Firme Sila con Vieques
Firme la respuesta de Sila al jefe de la Marina
jueves, 14 de diciembre de 2000
Por Israel Rodríguez Sánchez
El Nuevo Día
LA GOBERNADORA electa Sila María Calderón no cambiará su posición en torno a Vieques, a pesar de que el secretario de la Marina, Richard Danzig, condicionó la entrega de tierras al oeste de la Isla Nena a que no impida el cumplimiento de las directrices presidenciales.
Calderón respondió ayer la carta amenazante que le envió Danzig en la que le advirtió sobre las consecuencias de las gestiones que su administración
propone realizar para evitar los bombardeos en Vieques. En la misiva, que
Calderón hizo circular anoche, ésta le informa a Danzig que se mantiene firme
en su posición, “que es la misma de la inmensa mayoría de los puertorriqueños”.
La Gobernadora electa le informó, además, que su administración llevará a cabo todas las gestiones necesarias para resolver el problema de Vieques una
vez juramente como Gobernadora el 2 de enero. No se mencionan más detalles en
la carta ni en el escueto comunicado que envió Calderón, quien de paso anunció que se encuentra en Puerto Rico desde el lunes.
COMO ES de conocimiento público, Calderón se comprometió durante la pasada campaña eleccionaria a sacar la Fuerza de Choque de Vieques, a celebrar un reférendum con la opción de “cero bombardeos” si la Marina no convoca una consulta prontamente, y a legislar para prohibir los niveles de las ondas de sonido bajo el mar, que son nocivas para la salud.
Apoyo pipiolo ante ultimátum de la Marina
Apoyo pipiolo ante ultimátum de la Marina
jueves, 14 de diciembre de 2000
Por Julio Ghigliotty
El Nuevo Día
LA GOBERNADORA electa, Sila María Calderón, tendrá todo el apoyo del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) para enfrentarse a la “amenaza” y el “chantaje” que representa la carta del Secretario de la Marina en torno a Vieques, dijo ayer el presidente de la colectividad política, Rubén Berríos.
“Yo creo que eso es una amenaza, un chantaje, y en esto la señora Calderón
sabe que cuenta con el apoyo completo del PIP y estoy seguro que de todos los
sectores que se oponen a la presencia de la Marina en Vieques, sean independentistas o no, para mantener su posición firme frente a la Marina”,
dijo Berríos en entrevista con El Nuevo Día.
El líder independentista dijo que la carta del secretario de la Marina,
Richard Danzig, a la Gobernadora electa representa “una forma imperial de
principios de siglo”.
En la carta, Danzig le advierte a Calderón que la Marina condiciona el
traspaso de los terrenos del oeste de Vieques, pautado para el 31 de
diciembre, a que la Gobernadora electa se ciña las directrices presidenciales
y no tome acciones legales o apruebe leyes dirigidas a detener las prácticas
militares en la Isla Nena.
El vicepresidente del PIP y senador electo, Fernando Martín, por su parte,
dijo que la Marina trata de hacerle a Calderón lo que le hicieron al
gobernador saliente Pedro Rosselló.
“YA SABEMOS que Rosselló sucumbió ante ese chantajismo. Cuando él sucumbió,
ella con toda la razón denunció el que él hubiera sucumbido. Así es que ella ahora lo que tiene que hacer, y para eso cuenta con nuestro apoyo, es hacer lo que Rosselló no hizo que es pararlos en seco”, dijo Martín, quien acompañaba a Berríos en la entrevista.
“Si se mantiene la posición firme la Marina no va a quedar más alternativa
nada más que ceder”, dijo Berríos al reafirmar que “esos son chantajes
insultantes y una amenaza descarnada de parte de la Marina y de los Estados
Unidos”.
“Yo espero que el efecto que tenga (la carta) es de renovar los bríos de la
señora Calderón y la firmeza de sus posiciones, y para eso sepa ella que
cuenta con todo nuestro apoyo, porque el atropello, la amenaza y el chantaje
no es a ella nada más, es al pueblo puertorriqueño que votó en las elecciones; en el caso de Vieques votó con un 66%”, añadió el líder pipiolo,
pero aclaró que no tiene razón para pensar que Calderón no vaya a cumplir con
la palabra empeñada con los viequenses.
U.S. Navy sets vote in Puerto Rico
U.S. Navy sets vote on fate of bombing range in Puerto Rico
December 12, 2000
Web posted at: 12:20 PM EST (1720 GMT)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Navy has set November 6 as the date for a vote on whether it must leave its bombing range on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, according to a letter released Tuesday. Under an agreement with the White House, Puerto Rico’s government said it would allow the Navy to set the date for the referendum. The letter from Navy Secretary Richard Danzig to Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rossello requested November 6.
The agreement stipulates that if islanders vote to expel the Navy it would have to leave by May 2003. If they allow the Navy to stay, it can resume training using live ammunition – something the military agreed not to do since an April 1999 accident on the range that killed a civilian guard.
“At least 90 days in advance of the referendum, my office will specify the terms for the referendum’s second option,
which would permit training past May 1, 2003,” Danzig said in the letter, dated Monday.
Years of resentment over the use of live bombs on Vieques, an island of 9,400 residents, turned into an intense dispute
after the accident, in which a U.S. Marine Corps jet dropped
two 500-pound bombs off target and killed security guard David Sanes Rodriguez.
Protesters camped out on the range for the next year, thwarting further exercises, until they were forcibly cleared out by U.S. Marshals in May. The Navy has carried out several exercises since then, but has used non-explosive
“dummy” bombs.
The Navy calls Vieques its most important training ground and says it is vital to the national defense as a unique site for combined air, sea and land exercises. Anti-Navy activists say the bombing has damaged the environment, stunted economic growth and endangered residents — charges the Navy has denied.
article on collapse of Vieques deal
Vieques deal is near collapse
WASHINGTON — An aid-for-training deal designed to let the Navy retain use of its disputed bombing range on Vieques Island all but collapsed Thursday, as Puerto Rico’s incoming governor signaled her determination to press President-elect George W. Bush to close the facility.
Navy officials said that in light of Gov.-elect Sila Calderon’s stand they
will suspend plans to surrender ownership of some 8,000 of the service’s 22,000 acres on Vieques by Dec. 31. Also in limbo are $40 million worth of economic development projects on Vieques that the Navy had agreed to undertake in an effort to win over local residents.
Navy Secretary Richard Danzig had asked Calderon on Monday for assurances that her administration would honor commitments by departing Gov. Pedro
Rossello not to interfere in training efforts on the island and to provide
security at the main entrance to the Navy’s property on Vieques.
Without her promise to honor the deal, the Navy would not proceed with its
end of the agreement, Danzig warned.
But in a three-paragraph reply dispatched Wednesday, Calderon told Danzig “this is not the time for threats,” and said she’ll take up the issue with the new administration in Washington after she’s sworn in Jan. 2.
“My position … and that of the overwhelming majority of the people of
Puerto Rico is well known,” she added. “I stand firm by that position.”
Calderon campaigned on promises to seek the Navy’s eviction from Vieques, a small island just east of the main island of Puerto Rico that has been a training site for Norfolk-based sailors for more than 50 years. In addition to withdrawing police from the main gate, she suggested she would press for anti-noise ordinances designed to block activity on the range.
The Navy owns two-thirds of Vieques, maintaining much of it as an undeveloped buffer zone for the 900-acre range at the island’s eastern tip. The range is roughly eight miles from the nearest populated area. The Navy says the site is the only place in the Atlantic where ships, aircraft and Marine forces can “train as we fight,” with Marines practicing beach landings as planes and shipborne guns pound nearby targets.
The service had hoped the land transfer and development efforts would persuade a majority of Vieques’ 9,400 residents to support a return to full use of the bombing range, now open only to dummy bombs and shells. The range was closed from April 1999 until May of this year by dozens of local residents, supporters of Puerto Rican independence and
environmentalists who camped on the site to block Navy activities.
The protesters moved in after a mis-aimed bomb wiped out a guard station on the edge of the range, killing a civilian employee. It was the first recorded casualty on the range, though opponents of Navy training on Vieques say the bombing and shelling have spoiled the local environment and crippled efforts to promote tourism.
The protesters were evicted peacefully in early May, but the Navy has fought a running battle with small groups since then who’ve attempted to return to their former campsites.
As part of the agreement, the Navy has set a referendum on the range’s future for Nov. 6, 2001. If it loses, the service has agreed to surrender all 22,000 acres it owns on Vieques by May 2003. If it wins, the service had promised to provide an additional $50 million worth of aid.
With the apparent collapse of the deal, one official acknowledged, the Navy may be pressed by some congressional Republicans to resume use of live ammunition on the range immediately. But a spokesman for Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., who heads a Senate subcommittee on military readiness, expressed hope that Calderon and the new administration can come to an understanding that would not involve such unilateral action by the service.
Inhofe has been Congress’ most outspoken supporter of the Navy’s professed need for live-fire exercises on Vieques, repeatedly arguing that the Clinton administration is placing U.S. forces at risk by deploying them with only the more-limited training now permitted.
Serrano condena presiones de Danzig
Serrano condena las presiones de Danzig
sábado, 16 de diciembre de 2000
Por Leonor Mulero
El Nuevo Día
WASHINGTON – El congresista puertorriqueño por Nueva York, José Serrano, dijo ayer que el secretario de la Marina, Richard Danzig, “está creando una tensión innecesaria en Puerto Rico” con exigencias prematuras a la
gobernadora electa Sila Calderón.
Serrano, quien felicitó a Calderón por buscar que la Marina cese las maniobras en Vieques, dijo que “me preocupa que este hombre (Danzig) está asumiendo ciertos poderes y está creando una tensión innecesaria”. No descartó que eso sea una estrategia naval premeditada.
El congresista señaló que Calderón, como todo el mundo, ha expresado una posición sobre Vieques, pero que ella no se está colocando frente a los portones del campo de tiro para sacar a la Marina de Vieques.
Serrano cuestionó si Danzig amenazaría a Rusia con romper los acuerdos con Estados Unidos sólo porque hay un cambio de gobierno en ese país. Danzig “está fuera de orden haciendo preguntas que no debe hacer. Por más malo que sea el acuerdo, hay ciertas partes que se podrían cumplir. Acaso él está asumiendo una confrontación pública?”, cuestionó. El congresista apuntó que Calderón, como todo el mundo en Puerto Rico, quiere que la Marina cese los bombardeos en Vieques. “La diferencia es que ella quiere que la Marina se vaya mañana. Pero ella no está parándose en los portones para sacarla”,
señaló.
SERRANO DIJO que pedirá al presidente Bill Clinton, junto a sus colegas Nydia
Velázquez y Luis Gutiérrez, que acabe con los bombardeos en Vieques antes de que termine su administración el 19 de enero. En una entrevista radial, Clinton dijo que el Congreso violó el acuerdo presidencial al cambiar disposiciones de las directrices.
Mientras, Ruth Díaz, portavoz de la Marina, señaló que ese cuerpo militar
espera porque Calderón apoye las directrices para poder implementar la
porción federal del acuerdo. “Nos mantenemos firmes en lo que dice el
Secretario en la carta”, señaló. Díaz indicó que no discutirá por ahora los
pasos que tomará la Marina sobre el traspaso de tierras, los $40 millones de
asistencia económica y el uso de balas vivas en los entrenamientos.
In memory of doña Luisa Guadalupe
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Early in the morning of Friday, Doña Luisa Guadalupe, eighty five year old
member of the Vieques struggle, died in a San Juan hospital. During these past twelve months doña Luisa played a protagonic role at the Peace and Justice Camp, set up in front of the entrance to the US Navy`s bombing range in Vieques. Together with her sister Severing, doÒa Luisa was at the Camp day and night to participate in the civil disobedience action that blocked military transit to the entrance to Camp GarcÌa from December 4, 1999 until the 4th of May of this year. Luis and Severina were two of the tens of people arrested at the Peace and Justice Camp.
Doña Luisa Guadalupe was, for many years, an active member of the Committee for the Rescue and Develoment of Vieques. Also, she was the symbol of a family with very ample participation in the struggle to get the US Navy out of Vieques. Her nephews, Ismael Guadalupe, spokesman for the CRDV and one of the 21 arrested here in 1979 and Angel ®Tato®Guadalupe, arrested in the bombing zone during NATO maneuvers here in October; here grandchildren, Alexai, Pibe, Hilcia, Dara, Ismael y Yaurel have all been arrested during recent civil disobedience actions.
“The people of Vieques have lost a great fighter, an incredible example of the Vieques woman ready to sacrifice everything for the good of her island.
Doña Luisa has left us, but her example will live to motivate our actions for a long time to come,” said Nilda Medina, spokeswoman for the Peace and Justice Camp.
Contact: Robert Rabin, 787 741-0716
Navy Construction Stopped
Navy Construction Stopped-Viequenses paralizan construccion militar
El jueves, 21 de diciembre a las 9:00 AM, varios integrantes del Campamento Justicia y Paz (CJP) y del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV) paralizaron un proyecto de construccion de la Marina de Guerra de EU en territorio civil, en un ·rea adyacente a la verja militar de Camp Garia. Carlos Cruz, Nilda Medina y Robert Rabin, se ubicaron entre los enormes tractores y otro equipo pesado de la Marina para obstaculizar lo que calificaron como ëun movimiento ilegal de terreno en propiedad del pueblo de Puerto Rico.
Durante las ·ltimas semanas los militares construyen un campamento, con estructuras fijas y varias casas tipo “trailers”, a media milla al sur del CJP y la entrada principal de la base, Camp Garcia. Los viequenses sospechan que la Marina prepara una nueva entrada para evitar las
constantes protestas y vigilancia de su movimiento que se realiza desde el
CJP.
Efectivos de la Fuerza de Choque, destacados en el lugar temprano en la
mañana del jueves, intentaron intimidar a los viequenses para que saliera del area y asi permitir a los militares continuar con su trabajo. Los viequenses insistieron que la Marina tenia que producir los permisos de las agencias de gobierno concernientes para asegurar que no estaban llevando a cabo una accion ilegal. El teniente Wally Matos, de la policia estatal, indico que representantes de la Marina informaron que tenian solamente un permiso de Obras Publicas. Los manifestantes señalaron a la policia que no permitirian que continuara con el trabajo ya que los
militares no tenian los permisos de Recursos Naturales, la Junta de Planificacion ni de Arqueologia Terrestre.
Con la llegada de mas personas de la comunidad y confrontados con la falta
de permisos, los militares se vieron obligados a recoger su equipo y personal y regresarar al lado militar por la brecha que habian hecho en su verja. Adem·s de una docena de efectivos de la Fuerza de Choque y varios policias locales, la Marina envio un equipo de seguridad militar con perros, “pepper spray” y marinos equipados con escudos y esposas plasticas.
Mientras los militares supuestamente buscaban los permisos, los integrantes del CJP y del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV), establecieron en el sitio un nuevo campamento que fue nombrado, Campamento Luisa Guadalupe, en honor a la luchadora viequense que fallecio la semana pasada. Miembros del CJP y del CPRDV organizaron una vigilia de 24 horas para poder avisarle a la comunidad cualquier nuevo intento por parte de la Marina de continuar con el trabajo que ayer se paralizo.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
–
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Scroll down for text of public letter by the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums to President Clinton, urging the President to issue an Executive Order to stop the bombing in Vieques. Congressman Dellums was one of the most influential and respected Members of the U.S. Congress, where he represented several districts from California for 27 years. Congressman Dellums was Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a high ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the National
Security Committee. In 1980, he chaired a “Panel to Review the Status of Navy Training Activities on the Island of Vieques”, which recommended that the Navy leave Vieques.
RONALD DELLUMS, INFLUYENTE EX-CONGRESISTA, LE EXHORTA A CLINTON A QUE
EMITA ORDEN EJECUTIVA SOBRE VIEQUES
jueves 21 de diciembre
Washington, DC-
El Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, quien fuera uno de los Miembros mas influyentes y respetados en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos por casi tres decadas, le envio hoy una carta publica al Presidente Clinton exhortandole a que emita una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando la paralizacion
inmediata y permanente de toda actividad militar en Vieques.
Dellums represento a varios distritos de California ante el Congreso de los Estados Unidos por veintisiete (27) años. Fue Presidente del “Congressional Black Caucus” y Miembro de alto rango del Comite de las Fuerzas Armadas y del Comite de Seguridad Nacional de la Camara de Representantes, entre otros. Actualmente trabaja en la empresa privada y sigue activo en varias causas sociales.
En el 1980, Dellums presidio un panel congresional que estudio la situacion de Vieques y recomendo la salida de la Marina de Vieques. En su misiva, Dellums le dice al Presidente Clinton: “Como alguien que estuvo envuelto profundamente en este asunto, le digo sin titubeo ni duda alguna que si usted no emite una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando el cese y desista inmediato y permanente de todo bombardeo y de todas las actividades
militares en Vieques, la Marina no tendr· ningun incentivo en buscar un lugar alterno a Vieques y hara todo lo que este en su poder por quedarse alli indefinidamente. La historia asi lo demuestra.”
