Category Archives: The Forum

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Human Rights Crisis in Puerto Rico: First Amendment Under Siege

The Forum, , , ,

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico National Chapter (Ferbruary 2011)

While the world celebrates the democratic revolution in Egypt, major violations of basic human rights are occurring in our own backyard.
Since Governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño came into power two years ago, free speech has been under all-out assault. The following events have taken place recently:

* Thousands of public workers have been laid off and had their union contracts terminated, leading to tens of thousands of people peacefully protesting over the past year. One event turned out over 100,000 peaceful protestors and while in NYC hundreds marched on May Day, in Puerto Rico May Day turned out an estimated 30,000 citizens.

* At a protest at the steps of the Capital Building over the closing of access to legislative sessions, access that is constitutionally mandated, protesters were beaten mercilessly, pepper sprayed and shot at by Puerto Rico Police.

The same has occurred at other locations. At most events young women are the first to be targeted for police violence. At the University of Puerto Rico, female students, many of whom were beaten, were also sexually harassed, groped and assaulted (touched) by police.

Students have been mercilessly beaten, mazed and shot at with rubber bullets.

Citizens have accused, which images captured confirm, police of applying torture techniques on immobilized student protesters.

In the past two years, there have been several riots at protests in and around the University of Puerto Rico.

Many protesters have accused the police of causing the riots, which some videos also seem to confirm.

Since taking the oath of office, the current administration, which controls all three branches of government, has set out to quash Freedom of Expression.

In Puerto Rico, Expression has been in the form of protests against government policies, such as the firing of approximately 26,000 workers in total, privatizing government, closing off access to public information and legislative sessions, attempting to close down the university FM radio station during periods of civil unrest and going after the Puerto Rico Bar Association, which was a mandatory integrated Bar and is Puerto Rico’s oldest institution.

The 171 year old Puerto Rico Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico) has historically been a known focal point for liberal dissent against government policies.

Puerto Rico Governor Fortuño, who is considered a rising star in the Republican Party, has publicly committed to not allowing what he calls “extreme left” protests and expression.

On Friday, February 11, 2011, Governor Fortuño spoke about his administration’s policies while speaking at a Conservative Political Action Conference of the American Conservative Union (ACU) in Washington, DC, an activity attended by members of the National Rifle Association, the Tea Party and the John Birch Society.

* At the University of Puerto Rico all forms of expression have been prohibited, through a Resolution issued by UPR Chancellor Ana Guadalupe; a resolution which Governor Luis Fortuño ordered armed police officers to enforce.

On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, a group of students participated in civil disobedience on campus, consisting of a paint-in.

During the paint-in, students peacefully and without interrupting the educational process painted messages of protest in a limited area of the street at the front of the main library, in defiance of the Chancellor’s absolute prohibition on any form of protest.

Students immediately came under extreme physical and violent attack by members of the police force’s elite and heavily armed SWAT and Riot Squad teams.

While the ACLU is looking to file charges on Human Rights violations and evaluating other legal options, the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, a conservative English language newspaper, published a damming editorial in which it called for the resignation of the university’s president, chancellors and the Board of Trustees.

On Friday, February 11, 2011, President Ramón De la Torres’ resignation was unanimously accepted by the Board of Trustees.

However, the Board Chairperson, Ygrí Rivera, immediately stated that she will not be removing armed Puerto Rico Police officers from the University of Puerto Rico campus.

In its editorial, the Puerto Rico Daily Sun, stated that “[t]he indiscriminate aggression of police riot squads against students, who are exercising their constitutional rights in public areas without interfering with any academic or administrative activity, is a gross violation of their rights and an act comparable only to the acts of the dictatorships we all denounce and reject”.

The Daily Sun added that “[w]e do not want this new order, neither for our university, the Capitol, La Fortaleza or our neighborhoods.

We reject it with all our might, exercising our freedom of speech, or freedom of association, is not a crime”.

As we say in Puerto Rico, “mas claro no canta un gallo” (it could not have been more clearly stated).

On Sunday, February 12, 2011, just four days after students were mercilessly beaten by Puerto Rico Police agents, over 10,000 alumnus, parents, grandparents, family members and other citizens took to the streets and marched over to reclaim the UPR campus, demanding that the PRPD be immediately ordered off campus.

See news video:

http://www.primerahora.com/milesseunencontralacuotaylainvasionpoliciacaenlaupr-474118.html

In addition to the debacle and related violence at the University of Puerto Rico, in the past two years legislation has been passed that would prohibit protests at construction sites and most recently at any government building that renders educational services and other locations providing government services, under penalty of criminal prosecution.

The Puerto Rico Bar Association was recently de-certified through legislation which the governor signed into law, which all but shut down its operations.

Several lawyers aligned with the views of the current administration pushed for de-certification and had previously sued the Bar Association in federal court alleging that the Bar was forcing them to purchase an unwanted insurance policy; its $78.00 per year cost was paid from Bar Association dues.

