bls h bl

s s ly v L a/cbb sss.


You cant work at this

coalition unless you

are willing to nd that

compromise ground.

Sometimes you have

to talk to all parties

involved and it can be

exhausting but you have

to be willing to be the

peace maker.

SEAN GARCIA


16/46

i ys, i hv slly h hl LaWg

hs v chh Wl Sv svl s b

s css h S d

s v ss ls vl cb. iv b

ly blss by h s xs LaWg hs sh

wh s s hs .

Mentoring and building community:

BILL SPENCER, CAWG Executive Director 1987-1990i jybl, h w wh hs y

l, Wsh wh ll s, wh l

xy l. ths s w w

b s, b h w ls s wh

bs css wl s bs hy w llw

h s wh ws h. i ws ls

sl w wh hs l, h

, h vl wh w w w wh hs

xy l.

ALISON GIFFEN, former director of the U.S. Ofce on Colombiatw ws s y. i ws 22 ys l

z (lb sll), l wh f h

qly b y ls b vs,

ss l. o y , i wl wh

h j, s, ly l ll x dc

h wl. i h s hs Ls h ,

ss sh v ly bss (l wh Bb glh

h clb H rhs c W t h

Wsh o L a hs). Ls h hw

l l blz l , w

v s- l, ssl sls,

ysl lbby s s vs, s

l, v s. a, bssly, slly, sh ly

l s y h u.S. bssy B

h y sh b wh clb l. B

by h hs , sh sv s blxl. Sh h h y l vly f

l wh wh w ws, h y b s

wh y b y bls y lls, h

y l ly lly wh l l

hv bjvs h y l w

h vs (h ls L a dc) sll

b , , w, ll .


D

iADemimAGes/istockphoto.com


17/46


The LAWG works behindthe scenes and doesnt

want to take a lot of

credit Yet, without

the LAWGs expertise

on Congress and its

work providing a space

for groups to come

together, there would

have been much less

success on the issues

that we care about on

human rights and social

justice in Latin America.

LAEL PARISH

LAEL PARISH, former director of Network in Solidarity with theGuatemala People (NISGUA), Program Ofcer, The Moriah Fundth LaWg s l zs h b u.S.

ly w L a h h

ly h ss sl js h hs. th LaWg

hs l xss l zs s

z s w h h hs l h wh hl

v lsh h w h s b by

zs lslv sss.

th LaWg shl b z bs ws bh h

ss s w l s w. i lvs

h y s b zs. Y, wh h

LaWgs xs css s w v s

s h, h wl hv b h lss sss

h sss h w b h hs sl js

L a.

MARTY JORDAN, former co-Executive Director of theGuatemala Human Rights Commission

my s y h LaWg ws h ly i

db, w ys i h j gHrc. i l b

wh i v bs h ws ll xs. i b

s ls qss l lly y b vy

ws xly . t , LaWg b h

bl l, wh ly L

a; l wh js l h l b wl h wl.

clan anaran r r.


18/46


gHrc hv h ly x w w

s vl s w

gl. i w h i w s v

css bhl Hs rsl vl

s w gl h w h b w , b h

hw bs b . i ll LaWg hy ly

v ls lls sw vs b ls v sl s hw w css.

th LaWg hs lwys ly vl l llv

vy s gl. L a s

ls h 80s. i h 90s, l h l

y ls s b L a s

h LaWg hs b sl h b

ls hs s.

Small but Mighty

DANIEL GARCIA PEA, Colombian scholar and peace activisti ws z, h s i w h LaWg clb S

c . i clb, y h h hy hv h

s s, h y s w l

bs. B s f h clb

v, hy wl h s vs.


19/46


It was amazing, the

rst time I went to the

Colombia Steering

Committee meeting.

In Colombia, you think

that they have a huge

infrastructure and staff,

and then you go and it

is a few people meeting

in a basement. But in

terms of inuencing the

Colombian government,

they are more powerful

than some governments.

DANIEL GARCIA PEA

LISA HAUGAARD, current LAWG Executive DirectorWh wl s , s y z lwys

s w l, wl b h sll s l lss

ss , b w, h ll s hs

s . W hv s y shs h Lh

vl s v s w l: LaWg: o css t.

ch hs l v yssly l.

SEAN GARCIA, LAWG Senior Associate, now at Refugees Internationalth s s h b s sll z h s s

h wh sh w ss h lly hs hs sl

sh wh s s h y y ll

lls. iv v w b wh h ws

s . th b s sv. i ws

sh b y w ls h. i lwys h

h LaWg w x hs l sl, hsls y wl wl js b s b h

y wl ls wh s sl.

i h h s bs s h, w l

lshs. W hv bs w css,

w hv bs fy l h wl, w

hv h y wh y vy s . Wh w ly

s bslly . i h s

s ywh ls.


20/46

OUr CAmPAigNS:What People Can DoWhen The Wok Toethe


iNTErESTiNg TimES:The Cental Aecan WasDuring the 1980s, U.S. concern about Communist

expansion during the Cold War made Central America

insurgencies a primary focus. The U.S. government spent

billions of dollars supporting the abusive Salvadoran

military in their counterinsurgency efforts against the

Farabundo Mart National Liberation Front, and the

Nicaraguan Contras against the Sandinista government.

The United States also supported the Guatemalan

military in their scorched-earth counterinsurgencycampaigns. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed

and millions forced to ee their homes, living within

their countries as internally displaced persons, in refugee

camps in neighboring countries, or as undocumented

immigrants in the United States. Hundreds of thousands

of people throughout the United States mobilized to

oppose these policies, and to support Central Americans

efforts for peace and justice. The Central America

Working Group served to coordinate these advocacy

efforts, a pioneering effort connecting grassrootsactivists with the policy process.

t

ANkbmb/istockphoto.com


21/46


The thing that strikes

me was the remarkable

way that organizations

in a broad community,

with very different

constituencies and

mandates, would come

to together when they

saw a common need to

be more effective.