Flavio Cumpiano, abogado y representante en Washington, DC del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, dijo: “El llamado publico del Congresista Dellums a favor de la orden ejecutiva es importantisimo y contundente. El Congresista Dellums ha sido uno de los Congresistas mas respetados en la
historia del Congreso de los Estados Unidos. A la vez, como Miembro del
ComitÈ de Fuerzas Armadas de la Camara de Representantes Federal, presidio un panel que estudio a fondo la situacion de Vieques y recomendo que la Marina se fuese de Vieques. En su carta a Clinton, el Congresista Dellums le explica, con conocimiento de causa, que si no emite una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando la paralizacion inmediata y permanente de toda actividad militar en Vieques, la Marina no tendra incentivo alguno para buscar una alternativa a Vieques y seguir· obstinada en permanecer en la Isla Nena indefinidamente. Agradecemos profundamente la intervencion del
Congresista Dellums a favor de Vieques en este momento tan crÌtico, en donde le queda menos de un mes al Presidente Clinton en la Casa Blanca. Clinton no puede ignorar este reclamo.”
(VER TEXTO DE LA CARTA ABAJO)
December 21, 2000
The Honorable William J. Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Clinton:
I am writing to urge you to issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
I served in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty-seven years.
Twenty years ago, as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I
chaired a “Panel to Review the Status of Navy Training Activities on the Island of Vieques”. After extensive hearings, the Panel concluded that insensitivity has been the hallmark of the U.S. Navy’s approach towards Vieques and that the U.S. Navy should find an alternative site to Vieques.
Unfortunately, since the Navy was allowed to remain in Vieques and continue to bomb the island while it supposedly looked for an alternative site, the U.S. Navy only increased its insensitivity towards the people of Vieques. Following the death of David Sanes Rodriguez in April 19, 1999 by a U.S. Navy bomb dropped in Vieques, the widespread movement to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques galvanized, while the Navy’s obstinacy to remain
in Vieques continues.
In view of the stated will of the Puerto Rican people, and their many allies in the U.S. and elsewhere, that the U.S. Navy must leave Vieques without dropping any more bombs of any kind choosing to allow bombing to continue in Vieques and to issue Directives that leave the future of the Navy in Vieques in the hands of the next administration and Congress would be disastrous. Under a best case scenario, these Directives would allow
the Navy to continue bombing Vieques for at least three more years. As I am sure you know, these Directives on Vieques were universally rejected by the people of Puerto Rico and have been rejected by the islandís elected representatives.
President Clinton, many lives would have been saved if the recommendations of our Congressional Panel concerning Vieques had been heeded. As someone who was deeply involved in the issue, I tell you with no hesitancy or doubt that if you donít issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all bombings and of all military activities in Vieques, the Navy will have no incentive to find an
alternative site to Vieques and will do all within its power to remain there indefinitely. History has proven this.
I urge you to do the right thing and lift this heavy burden on the close to 10,000 U.S. citizens of Vieques, who have suffered too much for too long. I join those who have strongly urged you to issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, before you
leave the White House.
Sincerely,
(signed in the original)
Ronald V. Dellums
cc:
The Honorable Sila M Calderon
Governor-elect of Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Flavio Cumpiano, Esq.
Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques
Washington, DC
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FROM CONNECTICUT
Todo Connecticut con Vieques (All Connecticut with Vieques) a state-wide
citizens committee that seeks to end the military use of Vieques, Puerto Rico has been urging President Clinton, since November of 1999, to immediately order the U.S. Navy out of this Puerto Rican Island. Now, we are asking the Democrats who represent Connecticut in Congress to join us in requesting President Clinton to order the Navy out of Vieques before he leaves office in January.
The issue of Vieques must be resolved before a Republican President takes
office. Republican leaders in Washington D.C., such as Nancy Johnson and Christopher Shays, have demonstrated that they are willing to do everything
possible to continue to use Vieques for military training on an indefinite
basis. Therefore, Connecticut’s Democrats must act quickly, and urge
President Clinton to use his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to stop the human suffering in Vieques. If Connecticutís Democrats fail to act at this crucial moment, their inaction will constitute a TACIT APPROVAL
of the inhuman policies perpetrated against Vieques by the Navy and by
Republicans such as Nancy Johnson and Chris Shays.
We urge U.S. Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman; and U.S.
Representatives John Larson, James Maloney, Sam Gejdenson and Rosa DeLauro
to act before its too late. Please join us in asking the President to sign an executive order ceasing all military activities in Vieques, now.
Sincerely,
Francis Davila
Chairman
Ivan A. Ramos
Press Secretary
Call Hillary Clinton / Llamen a Hillary Clinton
Call Hillary Clinton / Llamen a Hillary Clinton
Call the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, at 202-456-5318 and ask her to
keep the promises she made to millions of Puerto Ricans during her campaign for a Senate seat in New York to intercede on behalf of the people of Vieques and get the U.S. Navy to leave Vieques without dropping one more bomb. President Clinton must issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in Vieques. The First Lady must keep her promises now, before President Clinton leaves the White House on January 20. Hillary Rodham Clinton
cannot wait until after that date when she will be a junior Democratic Senator in a Republican Congress. Call her at 202-456-5318.
Llamen a la Primera Dama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, al 202-456-5318 y exijanle que cumpla las promesas que le hizo a millones de puertorriqueños durante su campaña para Senadora de Nueva York de que iba a interceder a favor de del pueblo de Vieques para que la Marina se vaya de Vieques sin tirar una bomba mas. El Presidente Clinton debe emitir una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando el cese y desista inmediato y permanente de toda
actividad militar en Vieques. La Primera Dama debe cumplir sus promesas ahora, antes de que el Presidente Clinton se vaya de la Casa Blanca el 20 de enero. No puede esperar para despues de esa fecha cuando sera una Senadora Democrata en su primer termino en un Congreso Republicano. Llamenla al 202-456-5318.
Comunicado PIP
Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
San Juan, Puerto Rico- 3 de enero 2001
El senador Fernando Martín y el representante Víctor García San Inocencio
presentan tres importantes medidas legislativas en el primer día de sesión
legislativa.
Tras juramentar como senador y representante del Partido Independentista
Puertorriqueño, respectivamente Fernando Martín y Víctor García San Inocencio
presentaron tres medidas legislativas relacionadas con los temas de Vieques y
el idioma.
En relación a Vieques, los portavoces del PIP en la Asamblea Legislativa
presentaron dos medidas. La primera es una Resolución Concurrente mediante la
cual ambos cuerpos legislativos le exigen al Presidente Clinton que antes de
terminar su mandato y al amparo de la autoridad que le confiere la Constitución como Comandante en Jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas, ordene el cese inmediato y permanente de todas las operaciones militares en la isla de Vieques.
Con la aprobación de esta medida la Asamblea Legislativa se uniría al reclamo
del liderato político, cívico y religioso contenido en la carta firmada el 13
de noviembre de 2000 y enviada al presidente saliente. Los legisladores
independentistas anticiparon que una vez el presidente electo George W. Bush
asuma el cargo, renovarán esta petición ante la administración republicana.
La segunda medida sobre Vieques es un proyecto de ley para que el gobierno
de Puerto Rico adopte como política pública los hallazgos, conclusiones y
recomendaciones contenidos en el informe rendido por la primera Comisión de
Vieques.
Por último, el senador Martín y el representante García San Inocencio
presentaron un proyecto de ley para que se declare y se establezca el español
como idioma oficial de Puerto Rico. El texto de esta medida corresponde al de
la ley del idioma aprobada por la administración del PPD en el 1991.
ALL WOMEN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE FOR VIEQUES!!
Jan. 13, 2001
New York City
Early this afternoon at 2:30PM, The Women for Peace and Justice for Vieques, Puerto Rico staged an ALL-WOMAN civil disobedience action at the U.S. Recruitment Station at Times Square. This action was in solidarity with the struggle to remove the U.S. Navy out of Vieques!!
The Women have been arrested, are currently being processed and will be
taken to 100 Centre Street (Central Booking) and will be released on Sunday Jan. 14th.
The Women for Peace and Justice for Vieques are calling for a support
picket to be out front of 100 Centre St. tomorrow at 2pm!!
JOIN THE SUPPORT PICKET FOR THE BRAVE COMPANERAS RELEASE!!
U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES!!
SUNDAY JAN. 14TH AT 2PM
100 CENTRE STREET
TAKE THE 4,5,6 TO CANAL STREET AND WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS!!
For more info. please call Ben Ramos at 718-601-4751
Puerto Rico Governor wants ban on bombings
Puerto Rico Governor Seeks a Ban on Vieques Bombing
January 14, 2001/New York Times/National
By ELIZABETH BECKER
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 The new governor of Puerto Rico said today that she was
repudiating the agreement reached last year to allow the Navy to resume firing training on the island of Vieques and would ask President Clinton to issue an executive order for the immediate cessation of all bombing on the island range before he leaves office.
Pointing to a new study showing a high incidence of heart problems among the
fishermen and children of Vieques, Gov. Sila M. Calderón said this was “dramatic evidence” that 50 years of bombing exercises on Vieques had harmed the health and lives of its 9,000 residents. This preliminary study showed that Vieques residents have a high rate of symptoms of an unusual disorder known as vibroacoustic disease, which is associated with exposure to loud noises like those from jet engines or deep explosions.
“Before he leaves office we would like the president to stop the bombing as
soon as possible,” Governor Calderón said in a telephone interview. “We can
renegotiate a new agreement, but after a more decent quality of life has been
restored to the people of Vieques.”
Saying she was “neither anti-Navy nor anti-United States,” the governor said
she wanted to begin immediate discussions with the administration of President-elect George W. Bush “based on dialogue and consensus.”
“This is a human problem and I believe we are on the same side of the fence, that the United States and Puerto Rico are concerned about the welfare and human rights of the people of Vieques,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Bush’s transition team said he would have no comment until he took office.
All training on Vieques, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico,
was suspended in April 1999 when a civilian Puerto Rican security guard was
killed in a bombing accident, touching off widespread protests. Governor
Calderón took part in a subsequent commission that found initial proof of
health and environmental problems caused by repeated shelling from ships and
aerial bombardments from fighter jets.
Ms. Calderón’s predecessor, Pedro J. Rosselló, struck an agreement last year
with the Clinton administration allowing the Navy to resume training using inert ammunition on the 900- acre range. It also called for a referendum for the people of Vieques to decide whether to close the site altogether. But the accord was unpopular and protesters staged sit-ins at the camp when the Navy resumed training this summer.
Ms. Calderón, the first woman to be governor of Puerto Rico, was elected in
November on a platform that included a demand for the immediate cessation of
the bombing.
That places her in direct conflict with the Navy. Last month Richard Danzig,
the secretary of the Navy, told Ms. Calderón that he would not transfer land
or initiate several community projects as promised in the accords until she publicly affirmed she would live by them. For the Navy, the range at Vieques is indispensable, the only training area in the Atlantic where the Navy can fire live ammunition in large joint amphibious, aerial and ship bombardment exercises. Those exercises, the Navy says, are essential to prepare for overseas deployments.
In a letter, Ms. Calderón told Mr. Danzig “this is not a time for threats.”
A spokesman said today that the Navy remained committed to last year’s
accords.
“We believe we have a formula for working out the issue of Vieques and hopefully we can continue with that program,” said Kenneth Bacon, the Pentagon spokesman.
That formula included $90 million in aid for Vieques if the residents voted to allow exercises with live ammunition in the referendum the Navy recently scheduled for Nov. 6.
“We thought by declaring an early date for the referendum we were offering
Governor Calderón an olive branch, but it didn’t work,” a defense official said. “Now everything is on hold.”
On Monday, Governor Calderón will release the findings of the study that presents preliminary evidence that the Navy training exercises may be causing
vibroacoustic disease, a recently identified syndrome that can be detected by a thickening of the membrane that encloses the heart.
In the study, 49 of 50 Vieques residents examined had this symptom at a level
rarely seen in a general population. A control study of 50 residents from Ponce, on the main island of Puerto Rico, showed no evidence of the ailment, which is associated with a number of heart, lung and other problems. In addition, the study found, several Vieques children showed an unusual number of heart abnormalities, possibly from jumping into the water during bombing exercises to experience what they called a Jacuzzi effect, to feel vibrations carried through the water.
Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
GET THE STORY OUT ON DEPLETED URANIUM/URANIUM 238
GET THE STORY OUT ON DEPLETED URANIUM/ URANIUM 238
Friends,
Dr. Andreas Toupadakis is a chemist who quit his job at Los Alamos Laboratories last year for reasons of conscience and now speaks around the U.S. and other places for peace on the planet. He has been working with Dr. Helen Caldicott, pediatrician from Australia to promote a nuclear free world, free of militarism. Please share his work with others. I was
listening to our local pacifica station here in Ithaca, NY while doing the dishes with my 20 year old son Gabriel when we heard Andreas speak. His message was so profound that we had to stop, sit and do nothing but listen. Please let me know if you would like more of this kind of info forwarded to you.
Just imagine the strong trade winds of the Caribbean carrying the depleted
uranium dust over Vieques and the rest of Puerto Rico. On August 14th the winds were so strong at Camp Justice and Peace, when the bombing began again, that the laundry was blown off the line. Read on….
Peace for Vieques, NOW!
Thanks, Mary Anne Grady Flores
Ithaca Catholic Worker Vieques
Support Group
FROM: Toupadakis
12 REASONS (revised and expanded)
Dear Friends,
In light of the current events in Europe, I would like to raise my voice of concern in support of the Greek soldiers, Greek civilians and in general Europe and the world. Below I have expressed some more of my thoughts and I would appreciate it very much if you would disseminate them.
1. Most of the uranium oxide that was formed during the bombing has not just stayed there, but most likely has moved all around the area, around the tragic places. Uranium oxide forms as a very fine powder under the conditions of impact, which means it becomes like a cloud in the sky. I have some experience with uranium oxide. The very tiny particles are able to fly away so easily, just like the water particles in clouds or the solid particles in smoke. A strong wind is not necessary to transport them, not only just to Greece or Italy, but also around the whole earth within a
year. Geologists have concluded that a complete mix of the atmosphere takes place within a year. The tiny particles are of different sizes. The heavier particles can fly only for a short distance, finally depositing themselves near the impact area. The lighter move further, and the even lighter mix with the air and move in all directions. Eventually they find themselves all around the earth. Some of them will stay in the atmosphere forever. Most will precipitate on the land, rivers, the seas, and the lakes during rainstorms. Why don’t the scientists speak out concerning these facts? Perhaps it is because they are under a government salary. These facts need to be made public immediately. Any release of nuclear material on earth, especially in the way that it was released in Kosovo and Iraq, sooner or later will kill millions of people around the globe. A
large number of our relatives and friends have died from cancer, and it was not just caused by other chemicals; it was also from global nuclear tests. That something cannot be proven immediately does not necessarily mean that it is not true.
2. No one can clean a place like Kosovo or Iraq from radioactive materials. He will simply take an extremely small portion of it and bring it to some poor people’s backyard. Eventually it will find its way into the bodies of poor and rich, humble and arrogant, white and black, Christians and Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, Americans and Russians,
Israelis and Palestinians alike. Radiation does not discriminate. It is
just like the rays of the sun in that they fall all over, but unlike the sun’s rays, these rays will kill the body sooner or later.
3. Instead of only asking the governments to clean these places, we must protest on the streets, even risking our comforts for the complete cessation of making or using any nuclear materials wherever they might be, in bombs, nuclear reactors, or any other place.
4. If we do not protest, we are heading toward the total annihilation of life on this planet. People of the earth should ask themselves what the role of NATO is after the cold war was over. If we do not ask soon we will have a new cold war, which already has appeared on the horizon. It will be the last one.
5. If anyone wants to see numbers and references, he can easily find them.
However, I am of the opinion that most of those who work with numbers and
references are the ones who have brought death on the earth. Their science is immoral and it is now surely fulfilling the predictions of the wise thousands of years ago. What I have written is common sense and most scientists know that it is true but how many will back it up? Only those who work for truth, not for salaries.
6. A number of European nations have begun screening Balkan veterans. For
what? To see if they are sick or if radioactive materials have contaminated them? Which news reporter will dare to raise his/her voice to report that this is a gigantic fallacy? Why? Because you do not need to detect radiation in somebody’s body to figure out he has been hurt. One tiny particle can start cancer in the body. This is known in the
scientific community, but the largest part of the scientific community does
not work for the welfare of humanity. It works for its destruction in the name of peace and health. No instrument can detect that particle; it can start the cancer and later be eliminated from the body anyway, without ever being detected. Tragically, the most accurate detection of this inhumane treatment of the people of the earth will be by counting the increasing number of deaths, and the weeping that will result in the very near future. Uranium does not kill just because of its radiation; it also kills
because of its high toxicity as a heavy metal like lead.