Bar members were never informed of the particulars of the lawsuit and Federal Fudge José Antonio Fusté issued a GAG order prohibiting the disclosure of important aspects of the case to Bar class members.

The Puerto Rico Bar Association is not being allowed to inform and counsel Bar members about their right to opt out of the lawsuit.

Thousands of lawyers are not even sure why they are a part of this lawsuit.

It is believed that an English language notice on the right to opt out of the lawsuit may not be sufficient guarantee that Bar members will fully understand the ramifications of their actions.

Many members of the Bar have limited English skills, particularly lawyers in the smaller and rural towns.

The newly elected President of the now voluntary Puerto Rico Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico), Osvaldo Toledo, was jailed on Friday, February 11, 2010, at a federal detention center in Puerto Rico, where he remains on contempt of a court charges for refusing to pay a $10,000 fine imposed on him for having counseled Bar members who insist that they have a right to know the particulars of the suit and procedure for opting out.

Federal Judge José Antonio Fuste’s GAG order extends not only to the President of the Puerto Rico Bar Association, but also board members, administrators, agents and servants.

The Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Puerto Rico, William Ramírez, had previously been warned by the Bar that he may not be able to speak out against what is held to be an injustice and First Amendment infringement.

Speaking out in defiance of the federal court order may result in the arrest of anyone covered by the court’s GAG order and further fines imposed against the Puerto Rico Bar Association.

After studying the court’s order, we at the ACLU do not, at this time, believe that the federal court order reaches class members or other members of the Bar, including the staff and cooperating attorneys of the ACLU in Puerto Rico.

However, we do believe the order to be unjust and believe it should be set aside.

The ACLU will continue to fight for the right to free speech and peaceful assembly in Puerto Rico and fully intends to take on any challenges that it may face.

View WAPA America TV interview with ACLU Puerto Rico director:

http://www.wapa.tv/noticias/locales/aclu–preocupante-el-incidente-en-la-upr/20110210141712

Some links that may be helpful to you as background can be found below.

News footage of some of the protests: http://www.elnuevodia.com/videos-noticiasencontronazoentrelapoliciayestudiantes-783039244001.html

ACLU of Puerto Rico National Chapter

Union Plaza,
Ste 1105
416 Ave. Ponce de León
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918
Teléfono: 787-753-8493
Fax: 787-753-4268
Staff Director Ejecutivo:
Lcdo. William Ramírez-Hernández
Asistente Administrativo:
Milagros Benezario-Fuentes Abogado:
Lcdo. Josué González-Ortíz Abogada Asociada:
Lcda. Wilma Reverón-Collazo Abogada Asociada:
Lcda. Eva Prados-Rodríguez
Abogado(a)s Asesores Voluntarios:
Lcda. Judith Berkan-Barnett
Lcda. Ada Conde
Lcda. Nora Vargas-Acosta
Advisory Board 2008
Linda Colón-Somoza
Lcdo. Juan Correa-Luna
Lcdo. Gerardo A. Flores
Lcda. Jessica M. Guardiola
Lcdo. Joaquín Monserrate-Matienzo
Roberto Ortíz Feliciano
Dra. Mary Rivera
Lcda. Ana Irma Rivera-Lassén
Cristina Rivera Miró
Chi Chi Rodríguez
Enid Routté-Gómez
Lcdo. Emilio Soler-Mari

Courtesy of National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP) | 101 Avenue of the Americas | New York | NY | 10013-1933

PUERTO RICO: STRIKERS OFFENSIVE BEGINS TO PENETRATE OBSCURE PLACES

The Forum

PUERTO RICO: STRIKERS OFFENSIVE BEGINS TO PENETRATE OBSCURE PLACES
Jesús Dávila

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, February 13th 2011(NCM) The orgy of violence unleashed by the national police in an effort to contain the student uprising had the unexpected result of opening a breach in the wall of internal support for Governor Luis Fortuno so wide that it has allowed begun the flow of complaints and information about criminal plans and the squandering of treasures property of the University of Puerto Rico.

At the same time the University strike continues unabated and this weekend a human wave surrounded the UPR, blocked traffic with a sit in on one of the main thoroughfares and later entered the main University campus where the students once again took over the Tower -to the cheers of the crowd- and even danced defiantly less than a meter of the besieged police.

In this way the tone of the crisis rises at a time when various social protests are taking shape and when the president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, Osvaldo Toledo, chose civil disobedience in response to an order from the United States District Court and is being held in a federal jail. The protest by attorneys in a case in which their Headquarters can be seized, joins and is fueled by the University crisis.

Last Saturday 72 social civic and political entities- including all the opposition parties- joined the gigantic march.

“Last night at the UPR you charlatan hit my Lola, last night at the UPR you charlatan come hit her now” parents and student sympathisers sang at a police alignment that observed from a prudent distance, referring to last Wednesdays violent incidents. So choking was the scandalous conduct of riot police against the students, that it provoked a crisis within the pro government operatives to the point that some of the police involved were removed and the president of the UPR, Jose Ramon de la Torre, had to resign after demanding the withdrawal of the Police from the eleven campuses in the system.

