A press advisory announcing the testimony of Joy Olson, WOLA Executive Director, on the U.S. Security Cooperation Initiative for Mexico and Central America before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
October 24, 2007
PRESS ADVISORY
WOLA Director to Testify in Congress on U.S. Security Cooperation Initiative for Mexico and Central America
With the U.S. government proposing a major increase in security aid to Mexico and Central America, WOLA Executive Director Joy Olson will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Western Hemisphere Subcommittee on Thursday on the aid package and drug-related violence.
Olson will analyze the prospects and pitfalls for the $550 million aid package, which President Bush announced Monday.
Olson will also emphasize that any plan to curb drug trafficking and violence in Mexico should be based on strengthening and reforming civilian institutions — particularly police and the judiciary — and not on military force.
WOLA staff at the hearing will offer pre-publication copies of our upcoming report “At a Crossroads: Drug Trafficking, Violence, and the Mexican State,” to be released next month by WOLA and the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme.
The text of Olson’s testimony will be available on WOLA's web page at the time of the hearing.
WHERE: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172
WHEN: Thursday, October 25, 2007, 2 p.m.
Contacts:
(202) 797 2171
Roger Atwood, Communications Director, ratwood@wola.org
Maureen Meyer, Associate for Mexico and Central America, mmeyer@wola.org
Kristina DeMain, Communications Assistant, kdemain@wola.org