7. Indeed we have lost our sanity. At the same time that we are burying our children and parents and friends and neighbors by the millions worldwide from cancer, we at the same time are searching for data to prove why and if and when and how.
8. The solution? Come out people, come out before the great storm hits. Stop collaborating with secrecy and evil, and do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot touch your souls. Do not be afraid for tomorrow. If you come out you will be protected. But you must disengage from all practices whatever they might be that promote the exploitation of the weak and poor.
9. Greek Soldiers must come immediately back from Kosovo.
10. It is time that the citizens of Europe understand the extremely
dangerous motives of NATO and also its disregard of life, even of its own
soldiers, and vote finally for the independence of Europe.
11. DU weapons must immediately be banned. Why did the Pentagon use DU
in large amounts in Iraq in 1991, in Bosnia in 1995 and in Kosovo in 1999, when it is prohibited by international law? Clearly the leaders of NATO are not suitable for world governance as they
envision themselves in the future. Let no one from east or west, south on
north entertain illusions of taking away the freedom of the people of the
earth under the name of world peace. That will just not happen regardless
of the insane plans of a few.
12. Why hasn’t all this outbreak of news on DU in Europe appeared in the USA press yet? It is because of the approximately 697,000 U.S. troops
stationed in the Gulf during the war, over 100,000 veterans are now
chronically ill. American families are burying their sons and daughters by
hundreds if not by thousands because of DU. It shows the degree of control
of the American media. Unfortunately most of those who serve the press are
serving it not for reporting truth but for a monthly check.
The site below is one of the best I know about depleted uranium and its effects on humans. There are personal stories and pictures. It is all real. I met Mr. Akira Tashiro a few weeks ago at my house. He is to be trusted. His awards in Japan and the newspaper he works for speak of his work and character.
In regard to any comments about presenting myself as Andreas of Crete,
people should know that I am proud of my roots, as any person on earth should be proud of his/her own roots. People without love and respect for their roots cannot offer anything useful to a changing world. The hidden agenda of the New World Order is to cut the roots of the people in every nation.
PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, DO NOT COOPERATE!
Andreas Toupadakis, Ph.D.
or Andreas of Crete
PR Mayors Appeal to Clinton in Person Over Vieques
Puerto Rico Mayors Appeal to Clinton in Person Over Vieques
The following letter by the Honorable William Miranda Marin, President of
the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico, was hand delivered to President Clinton at the White House this afternoon by the following mayors: the Hon. Marcos Irizarry, Mayor of Lajas; the Hon. Walter Torres, Alcalde de Peñuelas; the Hon. Isidro Negron, Mayor of San German; the Hon. Martin Vargas, Mayor of Guanica; the Hon. Rolando Ortiz, Mayor of Cayey; and
Angel Castillo, Executive Director of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico.
The Mayor of Vieques, the Hon. Damaso Serrano, also recently sent a letter
to President Clinton stressing the same demand, as did Governor Sila Calderon, President of the Popular Democratic (Commonwealth) Party, Senator Norma Burgos, President of the New Progressive (Statehood) Party, and Ruben Berrios Martinez, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.
MAYORS ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO
P.O. Box 9066565
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00906-6565
Phone (787) 724-1939 / 725-3434
Fax (787) 721-8333
January 15, 2001
Hon. William J. Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500 Hand Delivered
Dear President Clinton:
I am William Miranda Marin, Mayor of the Municipality of Caguas, Puerto Rico and the President of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico. Our Association comprises 45 municipalities in the island and represents over 50% of our population. I am also a former Chairman of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the National Democratic Party.
As you have but a few days left in the White House, I am writing to stress
the critical importance and urgency of your issuing an Executive Order
ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military
activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
It is plain to see that the success of the struggle of the people of Puerto Rico to have the U.S. Navy stop bombing and finally leave Vieques will be almost insurmountable, unless you issue that Executive Order now. If you fail to do so, the Navy will continue indefinitely to claim that there is no alternative site to Vieques, and its 10,000 U.S. citizens. That would be a gross injustice to our people, especially to the human rights of the children of Vieques, that we trust you will not allow. You have only a few days to address this critical human rights situation.
I urge you to bring peace to Vieques now, through an Executive Order, ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. If you do so, our people and the world will remember you, forever and ever, as the U.S.A.
President that brought peace for the children of Vieques, after almost sixty years of war.
Sincerely,
(signed)
William Miranda Marin,
President
Calderon To Press Clinton on Vieques
Monday January 15 2:22 AM ET
Calderon To Press Clinton on Vieques
By MARCELO BALLVE, Associated Press Writer
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s new governor plans to pressure
President Clinton to halt Navy exercises on Vieques island before he leaves office on Jan. 20.
Gov. Sila Calderon will cite a new study, requested by the Puerto Rican government, that shows a high rate of a heart-damaging disease among a sample of the island’s 9,400 people, said her press secretary, Cecil Blondet.
All but one of 50 people on Vieques examined by doctors showed abnormal
thickness in a heart membrane, Blondet said Sunday. A control group of the
same number examined in another part of Puerto Rico showed no evidence of the disorder.
The disease can be caused by noise and vibrations associated with jets and
bomb explosions, Blondet said.
Navy spokesman Jeff Gordon said he had not seen the study but was familiar
with similar research that drew a link between sonic booms from Navy training and medical problems on the island. He said the studies were part of a “disinformation campaign.”
“We have seen a barrage of intellectually dishonest studies recently,” Gordon said. “None of them have been able to survive scientific peer reviews, or hold up in court.”
Calderon already has angered federal officials with plans to offer a local
referendum that includes the choice of the Navy leaving Vieques immediately.
Her appeal to Clinton comes as the president works franticly in his final
days, making changes by executive order. For example, he banned road building and most logging in nearly a third of the federal forest land in 38 states.
President-elect George W. Bush has said he will stand by an agreement that would let residents decide in a Nov. 6 referendum whether the Navy should leave Vieques. The pact, reached after months of negotiations, would delay any Navy withdrawal until May 2003.
Vieques residents live between an eastern Navy training ground and a weapons depot. Decades of resentment over the Navy’s presence boiled over in April 1999, when a Navy jet dropped a bomb off target and killed a civilian security guard on the bomb range.
The Navy has since stopped using live bombs. But if islanders vote in the
referendum to allow the military to stay, the Navy can resume using live ammunition.
The Navy says Vieques is a vital training ground for its Atlantic Fleet because it provides the opportunity for simultaneous bombing, shelling and beach assaults.
UN ESTUDIO cientÌfico comisionado por la gobernadora, Sila M. Calderon, revelo que un grupo de pescadores viequenses y sus familiares padecen de la enfermedad conocida como vibro acustica, que estaria ligada a los bombardeos de la Marina.
El estudio piloto fue considerado ayer como otra prueba de los daños que
causan los bombardeos en la salud de los viequenses y una herramienta de presion mas para que el gobierno de Estados Unidos saque la Marina de la Isla Nena.
La investigacion, realizada entre noviembre y diciembre, evidencio que 98%
de los 50 viequenses que participaron padece de vibro ac·stica, condicion
que afecta los sistemas neurologico, inmunologico,,cardiovascular,,respiratorio y gastrointestinal, asi como el comportamiento.
Tambien revelo que 32% de los participantes tienen un movimiento del
menton cuando se rasca la palma de su mano (reaccion mento palmar) que
refleja una posible disfuncion cerebral.
Se desconocen las consecuencias
El estudio de Calderon se concentro en el sistema cardiovascular y revelo engrosamiento anormal del pericardio, la capa que cubre el corazon, y el
engrosamiento y mal funcionamiento de las valvulas que permiten el flujo de sangre a ese organo. A nivel mundial, aun no se sabe cuales pueden ser las consecuencias de esas condiciones, afirmo el cardiologo Roberto Torres Aguiar, principal investigador del estudio.
El galeno explico que se estudiaron 50 viequenses y a un grupo control de
50 personas con las mismas caracteristicas que el primero, con la unica excepcion de que viven en Ponce. Estos ultimos no presentaron ninguna de
las condiciones de los viequenses. En cada grupo hubo ocho niños de menos
de 18 años de edad. El mas joven tiene siete años. Torres Aguiar, quien
califico los resultados del estudio piloto como “contundentes y con un
alto valor estadÌstico”, afirmo que “condiciones presentes en Vieques son
las posibles causantes de las anomalias cardiovasculares reflejadas en dicho estudio”.
Al preguntarle si el estudio vincula directamente el padecimiento de la
enfermedad con el bombardeo de la Marina, Torres Aguiar, afirmo: “no puedo decir que esta intimamente ligado a los bombardeos de la Marina, pero no puedo decir que no lo esta, que es lo mas importante”.
El investigador recalco que el estudio “si demuestra que puede haber potencialmente una asociacion” y que para ampliar el conocimiento que hay iniciaron una segunda etapa este fin de semana para aumentar la muestra de personas.
Origen del sindrome
El sÌndrome, descubierto hace 19 años por el portugues Nuno Castelo Branco, resulta de la exposicion a fuertes ruidos, de mas de 100 decibeles y en una frecuencia menor de 500 megaherzt, y apenas fue recogido por la literatura norteamericana en el 1999.
Castelo Branco descubrio la enfermedad haciendo estudios en un grupo de
empleados de un campo de construccion y reparacion de aviones en su pais natal. Su estudio revelo que las personas sufren de viBro ac·stica luego de estar expuestas por 10 años o mas a los fuertes ruidos, pero la investigacion en Vieques evidencio la existencia del sindrome en un niño de siete años.
El estudio se hizo con un grupo de cientÌficos en Puerto Rico y otro en
Europa, liderado por Castelo Branco, al que se le enviaban los resultados
simultaneamente. El estudio se hizo utilizando la prueba de ecocardiografia.
Guillermo J. Tirado, medico internista que participo del estudio, explico
que de los hallazgos medicos mas comunes de la enfermedad estan la epilepsia, depresion del sistema inmunologico por lo cual se proliferan ciertos tipos de c·ncer, anomalÌas en el corazon, asma, gastritis y efectos en el comportamiento. Esto ·ltimo se evidencio cuando los
participantes fueron expuestos a musica y lloraban o se mostraban violentos, explico.
Viequenses en alto riesgo
Torres Aguiar, profesor de la Escuela de Medicina de Ponce, explico que 49
de los 50 viequenses tienen un grosor del pericardio que es cuatro veces mas que el de las personas de Ponce. “Esto es claramente anormal, esto no se ve en nuestra practica diaria”, afirmo.
En terminos de la v·lvula mitral, se evidencio que el riesgo de los
viequenses de sufrir un engrosamiento de la misma es 16 veces mas que en
Ponce, y que tienen 5.5 veces mas riesgo de tener insuficiencias en esa valvula que los ponceños. Asimismo, tienen posibilidad de padecer de un
engrosamiento de la valvula aortica un 32.5 veces mas los de los participantes residentes en Ponce.
Armas de Uranio en Vieques y Europa
Armas de Uranio en Vieques y Europa
Graves preocupaciones por las armas de uranio en Europa y en Vieques
El gobierno italiano protesto por los graves problemas de salud entre sus
soldados, causados por el uso de armas de uranio 238 por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses en los recientes conflictos en los balcanes. El tema de las armas de uranio aparecio en primera plana en los medios de varios paises de Europa, pertenecientes al OTAN, debido a la muerte por cancer y leucemia de soldados que participaron en las acciones belicas en Kosovo, Yugoslavia y Bosnia donde lanzaron grandes cantidades de
proyectiles de uranio.
Desde 1994, el Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV) ha
denunciado el uso de armas de uranio, al conocer sobre estos en una conferencia de Justicia Ambiental en Washington, D.C. “Escuchamos con horror a los cientÌficos y a los activistas comunitarios de los Estados Unidos cuando hablaron de este nuevo armamento que se habia utilizado en
la Guerra del Golfo. Poco antes habÌamos escuchado al retirado Almirante, Diego Hern·ndez, decir que el entrenamiento de la Marina en Vieques fue crucial para el ëÈxitoí de las fuerzas de EU en la guerra contra Iraq,” señalo Ismael Guadalupe, portavoz del CPRDV.
Miembros de la organizacion viequense mencionaron tambien que el 80% de los barcos y aviones de EU que participaron en los ataques en Yugoslaviañ donde se lanzo otra enorme cantidad de balas de uranio ñ practicaron primero en Vieques antes de salir para el Mediterr·neo.
“Por años hemos denunciado la relacion entre la contaminacion militar y la
exagerada cantidad de casos de cancer en Vieques. Los metales pesados y otros quÌmicos componentes de los explosivos, nocivos para la salud humana, combinados con las balas radioactivas de uranio 238, ponen en peligro la vida tanto de los viequenses de ahora como de las proximas
generaciones,” dijo Nilda Medina, portavoz del CPRDV.
En mayo de 1999, portavoces de la Marina admitieron que sus aviones lanzaron cientos de proyectiles de uranio en Vieques durante maniobras en febrero de ese aÒo, en pr·cticas para la guerra en Yugoslavia. El oxido (polvo) de uranio que resulta del impacto de esta balas puede viajar mas de veinte millas y causa una larga lista de enfermedades, incluyendo el cancer. Entre las personas que han muerto recientemente de cancer en
Vieques se ha detectado altos niveles de uranio y de metales pesados.
La Marina admite que no ha podido recoger todas las balas de uranio que lanzaron en la parte este de Vieques. Los militares planifican mas bombardeo aquÌ en enero y febrero.
“No hay forma de garantizarnos que el proximo bombazo o cañonazo no impacte un artefacto de uranio, lanzando al aire particulas radioactivas que podrian llegar aerotransportadas al sector civil, a nuestros niños, ancianos, a cualquiera de nosotros. Exhortamos a las autoridades
responsables por la proteccion de nuestra salud y de nuestra seguridad, a que paralicen cualquier futuro bombardeo que ponga en peligro a toda la comunidad viequense,” expreso Medina.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT URANIUM WEAPONS IN EUROPE AND IN VIEQUES
The Italian government is protesting the serious health problems of its soldiers caused by the use of uranium 238 weapons by the US military in the recent conflict in the Balkans. The topic of depletued uranium (238) weapons captured the front pages in the press of several European
countries, members of NATO, when soldiers from the region began to die of cancer and leukemia after their return from Kosovo, Yugoslavia y Bosnia, where large quantities of uranium 238 projectiles were launched.
Since 1994, the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV)
has denounced the use of uranium weapons, upon learning of such arms at an
Environmental Justice Conference in Washington, D.C. “We listened in
horror as scientists and community activists from the US told about this
new type of weaponry that had been used extensively in the Gulf War. We had recently heard retired Admiral, Diego Hernandez say that the ‘success’ of the US forces in Iraq was due in great measure to their practicing in Vieques,” said Ismael Guadalupe, spokesman for the CRDV.
Members of the Vieques organization mentioned also that 80% of the ships
and jets that participated in the attacks against Yugoslavia ñ where large amounts of uranium shells were used ñ practiced first in Vieques before leaving for the Mediterranean.
“For years we have denounced the relationship between the military
contamination and the exaggerated levels of cancer on Vieques. The heavy metals and other chemical components from explosives, dangerous to human health, combined with the radioactive uranium 238 projectiles, jeopardize the life of Viequenses today as well as the future generations,” according to Nilda Medina, another spokesperson for the CRDV.
In May of 1999, Navy representatives admitted that their jets had launched
hundreds of uranium projectiles on Vieques during maneuvers in February of
that year, while practicing for the war in Yugoslavia. The uranium oxide (dust) that results from the impact of the projectiles can travel more than twenty miles and cause a long list of illnesses, including cancer. Among people who have recently died of cancer in Vieques, high levels of uranium and heavy metals have been detected.
The Navy admits they could not recover all the uranium tipped shells shot at the Eastern part of Vieques. Military officials plan more bombing here in January and February.
“There is no way to guarantee that the next bomb or cannon shot will not impact one of the uranium shells, putting into the air radioactive particles that could be air transported to the civilian sector, to our children, to our old folks, to any one of us. We urge the authorities responsible for our health and security to block any future bombing that puts in danger the entire Vieques community,” expressed Medina.
Contact: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
Resolucion PIP sobre Vieques en Senado
Caliente el Senado por el término ‘exigir’
miércoles, 17 de enero de 2001
Por Israel Rodríguez Sánchez
El Nuevo Día
LA RESOLUCION concurrente que presentó el senador independentista Fernando Martín para “exigirle” al presidente de los Estados Unidos, Bill Clinton, que ordene el cese inmediato los bombardeos en Vieques fue aprobada ayer en el Senado, luego de un debate semántico sobre el lenguaje expresado en la pieza legislativa.
La medida, que fue aprobada ayer con los 19 votos a favor de la mayoría popular, no contó con el respaldo de la minoría novoprogresista, con excepción de Norma Burgos, quien apoyó la resolución. Su voto, sumado al de Martín, aumentó a 21 los votos a favor contra siete en contra.