At the same time the first report arrived of a student being fired from their job in a tourism business as retaliation for their participation in the strike.

In fact, professors, administrative employees and the cleaners and maintenance Union closed down the campus on Thursday and Friday in order to prevent further violent confrontations, leaving an atmosphere of uncertainty in the face of the fear that the coming week will bring a “blood bath”. In this instance, however, it’s not only about the typical rumors in cases such as this.

The Puerto Rican Association of University Professors reported having information about a meeting on Monday at the highest governmental levels in which it was evaluated that “everything was working out fine” in the UPR crisis and that the only thing missing was a death to be blamed on the students. After this was made public NCM News obtained specific information about the participants in this alleged meeting and their links to Santa Catalina Palace, the government headquarters.

The fact is that on Tuesday anti riot units known as “shock troops”went too far against the female students in the vicinity of the school of social sciences, following which a crowd forced them to retreat and then roamed throughout the streets and buildings on campus. The next day the police began video taping students who painted slogans in the traditional “street of consciousness”in a blatant violation of the law which which categorizes the crime of “carpeteo” (filing), which is the creation of a police file of citizens conducting legal activities.

A group of students surrounded the police and attempted to physically prevent the continuation of the illegal practice and a few minutes later the shoving, beatings stone and even paint throwing began. Riot police, arrest units and a squad of mounted police went into action with indiscriminate beatings to all who came in proximity and arresting indiscriminately those they caught, leading the courts to find no merit to the detentions.

The mob dispersed and reappeared on the other side of the campus in a march that quickly grew to over a thousand demonstrators which resumed marching through the campus. When they arrived in front of the General Studies building two police attempted to confront the crowd which forced them out of the way having one of their hats fly through the air.

Once again the police arrived, but when they tried to brake through with their motorbikes the students opened the way only to surround them and pull them of their vehicles. The mounted units fared no better as the students threw stones aimed at the riders who had to retreat. As the riot police arrived the crowd of student vanished only to reappear minutes later surrounding the University Tower where since mid morning the Brotherhood of unaffiliated Non Educational Staff maintained control of the rectory demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Police.

The day came to an end with two community marches in support of the University and a report that attorneys for the Confederation of University Professors had began preparing criminal complaints against the police for the torture of students.

But the most surprising event occurred when a student member of the Board of Trustees, Rene Vargas made a formal request for copies of the inventory of the wealth of properties without heirs -which by law the UPR has been given over the last 80 years- and was told that these properties are sold as soon as they are received. This raises the dual problem of where is the accounting that guarantees all benefits are being received and the bigger question is how could the Governmental Development Bank accept these properties which no longer exist as part of collateral for a one hundred million dollar line of credit.

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NCM-CHI-SJ-NY-13-02-11-05

NCM News is a global system of information distribution which is not affiliated with any other interest, whether economic, institutional or political, nor is it a subsidiary of any organization, entity or government. The editorial Policy of NCM News is exclusively that which is disseminated in its editorials and promotes pacifism, justice and freedom of peoples without doctrinal ties. The media, agencies, and other systems that disseminate NCM News notes do so with complete freedom and have their own points of view and their own editorial policies.