BILL SPENCER

It was an extraordinary time,

a wonderful and horrible time.

BILL SPENCER, CAWG Executive Director 1987-1990i dc h ll 1987, h dys ds

cw 87, h ls h b hs v ly hcs. ths ws h s h h i/c sl ws

b, s h ls y, h h hs y,

ss l l w h.

o s h h l vy ss h . th b

ws b h cl a, ws bl h ll

hs h , h d css s h r

as. i b s h dys ds, whh

ws h cl nw F mly ply.

th cl a lbby h s, by h -1980s

ws w s h cl a W g. i h w

h b sx hs hs , h i ws h s l. a h , h cl ws w Sh a,

s l cl a. pl h b caWg

hy w ll ssbl, hy

s . S ws w s wh s

h cl a W g s s z,

h bll h l. th cl a W

g ws h sss h cl a Lbby g, s

1988 ws s z.

th b h h ss ws h bl wy h -

zs b y, wh vy ss

s, wl h wh hy sw b v. pl wl s s h s,

h s v h sl ss

w h; ws bl. ev sl hs h

Wsh s h hhs h c il

ply (cip) l s s. Bll gllw, cip , ly

vy l hs h . thy s, w wll

hl y bl, w b, w zl s-

. th sl ss ws h chh h Bh dc .

th ws y s cip s, s wh h cl

ls i v h wh h w s, wh cip v

h msshss av w v wh h.a b sx hs, w h h y b-

zs w s b w ,

wh h nl a p el Slv s . Bll

gllw hl s v, y h bxs

h l w, w s lls vbl.

cy Bhl h hqs ss h h-

hs lbbyss s h x s, h hll , h


22/46

lslv ls, h l b ls, h wys lbby,

hs h vy l l w lly vl h h-

hs lbby .

a h h c b, h ws h h

ss, whh llw h cs sy h b s l

h ls. W w vy vlv h s h gl

s, slly w vlv el Slv. W ll l

h h h hs h ls s. r.

r dlls h b s ly el

Slv, w h s 1988 wh rsv m

mHh, wh ws l lbl, wh h s s-l

wh lsh b y u.S. sss un -

h s, h b 185 vs. W

s vss s blls, h el Slv b

h , h s s h kss r. th shw

h h el Slv ss h ls css, h l w wll

b b, h u.S. ly ws el Slv.L 1989, h w l bl s h w

ll sh. i h ll 1989, h s ws h el Slv

s, h un vly vlv. caWg ly

l l h. i ws xy , wl

hbl . th w ls s h h s w-

y h, y h hh ws hy w

wh h w s bs. W w ll w

l y . d h sv, l ys

ws ll l wh ws h, h y ws

v by h lls, ws xy. W w

hl l wh w ss, y l h y, y l h u.S. v-

s h h Slv v,

whl h bbs h w . i ws z

. W h h h v ws l h r css

v h w, h hy w bb vl h-

bhs. th ws l hsy wh css s ,

bs lly ws , b h ss ws bl.

i b h h, mly h l h

FmLn lsh ps d, s h

hy l h r css v h w, h hy

vls. g bh ss s b h b. i ws syh, bs hy w l w s bh

h. W ll h b w h l, h

hll s l s . i ws h nvb 16,

i h sy ll h y s h l,

h sss h s, whh hy shl ll.

i w chyl ms , sh ws w chh Wl

Sv, sh ws h h, w w ls. i ws ls


J

oRGeiNtheWAteR/istockphoto.com


23/46

ll h Jss wh h b ll. Sh ws h h wh l

el Slv, hy w ll h b h h

Jss. Sh l , i l cy, w w y wh

. mly h ly s h l wh hs l,

h hs J mgv w zy wh h l, hy

100 l s s l h y. th l h

ds h ss. L S Fly mly h h

h Sl ts F h kll h Jss, whh sb-

lsh h l h Slv ly h lls.

i ws h s xy w y l.

i ws hw hbl hs l b h Js-

s h b Wsh l ws l.

i ws xl wh l wh hy

, wh l wh hy w h.

th hs w s h w l h ys w,

lslv w, w, h vs h Jss -

hl hs ssbl, un h h f. Bsh ws s h un ly

l l, s w w h l ys.

a h w hs h w w w. th mly-

mh h Hs, h Lhy a h S-

, . ths s h

h h u.S. l, h u.S. lly s b.

mly h lly ly xy l, h h

w b h h l, -sy ds b, l


It was the most

extraordinary week of

my life. It was an

example of what people

can do when they are

under attack, what

people can do when they

work together.

BILL SPENCER

bll snr and Ann bwll n

cAWG md bldng .


24/46

l mh, h w h, h s. S mh,

b ly s, b s, hs s h

ly i w, w shl v h y.

r dlls h v, s, i blv, , w w!

d i ss sh?

Wh h d-Lhy w, vy ws

s. i b t rs , d ml, sh

w h nl a p el Slv, sh ws

vy xssv l, sh s ss h lbby vs

h b h. t js s h, l s xhs

bbly w why hs w ws h h.

ths w l-v vs b h hs wh

h Slv ly h , b hs hs wl hv

sl h u.S. ly wh h w h l-

s s, h sly y, h h hs s, ll

w h h.

GEOFF THALE, then director of National Agenda for Peace in El Salvador,now Program Director, Washington Ofce on Latin AmericaB h Slv sv, s h s ws h h

hs s lsl h h hs s h

y. pl bh h hs ss h caWg s


cAWG Drr bll snr w dagra n w l.

eDfueNtesG/istockphoto.com


25/46

sss wh ws el Slv. th sv

h h ys. ily h sv, h caWg

ly y l l B, mly hs css

wh w . thy s w

h s ssss h Hll b ss ly el

Slv h Jss w ll; h vlly l

wh b h mly ts F. i ws h ts F h l-

ly l h v ss ly el Slv. th

caWg ws vly vlv el Slv

bs h ts F. Wh h ss s

h ly 90s, h caWg ws vlv h ss

ss m Hs b b l .