El caliente debate que se desató ayer en el hemiciclo, antes de la votación final, comenzó cuando el senador popular Juan Cancel Alegría sugirió que se enmendara la resolución para cambiar la palabra “exigir” por “solicitar”. Esto propició que Martín, como autor de la medida, pidiera de inmediato un turno para expresarse.
“Estoy convencido de que éste no es momento para paños tibios, ni para mandar
un mensaje de debilidad y ambigüedad”, reclamó Martín. “Si partimos de la premisa de que se trata de un problema de derechos humanos lo que procede es exigir”, agregó enérgico.
ESTE ARGUMENTO fue rebatido por el portavoz de la delegación novoprogresista, Kenneth McClintock, quien indicó que para “exigir hay que tener poderes”. “Y la realidad es que la Asamblea Legislativa no tiene el poder para compeler”, puntualizó McClintock, al expresar preocupación con la traducción al inglés de la resolución.
Incluso, McClintock pidió que la traducción al inglés de la resolución fuera repartida a los senadores antes de ser aprobada. Pero el presidente del
Senado, Antonio Fas Alzamora, fue firme en que “nuestro vernáculo es el español y yo mismo me encargaré de que la traducción sea la correcta”.
El turno siguiente le correspondió a la vicepresidenta del Senado, Velda
González, quien admitió que McClintock “me sacó de quicio”. “Cuando se habla
de derecho a la vida, a la salud, no estamos hablando de poderes”, expuso
González, al lamentar que “su ideología le nuble” el entendimiento.
Sin embargo, fue la senadora Burgos quien sorprendió a todos cuando dijo “que
mi ideología es la misma de mis compañeros, pero no me nubla para defender
los derechos humanos de los viequenses”.
BURGOS EXPRESO en un tono combativo que la Constitución de los Estados Unidos
garantiza el derecho a felicidad y a la vida, por lo que ella como ciudadana
americana estaba en posición de exigir. “Tenemos que hablar con propiedad y
exigir los derechos”, enfatizó.
La senadora fue contundente cuando dijo: “Basta ya de palabras tibias, llevamos más de un año buscando palabras suaves para que el Presidente escuche nuestro reclamo”. Esta postura le ganó felicitaciones de Martín y de Fas Alzamora. Y, posteriormente, Cancel Alegría retiró la enmienda para cambiar la palabra “exigir”. Esto provocó que algunos miembros de la delegación novoprogresista criticaran a Burgos.
El portavoz alterno Orlando Parga, por ejemplo, la fustigó al declarar que “esto es no es cuestión de ser más macho que nadie” en referencia a la postura de Burgos. Parga también cuestionó el hecho de que se le pidiera a Clinton que tomara una decisión a cinco días de concluir su mandato, acción que le criticaron al ex gobernador Pedro Rosselló cuando hizo 133
nombramientos durante sus últimos días en La Fortaleza.
“Los que hablan ahora son los mismos que criticaron a Rosselló por hacer unos
meros nombramientos de jueces o miembros de juntas”, expresó Parga con su
tradicional estilo fogoso.
If there is no Clinton order to move the Navy
If Clinton doesn’t order the Navy out of Vieques now. . .
Ronald Dellums on the fate of Vieques if President Clinton doesn’t order the U.S. Navy out of Vieques now:
“As someone who was deeply involved in the issue, I tell you with no hesitancy or doubt that if you donít issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all bombings and of all military activities in Vieques, the Navy will have no incentive to find an alternative site to Vieques and will do all within its power to remain there indefinitely. History has proven this.”
-Excerpt from letter by forrmer Congressman Ronald Dellums to President
Clinton, December 21, 2000.
(Note: The demands to get the U.S. Navy to stop bombing the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico and leave Vieques once and for all will be part of the Protest at Saturday’s Presidential Inaguration in Washington, DC. Please see message below from the International Action Center)
January 20th 2001 Action
Time 10:00 am
Title Protest at the Inauguration
Location Pennsylvania & 14th St NW, Washington DC
Phone Contact 202-588-1205
Sponsor Int’l Action Center
On January 20, 2001, the next president of the U.S will be inaugurated in
Washington D.C. Whether it’s George W. Bush or Al Gore, one thing is certain: executions will not stop. Whichever politicians come or go, police brutality and racial profiling remains. Thirty years after the Attica prison rebellion, the racist prison-industrial complex will
continue to grow.
More than 2 million people will observe Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in U.S. prisons-including political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who waits with 4,000 others on death row. The people must make it clear to the next president that the death machine must stop. No more executions. Mumia Abu-Jamal must be granted a new trial or set free.
We must stop the U.S. death machine around the world. The bullets & bombs
that have murdered and maimed hundreds of Palestinians are made in the USA. Ten years after the bombing of Iraq began on Jan. 16, 1991, the U.S. still maintains economic sanctions that have killed more than 1.2 million Iraqis.
The Pentagon continues to plot another Vietnam war in Colombia, and to bomb the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Along with NATO, the U.S military machine forces colonial subjugation of the Balkans, and elsewhere in the world. We must stop capitalist deathonomics. U.S. transnational corporations and banks, along with their puppet institutions–the
International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization–continue to impose the death machine of globalization on the world, reaping super-profits from their exploitation of the planet while more than a billion people go hungry, and at least 2 billion live in abject
* Low cost housing information can be found on the IAC web site
(compiled by JAM)
DIRECTIONS TO J20 BUS PARKING plus Metro Directions to Protest Site
FROM THE NORTH EAST (Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC, RI, CT,
Boston, Maine, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: Down I-95 south to I-495 Beltway West to Exit #30 North (just north of Layhill Rd.) to free
surface/multi level parking at Glenmont – Red Line Station–Directions to Protest Site: Take Red Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 27 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks
South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE NORTH WEST (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Western PA, Western NY, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: Down I-270 south to just past Rockville. Go east on Shady Grove Rd. to free surface/multi level parking at Shady Grove – Red Line Station.
–Directions to Protest Site: Take Red Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 34 min.). Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE WEST (West VA, Kentucky, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: East on I-66. Get off at Nutley Rd. Exit 59 to parking at Vienna/Fairfax-GMU – Orange Line Station–Directions to Protest Site: Take Orange Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 27 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and
Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE SOUTH (Richmond, Atlanta, NC, TN, FL, Texas, etc.)–Driving & Parking Directions: Up I-95 north to Franconia/Springfield Pkwy. Exit #169A Go East to Franconia Dr. to parking at Franconia/Springfield – Blue Line Station.–Directions to Protest Site: Take Blue Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 33 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
METRO INFORMATION: Metro cost is $2.10 each way. Special hours of METRO (D.C. Subway) operation for January 20 is 5:30 am Saturday ñ 2:00 am Sunday. Metro signs are square with an M inside.
Congratulations to you and the Grand Old Party for being once again leading the future of the United States of America. Tomorrow, January 20th, Mr. George Walker Bush will be sworn in as the 43rd President of this nation, and therefore, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. I am confident that you understand the responsibility that comes with those titles.
It has been about a year since we began corresponding by electronic and regular mail. Hence, I have witnessed the promptness with which you have replied to the letters and concerns of this temporary New Hampshire resident. This time I write to recommend an amendment to the platform of the Republican Party regarding its position on the political status of Puerto Rico and to urge you to reevaluate your position regarding the issue of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
First and foremost, the support of the Republican Party to my nation becoming a state of the Union is an oxymoron we must fight together. Puerto Rico is a country with a distinct nationality and culture that has resisted over one hundred years of American subjugation. We are, and will continue to be, citizens of the Puerto Rican nation…state or not. Besides, statehood will give many independence supporters yet another legitimate reason to take on armed struggle as the only viable means to attain independence. This will be a recursive headache to your government with over two million Puerto Ricans in the United States and almost four million in Puerto Rico, all U.S. citizens since 1917.
For the welfare and the integrity of both nations, your Party should favor independence for Puerto Rico, albeit upsetting some loyal millionaire supporters that the GOP has on the island. I urge you to take action to correct this terrible mistake.
Furthermore, due to the traditional military values that the Republican Party upholds, President Bush is better positioned to order the permanent cease and desist of all military activities in Vieques than was the draft-dodger Bill Clinton. Although I understand the need of your the troops to be trained with live-fire ammunition in realistic conditions before being deployed, understand that those exercises should be conducted in the continental United States, since that is the country those soldiers have sworn to honorably defend.
I regret to inform you that I will probably be leaving Dartmouth College and the Granite State this summer to return to my homeland, Puerto Rico. Thank you for treating me as your constituent.
Respectfully,
Héctor Rosario
10 Sachem Village
West Lebanon, NH 03784
(603) 653-0027
United for Vieques / Unidos por Vieques
[PuertoRicanEvents] United for Vieques
Dear friends,
Former executive comittee members of the October 21 Vieques Alliance have joined together to developed a new comittee “UNITED FOR VIEQUES.” This NYC based comite is a multicultural organization dedicated to educating the masses, uniting the people and expressing our concerns.
For those interested in the newly formed “UNITED FOR VIEQUES”…
send an Email to:
UnitedforVieques@ Hotmail.com
Pentagon to Examine Heart Illness on Vieques
January 21, 2001
Pentagon to Examine Heart Illness on Vieques
By ELIZABETH BECKER/New York Times/National
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. In his last hours in office, President Clinton ordered
the Defense Department to examine a new study that shows a high incidence of
heart problems among the residents of Vieques, P.R., where the Navy has held
bombing exercises for 50 years.
Gov. Sila M. Calderon of Puerto Rico asked the president last week to order
an immediate halt to the bombing based on the preliminary findings of the study, which blamed the noise from huge exercises for a high rate of symptoms
of an unusual disorder known as vibroacoustic disease.
Mr. Clinton asked the Navy to find an alternative site to the Vieques range,
which the Navy considers indispensable to prepare sailors and marines for overseas deployment.
“The Navy has agreed to continue to look for an alternative training site and
cooperate with the Department of Health and Human Services in examining the
new study,” said Adm. Stephen R. Pietropaoli, a spokesman for the Navy.
Richard Danzig, departing secretary of the Navy, wrote to Governor Calderon
saying that the Navy had begun its review of the new study but that the initial findings did not seem applicable to the kind of training done on Vieques, the Navy spokesman said.
The Navy is now restricted to using only inert ammunition for its training
exercises on Vieques, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico,
pending a referendum scheduled for Nov. 6.
In April 1999 a civilian Puerto Rican security guard was killed in a bombing
accident, leading to a temporary ban on all training, which was later lifted.
For the Navy, the range at Vieques had been the only training area in the
Atlantic for joint amphibious aerial and ship bombardment exercises using live fire.
Governor Calderon won election last November on a platform that included a
permanent end to all exercises on Vieques.
Martin Sheen supports Vieques!
Martin Sheen makes plea for bombing to stop in Vieques/Martin Sheen aboga por la paz en Vieques
Actor Martin Sheen abogo por cese de bombardeo en Vieques
El conocido actor estadounidense, Martin Sheen, protagonista de la serie televisa, The West Wing – en la cual juega el papel del Presidente de los Estados Unidos – envio una carta al ex Presidente Clinton con fecha del 13 de enero, exhortandole a ordenar el cese inmediato y permanente de la actividad militar en la isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico. En la carta Sheen le pidio a Clinton que actuara “inmediatamente, con valor y compasion” para terminar con la ocupacion militar de la isla municipio.
En carta aparte al Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, Sheen señalo que estaba “inspirado por la lucha no violenta” y que “como norteamericano me entristece saber de la destruccion y contaminacion causada por las pruebas de armas de los E.U. y de la OTAN, y en particular el uso de uranio reducido.”
La estrella de television y del cine estadounidense ha jugado papeles
protagonicos en importantes pelÌculas como Ghandi, Catch 22 y en Apocalypse Now, sobre la guerra de Vietnam.
Basado en su fe cristiana, Martin Sheen ha participado en varios actos de
desobediencia civil en protesta contra el militarismo y es conocido por su
apoyo a las luchas por la justicia social tanto en los Estados Unidos como
en otros paÌses. El nombre de Sheen se añade a una larga lista de celebridades de las artes y de la politica – incluyendo a Tito Trinidad, Jesse Jackson, Ricky Martin, Hillary Clinton, el Dalai Lama, premio nobel Rigoberta Menchu y el pelotero boricua, Carlos Delgado – que se han expresado a favor del cese inmediato y permanente del bombardeo en Vieques.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Actor Martin Sheen asked Clinton to stop bombing on Vieques
Well known actor, Martin Sheen, star of the TV series, The West Wing – in which he plays the part of the President – sent a letter to ex President Clinton, dated 13 January, urging him to order the immediate and permanent cessation of military activity on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. In the letter Sheen asked Clinton to act “immediately, with courage and compassion” to end the military occupation of the island municipality.
In a separate letter to the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Sheen said he was “inspired by the non violent struggle . and that.as a North American it saddens me to know of the destruction and contamination caused by the weapons testing by the US and NATO, and in particular, the use of depleted uranium.
The star of TV and film has played important leading roles in movies such
as Ghandi, Catch-22 and Apocalypse Now, about the Vietnam War.
Based upon Christian faith, Martin Sheen has participated in several acts of civil disobedience in protests against militarism and his is know for his support of social justice struggles both in the US and in other countries. The name of Sheen adds to a long list of celebrities of the arts and from politics / including Tito Trinidad, Jesse Jackson, Ricky Martin, Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama, nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu
and Puerto Rican baseball player, Carlos Delgado – that have expressed support for the permanente and immediate cessation of bombing on Vieques.
Contact: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
Delicado el consenso sobre Vieques
En entredicho el consenso por la paz viequense
lunes, 29 de enero de 2001
Por Ismael Torres
The Associated Press
EL PLAN de accion de la gobernadora Sila Calderon en el manejo del asunto de Vieques parece comenzar a quebrar la fragil unidad estrategica entre el Partido Popular Democratico y el independentismo puertorriqueño, principalmente el Partido Independentista.
Al menos asi se desprende de los comentarios de dos influyentes senadores, el independentista Fernando Martin y el popular Eudaldo Baez Galib, al referirse a la decision de la gobernadora Calderon de no presentar legislacion la semana pasada cuando comparecio ante la Asamblea Legislativa.
“No sabemos lo que hay en la mente de la Gobernadora para no haberlo dicho dentro de los primeros veinte proyectos”, dijo Baez Galib al especular que podrian haber unas aperturas donde se logre lo que ella quiere.
Dijo que habria que esperar que el presidente George Bush diga que la Armada no se va de Vieques para que entonces el Partido Popular tenga que ir sobre su promesa de que si la Marina se va.
MARTIN, POR su parte, levanto sospechas con la lentitud que maneja el Partido Popular el asunto de Vieques, principalmente en el area legislativa donde desde el primer dÌa de sesion, el 8 de enero, pudo haber aprobado legislacion para celebrar el referÈndum en Vieques para decidir si la Marina se queda o no. Dijo que igual pasa con la decision de sacar la Fuerza de Choque de la PolicÌa de Vieques y derogar la ley de referendum aprobada por el Partido Nuevo Progresista en la pasada Asamblea Legislativa.
“Un dia despues se pudo haber aprobado un referendum para ni un tiro mas en Vieques para que cuando Calderon se vaya a reunir con el señor Bush y con quienes fueran, llevara en su maletin las manifestaciones constatadas de la voluntad de este pueblo”, dijo el legislador del PIP.
DIJO QUE a esa inaccion se suma que al dia de hoy no se ha hecho ni una denuncia ante la comunidad internacional, que segun el dirigente independentista, “en la medida que esas cosas no se plantean desde antes, ella va a entrar debilitada a la reunion con los funcionarios norteamericanos”. Expreso que esa linea de accion es preocupante cuando se recuerda lo ocurrido a Pedro Rossello cuando confronto al Senado federal y luego tuvo que replegarse y defender las directrices presidenciales.
El presidente Bush expreso la semana pasada al comisionado residente, Anibal Acevedo Vila, segun informo el legislador puertorriqueño, que apoyaria las directrices sobre Vieques del presidente Bill Clinton, lo que plantea una linea de choque con la posicion del gobierno puertorriqueño que demanda el cese inmediato de los bombardeos en Vieques y la salida de la Armada.
Latino Journalist Quits Pacifica Radio Show
Many progressive people depend on independent radio to get news like this.BUT this is under threat from the Board of Pacifica Foundation and its corporatized supression of WBAI-FM station in New York City. Read & Distribute this article from Jouranlsit Juan Gonzalez,& check website http://www.savepacifica.net
====================================
MEDIA ADVISORY:
Award-Winning Reporter Resigns On-Air from Pacifica; Calls for Campaign to Oust Network Leadership
January 31, 2001
In a dramatic on-air announcement, Juan Gonzalez, the co-host of the
Pacifica Radio Network show “Democracy Now!,” resigned this morning from the
network. Citing harassment and muzzling of free speech, Gonzalez said that
“the current management situation at Pacifica has become intolerable…the
last straw being the Christmas Coup at this station, WBAI, last month”- a
reference to the recent unexplained firings and bannings of top staff.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the Pacifica board has been hijacked by a
small clique that has more in common with modern-day corporate vultures than
with working-class America,” Gonzalez said.