(NCM crisissiete)
URGENTE
PUERTO RICO: OFENSIVA HUELGARIA COMIENZA A PENETRAR LUGARES OCULTOS
Jesús Dávila
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, 13 de febrero de 2011 (NCM) – La orgía de violencia desatada por la Policía nacional para tratar de contener el alzamiento estudiantil tuvo el inesperado efecto de abrir una grieta en el muro de apoyo interno al Gobernador Luis Fortuño, tan ancha que por ella salen denuncias e informes comprometedores sobre planes criminales y la dilapidación del tesoro de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.
Mientras tanto, la huelga universitaria sigue imparable y este fin de semana una marejada humana rodeó la UPR, obstruyó el tránsito sentándose en una de las principales avenidas y luego penetró en el campus universitario principal donde los estudiantes volvieron a tomar la Torre –ante los vítores de la multitud- y hasta bailaron desafiantes a menos de un metro de los asediados policías.
Así, sube de tono la crisis en momentos en que van tomando forma diversas protestas sociales y cuando el presidente del Colegio de Abogados, Osvaldo Toledo, optó por la desobediencia civil contra una orden del Tribunal de Distrito de Estados Unidos y es mantenido en la cárcel federal. La protesta de abogados, por un caso en el que podría arrebatárseles su edificio, abona y recibe la candela de la crisis universitaria.
El sábado pasado 72 entidades sociales, cívicas y políticas –incluidos todos los partidos de oposición- se sumaron a la gigantesca marcha.
“¡Anoche en la Iupi charlatán le diste a mi Lola, anoche en la Iupi charlatán, ven dale ahora!”, le cantaban desde la marcha padres y simpatizantes de los estudiantes a un cordón de policías que observaban a distancia prudente, en referencia a los sucesos violentos del miércoles. Tal fue la conducta escandalosa de las unidades contra disturbios cargando contra los estudiantes, que provocaron una crisis en el propio oficialismo al punto en que fueron retirados varios de los guardias involucrados y el propio presidente de la UPR, José Ramón de la Torre, tuvo que renunciar tras demandar la salida de la Policía de los once recintos del sistema.
De igual forma, llegó el primer informe de un estudiante despedido de su empleo en una empresa turística como represalia por su participación en la huelga.
De hecho, los profesores, los empleados administrativos y el sindicato de mantenimiento y limpieza mantuvieron cerrado el campus jueves y viernes para prevenir más choques violentos, lo que ha dejado una atmósfera inestable ante el temor de que la nueva semana traiga el temido “baño de sangre”. Esta vez, sin embargo, no se trata sólo de los rumores típicos en estos casos.
La Asociación Puertorriqueña de Profesores Universitarios denunció tener información sobre una reunión el lunes en los altos niveles del Estado en la que se evaluó que “todo está saliendo bien” en la crisis en la UPR y que “sólo falta” un muerto para achacárselo a los estudiantes. Luego de que la APPU hiciera la denuncia, NCM Noticias obtuvo información específica sobre los participantes en la presunta reunión y sus vínculos con el Palacio de Santa Catalina, sede de la gobernación.
El caso es que el martes las unidades contra disturbios conocidas como “Fuerza de Choque” comenzaron a propasarse con las estudiantes en las inmediaciones de la facultad de ciencias sociales, ante lo cual una multitud de estudiantes les hizo retirarse y luego recorrió calles y edificios del campus. Al día siguiente, la policía comenzó a grabar con cámaras de video estudiantes que pintaban consignas en la tradicional “Calle de la Conciencia” en abierta violación de la ley que tipifica el delito de “carpeteo”, que consiste en levantar expedientes policiales contra ciudadanos que realizan actividades legales.
Un grupo de estudiantes rodeó a los policías y trató de impedir físicamente que continuase con la práctica ilegal y pocos minutos después comenzaron los empujones, macanazos, pedradas y hasta lanzamiento de pintura. Entraron en acción la fuerza de choque, la unidad de arrestos y una escuadra montada para repartir palizas a mansalva a todo el que pasara cerca y arrestar hasta sin saber por qué a los que alcanzaban, lo que resultó en que el tribunal no halló causa contra los detenidos.
La tropa estudiantil se esfumó para reaparecer al otro lado del campus con una marcha que pronto creció hasta pasar de mil manifestantes, que volvió a recorrer el campus. Al llegar al nuevo edificio de Estudios Generales, dos policías intentaron enfrentar la muchedumbre, que les sacó a la fuerza y una de sus gorras voló por el aire.
Llegaron otra vez las escuadras, pero cuando intentaron penetrar con sus motoras los estudiantes les abrieron el paso sólo para encerrarlos y tirarlos de sus vehículos. La unidad montada no tuvo mejor suerte y los estudiantes le lanzaban las pedradas apuntando a los jinetes, que tuvieron que retirarse. Al llegar la fuerza de choque, la tropa estudiantil volvió a esfumarse para reaparecer minutos después rodeando la Torre de la Universidad, donde desde media mañana la Hermandad de Empleados Exentos No Docentes y la APPU mantenían tomada la rectoría demandando el retiro inmediato de la Policía.
El día culminó con la entrada al campus de dos marchas ciudadanas en apoyo a la Universidad y el informe de que los abogados de la Confederación de Asociaciones de Profesores Universitarios ya comenzaron a preparar las querellas criminales contra policías por la tortura de estudiantes.
Pero el hecho más sorprendente ocurrió cuando el miembro estudiantil de la Junta de Síndicos, René Vargas, solicitó formalmente que se le entregara copia del inventario de propiedades correspondientes a los caudales sin herederos –que por ley la UPR recibe desde hace 80 años- y se le indicó que esos bienes se venden tan pronto llegan. La situación levanta el doble problema de dónde están las cuentas para que se garantice que se recibe el beneficio completo y el más grave sobre cómo pudo el Banco Gubernamental de Fomento aceptar tales bienes que no existirían como parte de las garantías de una línea de crédito de cien millones de dólares.
NCM-SJ-13-02-11-05

NCM Noticias es un sistema global de distribución informativa que no está afiliado a ningún otro interés, sea económico, institucional o político, ni es subsidiario de organización, entidad o gobierno alguno. La Política editorial de NCM Noticias es exclusivamente la difundida en sus editoriales y promueve el pacifismo, la justicia y la libertad de los pueblos sin ataduras doctrinales. Los medios, agencias y demás sistemas que difunden notas de NCM Noticias lo hacen con completa libertad y tienen sus propios puntos de vista y sus propias políticas editoriales.

The Crisis at the University of Puerto Rico: Updates, February 12, 2011

The Forum, ,

From: V. Alba
Familia
Yesterday the people of Puerto Rico held a massive demonstration of support of the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico. Estimates by diverse long time , experienced activists ranging from upwards of 10,000 to as high as 25,000 people describe the gigantic outpouring of support for the student demands that fuel the strike.

