Those who continue to allege misconduct against WHINSEC treat the Presbyterian chaplains as either bald-faced liars or ignorant dupes -- Director of Presbyterian Action, James D. Berkley
Contact: Loralei Coyle 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@TheIRD.org; Radio Interviews, Jeff Walton, jwalton@TheIRD.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 /Christian Newswire/ -- Speculation and protest surround the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), located in Fort Benning, Georgia. The institute provides Spanish-language training in warfare and democracy for promising Latin American officers.
Anti-war protest groups have alleged unethical training in interrogation and counter-insurgency methods that they say leads to human-rights abuses by WHINSEC graduates. The Department of Defense school has become a magnet for protests and arrests for civil disobedience.
The Presbyterian News Service (PNS) reported on the November 18 arrest of Presbyterian demonstrators. The extensive presentation of their allegations against WHINSEC sparked calls for editorial balance. Recently, PNS ran a second article from the viewpoint of two Presbyterian U.S. Army chaplains. Calling the accusations "slanderous and absurd," the chaplains outlined the work of the institute and refuted charges against it. On January 28, the two Presbyterian protesters were convicted of federal trespassing and sentenced to 30 and 60 days in prison.
James D. Berkley, Director of IRD's Presbyterian Action committee, commented:
"I want to commend Presbyterian News Service for balancing its coverage of the controversy concerning WHINSEC. The church benefits from careful and fair reporting on difficult situations, coverage that starts to feel untrustworthy if the news smells of bias.
"In this instance, committed Presbyterian chaplains seek to render conscientious service through the instruction at WHINSEC, while ironically, other committed Presbyterians conscientiously demonstrate against alleged wrongdoing at the school. The two news stories allow us now the opportunity to weigh thoroughly both sides' allegations and rebuttals.
"Those who would continue to allege misconduct and demonstrate against WHINSEC must do so at this point fully aware that their actions would necessarily treat the Presbyterian chaplains as either bald-faced liars or ignorant dupes. Presbyterian Action encourages all who consider truth essential to act upon verified facts, not speculative cynicism or ideological prejudice."
The Institute on Religion and Democracy, founded in 1981, is an ecumenical alliance of U.S. Christians working to reform their churches' social witness, in accord with biblical and historic Christian teachings, thereby contributing to the renewal of democratic society at home and abroad.
Articles referenced can be found at:
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2007/07804.htm
http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2008/08066.htm