Addressing his co-host at Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, Gonzalez continued:
“You are a wonderful and committed journalist and you have been subjected to
slanderous personal accusations and constant undermining of your efforts.
And the board of Pacifica has tolerated it and, I think, even encouraged
this.”
Gonzalez ended his on-air resignation by announcing a “national corporate
campaign” to oust the Pacifica Foundation’s embattled new board leadership,
which he accused of “illegally chang[ing] the Foundation’s bylaws.” He said
the campaign would call on listeners, instead of donating to Pacifica, to
contribute money to groups challenging the board’s legitimacy and working to
democratize the network.
Gonzalez said the current leadership group “does not respect free speech; it
does not respect labor or civil rights; it doesn’t even practice due process
for its own managers.”
Pacifica’s Washington, D.C. station, WPFW, censored most of Gonzalez’s
statement, cutting away to taped programming.
Gonzalez, who has co-hosted “Democracy Now!” since 1996, is a staff
columnist with the New York Daily News. He has won numerous awards,
including a George Polk award. His latest book is “Harvest of Empire: A
History of Latinos in America” (Viking 2000). He was a founding member of
the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
FAIR executive director Jeff Cohen commented: “Juan Gonzalez exemplifies the
best in the Pacifica tradition-a journalist who tells the stories of the
powerless and holds the powerful to account. As the two-year-long Pacifica
crisis worsens and the network’s survival is seriously in question, FAIR
joins Gonzalez in calling for the national board leadership to step down.
Whatever these individuals’ intentions, unless there is a prompt and
thorough transformation in Pacifica’s national leadership, it is impossible
to see Pacifica fulfilling its unique, historical mission.”
For more information about Gonzalez and the campaign, call (212) 871-9322 or
Senado de P.R. pide cese al bombardeo
Senado rechaza directrices presidenciales
Por: Betzaida Ramirez
Redactora en EL VOCERO/2 de febrero 2001
Luego de un debate de hora y media, el Senado aprobo ayer de manera partidista una resolucion concurrente que rechaza las directrices presidenciales y adopta como polÌtica publica legislativa las 13 recomendaciones de la Comision Especial de Vieques, que dispone el cese inmediato y permanente de los bombardeos, entre otros. Se aprobo con 18 votos de los senadores populares y del portavoz independentista, Fernando Martin. En contra votaron 7 senadores novoprogresistas. El portavoz penepe, Kenneth McClintock y la senadora popular, Yasmin Mejias, se ausentaron. Martin voto a favor de la medida, no sin antes consignar para el record legislativo que la resoluciÛn concurrente no es el “vehiculo” que se debio usar para adoptar las conclusiones. El deseo del portavoz independentista era que el Senado le diera paso al Proyecto de Ley #3 que radicÛ con la de la senadora del PNP, Norma Burgos, para que fuera el Estado Libre Asociado quien adoptara las recomendaciones como politica publica. Un proyecto similar se aprobo en la Camara de Representantes. Pero el presidente del Senado, Antonio Fas Alzamora, adopto la propuesta de Martin y la radico a manera de resolucion concurrente, que es una medida que se limita a expresar el sentir del cuerpo sobre un asunto y no requiere la firma de la Gobernadora. Añadio ademas un inciso para expresar el rechazo a las directrices. Esto, a pesar de que la Comision de Gobierno, que preside Roberto Prats, habia recomendado positivamente la aprobacion del Proyecto #3.
Fas Alzamora alego que la resolucion concurrente es un mecanismo mas agil.
“Demas esta decir que yo hubiera preferido que el vehiculo procesal para esta materia fuera un proyecto de ley, porque de esa manera tendria un efecto vinculante sobre los funcionarios gubernamentales que en la Rama Ejecutiva estaran a cargo de desarrollar las politicas del pueblo de Puerto Rico hacia el tema de Vieques”, señalo Martin.
Su satisfaccion habria sido mayor, segun dijo, si se hubiese aprobado la resolucion junto a la legislacion que ha prometido la Gobernadora para reducir el ruido permitido en Vieques y “donde ya se hubiese tomado pasos formales y concretos” para viabilizar un referendum criollo en la isla municipio. “Porque despues de todo, el movimiento se demuestra andando”, añadio. Acusa al PPD de temblarle las rodillas “A mi me sorprende sobremanera que habiendo el senador Martin y esta servidora sometido un proyecto aqui en el Senado de Puerto Rico para hacer ley la politica publica que el propio PPD adopto, que eran las 13 recomendaciones… ahora estan demostrando que le estan temblando la rodilla y los pies”, señalo de su lado Burgos, ex presidenta de la Comision Especial de Vieques, en la que participo tambien Sila Maria Calderon. Dijo que fue a traves de los medios que supo de la resolucion de Fas Alzamora. “Esta es la politica publica de una de las ramas de Puerto Rico, del Gobierno, de la rama legislativa, eso no fue lo que ustedes endosaron en la campaña en la plataforma”, añadio Burgos, para luego leer parte de la plataforma del PPD que señala que “la politica publica adoptada por el PPD sera la posicion adoptada en consenso por la Comision Especial de Vieques”. “A que temen… no quieren ustedes que la señora Gobernadora se exprese sobre la politica publico del PPD”, cuestion”. “La compañera Norma Burgos preferiria que fuera una ley, pero ha sido uso y costumbre de la Asamblea Legislativa que las expresiones se hacen mediante resolucion concurrente”, contesto Fas Alzamora.
Parga dice es un show para la opinion publica El portavoz alterno del PNP, Orlando Parga, acuso a los cuerpos legislativos y la Gobernadora de no tener una postura unisona sobre el asunto de Vieques. “Anoche la Gobernadora de Puerto Rico estaba tocando en Do, ayer un grupo de ustedes en la Camara de Representantes estaba tocando en Fa, y hoy ustedes estan en Re”, señalo Parga, para añadir que la aprobacion de la resolucion le da armas a la Marina para insistir en practicar con armas vivas en Vieques. “Esto es para consumo de la opinion publica puertorriqueña, esto es para que piensen que ustedes estan haciendo lo que prometieron que iban a hacer”, dijo el portavoz.
“Estamos tocando la sinfonia y la armonia del pueblo de Puerto Rico porque estuvo silente por los pasados meses cuando ustedes eran mayoria en este cuerpo”, le contesto el senador Prats. En conversacion con este diario, Prats confirmo que la Comision de Gobierno recomendo la aprobacion del proyecto de Martin y Burgos, dijo que descargo su responsabilidad y que corresponde que la medida siga con el tramite legislativo. Dijo que las dos medidas se pueden aprobar porque no se excluyen mutuamente.
En tanto, el senador del PNP, Sergio Peña Clos, cuestiono la importancia que le dio la delegacion PPD a la resolucion, ya que en determinado momento del debate llegaron a haber solo 7 de los 17 senadores presentes de la delegacion. Algunos de ellos estaban en el homenaje que le rindio el Senado al cantante Luis Fonsi, a quien el llamo “principiante de la farandula”.
“Este Senado esta vacio, pero aqui al lado esta lleno, por eso es que yo digo que este pueblo se muere de nada, no hay compromisoî, dijo Peña Clos.
Daran curso a medida para detener referendo
Daran curso a medida para detener referendo
Por: Maria Vera
Redactora en EL VOCERO/2 de febrero 2001
El caucus de la mayoria popular en la Camara de Representantes respaldo que la medida de la autoria de Carlos Hernandez, para derogar la ley que viabiliza el referendum de Vieques, siga su curso parlamentario. Asi lo anuncio el presidente cameral, Carlos Vizcarrondo, luego de terminar un caucus de la mayoria. La medida de Hernandez, suscrita por otros 15 representantes populares, provoco una controversia en los pasados dÌas porque la presento sin consultar el caucus. La pieza legislativa no cuenta con el apoyo de la Gobernadora, Sila Calderon, porque seg·n alega no es cÛnsona con sus estrategias para sacar a la Marina de Vieques.
Vizcarrondo anuncio que ayer le informarÌa a La Fortaleza sobre la decision del caucus en la reunion que celebran todos los jueves en el Departamento de Estado junto a la asesora en asuntos legislativos de la Primera Dama, Rosa Bell Bayron, y el Secretario de Estado. En esa reunion se discuten, explico, los trabajos legislativos, las medidas y las iniciativas del Ejecutivo.
Vizcarrondo dijo que la Gobernadora le informa a los presidentes legislativos que les informara sobre las estrategias que ha diseÒado su gobierno para sacar a la Marina de Vieques. IndicÛ que la Primera Ejecutiva se reunir· con ellos “donde hara una presentaciÛn sobre los pasos que est· tomando en la direccion de resolver el problema de Vieques”.
Reitero que la Rama Legislativa tiene un compromiso de apoyar al Gobierno en sus estrategias. Insistio en que los pasos del Ejecutivo y el Legislativo no deben ser aislados, sino que se deben integrar los esfuerzos.
Dijo que el no puede limitar las iniciativas legislativas, pero puede coordinar los esfuerzos. Reitero que el es parte del equipo de trabajo de la Gobernadora y, por eso, debe engranar la gestion legislativa con las estrategias de Calderon “de las que me va a ser participe en su momento”.
No obstante, dijo que desconoce cuando la Gobernadora les hara saber sus estrategias para sacar a la Marina de Vieques, las que compartira con sus compañeros legisladores. Indico que espera que “sea muy pronto”.
Al ser preguntado por la prensa sobre el futuro de la medida si al conocer las estrategias de Calderon descubre que no es consona con estas, afirmo que “no nos adelantemos a los acontecimientos. Vamos a dejar que los procesos fluyan”.
Reacciona autor medida.
Por su parte, Hernandez afirmo antes de la celebracion del caucus que las llamadas que ha recibido por la controversia han sido para felicitarlo y pedirle copia del proyecto, el cual no retirar·. Reafirmo que esta tranquilo consigo mismo porque radico la legislacion para conseguir la paz para Vieques. Dijo que, en su momento, atemperar· su medida a las estrategias de Calderon.
“Yo consulto con otras ramas cuando est· dentro de mi rol y mi prerrogativa como legislador. Como ordinario, no”, dijo Hern·ndez, quien reitero que no va a renunciar a la prerrogativa constitucional de la separacion de poderes.
Dijo que como polÌtico actua para hacer lo correcto, segun sus ideales, “y en esta ocasion he hecho lo propio”.
Rechazo las alegaciones de Jorge de Castro Font de que su medida fue producto de la falta de comunicacion entre La Fortaleza y la mayoria parlamentaria. Sostuvo que ìes un proceso natural de ajuste”.
“Creo que el mandato constitucional de la Camara es claro, que tenemos la prerrogativa de someter los proyectos de ley que creamos propios”, afirmo.
Mientras, De Castro Font exhorto a la Gobernadora a reunir la conferencia legislativa para “evitar los deslices que provocan la falta de comunicacion… Se supone que la Gobernadora antes del primer mes se reuna con la mayoria y no ha ocurrido. Por eso lo de ayer”.
Reitero sus criticas a Vizcarrondo por decir que consultara con la Gobernadora medidas como la de Hernandez. El Legislador le solicito al presidente cameral que “se eche para atras. La Camara no puede ser un sello de goma de nadie”.
PIP somete proyecto para prohibir bombardeos
Ley para prohibir bombas en la isla
viernes, 2 de febrero de 2001
Por Israel Rodriguez
El Nuevo Dia
PARA EL senador independentista Fernando Martin, “es inconcebible y “contradictorio” que mientras se lleva a cabo una lucha sin cuartel para lograr el cese de los bombardeos en Vieques, en el Campamento Santiago de Salinas contin·en las pr·cticas militares.
“¿Que tipo de mensaje estamos enviando al permitir tal actividad?”, manifesto Martin, quien radico ayer un proyecto de ley que, de ser aprobado, prohibiria las practicas con bombardeos en todo Puerto Rico, asi como en sus aguas territoriales.
UNA DE las razones expuestas para someter la pieza legislativa esta relacionada con el riesgo que sufren los vecinos de los barrios Cuyon, Palmarejo y el sector Rio Jueyes del barrio San Idelfonso de Coamo, que colindan con el campo de tiro del Campamento Santiago. En este campamento, tanto la Guardia Nacional y el Comando Sur del Ejercito de los EE.UU., realizan maniobras.
Calderon no afloja el consenso
Calderon no afloja el consenso
viernes, 2 de febrero de 2001
Por Mildred Rivera Marrero
El Nuevo Dia
EN MEDIO de las gestiones que hace para reunirse la proxima semana con el gobierno de Estados Unidos a discutir el tema de Vieques, la gobernadora, Sila M. Calderon, celebro dos reuniones anoche con lideres viequenses, y con el presidente del Partido Independentista PuertorriqueÒo (PIP), Ruben Berrios.
Calderon indico que las reuniones tenian el fin de mantener informados a los grupos interesados en Vieques sobre sus gestiones y de escuchar sus planteamientos. Rechazo estar consultando algan aspecto en particular de su estrategia y dijo que hablaron de todo lo relacionado con Vieques. Prometio mantener el dialogo con esos grupos. A su salida de la Mansion Ejecutiva, a las 9:00 p.m., Berrios dijo que le recomendo a Calderon que informara al pueblo sobre sus acciones para cumplir con sus promesas program·ticas. “Debe, transparentemente, traerse ante el Pais, si posible con un calendario”, todo sobre los asuntos pendientes, como el referendum local, el proyecto de ley que convertiria en politica publica el informe sobre Vieques del primer grupo.
BERRIOS AFIRMO que tiene diferencias de criterio con Calderon sobre como se deben hacer las cosas, pero indico que lo esencial es que se mantenga “la presion sobre la Marina” localmente y a nivel de Estados Unidos. Una de las cosas en las que dijo que coincidirian es en la celebracion de un referÈndum local. Indico que Calderon no le revelo estrategias especificas, y que el no lo pretende. Destaco que no es cuestion de coincidencias sino de mantenerse mutuamente informados de las gestiones que hace cada grupo. Tambien destaco que el dia que considere que los pasos que se estan dando son los equivocados, lo dira. Mientras, los lideres viequenses que se reunieron con Calderon horas antes en el Departamento de Estado fueron: Carlos “Prieto” Ventura, Robert Rabin y el alcalde, Damaso Serrano. En la reunion discutieron diferentes temas: desde la salida de la Fuerza de Choque, hasta el desarrollo economico de la Isla Nena y las gestiones que realizara en la Capital Federal, segun dijo Calderon.
En esa reunion, tambien participaron el comisionado de Vieques, Juan Fernandez, el superintendente de la Policia, Pierre Vivoni, el secretario de la Gobernacion, Cesar Miranda, y el secretario de Estado, Ferdinand Mercado.
AL FINALIZAR su conversacion con los lideres viequenses, y a minutos de reunirse con Berrios, la Goberna dora explico que “discutimos distintos aspectos, en forma general, de los compromisos que yo he hecho, de las gestiones que ya he hablado publicamente que me propongo hacer en Washington. Acordamos que vamos a continuar esa conversacion y que representantes mios van a reunirse tambien con otras organizaciones del liderato viequense”. Calderon enfatizo que es fundamental que se mantenga la unidad de proposito en el pueblo. Por su parte, Rabin dijo que hablaron sobre temas generales “sin muchos detalles” sobre el desarrollo economico y las reuniones en Washington, pero “no hablamos en detalles de estrategia”. Fue Rabin el que expreso diferencias de criterio con Calderon en cuanto a la salida de la Fuerza de Choque porque el hubiese preferido que sacaran la misma antes de diciembre y que no se cambiaran “macanas grandes por macanas cortas”. Rabin anticipo manifestaciones de desobediencia civil cuando comience la proxima ronda de bombardeos.
Yesterday morning, February 1st, the seven demonstrators that had protested the bombing of Vieques at Yankee Stadium
on May 5th of last year, walked home with their records clean after their criminal tresspassing charges were dismissed “in the interest of justice.”
For more information and to read the judge’s decision, please visit http://www.ViequesLibre.org and enjoy the
completely renovated website.
The names of the defendants are Juan Antonio Casañas, Carmen Ana Davila, Freddie Marrero, Miguel Marrero
Bermudez, Elliot Monteverde, Ruben Ortiz, and Hector Rosario Rivera.