The march which began at about 2:30 PM in the Plaza of Rio Piedra made its way to the edge of the UPR campus. From there the march made its way around the entire campus. I personally marched about 1/4 mile back from the front of the march. Reaching the top of the incline of the broad avenue and looking back all that one could see was an ocean of humanity which stretched from sidewalk to sidewalk on this four lane wide roadway as far as the eye could see.

The march then went into a highway were an 11 minute (1 minute for each campus of the UPR) sit down act of peaceful civil (dis)obedience was held. The police stood by unable to stop the action and relinquished their role to blocking the traffic.

The end to the Police presence on campus has been a central demand of student strikers, Their acts of acknowledged torture, unnecessary excessive violence and sexual assaults particularly on female students culminated with the UPR presidents letter to the police commissioner, asking for the police withdrawal from campus before he resigned.

The yet to be determined, massive number of people who marched the march, the young and grey haired, parents , children, workers and activist spoke for a nation.

The campaign that the students of the University of Puerto Rico have been waging is amongst the most responsible, intelligent, and effective student campaigns. It has become an example to be studied and emulated by other student movements around the world as well as the labor, environmental and other social movements in Puerto Rico.

The student movement of the UPR is providing one more reason why the education of the UPR must be fought for and won

By Gloria Ruiz Kuilan | gruiz@elnuevodia.com
El Nuevo Dia (February 12, 2011)

translated from Spanish by NiLP

With the sounds of Pleneros, batucada and slogans to protest the presence of the police in Rio Piedras campus of the University of Puerto Rico, thousands of people marched today through the streets of Rio Piedras in support of students in the demonstration dubbed “I love the UPR.”

At about 2:30 p.m. coming out of the Plaza de la Convalescence, in the center of town Rio Piedras, was the mass demonstration led by the leadership of the Puerto Rican Association of University Professors (APPU), students and members of various political organizations, professional, civic and community organizations.

Notable was the participation of students accompanied by parents or relatives who sympathize with the claim of the university community to leave the uniformed Rio Piedras campus.

Beatriz Miranda, mother of a student of this campus, said she participated in the march “to let them know (the government) that these guys are not alone.

This is an outrage against the students,” said the woman, who lives in Bayamon.

The march went around the campus and went through the main access points to the Rio Piedras campus, where police officers were stationed, who were the target of call to leave by the protesters.

***

University of Puerto Rico president resigns

The Associated Press (February 12, 2011)

The president of the University of Puerto Rico has resigned amid student protests against a new fee. Jose Ramon de la Torre submitted his resignation letter on Friday, a day after dozens of students clashed with police on campus. He said he was stepping down for personal reasons. De la Torre spokesman Peter Quinones provided a copy of the letter.

Sen. Eduardo Bhatia said in a statement that de la Torre’s departure does not solve the university’s problems and demanded that police leave campus. Bhatia also requested that the island’s governor and university officials meet with students. Students have organized several protests against an $800 yearly fee imposed to reduce the system’s budget deficit.

POLICIA BORINCANO, LUIS FORTUÑO NO ES TU HERMANO!

The Forum

Igual que en Vieques, el Gobierno de Puerto Rico utiliza a la policía – en este caso, contra los estudiantes de la UPR – para defender los intereses de los que buscan controlar y privatizar los recursos del país, incluyendo la educación universitaria!.

POLICIA BORINCANO, LUIS FORTUÑO NO ES TU HERMANO!
Vieques es la UPR!…. la UPR es Vieques!
rrabin/nmedina cprdv

Reforzada de policías la UPR para recibir estudiantes
Harán cumplir la prohibición a manifestaciones


Rubín confirmó que a partir del lunes aumentará el despliegue policial en la UPR. (archivo)
Por Gloria Ruiz Kuilan / gruiz@elnuevodia.com

Mañana, cuando comienzan las clases en la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) Recinto de Río Piedras y los estudiantes se proponen hacer una manifestación en el campus, aumentará la presencia policial, dijo el teniente coronel de la División regional de San Juan, Juan Sergio Rubín. Además, adelantó que los miembros de la Uniformada -que incluirá la Fuerza de Choque- ímpedirán que se violente la resolución de la rectora Ana Guadalupe que prohibe las manifestaciones dentro del recinto riopedrense. “Vamos a estar preparados -en términos de los miembros de la Fuerza- para cualquier cosa que surja allí”, dijo Rubín en entrevista telefónica con este diario. “Vamos a usar allí todos los recursos que estén disponibles, la Unidad de Operaciones Tácticas y otros recursos”, continuó.

