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Neighbors
who work in DC: the Washington Office on Latin America
BY
DORIS DEPAZ
Takoma
Park and even Silver Spring are home to many people who work
in progressive organizations based in Washington, DC. Among
them are several staffers at the Washington Office on Latin
America (WOLA), a human rights organization founded in 1974
by U.S. citizens concerned about the support of our government
for repressive regimes in Latin America. There is another
September 11 in U.S. history. On September 11, 1973 our government
had a key role to play in the overthrow of the democratically
elected government of Chile. One of WOLA's founders was there,
and lived through it.
Coletta
Youngers
Bill
Spencer, WOLA Executive Director, Coletta Youngers, Senior
Associate and Rachel Neild, Senior Associate, all live in
our area. This reporter had the chance recently to talk to
Youngers about her sixteen years working to promote respect
for human rights in Latin America.
According
to Youngers, many congresspeople recognize the great work
WOLA does with regard to Colombia, Peru, El Salvador, Mexico,
Ecuador and Caribbean nations, among others. WOLA works closely
with other nongovernmental organizations to inform U.S. policy
towards Latin America and the Caribbean. In most cases, direct
U.S. intevention does not further the cause of peace nor is
respect for basic human rights always a part of our policy.
Youngers
maintains that WOLA has achieved a lot in terms of promoting
laws that support respect for human rights. She pointed out
that a lot depends on who's in Congress and who's in the White
House. For example, in the '80's: "we lived through a
lot of hostility. With Jimmy Carter we had a president who
opened doors for human rights groups but that all changed
with the arrival of Ronald Reagan. During the '90's there
was at least talk of supporting human rights. With the first
Bush administration there was some dialog. But now nongovernmental
organizations working on human rights are going through a
hard time because we're not being welcomed by Congress or
the White House. Having said that, there are some Republicans
committed to human rights who have worked with WOLA."
Youngers
adds: "even though our work gets harder every day, we
have had many victoriesfor human rights in recent months in
different countries. Working within the walls of Congress,
we have had some success in ensuring that the Department of
State includes respect for human rights in antidrug operations
in Bolivia. We have promoted crop alternatives and helped
promote the Leahy Amendment to the annual foreign operations
and defense spending bills, which limits assistance to security
forces violating human rights".
"WOLA
presses for the declassification of U.S. documents that can
help Peru's commission on truth and reconciliation. A representative
from WOLA attended Colombia's national congress for peace.
WOLA members have met with staff of the United Nations Commission
for Human Rights to talk about regional conditions. All of
this is part of regular work our staff does, offering seminars,
traveling frequentely throughout the Americas, carrying out
investigations and meeting with human rights organizations
and activists."
Citizen
involvement is key to the success of WOLA's work. Youngers
asserts that community debate and sending messages to Congress
and to the media about specifics of U.S. policy can have great
impact. Congresspeople are sensitive to communications from
consituents and WOLA tracks voting records. WOLA works closely
with constituent groups to launch campaigns where appropriate.
She points out that very soon Latinos will make up 25% of
our population and have the potential for helping to ensure
better U.S. policies towards their countries of origen.
For
more information about WOLA, please visit their website at
www.wola.org
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