The Latin American Program of the Woodrow Wilson International Center
for Scholars, The United States Institute of Peace and the
Inter-American Dialogue are pleased to invite you to a forum:

Truth and Reconciliation in Colombia: The Work of the National Reconciliation Commission

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM

6th Floor Flom Auditorium
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C.

Gonzalo Sánchez, Director, Memoria Histórica
Álvaro Camacho, Research Coordinator, Trujillo Report

Colombia’s National Committee of Reparation and Reconciliation (CNRR)
includes an investigative arm known as Historical Memory (MH).
Historical Memory is charged with producing an account of the origins
and evolution of Colombia’s internal armed conflict, giving special
attention to the perspectives of victims. The team includes
professionals from a variety of disciplines and is directed by
historian Gonzalo Sánchez. MH’s work posits an essential link between
the reconstruction of memory and democratic strengthening. In addition
to producing a general narrative of violence--taking into account
themes of gender, ethnicity, and political and social identities--MH is
investigating several “emblematic cases,” including the Trujillo
massacre of 1990. The report on Trujillo is the first that MH has
completed.

Please RSVP, acceptances only, to adam.stubits@wilsoncenter.org. We look forward to your participation.

Sincerely,

Cynthia J. Arnson, Director, Latin American Program
Virginia Bouvier, Senior Program Officer, U.S. Institute of Peace
Michael Shifter,  Vice President for Policy, Inter-American Dialogue

From http://lm.ips-dc.org/

Early Bird discount through September 30

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

National Press Club Ballroom
529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC

5:30 pm Reception and light fare

7-8:15 pm Human Rights Program

9-10:30 pm Presidential Debate

Thirty Two Years

This year’s program will mark the 32nd anniversary of the September 21, 1976 car bombing that killed Chilean diplomat Orlando Letelier and American Ronni Karpen Moffitt. Until 9/11, it was the most infamous act of international terrorism ever to take place in our nation's capital. Letelier and Moffitt were colleagues at the Institute for Policy Studies, where Letelier had become one of the most outspoken critics of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. Moffitt was a 25-year-old fundraiser who ran a "Music Carryout" that made musical instruments accessible to all. A massive FBI investigation traced the crime to the highest levels of Pinochet's regime.

The Institute for Policy Studies has continued to host the annual human rights award in the names of Letelier and Moffitt to honor these fallen colleagues while celebrating new heroes of the human rights movement in the United States and elsewhere in the Americas.

You are also invited to stay and watch the Presidential Debate with us at the Press Club, beginning at 9 pm.

Award Recipients
Indian Workers Congress

The Indian Workers Congress has taken a courageous stand against what is essentially modern-day slavery. Their ordeal began when they were among several hundred Indians recruited in 2006 for post-Katrina reconstruction work. The recruiters, hired by Signal Corporation, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, promised the men green cards if they each paid $15,000-$20,000. Instead, after arriving in the Gulf Coast, they were given 10-month guest worker visas and placed in isolated labor camps. In March 2008, more than 100 walked off the job and formed the Indian Workers Congress. With the support of U.S. allies, they embarked on a "satyagraha," a Gandhian tradition of traveling by foot in the pursuit of truth and justice. Their journey took them from New Orleans to Washington, DC, where they testified before Congress and endured a 29-day hunger strike, demanding that Signal and the recruiters be prosecuted for human trafficking. A Justice Department investigation is ongoing.

Read More: Indian Workers Congress
Francisco Soberon and Asociación Pro-Derechos Humanos (APRODEH)

APRODEH has been the driving force behind the current trial of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori for alleged crimes against humanity during his 1990-2000 reign. This trial marks the first time a former head of state has been extradited to his own country to face justice for human rights violations. APRODEH supplied the attorney who is representing victims' families in this case and is responsible for recent convictions of death squad leaders. In her book Speak Truth to Power, Kerry Kennedy highlighted the APRODEH founder, stating that "In the violent, vicious military and political battle that has divided his country, Soberón has been viewed with suspicion and fear by both sides. Throughout the last arduous twenty years, Soberón has never failed to report abuse, even though doing so has endangered his life." Indeed he continues to face threats from all sides. In May 2008, leading international human rights groups came to Soberón's defense when current government officials made unfounded accusations against him.

Read More: Francisco Soberon and Asociación Pro-Derechos Humanos (APRODEH)

Read More about The Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Awards and previous awardees.

Selection Committee

* Sarah Anderson, Institute for Policy Studies
* Fred Azcarate, AFL-CIO
* Marie Dennis, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
* Joe Eldridge, Chaplain, American University
* Jill Gay, Activist
* Adam Isacson, Center for International Policy
* Peter Kornbluh, National Security Archive
* Isabel Morel de Letelier
* E. Ethelbert Miller, Howard University
* Joy Olson, Washington Office on Latin America
* Barbara Shailor, AFL-CIO
* Daphne Wysham, Institute for Policy Studies

32nd Annual Letelier-Moffitt Human Rights Awards at the National Press Club
Institute for Policy Studies, 1112 16th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036
Tel (202) 234-9382 Fax (202) 387-7915 www.ips-dc.org