Respondió en la afirmativa al preguntársele si tras el receso de clases y con el inicio del segundo semestre, aumentarán el despliegue policial en el Recinto de Río Piedras. Sin embargo, por razones de estrategia no ofreció cifras. Rubín recordó que estudiantes portavoces del Comité de Representación Estudiantil (CRE) anunciaron la semana pasada que realizarán una manifestación denominada “Entra y Sal Pa’ Fuera”, de la cual no dieron detalles, pero a la que invitaron a todo el país. “El lunes tienen este tipo de actividad que ellos no han dicho si es una pacífica. Simplemente le han dado un nombre y nosotros nos estaremos preparando para cualquier situación que surja”, dijo Rubín. “Nosotros vamos a hacer valer la resolución de la rectora. Ellos conocen que obviamente hay una prohibición de la Rectora en términos de cualquier tipo de manifestación y nosotros vamos a hacer valer la resolución de la rectora”, sentenció cuando se le cuestionó si habrá arrestos.

Responden los estudiantes
Los portavoces del CRE, Xiomara Caro y Waldemiro Vélez, opinaron que el alza en presencia policial en la UPR sólo demuestra el “carácter represivo del actual gobierno”. “No es sorpresa. La presencia de la Policía lo único que hace es crear mayor inestabilidad”, dijo Caro. “Las manifestaciones siguen en pie. Hay que continuar con más razón porque entendemos que el aumento policial es una manera de intentar callar nuestro punto de vista, que es defender la universidad. No nos podemos dejar amedrentar”, señaló la estudiante de Derecho. Mientras, Vélez dijo que una vez más se violenta la política institucional de la UPR de no confrontación en la que no se cree, “pero sí en la macana y no en el diálogo”. “Se gasta $1.5 millones en horas extras para la Policía, pero no hay dinero para la universidad”.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/reforzadadepoliciaslauprpararecibirestudiantes-882998.htmlz

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Reforzada de policías la UPR para recibir estudiantes

The Forum, ,

Igual que en Vieques, el Gobierno de Puerto Rico utiliza a la policía – en este caso, contra los estudiantes de la UPR – para defender los intereses de los que buscan controlar y privatizar los recursos del país, incluyendo la educación universitaria!.

POLICIA BORINCANO, LUIS FORTUÑO NO ES TU HERMANO!
Vieques es la UPR!…. la UPR es Vieques!
rrabin/nmedina cprdv

Reforzada de policías la UPR para recibir estudiantes
Harán cumplir la prohibición a manifestaciones

Rubín confirmó que a partir del lunes aumentará el despliegue policial en la UPR. (archivo)

Por Gloria Ruiz Kuilan / gruiz@elnuevodia.com

Mañana, cuando comienzan las clases en la Universidad de Puerto Rico (UPR) Recinto de Río Piedras y los estudiantes se proponen hacer una manifestación en el campus, aumentará la presencia policial, dijo el teniente coronel de la División regional de San Juan, Juan Sergio Rubín.

Además, adelantó que los miembros de la Uniformada -que incluirá la Fuerza de Choque- ímpedirán que se violente la resolución de la rectora Ana Guadalupe que prohibe las manifestaciones dentro del recinto riopedrense. “Vamos a estar preparados -en términos de los miembros de la Fuerza- para cualquier cosa que surja allí”, dijo Rubín en entrevista telefónica con este diario. “Vamos a usar allí todos los recursos que estén disponibles, la Unidad de Operaciones Tácticas y otros recursos”, continuó. Respondió en la afirmativa al preguntársele si tras el receso de clases y con el inicio del segundo semestre, aumentarán el despliegue policial en el Recinto de Río Piedras.

Sin embargo, por razones de estrategia no ofreció cifras. Rubín recordó que estudiantes portavoces del Comité de Representación Estudiantil (CRE) anunciaron la semana pasada que realizarán una manifestación denominada “Entra y Sal Pa’ Fuera”, de la cual no dieron detalles, pero a la que invitaron a todo el país. “El lunes tienen este tipo de actividad que ellos no han dicho si es una pacífica. Simplemente le han dado un nombre y nosotros nos estaremos preparando para cualquier situación que surja”, dijo Rubín. “Nosotros vamos a hacer valer la resolución de la rectora. Ellos conocen que obviamente hay una prohibición de la Rectora en términos de cualquier tipo de manifestación y nosotros vamos a hacer valer la resolución de la rectora”, sentenció cuando se le cuestionó si habrá arrestos.

Responden los estudiantes
Los portavoces del CRE, Xiomara Caro y Waldemiro Vélez, opinaron que el alza en presencia policial en la UPR sólo demuestra el “carácter represivo del actual gobierno”. “No es sorpresa. La presencia de la Policía lo único que hace es crear mayor inestabilidad”, dijo Caro. “Las manifestaciones siguen en pie. Hay que continuar con más razón porque entendemos que el aumento policial es una manera de intentar callar nuestro punto de vista, que es defender la universidad. No nos podemos dejar amedrentar”, señaló la estudiante de Derecho. Mientras, Vélez dijo que una vez más se violenta la política institucional de la UPR de no confrontación en la que no se cree, “pero sí en la macana y no en el diálogo”. “Se gasta $1.5 millones en horas extras para la Policía, pero no hay dinero para la universidad”.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/reforzadadepoliciaslauprpararecibirestudiantes-882998.htmlz

