LASC Position on the Merida Initiative
LASC writes that “Numerous Mexican and international human rights organizations have expressed concern that Merida Initiative aid for Mexico’s military and police constitutes a recipe for unchecked human rights violations. . . . Vague human rights provisions in the bill would not change this reality.”
We agree.
And now that the human rights conditions” which Amnesty International and WOLA advocated as necessary for them to support the Merida Initiative are being softened into ‘guidelines’, we urge them to make their voices heard in opposition to this military aid package. An action alert from Amnesty may undo all of the tacit support they’ve given this Bush initiative to date. RJ
LASC Position on the Merida Initiative
June 2008
As Congress enters the final stages to approve the Merida Initiative, an aid package to Mexico and Central America that seeks to further militarize the region under the guise of the U.S.’s “war on drugs/war on terror,” we find manifold reasons to stand in opposition:
1) Money for Central America through the Merida Initiative would mark a significant increase in funding for military/police equipment and training in the region at a time when the need is for anti-poverty and crime-prevention programs.
The Merida Initiative, also known as Plan Mexico, builds on the troubling model of Plan Colombia, which has poured billions of dollars into a failed military approach to combating drugs while doing little to address rural poverty and urban unemployment. Central America has already become a satellite for U.S. military and police training in Latin America, despite the poor human rights records of some governments in the region. With the opening of the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in 2005, El Salvador-already the second largest recipient of military training in the region-became the hub of police training. The ILEA has the capacity to train 1500 students per year, more than the current Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Cooperation, also known as the SOA. U.S. officials refuse to acknowledge the corruption, misconduct and human rights violations committed by the Salvadoran police. To the contrary, the Merida Initiative now proposes to further support ILEA and further equip those police. Meanwhile, the Initiative wholly ignores the root problems that continue to compel regional involvement in drug trafficking-poverty and unemployment.
2) The Merida Initiative would further threaten human rights by supporting repression of the rights to free speech and protest.
The money from the U.S. would be an open invitation for the Mexican and Central American governments to continue using “iron fist” and anti-terrorism laws to crack down on legitimate social movements.
Over the last decade, Mexican police and military personnel have repeatedly committed human rights violations in attempt to silence civil dissent. Taking the most recent example, in 2006 security forces responded to civil society protest in Oaxaca with hundreds of arbitrary detentions, acts of torture, and over 20 assassinations. Numerous Mexican and international human rights organizations have expressed concern that Merida Initiative aid for Mexico’s military and police constitutes a recipe for unchecked human rights violations.
Meanwhile, an “anti-terrorism” law passed by the Salvadoran legislature in 2006 uses language that, like the Iron Fist laws implemented in other Latin American countries, is very vague, leaving them open to a wide variety of repressive applications. The Salvadoran government has already used these laws to further criminalize protest tactics commonly used by social movements. The US Ambassador to El Salvador has expressed explicit support for police crackdowns, condoning the use of police force in protecting US trade interests. Through funding the ILEA – in addition to other police training programs in Central America and the Caribbean – the Merida Initiative would legitimize and justify such crackdowns. Vague human rights provisions in the bill would not change this reality.
Finally, there is evidence that the countries receiving aid from the Merida Initiative are already working to militarize their police forces. The separation between police and military in El Salvador and Guatemala, the top two Central American recipients of Merida Initiative aid, has declined dramatically in the years since Peace Accords led to the demilitarization of police in those countries. There has also been a resurgence of death squad-style murders, some linked to the police, in both Guatemala and El Salvador.
3) The Initiative would not effectively combat drug-trafficking.
Military interdiction efforts have a “balloon” effect. In Colombia, U.S. military efforts to stop coca production and trafficking in key locations have simply shifted production and trafficking to new locations, causing the number of coca-producing states to jump from 8 to 24 over the course of Plan Colombia. The Merida Initiative would likely have a parallel effect on drug trafficking, simply diverting trafficking routes from one place to another and forcing cartels to become more sophisticated.
Military interdiction efforts fail because they ignore a root cause of the problem:
U.S. demand. Widespread drug use in the U.S. makes drug trafficking a lucrative business. Colombia has taught us that so long as demand remains high, even a multi-billion dollar military solution will fail. Even the right-wing RAND Corporation has concluded that far-flung attempts to stop drugs at their source is 23 times less cost effective than domestic drug treatment at home. While Merida proposes another step down the failed supply-side path, no parallel funds are being destined to state-side drug demand reduction programs.
4) Programs like the Merida Initiative have a worrisome lack of oversight and transparency.