VIEQUENSES SENTENCIADO A UN AÑO
Scroll down for English
Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424
Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716
VIEQUENSES SENTENCIADO A UN AÑO DE PROBATORIA POR ACTOS DE DESOBEDIENCIA CIVIL
El jueves, 1 de febrero, ocho de los nueve viequenses arrestados en la zona de bombardeo en Vieques el pasado 17 de octubre fueron enjuiciados por el juez Pérez Jiménez en el Tribunal Federal de San Juan. El noveno miembro de la brigada, Don Angel Navarro – veterano de la guerra de Corea – no pudo asistir porque está en tratamiento por un tumor canceroso. El grupo entró para obstaculizar las maniobras. Sin embargo, los militares llevaron a cabo su bombardeo durante catorce horas a pesar de la presencia en la zona de tiro del grupo de nueve viequenses. El grupo de acusados incluye – Justino López, Díacano de la Iglesia Católica de Vieques Radamés Tirado, alcalde de Vieques (PNP) de 1976 a 1980´y veterano del ejército estadounidense Cedricd Morales, Vice Pres. de la Asoc. de Comerciantes Viequenses Juan Silva, viequenses cuya esposa murió de cáncer el mismo día que mataron a David Sanes Angel Guadalupe, retirado maestro viequense y veterano de las Fuerzas Armadas de los EU Emilio García, capellán del grupo Veteranos Viequenses por la Paz, veterano de Vietnam y ministro en la Iglesia Católica Agapito Belardo, veterano y miembro del Campamento Justicia y Paz Robert Rabin, miembro del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques y Director del Archivo Histórico de Vieques Las licenciadas Linda Backiel y Rosa Meneses trabajaron fuertemente durante meses en la preparación de la defensa y viajaron a Vieques en varias ocasiones para reunirse con el grupo. También participaron en el juico los licenciados Enrique Juliá y Wilma Reverón, principal coordinadora de la asistencia legal provista durante este pasado año y medio por el Colegio de Abogados.
(A continuación reproducimos el comunicado de prensa del 17 de octubre de 2000, anunciando la entrada a la zona de tiro por los viequenses enjuiciados la semana pasada)
17 de octubre de 2000
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
VIEQUENSES PENETRAN ZONA DE BOMBARDEO PARA OBSTACULIZAR PRACTICAS MILITARES
Una delegación de viequenses penetraron la zona de bombardeo de la Marina de Guerra de EU en la parte este de Vieques esta madrugada. El grupo tomó el nombre de Brigada Luisa Guadalupe, en honor a la luchadora viequense de 85 años, miembro del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV).
Entre los miembros de la brigada se incluyen al Diácono de la Iglesia Católica de Vieques, Justino López, hijo; el ex Alcalde de Vieques por el PNP (1976-80) Radamés Tirado; un líder de los comerciantes viequenses y dueño de los principales supermercados en Vieques, Sedric Morales; Angel Guadalupe, sobrino de Luisa Guadalupe y veterano; Robert Rabin, uno de los portavoces del CPRDV y del Campamento Justicia y Paz. El sexto miembro de la brigada es Guito Silva, viequense cuya esposa murió del cáncer poco antes de la muerte de David Sanes.
Los viequenses burlaron la fuerte vigilancia militar y entraron a la zona retringida en el extremo oriental de la Isla Nena con el fin de obstaculizar el bombardeo que la Marina ha anunciado para estos próximos días. El grupo se disperó hacia distintos puntos en la zona de bombardeo.
Portavoces del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques señalaron que la Marina de Guerra de Estados Unidos será responable por cualquier daño a los integrantes de la Brigada Luisa Guadalupe mientras estén en la zona de tiro.
Otra brigada compuesta por Veteranos Viequenses por la Paz entró simultaneamente e incluyó a los veteranos viequenses Emilio García, Agapito Belardo y don Angel Navarro de setenta años y veterano de la Guerra de Corea.
Se esperan más acciones de desobediencia civil durante el periodo de las maniobras actuales, las más grandes desde la muerte de David Sanes el 19 de abril de 1999.
Contactos: Nilda Medina o Ismael Guadalupe 741-0716 o 741-0358
ENGLISH VERSION
VIEQUENSES SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR PROBATION FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTIONS Thursday, February 1st, eight of the nine Viequenses arrested in the Navy´s bombing zone this past 17 October, were on trial before Federal Judge, Pèrez Jiménez in San Juan. The ninth member of the brigade, Angel Navarro – veteran of the Korean War – could not assist because he was undergoing treatment for a cancer tumor. The group entered the bombing area to hinder planned bombing by the Navy. However, despite the presence in the area of nine Viequenses, the Navy continued to bomb for approximately fourteen hours. The group on trial included – Justino López, Deacon of the Vieques Catholic Church Radamés Tirado, Mayor of Vieques from 1976 to 1980 and US veteran Cedricd Morales, Vice President of the Vieques Businessmen´s Association Juan Silva, Viequense whose wife died of cancer the same day David Sanes was killed Angel Guadalupe, retired teacher and veteran of the US armed forces Emilio García, Vietnam Veteran and chaplain for the Viequense Veterans for Peace Agapito Belardo, veteran and member of the Peace and Justice Camp Robert Rabin, spokesman of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques and Director of the Vieques Historic Archives Lawyers Linda Backiel and Rosa Meneses worked tirelessly during the past months preparing the defense and travelled to Vieques on several occassions to meet with the civil disobedients. Also participating in the defense were lawyers Enrique Juliá and Wilma Reverón, who has been the principal coordinator for the continuous legal assistance provided by the Puerto Rico Bar Association during this past year and half.
(Below we reprint the Press Release of October 17, 2000, announcing the entrance into the bombing area of the Viequenses sentenced last week in Federal Court)
October 17, 2000
PRESS RELEASE
A delegation of Viequenses penetrated the US Navy bombing range on the Eastern end of Vieques early this morning. The group took the name, Luisa Guadalupe Brigade, in honor of this 85 year old anti Navy activist and member of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV).
Members of the Brigade include the Deacon of the Catholic Church of Vieques, Justino López, Jr.; the ex Mayor of Vieques for the Statehood Party (PNP- 1976-80); Viequense Chamber of Commerce leader, Sedric Morales; Angel Guadalupe, nephew of Luisa Guadalupe and veteran of US military; Robert Rabin, spokesman for the CRDV and the Vieques Peace and Justice Camp. The sixth member of the brigade is Juan “Guito” Silva, Viequense whose wife Minguita died of cancer shortly before the killing of David Sanes.
The Viequenses got through the tight military security and entered the restricted zone on the Eastern extremity of Vieques with the purpose of creating obstacles for Navy bombing announced for the following days. The group dispersed in teams to different points in the bombing zone.
Spokesmen for the CRDV pointed out tha the US Navy would be held responsible for any damages suffered by the members of the Luisa Guadalupe Brigade while they were in the impact area.
Another brigade made up of Vieques Veterans for Peace entered simultaneously and included Viequense veterans of the US military Emilio García, Agapito Belardo and seventy year old Korean War Veteran, Luis Angel Navarro.
More civil disobedience actions are expected during the current maneuvers, the largest to take place here since the death of David Sanes on 19 April, 1999.
Reina la incertidumbre por Vieques
El Nuevo Dia
5 de febrero de 2001
Reina la incertidumbre por Vieques
INDEPENDIENTEMENTE DE si Sila Calderon puede convencer a sus criticos de que nunca “venderia” la flexibilidad sobre Vieques a cambio de otras ventajas economicas y gubernamentales, la Gobernadora se enfrenta a una agenda que requiere la celebracion de un referendum sobre Vieques al final de su primer año en el cargo. Aunque se ha comentado tanto en Washington como en San Juan sobre una renegociacion de los terminos del acuerdo Clinton-Rossello, el reloj apunta hacia la fecha del referendum en noviembre.
Cu.n de cerca ha seguido el desarrollo de la situacion de Vieques. Como de costumbre, los electores estan optimistas y, en su mayoria, apoyan a la nueva gobernante al iniciar su termino, pero la opinion sobre Vieques esta claramente dividida. La presente Encuesta de El Nuevo Dia compara y contrasta las opiniones de los puertorriqueños que viven en la Isla Grande con la de los que residen en Vieques. Aunque no es sorprendente que los residentes de Vieques, para quienes hay mucho en juego, sigan mas de cerca este asunto sobre las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico que ninguna otra persona, han surgido algunas sorpresas en la encuesta.
Por un lado, las personas que viven en Vieques aceptan firmemente por lo menos la parte del acuerdo Clinton-Rossello que los convoca a votar, de forma exclusiva, en un referÈndum sobre el destino de la Marina estadounidense en la isla. Por otro lado, los puertorriqueños que viven en la Isla Grande parecen sentir que el asunto de Vieques es demasiado importante para quedar solo en manos del pueblo viequense: ellos tambien quieren votar en el referendum.
Entre los electores de la Isla Grande, la mayoria indico que rechazaria el dinero y sacaria a la Marina. Sin embargo, entre los electores viequenses, el panorama no es tan claro.
Vieques captura la atencion del publico
Dos terceras partes de la poblacion de la Isla Grande (66%) dice haber seguido de cerca la situacion de Vieques en los Ultimos meses, con un 27% que dice que ha seguido la situacion “muy de cerca”. Otro 34% de la poblacion indico que en realidad no ha estado muy pendiente del asunto de Vieques.
Preferencias sobre la elegibilidad para votar en el referendum sobre Vieques Aunque las mayorias de todos los grupos socioeconomicos dicen estar al tanto de lo que sucede en Vieques, la atencion al asunto de Vieques aumenta con la educacion y el ingreso. El 72% de los que devengan mas de $20,000 anuales indico que sigue de cerca el caso de Vieques, comparado con el 61% de los que viven en hogares con un ingreso menor de $5,000 anuales.
En Vieques, una cantidad predeciblemente mayor, el 72% de los residentes, dijo que ha prestado mucha atencion a los eventos concernientes a la isla, tanto en los medios como en el lugar. El 43% de los residentes de Vieques describe su atencion como muy intensiva.
Viequenses quieren votar solos
5 de febrero de 2001/El Nuevo Dia
Viequenses quieren votar solos
EN LA Isla Grande, existe un amplio, si no profundo, consenso en que todos los puertorriqueños, no solo los residentes de Vieques, deben votar en el referendum de noviembre para decidir el destino de la Marina. Aunque el acuerdo Clinton-Rossello propone una votacion en Vieques solamente, la mayoria de los puertorriqueños no ha aceptado las explicaciones de por que debe ser asi. Solo existe duda sobre este particular entre los electores mas educados y de clase alta, ya que para el resto de la “Isla Grande”, decidir el futuro de Vieques es algo por lo que todos los ciudadanos de Puerto Rico deben votar.
Opcion favorita para el referendum de noviembre de 2001
Por un margen de 62% a 35%, los electores de la Isla Grande opinan que el referendum de noviembre no debe limitarse a los residentes de Vieques, sino que deben participar todos los puertorriqueños. Este sentir cuenta con el endoso del 70% de los electores del PPD, 56% de los electores del PNP, 77% de los electores del PIP y 57% de las personas que no est·n afiliadas a ningun partido.
Sin embargo, la situacion no podria ser mas distinta en Vieques. En su mayoria, los residentes de Vieques rechazan firmemente la idea de que todo Puerto Rico debe participar en el referendum. A excepcion de los seguidores del PPD que viven en Vieques, entre quienes existe diferencia de opiniones, la mayoria de los demas grupos demograficos de la Isla Nena opina que el referendum que determinara el destino de Vieques concierne exclusivamente a los residentes de la isla y a nadie mas.
Entre todos los grupos, una abrumadora mayoria de un 70% de los residentes opina que el referendum debe celebrarse solo en Vieques y el 27% dice que se debe permitir votar a todos los puertorriqueños. Entre los que se identifican con el PNP, el 86% opina que el voto debe limitarse a los residentes de Vieques. Lo mismo piensa el 67% de los seguidores del PIP, el 71% de los electores no afiliados y el 58% de los electores del PPD.
Las personas que no viven en Vieques parecen estar mas seguras que los residentes de la Isla Nena en cuanto a cual debe ser el resultado de un referendum sobre el futuro de Vieques. Mientras que en todo Puerto Rico el 53% de la poblacion votaria para que la Marina abandone la isla en el 2003, en Vieques solo el 46% dice que votara de este modo.
El 18% de los electores de Vieques indico que votara a favor de permitir que se quede la Marina, a cambio de $50 millones. En Puerto Rico, solo el 11% dijo que votaria de esta forma. Y hay dos veces mas viequenses (17%) que no estan seguros de como votaran sobre su futuro al compararlos con los residentes de Puerto Rico, donde solo un 9% no se ha decidido.
El legado de la presencia de la Marina
Los que se oponen a la presencia de la Marina estadounidense en la isla de Vieques han citado varias razones para su ferrea oposicion a que se reanuden los ejercicios de la Marina. La encuesta de El Nuevo Dia pregunto a los residentes de la Isla Grande y de Vieques cual de las tres inquietudes comunmente citadas es el problema mas serio que atribuyen a la presencia de la Marina estadounidense en Vieques.
El problema mas serio atribuido a la presencia naval de EE.UU. en Vieques
En la Isla Grande, una gran mayoria (62%) contesto que la alta incidencia de cancer y otros problemas de salud constituyan el problema mas grave, mientras que citaron con menos frecuencia el daño ecologico y la contaminacion ambiental (30%) y el estancamiento economico y el alto nivel de desempleo (5%).
Entre los residentes de Vieques, los problemas de salud tambien fueron los mas mencionados (47%), pero una mayor cantidad de encuestados dijo “no estar seguro”, en comparacion con Puerto Rico (16% contra 3%), mientras que el 7% de las personas no quiso revelar su respuesta.
Vieques Residents Alarmed
Vieques Residents Alarmed by Depleted Uranium Reports
by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero
[Published on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 by Inter Press Service]
Residents of the island-town of Vieques are alarmed and angered by the United States military’s use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in a firing range located next to a civilian area.
Since 1941, Vieques has been used by the US Navy for target practice. During the last two years, Puerto Rican peace activists have engaged in a massive and unprecedented civil disobedience campaign to get the Navy to close its firing range there.
Vieques residents have followed with great concern the controversy raging
in Europe over the use of DU in the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia. They
remember very well the US Navy’s statements to the effect that most ships
and aeroplanes that were used in that war were tested in Vieques.
According to a study carried out by the Puerto Rico Health Department, the
cancer rate in Vieques is 26.9 percent above Puerto Rico’s average. The study, which covered the years 1990-94, says nothing about the possible causes of this unusually high cancer rate. But the Navy’s opponents are certain that military activities on the island, including target practice with DU munitions, are to blame.
Doctor Rafael Rivera-CastaÒo, who lives in Vieques, believes that the PR Health Department cancer study’s data are already somewhat dated, and that the current cancer rate in Vieques is even higher. ”I estimate that the cancer rate here is now 52 percent over the Puerto Rico average,” he said in an interview.
Members of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV)
recently met with environmental justice activists from the United States and heard their experiences with DU.
”We listened in horror as scientists and community activists from the US told about this new type of weaponry that had been used extensively in the Gulf War. We had recently heard retired Admiral Diego Hern·ndez say that the ‘success’ of the US forces in Iraq was due in great measure to their practising in Vieques,” said CRDV spokesman Ismael Guadalupe.
”For years we have denounced the relationship between the military
contamination and the exaggerated levels of cancer on Vieques. The heavy metals and other chemical components from explosives, dangerous to human health, combined with the radioactive uranium 238 projectiles, jeopardise the life of Viequenses today as well as future generations,” said Nilda Medina, also of the CRDV.
”There is no way to guarantee that the next bomb or cannon shot will not impact one of the uranium shells, putting into the air radioactive particles that could be air transported to the civilian sector, to our children, to our old folks, to any one of us. We urge the authorities responsible for our health and security to block any future bombing that puts in danger the entire Vieques community,” expressed Medina.
The Navy admitted that it had used DU ammunition in Vieques in a May 10,
1999 statement in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the
Military Toxics Project, a US-based organisation. In the communique, signed by B.L. Thompson, the Navy said that it fired DU rounds in Vieques once, in February 1999, and claims that it used only 263 airplane-fired, low-calibre rounds, and that it had been done by mistake.
However, military scientist Doug Rokke, one of the world’s leading authorities on DU, finds the last two claims unbelievable. ”If they fired 263 DU rounds in Vieques, then it’s going to snow in San Juan tomorrow,” he said.
During a recent visit to Puerto Rico and Vieques island Rokke said 263 rounds is ”not even a burst of automatic gunfire. The A-10 Warthog attack plane, which fires DU ammunition, can fire three to four thousand rounds per minute.” He added that it couldn’t have possibly been a mistake, since the Pentagon keeps very strict inventory of all its ammunition.
DU consists mostly of uranium 238 (U238), a by-product of uranium enrichment, the process through which uranium 235 (U235) is separated from the uranium ore. Both isotopes are radioactive, but unlike U235, U238 is useless for nuclear bombs or nuclear power. It is simply radioactive waste and it will remain radioactive for 4.5 billion years. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated in 1991 that there must be one million
pounds of this material in the United States.
The US government has decided to dispose of this radioactive waste by selling it as ammunition. DU is an ideal material for bullets, since it is 70 percent more dense than lead, and is extremely susceptible to friction. Violent impacts can make it reach temperatures in the thousands of degrees Fahrenheit in a fraction of a second. For these reasons, a DU bullet can pierce a tank’s armour like a knife through butter and scorch the crew inside.
