The "War Against Terrorism" Unmasked in Guatemala Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit source - cana11@juno.com As lead up to "School of the Americas" convergence, in Fort Benning, Georgia, this information is circulated about the new "anti-terrorist" Commissioner in Guatemala. It reveals the real objectives of the U.S. war against terrorism. ...Luis November 15, 2001 THE SELECTIVE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM: The Guatemalan National Security Commissioner Within a month of the tragic September 11 events in the United States, on 10 October 2001,Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo publicized his plan to name a National Security Commissioner for Antiterrorism. Just five years from the end of its destructive 36-year armed conflict, that left over 200,000 people assassinated or disappeared, and where State forces were responsible for over 93% of the repression, Guatemalans are quite familiar with the devastating effects of non-discriminate violence. After Portillo´s announcement, one of the major newspapers explained that the Commissioner´s objective "would be to protect the national territory in the eventuality of a terrorist attack, after the United States attacks against Afghanistan." Minister of the Interior Byron Barrientos, himself signaled out as a engaging in terrorist tactics during the 36 years of State repression, explained without irony that the person named would know how to combat terrorism. (Prensa Libre, 11 October 2001). The day after this announcement, President Portillo met with the US Ambassador in Guatemala Prudence Bushnell and UScouncilors and security personnel to propose three candidates for the National Security Commissioner for Antiterrorism. Portillo stated to the press the "need to have a trustworthy person who will have a direct relation with the president and with them-the United States." He further argued that an institution was needed, "that processed all the intelligence information, working 24 hours in coordination with the Embassy and US security systems." (Prensa Libre, 12 October 2001) The following day, 12 October 2001, President Portillo named retired general Miguel Angel Calderon as National Security Commissioner. Calderon, backed by US government officials, was recommended to the President for his capacity and preparation to occupy the new position. The creation of said position no longer was explained as result of the US attacks against Afghanistan, but rather as a "result of the attacks on 11 September in Washington and New York, those that have generated crisis in the Middle East and fear of possible attacks in the countries of Latin America." (Prensa Libre, 13 October 2001) The Guatemalan Armed Forces´ Department of Information and Publicity (DIDE) explained that Commissioner Calderon would work with the other Central American antiterrorism Commissioners, named by Central American governments, to "serve as links between the presidents and the United States." This appointment, they further explained, would function as part of the Central America Commission of Armed Forces (CEFAC). Military sources offered that the new Security Commissioner coordinates with civilian and military dependencies to guarantee that terrorist acts do not occur on Guatemalan soil. Former General Calderon is a career military man. He entered the Escuela Politecnica (the Military Academy) in 1966, graduating in the same class as current Defense Minister, Eduardo Arevalo Lacs. He studied the "C-3" course in the School of Americas in 1969 and returned in 1987 to graduate in "command and estado mayor." This is the same US institution responsible for the training of more than 60,000 Latin American military and police forces,including many of the continent´s most notorious human rights violators. During the 36-year Guatemalan conflict (1960-1996),Calderon specialized in the tactics of counterinsurgency. At the end of his military career he served as commander of the General Barracks,General Inspector of the Army and then subdirector of the Estado Mayor. When Portillo assumed the presidency in January 2000, Calderon was one of the twenty generals forcibly retired. (elPeriódico and Prensa Libre, 13 October 2001). While President Portillo now boasts that Calderon was appointed due to his military trajectory, sources within the Armed Forces offered that this appointment was due to US pressure. The US Embassy spokesperson denied the charge and posited that Portillo, in his meeting with Ambassador Bushnell, offered to create such post. Guatemalan humanrights activists protested this appointment for further strengthening the Armed Forces in "national security" matters. In a regime already dominated by the former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, and his right-wing political party the Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Calderon´s appointment is all the more troubling. Furthermore, it is a direct violation of the Peace Accords that explicitly proscribe the civilian control of public security. During his October 18th, 2001 inauguration as National Security Commissioner, Calderon stated, "It is of national interest that we involve ourselves in this period where we see a war declared bythe most powerful country in the world against terrorism." While stating that security measures would be implemented in "critical areas" like airports, important buildings and embassies, his acceptance of the amorphous terms of "security" and "terrorism" as defined by the US government officials was evident. Oddly, as US officials support and foment a war against terrorism, including direct support for official posts like Calderon´s in Guatemala,few mention the training of some of the world´s terrorists on US soil: many Latin American military and police officials, responsible for assassinations, disappearances, tortures and genocide, were trained at the US taxpayer-funded School of the Americas. This weekend, thousands people will converge on Fort Benning (Columbus, Georgia) to protest the continued existence of the School of the Americas, recently re-baptised the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. * For more information about the campaign to close down the School of the Americas and the events this weekend, see the School of Americas Watch webpage: http://www.soaw.org tel: 202-234-3440. * For more information about increasing repression against community based human rights, development and indigenous organizations in Central America, under the guise of the "war against terrorism," contact Rights Action at: info@rightsaction.org tel: 416-654-2074. 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