Congress has not been given sufficient information about how the Central American and Mexican police will utilize the funding included for the region in the Merida Initiative. The examples of the ILEA and the SOA are instructive, in that officials at these institutions have actually blocked availability to basic information. Human rights groups that have sought to monitor the SOA and the ILEA have been denied documentation, such as course descriptions and names of students and instructors. Though backers of these military and police training programs promise conditions will be placed on the funds, given the history of poor oversight of such programs there is no guarantee this will occur.
In addition, the process in Congress for assessing the Merida Initiative was rushed and unclear, preventing opposition voices from making themselves heard. By including the Merida Initiative in the Emergency Supplemental bill to fund the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, promoters of the initiative short-circuited the normal process of going first through authorization and then through appropriations, preventing all sides and viewpoints to be heard and considered.
5) US military and police training contributes to violence rather than diminishing it.
Ample evidence gathered by SOA Watch and other human rights groups demonstrates that US training increases the level of official and extrajudicial violence in Latin America. There is no reason to believe that any of the structural problems have been addressed when it comes to police training. Reports from Mexico indicate that over 200 soldiers and police trained and equipped by the US have used the skills they learned to join and prop up various drug cartels. The proliferation of repression tactics only perpetuates the cycles of violence. The governments of Latin America do not need more police and military equipment and training from the country whose training has only raised the level of violence in the hemisphere.
The Latin America Solidarity Coalition demands:
1) No funding for the Merida Initiative.
2) Close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security and Cooperation (SOA).
3) Close the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) for Latin America.
–
The Latin America Solidarity Coalition is an association of US-based grassroots Latin America and Caribbean solidarity groups. Visit us on the web at http://www.LASolidarity.org
The 4th Latin America Solidarity Coalition conference will take place from April 14-15, 2007 in Chicago.
Tags: certification, cornyn, dodd, Drug War, human rights, leahy, Merida Initiative, Plan Mexico, war on drugs
Merida Initiative Articles | admin 06/18/2008
1 Comment to “LASC Position on the Merida Initiative”
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By DKINN, 06/30/2008 @ 3:29 pm
DARRYL KINNEY 7301 98TH AVE
UNITD
KENOSHA.Wi. 53142 April 28,2008
MEMO ADDRESSED TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE
I am a citizen of the United States and have been addressing several Senators with the issues and problems to follow
including Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama as well as several others and will in the near future be speaking in front of
you all because of Americans being held hostage by Navy personnel from Great Lakes Navy base as well as by
veterans used to Stalk and intimidate by the abuse of Power of the IRS and the United States Dept. of Justice. I
have been taken out of and kept from employment by them as they attempt a hostile search for money, i have my
phones tapped and computer hacked by government personnel spending alot of government budget following me
everyday for at least 8 months, all my family and past associates has been paid by them to create some ftctious story
because of a conspiracy, initated by the FBI from Chicago and brought to Wisconsin. All of this is a clear violation of
my Civil Rights and also the rights of my daughter who has been questioned and harrassed at school by them, she
is 5 years old. I have had to replace my computer 3 times because they are camped upstairs and i listen to them thru
the vents as they call themselves strategizing but not very well if I hear your every attempt to play on American
citizens.My family has had their cars as well as i have tampered by them in and attempt to get us or me to spend
money, they have raised bills above normal, been in my garage leaving lights on in an order to do so stopped my
emails from reaching their intended destinations and faked as the recipient, they have acted as operators and
fake being the person I called on the other line, I have been told by the police that they would not do anything
because they know who it is which is fither showing the attempt to keep me hostage. I have filed lawsuits and will
continue because I believe even that was manipulated by them as everything and everyone else has been, I have
talked to the security chief after calling the Chief of Great Lakes Navybase, no cooperation, Bush is who I believe
brought this because of corrupt judges from Chicago, after I brought this out to officials. American citizens who are
not terrorist being treated as if they are, I say send some more troops to war since we have so many of them to follow
people around everyday, someone is reimbursing them for this large price tag of survietlance. I see the plan must
be to discredit or in gov. terms attempt to burn me or ruin my career because they have some corrupt people in
the government.
sincerly,
Darryl Kinney 7301 98th Ave. UnitD
Kenosha,WI 53142
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DIVISION OF WISCONSIN
EASTERN DIVISION
Darryl Kinney )
Jada Kinney ) CASE # 08-C-0460
v. )
U.S. Dept. of Justice ) JUDGE: Charles N. Clevert Jr.