Bll S h bs h caWg w vlv ss-

ss wh d mly whh vlly l d

h s sl ss hl h ly

ss h s.

th s LaWgs wll h lbwh h Hs vs h d sl ss. th caWg

h ll hs w sw ls, v , lls h ls

hl ws rbl mh (rsv Bll)

wh s h wl hv h sl.

th ws h w wl ls h s bh rb-

ls s ds. a h ls , caWg

bs t-shs h s n h Bll .

th h, wh ws l h h Bll ws

ls, bs css b swh h v ll

s. th ws hs h vy y h Hll.

CINDY BUHL, former CAWG Legislative Coordinator, nowLegislative Director for Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA)W s wh h cl nw mly F ply

1976. th w s h h hs -

h w b zs, vy sly wl

h s. caWg b s bs h

cl h h h hs whh wl

h h s w h hl, h ws . S

l wh w w cl a l v

h , ws ll s cl a. Wh h clsslv 1983, h b zs h h y

h hy ws h cl a

w. th caWg s wh l lz h hy

w l, h ly l wh h b

w wh ngos w hw lbby y ly.

i w ss sy, wh l bs, wh w-

s, wh h ss, wh sy ws. i h l lshs


The CAWG started when

people realized that

they needed to train

up a new generation of

people, that only people

who had been working

with NGOs knew how to

lobby and try to affect

policymaking.

CINDY BUHL


26/46

wh h l ws, hy l s, b w ls

hy wl ll s , h lss, h lss b h

s y v w, wh vy w s. kl e. my

h nw Y ts ws h s bl l ws

iv v . i ws jy js hv vss wh

h, h hs s ls, b, bl,

vy w , xss l. i ws l

hw w lly wll. t h h h vl h shs Bll

i v ws l hbl. i v, v w v

h h i ws 100% s . nwys,

vy ws v s l ws, wh ll h bs

s h s y wl h ly b.

i hl h h s lslv s h

vy ss , h w wl h s

s [d ] J ocll, [Lhy ] t rs,

[oby ] m my. th i b bs ws -

hsv v ll cl a, ly wh b lslvly. i ws ly s l,

ws h s w lly wh h

lslv sl. i b t rs hs bss

h t ws b w ll Bll i ws h bs

h hy h v . o jws . i ws h s

h y z h yv . nw, LaWg s

l WoLa h h c s x hs

s vy y, hy s l h. B h ws

h bhh .

Bll i w lsly wh J J mly h

Js vs, h s l ys h s,y l w el Slv ly.

th ws h h ws Blls .

H h m cs h, h ws lly, lly -

. S h ws sly , h wl v s . i h

whl w w w, h wl b, h wy

s l bl, h wy s l sh ls,

ws h.

ths ws h -l , w hh h s

hy w h ws h x h, h s wh h

sl h l . a ws , bs h

l el Slv l x s ly wh ws .my v ws wh w h wsls , w h

h , h w wh ks h ,

b h w h l s h, h h l.

pl wys hv ! W h tvs

b s, w bh ll h j u.S. wss, h ps,

h ts, h Wll S Jl, Bs glb, La ts, h

phllh iq, h chs S m, w wl


p

AcoRomeRo/istockphoto.com


27/46

s ll h s vy sl y. W wl h

vy , h l hh h hs l

cl a ly. th ws h l h, y -

lly h hv h . W ls l w ss s

[h ls] dv By, hs l. i h Bll lly

sy h , v sh nv.

GEOFF THALE, then director of National Agenda forPeace in El Salvador, now Program Director, WOLAth caWg ws h l y w f yby

lss s y w hl sss s.

d h s w ys i w caWg s, h ss

ws n h cs. evy ss hs

h ssss bw hs whs s ws -

s y ss hs wh l h y l

c ss h cs h s Bshas y l b . ths w ss

h ws Bll S (h caWg) wh

wl y h h caWg bw hs ss

s wh l, v , h h h,

wh h hv h hy sh.


The CAWG was the

place to go if you wanted

to inuence anybody

elses position or if you

wanted help creating a

consensus position.

GEOFF THALE

cAWG Lgla crdnar cnd bl ard a wr.


28/46

GAIL PHARES, founder of the Carolina Interfaith Taskforce onCentral America and one of the founders of Witness for Peace:Wh i s citca (cl ih ts cl a-

) 1982, i v cy Bhl wh ws h h cl

nw mly F ply s . Sh

ws sly hll s hl s s bl ly -

s s u.S. h cs. Sh hl s sz sh

h s bs wys f b css, h

b wh hhs hy h hs w h hh

b. a h w hw l bs

css. i w h bs h hl, w w bl h

h ss c ls ll h d bs

css .

ANN BUTWELL, former CAWG organizer, now with

the Center for Global Educationi 1991, wh i ws h, h w 3 s l h ll 6-h s bs caWg hv h

s l- s h h.

i ws s ly bs dv Hly WoLa

h hs y w h ll h h ws

s-ly hly yby w hw s. dwl

proceSos lyss h uca S Slv b

y wly ls.

i hs ys, h ws 20- wl h

mhs bl wh s w hl, h s

s h cl. W w hy bh.i h y 1972 Bl h, h b h s hh s

h h h ss s ws ssjs l mx

xb (x hy s h sy y x).

Bs ws sll sy , Bll cy l

y h Hll. i wl v h xb

, h s h ly VW l .

Bll ws s hs ls . Y s h s-

h, h h hs ssbly hh s s

lly ll xly h h y w l .

cy ws ly h q w vbs. o

w wh ly w w , w ll ws l. pls, sh wyly,

hs h v b h h!

a hs Lslv Hl s! Bll hh wl

b hv ws v h ls ws, s h

y h l h l w h i

wl ly l s h! Ss v s b


R

obeRtoGeNNARo/istockphoto.com


29/46

i l s- hh h s y wh h b

.