El Nuevo Día / Puerto Rico
Noticias
06 Febrero 2011

EL ATENEO PUERTORRIQUEÑO SE EXPRESA ANTE LA CRISIS POLÍTICA, SOCIAL Y ECONÓMICA QUE AFECTA A PUERTO RICO

The Forum

El señor Presidente del Ateneo Puertorriqueño, el Dr. José Milton Soltero Ramírez expone, que desde su origen, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño surge en función de la defensa de la Nación. El debate de las ideas y el pensamiento de la Nación, es su razón de ser.
En la defensa de estos principios se justifica su existencia. Sin éstos, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño no tendría por qué existir. A través de su historia, en todos y cada uno de sus momentos, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño ha estado presente y ha tomado partido frente a las más importantes coyunturas de la Nación.
En el pasado cercano el Ateneo Puertorriqueño ha tomado partido en la defensa del idioma español, en la lucha por la desmilitarización de Vieques, por la reafirmación de la Bandera Puertorriqueña y por la descolonización de nuestro país. Por medio de su Comisión de Status el Ateneo resuelve que Puerto Rico necesita una democrática solución de status, de tipo no colonial y fuera de la cláusula territorial. El Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) recogió todos estos principios y sometió una Resolución la cual fue aprobada por unanimidad en la Asamblea Legislativa y luego fue vetada por el ex gobernador Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. Hoy, el Presidente del PIP, el Lcdo. Rubén Berríos Martínez, ha vuelto a presentar su propuesta a los presidentes del Partido Popular Democrático (PPD) y del Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP); veremos a ver cuál es su respuesta. El Ateneo Puertorriqueño toma posición y se alinea en el campo de la descolonización y apoya en su totalidad la propuesta sometida del PIP.
EL PROPÓSITO Y PRINCIPIO FUNDAMENTAL DEL ATENEO PUERTORRIQUEÑO ES DEFENDER LA NACIÓN PUERTORRIQUEÑA; por lo que ante las coyunturas que puedan atentar contra la Nación, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño se definirá SIEMPRE A FAVOR DE LA NACIÓN. En el caso de la descolonización, el Ateneo pondrá todos sus empeños en ayudar al pueblo a poner en práctica todas aquellas acciones que nos conduzcan a afirmar nuestra nacionalidad.
Continuando con esta, que es la misión histórica del Ateneo, ahora tenemos que tomar posiciones y éstas siempre estarán en la trinchera de la Nación. Quedarnos en el “status quo” por el solo hecho de que recibimos una ayuda financiera que nos hace la vida económica más fácil, NO ES MÁS IMPORTANTE que los principios que mantienen nuestra sagrada misión.
Hoy enfatizo que el Ateneo Puertorriqueño contribuirá al debate de ideas que enriquezcan a la Nación. Es por esto que el Ateneo ha tomado las siguientes posiciones y determinaciones:
LA DESCOLONIZACIÓN DE PUERTO RICO:
Hasta que Puerto Rico no se descolonice, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño seguirá buscando la solución a esta coyuntura, puesto que la colonia atenta contra la vida misma de nuestra Nación.
La única solución descolonizadora es la obtención de la soberanía y la única forma de obtenerla es la independencia y en función de ésta podremos asociarnos, anexarnos o conservar la independencia. Las Naciones Unidas, a través de su Comité de Descolonización, aclaró ante el intento de Timor de ser anexada por Indonesia, que esto no era posible, pues un pueblo invadido por otra nación tiene que conseguir primero su soberanía y desde ahí solicitar su asociación o integración a otro pueblo.
LA UNIVERSIDAD DE PUERTO RICO (UPR):
La alta gerencia de la Administración de la UPR, ha realizado acciones que atentan contra la existencia misma de la UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL. El Ateneo Puertorriqueño, -la primera universidad que tuvo Puerto Rico-, no concibe una universidad pública sin el adjetivo NACIONAL.
La UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL es aquella que produce la discusión intelectual, que crea el quehacer del pensamiento que responde a los grandes problemas nacionales, los cuales son únicos, aunque no exclusivos, de Puerto Rico. No podemos aceptar que se considere a la UPR como un centro de estudios supeditado a la aceptación económica de sus egresados y por tanto a la demanda que tengan sus ofertas educativas.
Una UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL es la mayor y mejor oferta para educar al pueblo y por consiguiente, la ciudadanía. Nuestra sociedad puertorriqueña no podrá producir soluciones si no vive y se desarrolla en un ambiente que discute, observa y crea las formas y los mecanismos que ayuden a solucionar los grandes problemas que afecten a la Nación.
Por lo tanto si las acciones de la Administración de la UPR atentan contra la permanencia de la UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL, tenemos como Ateneo Puertorriqueño, que tomar partido por aquel grupo que defienda a ésta, y éstos son LOS ESTUDIANTES DE LA UPR. Por ello, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño dedicó la fiesta nacional de celebración de la Bandera Puertorriqueña a la lucha de los estudiantes por una universidad pública, nacional y acorde con las necesidades de nuestro pueblo. Y continuará su respaldo a éstos en la lucha por una Universidad de la Nación Puertorriqueña.
Finalmente, expresamos, que el crear una política cultural gubernamental le corresponde al Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña. Pero crear una política de defensa de la Cultura Puertorriqueña en su más amplia acepción, le corresponde sin discusión y por derecho histórico al Ateneo Puertorriqueño, que fue fundado por los Padres de la Patria en el año de 1876.
Estos fueron, son y serán los principios que le han dado vida al Ateneo y con ellos seguiremos haciendo lo que nos corresponde. Para sostenerlo contamos con el intenso trabajo cultural y de AFIRMACIÓN NACIONAL realizado y por realizar de sus comisiones de Historia, Ciencias Políticas y Morales, Artes Plásticas, Literatura, Música, Cine, Teatro, Ciencias Físicas, Naturales y Matemáticas, nuestro Conservatorio Nacional de Arte Dramático y nuestro Archivo Nacional de Teatro y Cine.