”These bullets are not coated or tipped with this material. They are pure, solid DU,” informed Rokke.
When a DU round is fired, 60 percent of its mass ends up as microscopic aerosol particles in the air, which can be carried miles downwind, according to the Military Toxics Project. Although it is less radioactive than weapons-grade U235, the group claims that a single DU particle a thousandth of a millimetre in size lodged inside a human lung emits 800
times the amount of radiation considered safe by federal standards.
The use of DU ammunition constitutes ”a crime against God and humanity”, declared Rokke, who directed the Pentagon’s Depleted Uranium Project and
wrote its Cleanup and Handling Protocol for Depleted Uranium.
Based on his studies, he concluded that anyone who comes in contact with these munitions must get medical attention, not only those who have been fired at with them, but also those who have fired them, as well as anyone who has come near structures impacted by these bullets.
Rokke speaks from experience. He suffers from radiation poisoning since he
visited the Persian Gulf area to study the effects of DU ordnance used by
US forces in the 1991 war against Iraq. His urine contains 2000 times the amount of uranium considered normal.
In his view, DU is largely responsible for the unusual health problems that US veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have been suffering, known collectively as the ‘Gulf War Syndrome’. The military denies that there is any such causal relationship.
”Vieques must be the place to stop the criminal actions of the US armed forces, which use the cloak of secrecy to claim that there’s no danger in using depleted uranium ammunition and ignore veterans’ calls for medical attention, and refuse to take on their responsibility to clean up and decontaminate,” said Rokke.
Rokke also senses a pattern of environmental racism in the Pentagon’s
decision to test DU in Vieques and in the Japanese island of Okinawa. ”The US Defence Department’s policy is racist and discriminatory, contrary to the principle of environmental justice. We have the cases of Vieques and Okinawa, where DU ammunition has been experimented with. These are not isolated events, or errors or chance. These are planned actions to
test and later use this highly polluting ammunition in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf.”
The US Department of Defence claims that DU does not represent a significant hazard to human health. Its spokespersons refer to an April 1999 RAND Corporation study, which supports the military’s position.
But the RAND report is biased and incomplete, says ‘DoD Analysis: The
Good, The Bad and The Ugly’, a report written by Dan Fahey, a former naval
officer and currently Director of Research at the Gulf War Resource Centre. Fahey’s report, which was written for the US General Accounting Office, states that RAND made no reference at all to 62 relevant information sources.
According to Fahey, RAND ignored studies which demonstrate a clear relationship between DU and harm to human health, for example those carried out by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.
US armed forces have already used these munitions extensively. During the 1991 Gulf War US troops fired an estimated 300 tons of it into civilian and military targets in Iraq.
According to Physicians for Social Responsibility, in the 1999 NATO war
against Yugoslavia, US tanks fired 14,000 high-calibre DU rounds, while planes fired 940,000 smaller calibre DU bullets. US armed forces are not the only ones to use DU ammunition. Authorised arms dealers sell them to 16 countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan.
Copyright 2001 IPS
Absurdo separar a Vieques de Puerto Rico(?)
Vieques: ¿absurdo? separarlo de PR
Por: Maricelis Rivera Santos
Redactora ñ EL VOCERO/8 de febrero
La idea de separar la isla municipio de Vieques de la jurisdiccion de Puerto Rico fue calificada como absurda, inconstitucional o un ultraje a la unidad del pueblo por diversas entidades que se oponen a las practicas de la Marina.
D·maso Serrano, alcalde de Vieques, manifesto mientras reÌa que esa no es la mejor soluciÛn para el problema con la fuerza militar y que de entrada, no est· de acuerdo. Aseguro que el Congreso o la Marina no tienen que negociar con Èl porque Puerto Rico tiene un ordenamiento jurÌdico con una Gobernadora y una Legislatura.
“No se puede correr de prisaî, sostuvo el Ejecutivo Municipal a preguntas de EL VOCERO. Dijo que el conflicto con la Armada se resolver· tal como ocurrio en Culebra en la decada del 1970, pero que debe existir voluntad para hacerlo.
El martes salio a relucir que el grupo Viequenses Pro Marina, que dirige Luis Sanchez, comenzo a circular una peticion al Congreso para que se desvincule a la Isla Nena del resto de Puerto Rico y se convierta en un territorio con potestad para negociar directamente y recibir ayudas federales.
Ante el seÒalamiento, el comisionado de Vieques, Juan R. Fern·ndez, declaro que ìes una idea que esta totalmente fuera de la realidadî. Aseguro que los que promulgan esa alternativa estan desenfocados al pedir esa separacion de poderes al Congreso porque para realizarlo tendrÌan que reformular la Constitucion de Puerto Rico mediante una enmienda que sea aprobada en un referÈndum. Fernandez sostuvo que el ordenamiento juridico del paÌs no permite crear o eliminar un municipio si antes enmendar el estatuto de 1952. En una declaracion separada, el procurador del Ciudadano, Carlos Lopez, fue mas lejos al decir que esa iniciativa seria la peor demostracion del imperialismo norteamericano contra un pueblo indefenso como es Vieques. “Eso es un ultraje intelectual contra la identidad puertorriqueña y la unidad del pueblo”, sostuvo un indignado Ombudsman. De igual manera, opinaron el reverendo metodista Hector Soto, el portavoz de Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques, Jose “Che” Paralitici, y el presidente de la Federacion Iberoamericana de Ombudsman, Leo Valladares. Segun Paralitici, esa idea es absurda y proviene de un grupo con un numero infimo de adeptos que estan desesperados por la posicion de unidad en el pueblo. Agrego que si se dispone que los viequenses dejen de ser puertorriqueños, eso constituiria un desmembramiento del pais. Valladares indico, por su parte, que desde el punto de vista del derecho internacional no se puede pedir a un pueblo que decida sobre un asunto de esa naturaleza cuando una parte substancial de la tierra es ocupada militarmente.
esto es una cuestion de dividir para conquistar
Montar eleciones solamente en Vieques es una violacion de la propria patria que es unica, indivisible. Estos son terminos legales no misticas aunque tambien tengan
esta conotacion. La marina y los estados unidos esta usando esta estragetica anceana que es dividir para conquistar.
Letter To President Bush
The following is a letter signed by Mr. Daniel Figueroa, III, Director of ATLAWS (American Territories Land Air and Water Society). Vieques Libre would like to encourage Vieques supporters to familiarize themselves with a language that is appropriate to the political realities of the new administration. A prototype of a modified letter will be available at our website. You will be able to print it to either mail it ot fax it to every Republican senator and member of Congress. The letter might be particularly useful to Los Cabilderos del Pueblo and other Washington lobbying initiatives.
Freddie Marrero
Héctor Rosario
16 February 2001
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
Congratulations to you and the Republican Party as you undertake the role of leading the United States of America. With you as the forty-third President of our nation, and therefore, Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces, the Grand Old Party has the responsibility to persuade the opposition when shaping our national security policy. Hence, I am writing to share with you my concerns regarding what I consider to be an ill-conceived policy from the previous administration, in particular,
holding on to Vieques Island in Puerto Rico.
Undeniably, the issue of Vieques has created great resentment among many civic and religious sectors of this nation for what they perceive as human rights violations, economic stagnation, and environmental contamination weapons range. He acknowledged that “the United States owes a great deal to the people of Puerto Rico for their past sacrifices on behalf of our common national security.” A Commander in Chief respected by his troops, as you definitely are, possesses the moral stature and integrity required to make the radical policy changes that this nation needs if it is to outlast the twenty-first century.
I strongly urge you to reconsider your position on this issue and order the firing range in Vieques to be permanently closed as soon as administratively possible. This will enable us to promptly return all the land currently under the control of the U.S. Navy to its rightful owners, the people of Puerto Rico, and in particular, the residents of Vieques. It
is my understanding that this course of action will not only reduce the operational costs of our military (without adversely affecting combat
readiness) but will also serve as a validation to the world and all Latinos in this country that the American democratic principles of government truly represent the will of the People.
I am confident that you understand the political and military value of this rationale and will act accordingly.
Most respectfully,
(signed in original)
Daniel Figueroa, III, Director
ATLAWS (American Territories Land Air and Water Society)
P.O. Box 729
Parkchester Station
Bronx, NY 10462
(917) 226-0660
Foro de Discusion
Estimados/as Compatriotas:
Por favor envienos sus opiniones, criticas constructivas y/o comentarios a nuestro foro de discusion localizado en la pagina http://www.independencia.net
DECLARACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO HOSTOSIANO
DECLARACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO HOSTOSIANO DEL SUR SOBRE EL REFERÉNDUM EN VIEQUES
Debemos despejar nuestra mente de cierta manera rutinaria de pensar, cargada de prejuicios y temores, que impide ver la presente lucha en contra de la marina yanqui como un nuevo punto de partida. Estos prejuicios y temores son la creencia en la falta de voluntad del
pueblo puertorriqueño y de sus líderes para luchar por la independencia como un derecho natural y como única alternativa de descolonización verdadera.
La lucha viequense y de Puerto Rico por la salida de la marina de guerra yanqui solamente es eficaz cuando se libra al nivel de lucha antiimperialista. El uso de estrategias que lleven a la violación de los principios de la lucha por la independencia es nefasto para el futuro de la lucha.
El proyectado referéndum, sea versión marina o versión local, viola el principio de integridad territorial nacional establecido por nuestro patricio Pedro Albizu Campos al calor de las luchas heroicas que comenzó en la gloriosa década del 30.
Este referéndum, no importa su índole, es en su fondo asimilista, segregacionista y anexionista, preámbulo a la incorporación de la colonia externa a la colonia interna; su naturaleza excluyente
garantiza que se materialice la voluntad imperialista yanqui.
El fondo ideológico y ético que lo impulsa es débil e inconsecuente,
promueve el inmovilismo del potencial frente viequense, que se sabe que existe y del cual no debe haber duda. El efecto inverso del referéndum trabajaría de forma tal la voluntad de desalojo y retiro de la marina yanqui del territorio puertorriqueño de Vieques, que la
vaga concepción liberal-reformista del liderato puertorriqueño terminaría aceptando la voluntad del enemigo en contra de los intereses y la voluntad del pueblo puertorriqueño en lucha.
Varios factores frenaron la masificación de la participación, tanto en Vieques como en Puerto Rico, a las acciones de desafío. El desafío sigue siendo el arma principal de enfrentamiento contra la
marina y el militarismo en Puerto Rico y hay que llevarla a una verdadera participación popular activa.
El frente masivo viequense hace tiempo llegó a su radio de acción más grande, hasta donde lo permitió la ideología del sector religioso. No le quitamos el valor y el sacrificio que a tenido como factor de lucha, pero ese radio de acción hay que expandirlo. Se necesita una
iniciativa política que impulse aprovechar la coyuntura por la que
pasan Puerto Rico y Vieques en este momento. En política todos los
factores se resumen políticamente. No podemos depender de las convocatorias del sector religioso, ni se puede justificar la lucha sólo con razones humanitarias y ecológicas porque todas éstas se resumen políticamente, en nuestro caso, como problema del colonialismo que el imperialismo yanqui sostiene en Puerto Rico.
Tampoco se debe tratar este asunto como uno doméstico, de política interna de EEUU, como optaría el sector “autonomista”, así con comillas.
El referéndum no se justifica como uso estratégico, su naturaleza no está hecha para la lucha anticolonial, al igual que los plebiscitos. Su efecto será el mismo que a tenido las pasadas elecciones
coloniales, paralizar y ahogar como cámara de gas las energías de la lucha del pueblo.
La lucha de Vieques sirve a la liberación del espíritu de lucha de los puertorriqueños. La lucha de Vieques debe ser una para fomentar la lucha por la independencia, no para la prolongación del coloniaje por medio del referéndum viequense.
Trabajemos los factores subjetivos de nuestro pueblo desde una perspectiva de lucha de masas, lucha fuera de los canales de legalidad colonial paralizante.
Urge un cambio de táctica, miremos hacia Ceiba, la consigna debe ser: ¡Invadir Ceiba! Ceiba es a una torre de control, lo que el área de maniobras es a una pista de aterrizaje; interrumpir el monitoreo de la base en plenas maniobras, ése debe ser uno de nuestros objetivos.
Toda la voluntad masiva de expresión de repudio no se puede canalizar en Vieques. El complejo de Roosevelt Road comprende la isla municipio de Vieques y la parte oriental de Puerto Rico desde Ceiba.
En Ceiba, al igual que en Vieques, la marina viene despoblando esa parte oriental de Puerto Rico; tómese como dato el último censo efectuado en Puerto Rico y se verá como esa parte de nuestra nación viene perdiendo población. Tenemos un precedente en Guantánamo.
Desde ahora la lucha debe ser masiva, no limitada a grupitos para llevar un control una vez se entra a la zona rescatada hace ya casi dos años. La resistencia debe ser activa no pasiva, dejarse arrestar diezma nuestros recursos y paraliza en cierta medida la lucha a favor de los caprichos arbitrarios de la repulsiva corte federal yanqui. De lo contrario podemos sentarnos a esperar por el referéndum de doña Sila, en lo que ella a su vez espera por Mr. Bush. Sumemos a ésto un posible proyecto de constituyente como el del 1952 a la atención pública entre los autonomistas sin comillas y los autonomistas con
comillas y digámosle adiós a Vieques.
El aceptar que Puerto Rico se envuelva en un referéndum en Vieques es hacer realidad la sentencia de Pedro Albizu Campos: “En Vieques lleva a cabo el gobierno de los EEUU la vivisección de nuestra nación.” Además, es aceptar que sólo ellos tienen la última palabra.
El Movimiento Hostosiano del Sur, cumpliendo con su compromiso con la
lucha por la independencia y por la paz en todo el territorio puertorriqueño, basado en las razones antes expuestas y en las enseñanzas de los maestros Don Eugenio María de Hostos y Don Pedro
Albizu Campos se opone a cualquier referéndum colonial que trate de
complacer los deseos del imperio en violación a los más elementales
derechos de los viequenses a vivir en paz y en el derecho de todos los puertorriqueños a su soberanía sobre el territorio nacional.
¡NI UNA BOMBA MÁS EN VIEQUES NI EN NINGUNA OTRA PARTE DEL ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE PUERTO RICO!
Urgente e mail al parlamento holandes hoy mismo
Estimados compañeros:
Los compañeros del Comité de Holanda con Vieques nos acaban de comunicar de que hoy se presentó al Comité de Defensa del Palamento Holandés la petición de participación de la flota Holandesa-Belga en la prácticas del NATO desde el 6 al 26 de marzo de 2001 e informaron que para 2002 también piensan participar en las prácticas en Vieques.
La decisión de participación tiene hasta mañana a las 8am para tomarse,
necesitamos que todas las organizaciones se movilizen esta noche y todos los
que reciban este email y le envie su posición a la presidenta del parlamento, Mrs. J. Van Nieuwenhoven a su email
Nieuwenhoven@tk.parlement.nl y le expliquen el porque de nuestra oposición y de los daños ambientales y a la salud del pueblo viequense. Es vital que se le solicite que no vengan a practicar ni a contaminar a Vieques. Los holandeses mantienen en todas las plataformas de todos los partidos políticos medidas de protección ambiental y se jactan de ser los líderes en la conservación del ambiente del mundo. Hay que repetirles que si vienen a vieques son tan responsables como el USA Navy por los daños a la salud y al ambiente. Todos aquellas/os que tengan fotos de peces y animales muertos y destrucción física o información/ estudios sobre daños a la salud pueden unirlo a su carta. Aquellos que tengan evidencia de personalidades en el mundo del arte, los deportes, las ciencias y la vida pública que los envien. Aquellos políticos solidarios es importante que se movilizen ahora. Los compañeros del comité y algunos parlamentaristas solidarios van a tratar de ganar un poco de tiempo pero necesitamos movilización desde este momento.
Les estoy enviando los nombres y direcciones de todos los parlamentaristas
para que les envien sus mensajes. También les estoy enviando el site del Ministro de Defensa Holandés.
/wwhttp:/w.parlement.nl/kfc/kle/hfdframe/klei01.htm (está en holandés)
Compañeros; tiene que ser esta noche!!!
En el dia de hoy el parlamentarista Harrie Van Bommel del Pardido Socialista
se comunicó con el campamento Justicia y Paz para oscultar la posición de los
viequenses. Van Bommel ha lidereado la defensa de la posición de “no mas
bombardeo en Vieques” y logró que el Dutch Royal Navy tuviera que informar al
parlamento y conseguir aprobación antes de cualquier acción en territorio
viequense. La lucha viequense ha contado con el apoyo del parlamentarista Ad
Harrewijn del Partido Groenlinks (Partido Verde). La ayudante de Van Bommel
Puerto Rico’s new governor, Sila M. Calderone, is in the middle of her first official visit to the mainland – a trip that coincides with some disturbing news from the Mideast.