Shly i l caWg w wh h c glbl

e el Slv, i ws v by . a l s-

s h, i ws -bl dc wh i hslz

7 ws. i h vy b caWg vs !

S h vss w vy bl, l h dw

ss sbs hl q s h y

cy s wh s--b-y-lby

wh B tll WoLa l s ( l

s sy) 2 hl h s yl

wh h ! m L h rls ts F

cl a w hl vss, s by vy sl y

w. o i ws h hsl, caWg ls

s . J el ws !

Expanding the Mission: Becoming the LAWG

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director of WOLAth y i b mx 1993, w s x-

h . S l, l s h b,

hh h hy h h ls w h z,

ws l h ws ssy h b lv. S

w s sss b h s. i ws ls l h

b h s ws sh h l w. th ws

y-l l , y , shl caWg ls

w, sb, x sy h s. th hh s, wh

s b sss, sh x h ,

caWg ws hs LaWg.

J ml h a Fs Sv c s,

w s w l w, s xs

w wll js hv .


I was a treasured

employee because

David Holiday of WOLA

had trained me on this

funny new thing called

the internet that was

not user-friendly and

hardly anybody knew

how to use.

ANN BUTWELL


30/46


LISA HAUGAARD, current LAWG Executive Directori h ly -90s, h LaWg sll s cl a,

h h ss. th ws ss

svv bs css h n l -

, w w s h. W ls w y h

aids s. o ws h aid shl s s

ngos sss h , js svv s, h

shl l sl js, bs hs

ys aid s w l imF-syl js s.

a hy h. i hl wh cl , h ws

ss wh aid. W w lss -s l h sss, gl, Slv, H-

s. a h H mh vs cl a, wh

hss ll lss l hlss. i lly l

w wh Jy s w v h l. Sh sls

sl sll b. Ls s h b hh w

wh $750 ll. By js sy h l bs l ,

h z vy h h, w wh

ox a chl rl Svs, w lls

sh s wh nl cl L rz, w wh w w.

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director of WOLAi w Slv wh g thl wh l h h -

z H mh. i ws hs s h y

l s h l- vl,

js s hy. WoLa LaWg w sl

h lvls h css, whh ws h

h h v b v b.

CENTrAL AmEriCA: Afte the Was

B the eal 1990s, the was n Cental Aeca wee endn, thouh peace accods and electoal tanstons.

Whle decdn to epand ou sson and ben wok thouhout the contnent, the Latn Aeca Wokn

goup dd not abandon ou lon-standn cotents to the people of Cental Aeca. LAWg woked to

buld ntenatonal suppot fo neotated settleents to the cvl was, to poote the econoc and deocatcefos posed n the peace accods, and to stenthen deocatzaton and cvlan contol ove lta foces.

LAWg was a cental plae n pushn the U.S. ovenent to declassf docuents so that U.S. and Latn

Aecan ctzens could oe full undestand the U.S. ole n the pevous volence. LAWg woked wth alles to

ensue assstance follown natual dsastes, ost notabl afte the devastatn 1998 Hucane mtch.

Wn r pa

s

bRoGAN/istockphoto.com


31/46


KATE DOYLE, Analyst, National Security Archiveth whh w llb vy ly wh LaWg ss

. th ws wh h ws v

s h gl th csss qs

h u.S. v. th ahv w hl, w ls

w b h h hs y hs ss h

h . a h s , w ly h

h ss qs sl v u.S. ll -

s gl, h b v

ssl s h hs whh

wl h sls h l s

s hy v h hs vls. a wh i s

b b LaWg ws h h ws vy s s

h bh zs w hs h hs

b hy w ss h w ssly

s w h sh s h hs ss, b-

sh bs zs, zs v vl lbs hs v ss. i ws lly bs ws

h s h h h hs y h ss

v (hs zs hll sy

h v sy) s w

, LaWg ws sl h h. Bh

bs h s ws wll sv hs l

bw ll h sl ss bs Ls

Jy h h ss h b s h.

th s wh i h s vy bl wh h LaWg s.

LAEL PARISH, former director of NISGUA, Program Ofcer, The Moriah FundWh i b h s b y w wh h LaWg h

y bls s ly gl. alwys b bl

ly h ls h LaWg h h hl

h lslv sy s h hs s wh w

h sss lvl l blz s j h .

ths s sh h i ll s b ( s b)

l; h l y h lslv w

wh s b s h hs s h lss s

lslv w sll l- l wy.

o h y s h i hv w wh h LaWg, h wll sy wh y l, ws h s LaWg -

i b y lv. i ws s

h wh ll h s h w gl h y w

h Bsh g h b blly ssss. i

ss bs wh w h hs ws, i ws

lly wh y h zs h b h ss

wl w sh b .

It was really important

because it was for

the rst time that

the human rights

community and the

openness movement sat

down and found common

ground, and LAWG was

instrumental in making

that happen.

KATE DOYLE


32/46


CUBA POLiCy: movn an Unovable Object

Snce 1960, the Unted States has antaned a tade ebao on Cuba unde whch U.S. ctzens ae pohbted

fo open coece and echane wth Cuba, ncludn a ban on eneal tavel. LAWg has woked wth U.S.-

based actvsts and Cuban alles to ase awaeness of the haful pact of U.S. polc towads Cuba. Thouh

the wok of LAWg and othe alles, n 2000, Coness lealzed the sale of U.S. food and edcne to Cuba.

LAWg has woked dectl wth Cuban Aecans oanzn to pove the elatonshp between the two

countes, and to eunte fales sepaated b ths destuctve polc.

