U.S. Out of Colombia Committee
A Project of the International Action Center
Ramsey Clark, founder
Tel: 212.633.6646 Fax: 212.633.2889 Email: iacenter@iacenter.org www.iacenter.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: DEIRDRE SINNOT
DECEMBER 4, 2000 or TERESA GUTIERREZ 212.633.6646
EYEWITNESS COLOMBIA
Is the U.S. launching a new Vietnam War?
Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General leads IAC delegation
to guerrilla zone in ColombiaMr. Clark and Teresa Gutierrez, Chairperson of the U.S. Out of Colombia Committee
to present eyewitness accounts of visit to San Vicente de Caguan, ColombiaIsmael Guadalupe from Vieques, Sandra Barros from Hunter SLAM
and others will join Mr. Clark at a forum on December 12 to condemn Plan ColombiaOn Tuesday, December 12 the IAC/U.S. Out of Colombia Committee will hold a forum on Colombia at the Martin Luther King Auditorium at Local 1199/SEIU, 310 West 43rd St.
The forum will feature eyewitness reports of a fact-finding delegation that was led by Ramsey Clark. The delegation traveled in Colombia from November 27th to December 1st and met with trade unionists, youth, and scientists as well as with members and leaders of the guerrilla movement.
Speakers will provide information and give reports to demonstrate that Plan Colombia is a plan for war and not to fight drugs, as described by the media and the government.
"When the Clinton administration passed a $1.3 billion military aid package for Colombia this past summer, it set the stage for a new Vietnam," said Gutierrez. "In fact, aid is a misnomer. The $1.3 billion military package is an attack, not assistance for Colombia. It is an attack against the people of Colombia and all those struggling for progressive change. Our delegation heard from a broad sector of Colombians, who told us that the overwhelmingly majority of people in Colombia oppose Plan Colombia. In fact, most Latin Americans oppose Plan Colombia."
Gutierrez continued, "The Dec. 5th New York Times article on the death squads indicates that the situation in this country is becoming more and more critical. We are appalled by the idea of integrating the death squads into the peace process in Colombia. 35,000 Colombians in the last 10 years alone have been killed. The overwhelming majority of them have been killed at the hands of the very death squads the U.S. now wants to bring into the peace process. General Barry McCaffery is absolutely wrong when he says that these death squads have broad support. Only the most virulent pro-war reactionaries support Carlos Castaņo and his like."
At the December 12th forum a video recorded by members of the delegation will be premiered that includes an interview with Commander Raul Reyes of the FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
The December 12th forum will be held at the Martin Luther King Center at Local 1199/SEIU, 310 West 43rd St. in Manhattan, between 8th and 9th Avenues. For more information contact 212.633.6646 x26 or 917.318.1161.
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For background information on this important struggle, go to: U.S. Out of Colombia Committee of the International Action Center
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