23/09/09
Conference at Bolivar Hall to discuss the latest on United States military bases in Colombia

A group of representatives from various solidarity organisations gathered at Bolivar Hall to discuss once again the presence of US military bases in Colombia.

Along with the Venezuelan Embassy, the following solidarity groups participated in this event: Meru, movement from Ecuador; Polo Democratico, political group from Colombia; Rock Around the Blockade; Hands off Venezuela and Chile SCDA. They debated about the threats which will be imposed in Latin America if there were to be any US military bases.

The conference began with the projection of the documentary Hidden in Plain Sight, which showed a historical timeline on the effects of US military bases in Latin America and the training of Latin American officers by US military personnel at the School of the Americas on torture, kidnappings, interrogations and disappearances.

Counsellor Alvaro Sanchez from the Venezuelan Embassy said: “The military bases are an extension of Plan Colombia, and the consequences will be more displaced people as well as an escalation of the internal conflict.

Sanchez also spoke about the letter written by US Congressmen Christopher Dodd and Patrick Lehay to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, in which they complain about the failure of the Obama administration to inform the US Congress about the installation of US military bases in Colombia. 

Diego Almeida, from the MERU Movement, highlighted the problem which has lived in Ecuador until recently regarding the US military bases in Manta.  

All of the attendees had the opportunity to speak with the panellists and to inform them a bit more about the United States plans with the implementation of the military bases.