GEOFF THALE, Program Director, WOLAi h -90s, WoLa LaWg z h s

cb csl dy s l l u.S.-cb

ls h b bl h. W v ll hs

l Wsh l h hw

v w h u.S.-cb ls. B-

w h h w s h vs wh

h h, h ws s

l h sh cb v-

sh w w u.S. ls, h cl a-

s ss vl h sl, Hls-B

whh h b sll css ss swly. ib h s w l w shl l h

, b Jy bl s h w w

h v h u.S. ly lv, w

hh wh h .

th x y, h a Fs Sv

cs d es v hl-z -

zs h F F -h-

sss b cb ly. Jy i h b

v l b h lslv . i ws h

phllh h w h h ss

h ws h h b . i h w v yby ls b

slvs. W l sy h.

W s ws y v h s

v sx hs y sll h ll h

bs h Hs s cb. B, w

! W v rsv esb ts Nr, sr., Wn i d, w wll a a ca?

Nr hrnnd, Jr.

D

uNcAN1890/istockphoto.com


33/46

That is when we came

up the with strategy

focused on changing

the restrictions on

food and medicine. It

was the only space

left to talk to people,

and the only thing

we could address with

credibility, because of

all the humanitarian and

religious organizations

in the Working Group.

Joy Olson


lsl, vy h Hs wh h v sh

cb -ss h lsl shw h ss -

, x rsv chls rl. rl w

hs w h. Jy h wh rls s wh hy l

h h sh shl h sh ws h l css

h h ws. o h y h ss , rl wl ,

hs ts s h lsl. tw h

ys l, h b lw. th s xl

hv s bs s wh wll

w y b zs wh wll w h Hll. i

ly fs h LaWgs l shs.

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director of WOLAely h cl as, cb s l h

ws ll y h, h ls h -

b. th ws b h cbs sh w h Bhs hrs ls. ovh vyh h. th s

s h Hls-B a, y s h b. th

ws s s h b l h Bhs h

rs w sh w.

a h i s , bs y h

H ws b, i ws h . i b b,

i ws v h aFSc phllh, h w

h s cb, hy w g

l b wh ws h hz h u.S. s

cb ly. i b h h phlly, h s

h, h s ll s v l.th s wh w wh h sy s h-

h ss . Fs h

sss ws h ly s l l, h ly h w

l ss wh bly, bs ll h h

ls zs h w h W g.

W h l w l s hwy ws

h sl . F ys ys h b h

s css, h wl b blls hy wl

h sss. th y ws vy

w bll. W w h bll wh ql

b ds rbls, w lwys h ds, s w h ly s h s . i

w. o l h b s bl, s w ys l,

wh h lsl ss, vy hh h h lbby

h . a hy l, b hy y l wh

w h ly wll v 100 sss h bll, wh

b llly s.

mara, rnd r ng r ad ldr

and grandldrn n ca. Nr hrnnd, Jr.


34/46

DELVIS FERNNDEZ LEVY, President of the Cuban American AllianceEducation FundLaWg hs cb as, w s s sl

h s y bw h u.S. cb, hh

vhl l wh u.S. lsls, v ls,

h a bl l. ths LaWgs sss, w hv

hl h xhbs, l s, ss s, h

hv h bl s ssss u.S.-cbls by v. th bls h LaWg e-

F ssly vy v h cb as

sl by h l h s ss.

MAVIS ANDERSON, Senior Associate, Latin America Working Groupo LaWgs s sl s ys hs b

j j wh WoLa, h h xhb l Love, Loss, and

Longing: The Impact of U.S. Travel Policy on Cuban-American

Families. i b 2005 wh ll sy-

hls oh, d. J L, d. dv S,

ss syhhs nw Y, wh b j hy w b. th l ws blsh l

hhlh h vs y z cb as

wh h b s h ls bs h h-

2004 vl ls s by h u Ss. i

sss, i ss h hhs hs vs -

b wh h ss wl xhb h bl.

Ll i w wh i ws ! i , hy llb-


JAy_b/istockphoto.com


35/46

wh w cb-a hhs, h

w xhb wy h, bl--wh

hhs wh w sls.

o w h h xhb, w h wh wh

! ths ws w y s, s y h s. W

h hw sh w s h xhb

vs ll v h y. W h sss, vl

bly ls, b s s, vl

ss s h xhb s l as b

h l l u.S. ly w cb.

W h h Hs rsvs ryb

Hs o Bl wh s s- l

by css Bll dlh (d-ma). ov h x y---

hl, h xhb ws shw h 20 ls w:

Js Hl, Wy; cb s

mls, ms; hs Yllw Ss, oh;

lly cll 8 Ll Hv, m, Fl; cy Hll ol, cl; lly psbh, psylv;

y ls bw.

F? Ys! B h w s wh i w

y h! L wh vs w bsss w

b h xhb ws . a , ss hw wy h

s- sh h xhb. thw wy! W

h s s l h v, hs -bl w

sh , v h xhb sh h x v.

a ly w ys sh vs, w blsh h

xhb b . i s b l l

s h s sh! a h xhb sl s vlbl sl shws.

Sly, w ls h y ss wh h xhb. th

s hh w h j, ns Hz, J.,

xly h y h dc . W bh

h h b hs y. W l h h ns

ws hw vlbl hs hhs hv b.

SILVIA WILHELM, founder of Puentes Cubanosi s h b LaWg 1995 Wsh,

wh i ws h exv d h cb c dy h z ws cb w .

i ws l h s h hy s b-

h s h Wsh ngos h lxy s

vlv w h cb ss. thy s h, s hy

s w, h lx b vl l h --

lh cb-a y hs ly wll

ly h ss.

I suggested that

photographs of these

victims combined with

their stories would make

a great exhibit for the

public. Little did I know

what I was getting into!