& )
I.R.S )
___________________)
PLAINTIFF’S AMENDED COMPLAINT
Plaintiffs Darryl Kinney(”Kinney”) and Jada Kinney against the Defendants by himself,
hereby files his Amended Complaint against the Defendants U.S. Dept. of Justice(”DOJ”) the I.R.S. which
includes the U.S. Navy and the F.B.I. all hailing from Wisconsin and Illinois Plaintiffs allege as follows:
NATURE OF THIS ACTION
1. This is an action that arises under Title VII of the Civil Rights A ct of 1964,
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq., as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and under 42 U.S.C.
§ 1981.because both Kinney’s are African Americans,.Racial Discrimination.
2. Stalker laws ( WIS. Statute 940.32, 214 Wis. 2d 548,571)
3. Harrassment laws ( Wis. Statute 947.013)
4. Internet fraud ( Fake websites hacking, Fed.Statute Ann. 254 U.S. 17,41 S.Ct. 11 65 U.S.,
5. Section 1030 of the Computer Fraud and abuse Act)
6. Child questioning ( discretion of the court since none specific)
7. Mental Anguish (254 U.S. 17, 41 Sup. Ct. 11,65 U.S.)
8. Employment harassment(Fake customers and Coercing)
9. Corruption of Government Agencies(EEOC, Unemployment)
10. Conspiracy (Wis. Statute 939.31, 18 U.S.C 371)
11. Abuse of Power (title 18 sections 241-242 U.S.C, Title 42, section 1983)
12. Telephone tapping (Wis. Statute 885.365)
13. Mental and Physical abuse( 750 ILCS 60/103)
THE PARTIES
14. Plaintiffs Darryl Kinney and Jada Kinney are both African American citizens who reside in Wisconsin
and Illinois cities of Kenosha and Waukegan.
15. Defendants D.O.J. is an agency established under the Laws of the United States and Wisconsin and Illinois
with an office located at 114 E. Capitol Dr, Madison , Wisconsin.
16. Defendants I.R.S. is an agency established under the laws governed by the United States and Wisconsin and
Illinois with an office at 545 Zor Shrine Dr. Madison, Wisconsin.
17.At all relevant times D.O.J. acted thru its agents utilizing the U.S. Navy active and retireed duty, including
Katrina Kigoda and the Kenosha and Waukegan Police Dept..
18. At all relevant times the I.R.S. used its agents and those of the U.S. Navy active and retired duty
and the Kenosha and Waukegan Police Dept..
19. Both the D.O.J. and the I.R.S. have headquarters in Wisconsin and Illinois. With over 100 employees an
at all relevant times subject to all Federal and State laws forementioned.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
20. This court has original jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§§ 1331, 1343.
21. This court also has supplemental jurisdiction over Kinneys state and common law claims pursuant to
28 U.S.C. §§ 1367(a)
22. Venue is proper in this judicial district pursuant to 28 U.S.C.§§ 1391(b)
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
23. Kinney’s also allege violations under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
24. This action also violates the EEO laws in Wisconsin.
25. Also unlawful surveillance home and at work and illegal harassment on the job and
private life. 26.Plaintiff had fake customers on the job calling with phony complaints as work was sabotaged by these Defendants.
27. Both Kiimey’s have experiences emotional and Jada Simone Kimiey has experienced physical abuse
by family set into motion by these organizations.
28. This action also includes defamation of character.
29. In mid-2007 thru 2008 direct or indirect harassment was caused at Plaintiffs employer, thru actions
causing mental harassment, by tearing up Plaintiffs truck by Sears manager, message left was taped by
Plaintiff of this action.
30. In 2008 mid year Plaintiffs family was led to attempt making false claims about plaintiff
in emails by direct or indirect contact from the defendants.
31. Plaintiffs computer has been hacked daily and destroyed to try to keep evidence from being seen
by Defendants, upstairs.
32. In 2008 mid-year Plaintiffs family members have had their cars tampered with by the Defendants.
33. In mid year 2007 unitl present Plaintiff has had his phones tapped by defendants.
34. Since Sept. 2007 unitl present Plaintiff has had his computer created with fake websites and has
had had his emails blocked from reaching their destinations.
35. Plaintiff has had the two state area put on a watch him type military status from mid
2007 until present by the defendants.
36. Employers have been asked not to hire the plaintiff by the Defendants.
37. From mid 2007 until present.Plaintiffs have been attempting to create a blackball situation
with the help of several agencies.
38. The defendants have used their power to stop government agencies from doing their jobs
where the Plaintiff is concerned.