Serrano Denounces Vote Stripping of Territories, D.C. by House Republicans

The Forum, , ,

January 5, 2011 –Washington, DC – Congressman José E. Serrano today announced his strong disapproval of the decision by House Republicans to take away the territorial and D.C. delegates’ right to vote on the House floor. Along with the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, delegates from D.C., Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands will not be allowed to vote in the Committee of the Whole, a right the Democrats gave them four years ago.

“This is a shameful step backwards that House Republicans took today, and it is a slap in the face of the millions of citizens and people living under the U.S. flag in these territories. They have had the ability to have their voices heard in the U.S. House of Representatives for only four short years, and there is no excuse for taking that right away from these duly elected leaders.

“I have spent much of my career here in Washington seeking equality for those living in the territories. Had my parents not left Puerto Rico, I would certainly have been in the situation that these people find themselves in through no choice or fault of their own. I have worked to give them dignity and a say in matters that affect them. House Republicans have taken away civil liberties through their decision and I find it outrageous.

“On behalf of the millions living under the American flag in D.C. and the territories, I call on Speaker Boehner and the House Republicans to reconsider this terrible decision and restore their voice in the House of Representatives.”

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Congressman José E. Serrano has represented the Bronx in Congress since 1990.

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!

The Forum, , ,

A new poem to address the ignorance of our inner city youth in 2011!
Please publish and share with your contacts
Let us start this year by addressing the word and the pants of our youth:

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!
By Alberto O. Cappas

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!
I’m a Black Man; I’m a proud African American;
I’m a Latino; I’m a proud Puerto Rican!
I plan to pursue an appropriate education based on my goals;
As I read years ago, Education is the passport to the future, for
Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!
Beware of negative images and values,
For what so ever you sow, so shall you reap!
As I learned years ago from a man who reached the mountain top,
I know that today we are not judged by the color of the skin,
But by the content of the character that one displays.
I wear my clothes appropriately, especially my pants,
Let us not be compared!

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!
Black Men love their women with their heart;
Niggers love women for their bodies;
Black Men use money as an instrument to advance the race;
Niggers use money as a weapon to destroy the youth of the race.

Please don’t confuse me with a nigger!
A nigger comes in all colors;
Take the time and discover the word in the books of history,
And not on the streets of ignorance!
Please, please!
My love ones are my friends, my brothers and my sisters;
They are not my niggers!

Study Acting with A Pro

The Forum

Alberto Vazquez is offering for the month of January, a free audit of his class that involves Lee Starsberg, Sanford Meisner and Eric Morris techniques. A free audit (with no participation: just observing); or with participation $15 dollars. Thereafter, the first registration fee for the month will be $100 dollars. After that discount month, the classes are $200 monthly.

This first class will be on Monday, January 3rd / but the regular schedule of classes are Tuesday’s starting January, 11, 18, 25th and continuous after January. Audits will be for the month of January!

Alberto Vazquez does an hour long series of warm-up exercises, then improves, then followed by script analysis, scene analysis, monologue study, moment-to-moment work,aidition technique and much more…

For appointment for audit, call: 917-331-3850
Check website for bio and credits at: www.actoralbertovazquez.com

Study Acting with A Pro

The Forum

Alberto Vazquez is offering for the month of January, a free audit of his class that involves Lee Starsberg, Sanford Meisner and Eric Morris techniques. A free audit (with no participation: just observing); or with participation $15 dollars. Thereafter, the first registration fee for the month will be $100 dollars. After that discount month, the classes are $200 monthly.

This first class will be on Monday, January 3rd / but the regular schedule of classes are Tuesday’s starting January, 11, 18, 25th and continuous after January. Audits will be for the month of January!

Alberto Vazquez does an hour long series of warm-up exercises, then improves, then followed by script analysis, scene analysis, monologue study, moment-to-moment work,aidition technique and much more…

For appointment for audit, call: 917-331-3850
Check website for bio and credits at: www.actoralbertovazquez.com