MAVIS ANDERSON



36/46


JUST THE FACTS: Sheddn Lht on mlta Ad and Tann

Stated n 1998, Just the Facts s a copehensve ude to U.S. defense and secut assstance to Latn

Aeca and the Cabbean, a jont poject of LAWgEF, the Cente fo intenatonal Polc, and the

Washnton Ofce on Latn Aeca. Ths poject has also helped conessonal cottees conduct ovesht

of U.S. lta actvtes and has helped to poote tanspaenc and cvlan contol ove lta poas.

Whle the poject bean as a eal publcaton, t s now a constantl updated webpae, www.justf.o, wdel

econzed b actvsts, jounalsts and polcakes as the authotatve souce fo nfoaton on U.S. lta

poas n the eon.

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director of WOLAJs h Fs s h hs h i s . i ws

h b bly sy sss. i s 11

ys , w b h sh 1996. i w h F

F, i ws y ,

cs ezbl s, wh s b h s b

. a i w h h b h. th ws h Shl

h as b, b w hv l xs

h sy ss. W vl y

lyss. th by h sl ws hw sl ws

blly vlbl s h h. i h

vs wh a iss c il ply

s, i y w. tw ys l h h w

lly sl, w w h s h.

ths bs h h wbs b h

u.S. ly s L a. i v s

l bly wh h u.S. ly, wh Shc, bs

hy h l lss, b hy l wh

h s. i h w l y ss vss

b s ly.

i y s b Js h Fs, w w p, chl,

a. Whl w w chl, ph ws

L, h w w s l b ly sss.

th h ws h by l b ph, ws

h lh h . a ls , w w

, a ws ss h ,

hy hv h sw h h w s h ws

wl sw h , i hh ws

l s i w b h hl. Wh i


37/46


, i a h s h s.

a s h wh h h h h h

wl h s, h w wh h. H

sh by w , h h j v wll

h s sy h by hs w.

th s h by h hl. o s sls ws

vy , b l w b hs sh s

h l s h ss. S w ll w

hs swl, a i hb l,

js s w hy sl w h js. S w

s w w s h, w h s wll . ths

ws h s s w sw, l h h ly s h

b ph ss, w chl ss h

Bsh bssy, b hs ws y s, l wh h

lv hh h ss.

a iscs: Jy i vl chl wh lly b h y ph ws s L.

i ww S h ss s. Hs

ss h ss, h cbs w h wh

s w s, h shs ls h l

s whl h ss ll h s. i ws y ,

i v h s w sy....

J ols: i b h y w ls h b s w

h vw h p ll, i hh i ws

yll , s i b i sw h

h ysl lly , sy ysl, i llyblv hs j. Wh i h h, h s h

h lly l h b w 40 s bs

hy hv h l y l. H

h l, s i l h , b i l h w

h h ly Shc s s h h

l h ws hv wh h.

rh h rsv plss s ll, h

ss ly is. css h hb imet

s is b h dod s Sl Fs y

, ws sll ll bs h js.

S hy w ss h bl dod wh hyhh css h b. a hy s hy b w

w l h w l b ly

. S wh h h, hy w h l h

b h q h ly , s h

h S ds ds s s css

wh hy . ths l s sll h lw.

I remember one of the

assistant secretaries

of defense for Latin

America called me from

the Pentagon, and I

thought I was going to

get yelled at When I

picked up the phone, he

said that he really liked

the book and wanted to

order 40 copies because

they didnt have that

information compiled in

any one place.

JOY OLSON


38/46


COLOmBiA: Standn b the Vcts

Coloba suffes fo the lonest unnn uella wa n the hesphee, htwn nsuent oups known as

paaltaes, oanzed ce and du tafckn, and sevee ncoe nequalt. U.S. actvs onl bean to

focus on the stuaton n Coloba n the late 1990s, as awaeness ose about the ost sevee huantaan css

n the hesphee. As n the case of Cental Aecas cvl was, Colobas nsuenc s ooted n decades of

nequalt and poltcal ecluson; but the uella oveents that developed ae oe volent and ntansent.

Seveal hunded thousand people ae foced to ee the hoes fo poltcal volence each ea. Du tafckn,

oanzed ce and escalatn cultvaton of llct du cops have all contbuted to Colobas volence,

eacebated b U.S. countenacotcs polces that have stenthened abusve ltaes and nanced assve

span of toc checals on cops whle faln to povde econoc altenatves fo sall faes.

Bennn n 2000, the Unted States ade assstance to Coloba a pot wth a sees of assve

ad packaes, heavl wehted towads the Coloban lta. The Wokn goup successfull advocated fo

nceased socal ad to Coloba, ncludn ad fo dsplaced people, developent ad to help faes swtch to

leal cops, and assstance fo judcal efos, as well as calln fo epanded du teatent poas n the

Unted States. LAWg has opposed lta ad and the aeal fuaton poa, and povded nfoaton to

Coness on huan hts abuses esultn n oe than $100 llon n lta ad ben placed on hold. LAWg

also woks to povde ntenatonal attenton to assst Coloban huan hts defendes, tade unonsts and

othes who have been taets of theats, attacks and assassnatons.

LISA HAUGAARD, current LAWG Executive Director

Wh w s w clb, ws s wh , ws sss s. cs esl Bb glh

h clb H rhs c sh . cl Z

hs h clb S c ls ll

s, w h w hs. i ws , b w s,

h ss hs v y h s h. th s ss ws

h h ss, h ll sl ss s,

b vy qly pl clb, j u.S.

ly, ws bvs h w h w .

i 1998 w hl b b z l

bs s clb, w gv,

w v h az jl wh h uSs vsl l sy s sy ws

b . th ls w js b x

h s w sly s S Js gv.

as w v h , h ll ly h yll

hs, ll y z ( l ss y)

p as, Why y b h h? th s ws s

s h hs s h w h h vs ,farr w d r drd u.s.-nrd

rang aagn. Wn r pa


39/46

When we started working

on Colombia, it wasnt

staff who initiated it, itwas grassroots groups.

I was daunted, but once

we started, no other issue

has ever gripped my

heart so hard.