39. Plaintiff has been subjected to actions of discrimination because of the actions of the Defendants
spreading harassing rumors.
40. Plaintiff is followed every day everyplace he goes, by the Defendants.
41. Plaintiff has been told by a Kenosha Detective because of the Defendants being who they are,
that they would not do their job.
42. Plaintiff has filed complaints thru multiple police stations with no assistance because of who the
Police say the Defendants are.
43. Plaintiff has had every aspect of his privacy invaded by the Defendants, from cameras to taps.
44. Plaintiffs daughter has been put in a position for abuse to take place by direct actions of the Defendnants.
45. Plaintiffs daughter has been questioned without the Parents permission at school, she is 5 years
old.
46. Plaintiff has had his phone calls rerouted to people who were not the real contacts.
47. Plaintiff has been targeted by the Defendants because of corruption from Chicago.
48. Plaintiff has come home to find his garage has been broken into with electronic code readers
and they leave the garage lights on to run up my bill and have me being charged extra.
49. I have them playing with my internet service by calling and disabling it regularly with their fake
websites.
50. The defendants now know from hacking my computer they are being sued and are asking
everyone to try a different lie that they have talked to.
51. Plaintiffs is leaving the two States that are in this conspiracy together and will be speaking before
the U.S. Senate about these issues so they can never happen again to Americans.
52. Plaintiff was told by a video store employee that the military was running around and wish they could
shoot me, now his video store is closed, located on 52nd st. Lion Video.
53. Plaintiffs wife has lied in Illinois state court writing statements that are lies verifiable thru the true sources,
one being my daughters daycare, as far as her being taken by defendants from school.
THE WITNESSES
Which thru discovery have the pertinent information to prove or assist in proving violations,
who have dirct or indirect knowledge of events:
1) Piaintiff s Darryl Kinney and Jada Simone Kinney are of African American descent
and at this time Darryl Kinney and Jada Simone Kinney in Kenosha,WI
2) President George W. Bush located in the White House in Washington, D.C.
Vice President Dick Chaney in Washington, D.C.
Defendants Dept. of Justice is localed in Wisconsin and all over the United States
including Washington. D.C..
Don Kinney, Eric Kinney located in Kansas.
Barack Obama located in Washington, D.C.(IL)
City of Kenosha Police Dept. located Kenosha and includes the Mayors office.
Sen. Barbara Mills in Washington (MD)
REV. Al Sharpton located in New York.
ACLU located in Wisconsin and every U.S. state.
Senator Ryan in Washington D.C. (WI)
Sen. Dick Durbin un Washington (IL).
Sen. Feingold in Washington (WI)
Speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi located in Washington, D.C.
Wendy Martin of the Wisconsin EEOC branch.
Waukegan Police Dept. located in Waukegan Jll.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s Chicago office located in Chicago and
Springfield,IL.
18)Defendants Dept. of Revenue Illinois located in Illinois.
The U.S. Dept. of Justice located in Wisconsin and Washington, D.
The FBI located in Kansas and Chicago and Washington, D.C.
NAACP located in Illinois and throughout the U.S.
Chicago Tribune located in Chicago,Ill.
22) And a list of 100 to be inserted at end as witness or Defendants
23) Chanel 6 News located in Wisconsin and New Jersey
24) CNN news located in New Jersey.
25) Computer Exchange located in Kenosha and Milwaukee.
26) Sears and A&E a subsidiary of Sears nationwide and Wisconsin.
27) Katrina Kigoda the upstairs criminal hacker house.
28) Judge Barbara Kluka Kenosha Circuit Court.
29) Senate Budget Committee.
30) Ms. Barnes Pricipal Patti Cake daycare.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, Kinney respectfully request that the court:
1. Enter judgment that D.O.J. and the I.R.S. have violated Kinneys rights under foremention laws and statutes.
2. Enter a judgment for damages of $50,000,000.00 for all violation including emotional and other abuses under
the laws forementioned, which includes Punitive and Compensatory damages.
3. Pay for any reasonable legal Assistance from lawyers or otherwise incurred during this process.
4. Order that Defendants pay for lost wages and travel expenses from state to state cost, including
interest, in an amout to be shown at trial.
5. Order that Defendants pay for future lost wages in an amout to be shown at trial.
6. Order the public apology over a T.V. Broadcast for the defamation of professional and personal relationships lost
because of thier actions.
7. Grant Kinney such other and further relief as is just.
respectfully submitted,
Plaintiff Pro Se
______________________________
Darryl Kinney
signed & dated