It is tragically predictable: when a story of violence or oppression breaks in Latin America, military graduates of the U.S. Army's School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., usually turn out to be involved. Research on participation by SOA graduates is done by SOA Watch, headed by Maryknoll Fr. Roy Bourgeois. Typically the findings are publicized both by SOA Watch and by Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D.-Mass.), whose bill to close SOA (H.R. 611) now has 148 cosponsors in the House, 15 in the Senate. Examples:

Mexico - After the Acteal massacre in December, SOA Watch named 13 SOA graduates playing key roles in Mexican military policy in Chiapas and southern Mexico. Kennedy sent details to every member of Congress.

Guatemala - After Bishop Gerardi's assassination in April, SOA Watch studied his Nunca Mas report. Most of the human rights violators named in the report are SOA graduates. Ten are key players in the notorious Guatemalan D-2 intelligence agency, dedicated to "finding and eliminating leftists," and formed the backbone of the cabinet under brutal dictatorships of Gen. Romeo Lucas Garc’a and Gen. Efra’n Rios Montt.

Colombia - Late in July Kennedy released a new report by the National Council of Churches' Latin America Working Group. It said 124 of the 247 Colombian military personnel cited as responsible for human rights violations -- murders, kidnappings, disappearances and torture -- are SOA graduates. Of all Latin countries, Colombia has had the most SOA graduates.

Help close SOA CTA is working closely with SOA Watch in the movement to close the SOA. Fr. Roy Bourgeois will be a featured speaker at CTA in Milwaukee. Right now, check with SOA Watch about how to lobby your legislators for the Kennedy bill, and even sooner, for an appropriations amendment to cut SOA operating funds.

Many CTAers will also travel to Fort Benning, Ga., Nov. 21-22 for a prayer vigil at the gate of the SOA. Goal is for 1,000 persons to make the commitment to "cross the line" in civil disobedience, risking arrest and imprisonment to honor the victims of atrocities by SOA graduates.

Get full details from SOA Watch in Georgia (706 682-5369) or Washington, DC (202 234-3440). On the Web: www.soaw.org