LISA HAUGAARD


w w s h w sq h

h vs s. W ls hs s

s l by h u.S.- sy s

hy v h s. i ws zy l vs

hs , b v s ll v vw h h

hs bls u.S. s ls h wl

vy w ys. i hv lwys vl s h h

l wh sh h ss wh s hs s l

ss h sll -h h hs w u.S. zs l

hl h qs js.

Wh i h b hs ys i fsh h s

w (, rb k Js ml Vv H rhs

Wh, cls Sls asy, Bb glh h

clb H rhs c, W t WoLa,

a iss cip, hs) h wh h S d

nSc ls b h s hs , ls

s. a w w h b w. i s sss wscl a ll v . i ws lly v by h, h

hsy ws sl, ws vy sb. th cl

as ls l s, wy, w v

sl by sll wh b v

ly w sys whh ss ws js hl lhs

h h y h ll l h h

y lls wh h ls wh w h ll;

wy, h ly s v s h hs

bs wll b h. B ys l, whl y

sy h lls hv b h sv, lss

sss sssss hv l, w ll l hv f h hs vl, w l

wh ly h sly s ll vls. a hs

v h s ls wh s h

v ys h s wl b hl

lhbl y, b ws v b s.

W w lly l s wh h cl

as bs hy hh hs ly ws h bs h

s sl b. o s s ws xl h sqs

hs ls, h s wh v lbl ds. i

ws bl l s.

i b sl, s hh-sl wh ws hl s w l h y,

h s, ll wh h sw ss w wll

. a i s, w hv sw ss,

w hv y. W v hv h lbls h Bl

cs, bs hs s cls .

Fs w h v J mgv h hs ws h x

j h hs ss L a h u.S. ly s


40/46

b h. o h ws b, hs s v. th w

s wh mgvs s clb ly

l wh yh , HiV/aids

s. chhs, h s, Wss p,

s WoLa cip ll bh hs z, y

y, s w ls vs, b sbly, s y l s,

o s lwys w h bs. th clb vss w

s; y h s h l z lss

vss a-clbs, h hs vss, s ls,

hh ls, ls, ll h ss h hws

wl b s hy v xs.

o h s s wh hs b

ws b h vs sh clb

Wsh. Whl h l v ll h l

sy w, hy ll sy

vl s h ss. W bh

h h cl ss by h-yl pls, h d czs , h il ns

Lw e B S. i ws h h u.S.

v bs hs lq, l

ls wh w wh hy w l b.

th clb bl w wh WoLa, cip uS

o clb 2005, h ws , bs ws

h sy, hs s wh w w h ly . W l

v h ly bs w h l s, s w l

l s h h . Wh h ds

l h Hs, w w bl ly l l

hw h h , w wh H rhsWh, h il css g, H rhs Fs, rs

il asy, hs. a w s

s s . ths ws lly l ,

bs s w s l s w

bs w l hvbl -wy sl h h

s ll l ly .

W hh h h b l sss

v, b hs ws cl a, h ws

b hs h v. S y hv w wh wh yv ,

wh w h ws h hhs h s. ths l h

psby p p, Wss p, h yl lhh clb w , bs h l wh w

b v.

Js ly, w bh clb vs as

Jz Wsh, wh h vss. as w

sz, w w h wh s b sbl

bsl, as s hs llw clbs, Wll, w

b by s w, s. W b h hs


cld drawng a war, cla.

elanr sarr


41/46

We didnt always win

the battles, but there

were very few days in

retrospect when I felt like

we had compromised too

much or done too little.

ALISON GIFFENh wh w s zs. th l y s---vss

clb s hs s s ll bsls.

ALISON GIFFEN, former director of the U.S.Ofce on Colombiath hhlh h clb w h s ys: th y

y h w. i b -l clb w

s wh LaWg s wh h w bly

h hs h b l. W wl wh

s l wl lly v h lb x

h, wh l s bls (h ly hs l w s s h wy LaWg ws). Fh,

h ws s s clb vs

w h b h whv ssbl, whh h

ws nY ch b v ss

lsl css. W lwys w h bls, b

h w vy w ys s wh i l l w h

s h ll.


clan Aan Daard ladr mllr mnada r a r daard ar.


42/46

mExiCO: Huane Bodes

LAWg bean wokn to poote deocatzaton and electoal efo n meco n the 1990s, n the nal eas

of the pefect dctatoshp, one-pat ule b the Pri. in 2000, meco enteed the ea of oden deocac

wth the electon of Pesdent Vcente Fo of the Natonal Acton Pat. Despte posed efos, mecos

poltcal tanston s fa fo ove. mecan polce foces and lta contnue to cot huan hts abuses,

ncludn abta detentons, totue, and eta-judcal eecuton. mecos judcal sste contnues to accept

confessons sned unde totue as evdence, and often fals to popel nvestate o posecute huan hts

ces. man of these pobles ae llustated n the case of Cudad Juaez, whee ove 300 woen have been

klled n the past ten eas, and escalatn volence assocated wth du tafckn n an eons.

mecan ants n the Unted States, and bode countes alon the ro gande have suffeed

fo hash counteteos polces nsttuted follown the Septebe 11, 2001 attacks n New yok and

Washnton. Alon the U.S.- meco bode, LAWg s wokn to educate polcakes and the publc

about how U.S. bode contol statees affect local countes and contbute to the deaths of ants.

We also wok to eet publc pessue fo U.S. polcakes on the mecan ovenent to nsst on pope

nvestatons nto the Cudad Juaez udes. And we denounce huan hts volatons cotted b mecan

authotes, and povde help to showcase the effots of ou mecan huan hts patnes.

JOY OLSON, former director of CAWG/LAWG, current director of WOLA

th b s w ys ws w Lhy Lw l- [whh bs u.S. s sy s h

vl h hs wh y]. W h L F, wh

w w mx w wh mx h hs s,

l ly s h hs bss. W

wl h ss h ebssy, w bh h b ls,

b hy h hly y h bs. B w w lsly

wh t rs, w wl h bssy, h -

h , h wl ss Lhy. th

w l xls ls wh s w lly s-

s l h Lhy Lw.

SEAN GARCIA, LAWG Senior Associate, now at Refugees InternationalB i s LaWg, h mx s h b l-

s. o Fx h pris lhl ls

ws b ws sy h ls h b

ls ly hv. S wh w s hs

h w? o h hs i lly ws h fxbly


eRicfoLtz/istockphoto.com

A

RtisRAms/istockphoto.c

om


43/46

What we were able to

bring to this relationship

is you bring the

voice, you bring the

grassroots, you bring

the stories about how

this is a burden on your

communities and we will

show you how to work

Washington.

SEAN GARCIA

h s wh w . th w -

sss l bss by h ly g b h

u.S. f v l h s ws vy l. S, l

hs vy z ws h sy h hs s

wh w shl l y. o h bs hs

i l Ls, ws wh l vy s ll

y s hs b hs wh y h.

is sll z, s s h sll hvs h

b s l s y ss hs sll

hvs h hy wll v y ws l

l. Y w, h wl s hvbl l, s

s whs hs.

th s h i ws s s ws b h u.S.-mx

b bs ws wh h b ws

s h , wh h u.S. ws js b x

wh b-s b s ls, ws js h

wh w s s b hs sy s hb l y h s. i ws ly L as

h w by hs ly, vwhlly mxs, ws

sy . i ws bl ly h sl

s bs bss, js ly by l

h s, b ly by b l s bs h

s. W hv s l h b, w -

lly w h s. W h s by h s s

az h ts wh l h ws bs. i

w w s l s

h wll bs h ws sl bl w a-

z. i s b y h sl.B w h bl i h ws s-

l. Wh w w bl b hs lsh s y b

h v, y b h sss, y b h ss b hw hs

s b y s w wll shw y hw w

Wsh. ths ws vy slw bl bs hy w vy s-

l s. thy h h s w h b hs

s l s s y hs hy w sbly

b b v by Wsh s s w

hv bl b s. W hv y s h h

ss, js hl h sl dc x.

th h h w ws y s sls. W hv sss h h js sy s y y-

wh. Yll v h ly lss y s b .

i y l b sy wy h ws v sy

b y ly wy h bss, h

hs, wh wl h b? thy hl y s

w wh h ll lys, h shs, h ys

h w ls. o h hs hy wh s h



44/46

h ws vsh whs h s.

Wh h b l s bs, s vs by h

b l y l b s ws v s.

Wh hy s h l l lvl

vsh b, ls s h h

hy. th ws s l y l

ls h -ly s. Shl hl h

wy h wl b by h b l js bs

hy L l b wh hy w zs

ll ss bs hy hv h id wh h

js whl s ss whh l b slv hh -

l y l. th ws ls b h hvy

hly h ws hs l s. ths s

hh s hs s lhs ss

lh 2 3 ls . W w s vl

s b ws l s sls h

w lly h y. th sl h ws w ws , z h hs wll ly h wh

w s h b l llw h y llly,

h b wh s h

hvy-h .

i ws v az txs i s hs ll

w h u.S. s h b, vy mx, i s

hs s Ssh bs h s s

s Ssh ll h s y s hs b, wh bly

wh lly , hy shw.

thy w l b hs y mxs hw hy hv

h h y h h s hy sw hv l hls, bs s hy

v b hw h s, h hy

s mx s mx b sv by

mx l. ah, hs g mxs, wv

h ! oh, by h wy hws y , hy ?

th hs h b hs w ws hw lz h

b h b h x l sy ssss

bs w s hs w h h h iq w.

W l s l sy s-

. Wh w wh ssl s w l ,

y w s y , w w bl bs cssw h b s wh ws . B h h wl

b s x h h f h css,

i h, oh, g hs s ll b. a bl b

sl v, w h ss h w w

ls b w w ls shw i s

ll s h h b sv s. i ws l by -

s s, h , wll y w h w y s


mikADx/istockphoto.com


45/46

My favorite memory

is seeing members of

Congress dancing with

LAWG staff during a

delegation to Juarez to

call for justice in cases of

violence against women.

LAURIE FREEMAN

b hs wy hll w v s hs h. W b

by sy w v s . thy s s,

b qls l sy, b qls w

s. a h y , wll, hw w w wh h

ws hy v h w h? W ls h v, i

h, 96 2? i ws h h w s h s b

h h b h wy hs h.

th s h w ws b h

l w s, y lly sll h b y

w sss . th

s b s y sll b -

s bs h s ll l. th ws lly l b w

s, wh h h? Y s s s ll y

sss s h w s wh y b h s

b s y. Y l b hs L

s h y sy s h hbhs

w zs? th b s sll h b hs, ls wh h - y, ws .

LAURIE FREEMAN, former WOLA associatemy v y s s bs css wh

LaWg s l Jz ll js ss

vl s w. i ws vy rougH -l

wh vyh mx ls, h u.S. ebssy, s

h bs css y h

. a h ws h ls h h s. i ws -

lly xhs ls h ls ss hw hy ls hhs h w l by h hs. a

ws hyslly xhs bs ws h ys s

vwsw l y hv s s. S

h ls y, h b h hl w w sy js ss

h b el ps. th b hs s s-lss

l, h ws b LaWg s b b

css w , h sss h y

vbs b Jz, lb b sly wh

h l, lb hv ll hs

ls s sbs.



46/46

We hope ou enjoed soe of the an tales fo ou coaltons

capans. Ths sto has no endn, snce the challenes of buldn ajust U.S. foen polc to Latn Aeca and the effots of the Latn

Aeca Wokn goup and an patnes contnue toda. Fo oe

nfoaton, see www.law.o .

Documents

History Latin American Working Group