Gov. Calderone is the first female chief executive of the American territory. She was elected on a reform agenda that strongly stressed an expansion of economic opportunity.
At the same time, Calderone ran on an explicit platform of forcing the U.S. Navy to abandon its target-practice ranges on the island of Vieques – the only such range available on the East Coast.
The governor reiterated that goal Thursday in an address to Hispanic journalists in New York. “The bombing must stop immediately,” she said. Which brings us to the bad news from the Mideast.
Also on Thursday, the Pentagon announced that last week’s airstrikes on Iraq produced, at best, mixed results. Navy fliers missed 60 percent of their targets – an astonishingly high figure given the sophistication of the weapons involved.
Certainly the miss rate exceeds anything posted from the Gulf War onward. Given that political pressure of the sort Gov. Calderone is now applying already has cut aerial bombing artillery practice at Vieques sharply, it’s fair to wonder whether the reduction itself is a big factor. Yes, there could be other reasons.
For one thing, new technology was employed during the recent raids. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the training cuts will have a real impact.
And if Gov. Calderone gets her way – that is, an immediate and total training ban – that day will arrive all the more quickly.
Practically speaking, the Vieques range is going to be closed.
The principal question is whether it will be available to train naval aviators while the Bush administration searches for an alternative.
Last week’s dismal performance over Baghdad may have been an aberration. More likely, it was a harbinger.
PR Governor Asks U.S. to Stop Bombing Vieques
Puerto Rican Governor Asks U.S. to Stop Bombing Vieques
February 27, 2001
Washington – Puerto Rican Gov. Sila Maria Calderon today formally requested that the Pentagon halt its controversial military maneuvers on Vieques until the results of new studies concerning the effects of those maneuvers, which include the detonation of numerous explosives, on the health of the island’s more than 9,000 residents are available.
Calderon made the request Tuesday afternoon at a meeting with Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with whom she spoke at the Pentagon concerning the subject that has caused tension between the United States and Puerto Rico for the last two years.
“Today’s meeting follows an extensive conversation at a dinner given by the
White House (for the National Governors Association)” last Sunday, Calderon
noted. Calderon asked Rumsfeld to stop training missions at the island’s
firing range until the U.S. Department of Health completes a preliminary
investigation of the effects the noise from bombings has on the residents of Vieques.
Defense Department spokespersons say the Navy has not made a final decision
concerning the use of the Vieques facility for training exercises next
month.
Calderon hopes that Rumsfeld’s office will respond to her request before
ordering further bombing training missions on Vieques. “No decision was made at the meeting, but they indicated they would get back to me soon,” Calderon said at a Washington press conference in which she gave some details concerning her talk with Rumsfeld and U.S. Senate
Republican leaders.
Calderon, a member of the autonomous Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and former mayor of San Juan, said she was “very grateful for Secretary Rumsfeld’s kindness.” Apparently, Secretary Rumsfeld did not subject her to another lecture concerning the vital importance of Vieques to the Pentagon, which considers the island “the crown jewel of its air, land and sea training facilities.”
“This is the first time Rumsfeld has confronted this subject,” a conflict
inherited from the Clinton administration, which had scheduled a meeting to determine the future of military training on Vieques residents.
Clinton’s initiative, which had the support of former Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rossello,consisted of a referendum giving Puerto Ricans the choice of having the Navy withdraw from Vieques in May 2003 or continuing unlimited training on the island.
Calderon insists options should include an immediate and permanent halt to
military operations on the island. The governor also met Tuesday with Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott, and his second-in-command, Senate Majority Whip
Republican Don Nickles.
Calderon acknowledged that Lott favors the Navy’s continued use of Vieques
as a training facility, but she added that she had not discussed the subject
with Nickles.
Rumsfield hands a P.R.”win”
Rumsfeld Hands Puerto Rico a Win
By Robert Burns
AP Military Writer
Friday, March 2, 2001; 6:18 a.m. EST
WASHINGTON — In the Navy’s long-running battle to keep using the Puerto Rican island of Vieques for combat training, Puerto Rico has won another round. The final victor, however, remains in doubt.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld revealed Thursday that he ordered the Navy to call off planned training this month on Vieques for membersof the USS Enterprise battle group and a contingent of Marines. He is trying to find a permanent solution to the dispute, which erupted in full force in April 1999 after a civilian guard on Vieques was killed by an errant bomb from a Marine Corps jet.
The Navy wants to retain use of Vieques, saying it is vital to combat training for the Atlantic Fleet.
Rumsfeld made the decision after a private meeting Tuesday with Puerto Rican Gov. Sila Calderon, who has taken a hard stance against any further Navy training on Vieques, a 19-mile-long island used by the Navy for more than half a century. She has renounced an agreement her predecessor reached with President Clinton in January 2000 to allow Navy training until the 9,400 residents of Vieques vote in November on whether to permit the Navy to stay or force its withdrawal.
The January deal included a Navy concession not to use live bombs on Vieques and to train on few days.
Thursday on Vieques, Rumsfeld’s decision was cheered by opponents of the Navy’s presence.
“This triumph is a momentary triumph and not an eternal victory,” said anti-Navy activist Ismael Guadalupe. “We need to redouble our efforts now to try to transform this suspension into a halt to Navy bombing on the island forever.”
“What we want is the Navy to leave and give us back our land,” he said.
Back in Washington, the U.S. territory’s delegate in the House, Anibal Acevedo Vila, called the decision “a clear sign that the Vieques issue is starting to be discussed as one of human rights and health.” Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., a virulent critic of the Navy for persisting in its use of the range, greeted Rumsfeld’s announcement with cautious optimism but said: “We hope that this becomes a permanent cease-fire on the entire island and that we can then begin the long road to helping the people of Vieques get their lives together again.”
In her Tuesday meeting with Rumsfeld, Calderon asked him to hold off on further Navy training on the island until he reviews a study suggesting noise from the bombing has caused heart disease among residents.
A few days before leaving office, Clinton ordered federal health authorities to investigate a Puerto Rican government study showing 49 of 50 volunteers tested on Vieques had a thickening of the sack surrounding the heart, a condition called vibroacoustic disease.
The Navy disputes any link between its training activities and health problems on Vieques.
Navy Capt. Mike Brady, a spokesman at U.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters at Norfolk, Va., said the decision to suspend training on Vieques affects the USS Enterprise battle group and a Marine Corps amphibious ready group led by the USS Kearsarge.
It is not a permanent halt to training on Vieques, although that could be the eventual outcome.
“The battle group and the amphibious ready group are expected to receive an adequate level of training to deploy” as scheduled in late April, Brady said. They will use the waters off Puerto Rico to do other training, but they will not be able to use Vieques for practice bombing and naval gunfire training.
In seeking to retain the Vieques training range, the Navy has argued that it is the only place to provide the training to ensure that battle groups begin overseas deployments fully ready for combat.
Asked Thursday about the state of discussions with Calderon, Rumsfeld told reporters: “The Navy is going to proceed with some aspects of their training but not using the inner range, pending the discussions that are taking place.” His term “inner range” refers to the bombing range and other training areas on the island, other officials said.
Rumsfeld would not comment further.
The Navy calls Vieques the “crown jewel” of its Atlantic training sites, saying exercises there are vital to national defense because they uniquely combine air, sea and land maneuvers that cannot be done elsewhere.
The Navy owns two-thirds of Vieques, and its bombing range covers 900 acres–less than 3 percent of the island.
Esta informaciÛn es cortesÌa de:
ComitÈ de Nueva York
Partido Independentista PuertorriqueÒo
(212) 330-8258
Almirante insiste Vieques ya no es necesario
Former Admiral John J. Shanahan stated once again to the press that the Vieques? target range is no longer necessary for the United States and that those types of practices are obsolete. He has called upon President Bush to take advantage of the revision-process taking place in the U.S. Military and to close the outdated Vieques’ target range.
Vieques Bombs Silent Because Pataki Wasn’t
Vieques Bombs Silent Because Pataki Wasn’t
When the Navy did a sudden about-face last week and suspended bombing practice on the tiny Puerto Rican island of Vieques, a force behind the scenes was Gov. Pataki. Pataki confirmed yesterday that he mounted a strenuous lobbying campaign with the Bush administration in recent weeks to end 60 years of Navy
bombardment. On Thursday, the Navy, which had opposed any halt to training, suspended a new round of exercises scheduled for this month. While the Navy calls the suspension temporary, many
observers in San Juan and Washington believe the last bomb has been
dropped on Vieques.
If so, much of the credit should go to New York’s governor, according to Dennis Rivera, the powerful hospital workers union leader who for the past two years has spearheaded the Vieques campaign by New York’s Puerto Rican leaders. “The governor’s participation has been critical to get the Bush administration to suspend the bombing,” Rivera said
yesterday. “He is committed to fight with us.” Pataki, after all, is a Republican, and a Bush loyalist. He carries far
more weight in the Bush White House than the Democrats in Congress who until now have been leading the fight.
“I have grave concerns about how you can raise a child with thundering bombs being dropped just down the road from where you
are,” Pataki told the Daily News yesterday.
“There are almost 10,000 people living on Vieques. It was once a tropical paradise,” he said, but decades of bombing “have devastated the island.”
During the past few weeks, Pataki said, he had made his views known “to virtually everyone in the administration: the President, Health and Human Services Tommy] Thompson.
Thompson is important because his agency is in charge of reviewing a recent health study of people on Vieques. The study
concludes that years of bombing practice have caused severe increases in heart problems on the island. If the findings are confirmed, they could provide the Bush administration with the proof it needs to persuade Congress to shut the training range permanently.
Until now, the Navy has called Vieques the crown jewel of its training sites because it enables the military to conduct air, sea and land maneuvers simultaneously. Navy brass say that
makes it essential for keeping the Atlantic Fleet in top fighting shape.
Pataki refuses to buy that argument.
“I cannot conceive that in the entire Western Hemisphere there is not someplace else you can have the training without
risking these environmental consequences,” he said. “Not to mention
the human rights consequences of the bombing.”
Rivera is so grateful to Pataki that he is planning an unusual rally Thursday at his union headquarters, where he will
publicly thank the governor.
The rally is sure to shake up politicians across the state. Rivera, after all, is a major figure in the Democratic Party.
The support of his union, Local 1199, is considered essential for the victory of any Democrat.
Pataki faces a tough 2002 reelection fight. Even getting 1199 to reduce its enthusiasm or, better yet, sit on the
sidelines would be a huge plus for him.
The two men have shown they can unite in the past. They joined up a few years ago to win expansion of Medicaid coverage
to nearly 1 million of the state’s children, and the governor backed a generous increase in wages for 130,000 home health-care workers, many of
them represented by 1199.
Rivera, meanwhile, is furious at Bill Clinton and the national Democratic Party. He lobbied feverishly in the last
days before the Bush inauguration to persuade Clinton to suspend the Navy
bombing.
In the end, Clinton did nothing. The President, it seems, was too busy Jan. 19 drawing up his list of last-minute
pardons to worry about Vieques.
‘The president was prepared to take the heat on the issue of Marc Rich,” Rivera said, “but he was not prepared to take
some heat from the Navy for pardoning the people of Vieques. That’s unforgivable.”
Original Publication Date: 3/6/01
Peace Caravan on Vieques
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(787) 741-0716
Press Release – 10 March, 2001
San Juan Bishop Roberto Gonzalez and ex President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias to participate in Peace Caravan on Vieques
The Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) received
with joy news that the Bishop of San Juan, Roberto Gonzalez and Nobel Peace Laureate and ex President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias will participate in the Peace Caravan that will take place in Vieques this Sunday. After a meeting with community leaders and the mass at the
Catholic Church in town, Gonzalez and Arias will head the Caravan for Peace organized by the CRDV.
The visit to Vieques by these two important Latin American figures comes
at a crucial moment in the struggle to end the military presence on Vieques. In recent months, a long list of religious and political leaders and public figures in Puerto Rico, the US and other countries have expressed support for this cause: Hillary Clinton; Jesse Jackson; Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Mench*, from Guatemala; the Dalai Lama; world
champion boxer, Tito Trinidad; Puerto Rican major league baseball star,
Carlos Delgado; singer Ricky Martin; well known actor and human rights activist Martin Sheen; the Governor of New York, George Pataki; democratic and republican congresspeople, among others. Last week the Bishop of Chiapas, Samuel RuÌz and the Bishop of Caguas in Puerto Rico, Ruben Gonzalez, traveled to Vieques to hear testimony from the community about
the effects of military contamination and other problems related to military activity.
“We returned Friday from a successful trip to Washington and the visit by
Bishop Gonzalez and Oscar Arias helps renew our strength to continue with
this long and sometimes difficult battle,” said Nilda Medina of the CRDV
and part of the Peopleís Lobby Group. “With the suspension of bombing in
March we maintain a posture of continued pressure and planning for the next civil disobedience actions, if these are needed,” finished Medina.
Contact: Robert Rabin 741-0716
Viequenses paralize ATSDR proceedings
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
On Wednesday, March 14, a large group of Viequenses, representing diverse sectors of the community, paralized the proceedings of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in Vieques. The agency arrived on Vieques as part of the US Navy’s public relations program designed to discredit the arguments of our envirnomental scientists and silence our denunciation of the negative impact on our health from
military contamination.
During five hours officials of ATSDR waited to receive people from the
community to offer their “orientation” about the lack of military contamination of our waters. Nobody showed up!. In solidarity with the call from our organizations for NO COOPERATION with the federal agency, our people rejected ATSDR’s invitation. The only visit they received was from around 150 Viequenses – men and women, mothers, grandmothers and
great grandmothers, fishermen, teachers, young people, students, doctors,
civic, political and religious leaders ñ who entered the Multiple Uses Center to denounce the agency’s presence here and the health crisis caused by the Navy.
The protesta action was organized by the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) with the active participation of the Vieques Women’s Alliance, Vieques Youth United, the Federation and Association of Teachers of Puerto Rico (Vieques locals), Horsemen for Peace, Vieques Veterans for Peace, Peace and Justice Camp, Luisa Guadalupe Camp, the ex-Mayor of Vieques, RadamÈs Tirado, Association of Fishermen, among others.
A procession of people carrying crosses with names of victims of cancer or
military violence, heavy metals and other chemical contaminants began the entrance to the meeting hall. Then four people carried in a wooden casket that was placed in the center of the room, followed by about one hundred citizens with crosses and signs about contamination and deaths due to
cancer. With litanies, chants, hymns and several brief messages, the group clearly and firmly expressed the community’s rejection of intervention by this agency whose history is one of serving the industrial and military interests accused of contaminating. Harry Felix sang a song he recently wrote dedicated to Milivy Adams, a 4 year old viequense girl with cancer who has become a symbol of the cancer crisis here.
Among those holding crosses were Fela Garcia, cancer patient whose cross
had the name of her husband ñ don Angel Navarro ñ also a cancer victim;
don Suso Bermudez lifted high a cross with his daughter¥s name ñ Minerva ñ
died of cancer at the age of 20; also with a cross was the family of Liza
Rosa, who died at the age of 16 with leukemia. Fishermen’s Associations
leaders Carlos Ventura and Carlos Zenon also participated, as did Education Department officiales and members of the Municipal Government.
With an impressive discipline and strength of expression, the protesters
filed out of the Multiple Uses Center, leaving one by one the sixty crosses (one for each year of the Navy presence) on the ATSDR information table. We stayed outside the Center until at 5 PM, the hour to end the Public Audience – that never took place!!
We must thank our environmental scientists-advisors for their important
help in creating awareness about ATSDR and for helping us to critically
analyze the agency¥s report suggesting no Navy contamination of Vieques drinking waters. Sara Peish (Center for Environmental Action), UPR chemist, Jorge ColÛn (Technical and Professional Group in Support of Vieques), chemist Jose Sepulveda, spokesman for the Villa Cristiana community in Puerto Rico that suffered terrible mercury contamination and expected health crisis, although ATSDR certified their neighborhood as
“safe”.
All aspects of the protest were discussed in two community meetings at the Peace and Justice Camp, the second with the participation of more than forty people representative of the diverse segments of our civil society. The tasks were divided and a program of action prepared to carry out what was proposed and discussed with the intention of paralizing the ATSDR proceedings in Vieques. Everyone did their work ñ and this collective action ended in a small but signficant victory in defense of our health and against military contamination.
The struggle for Peace on Vieques has received great impulse recently: the
excellent work of the People¥s Lobbyists in Washington, D.C.; declarations of solidarity from public figures like the Governor of New York, the ex-president of Costa Rica, Hillary Clinton, the Bishops of Puerto Rico and of Chiapas, actor Martin Sheen, Ricky Martin; the Governors statement that the health of our people is not negotiable.
All of these actions are important. However, it is the organized and
militant work of our people in the streets of Vieques, our fishermen in
the sea, our constant protest in the Navyís face at the gate to Camp Garcia, and actions like the paralization of the ATSDR ñ with the participation of diverse sectors of our community ñ that send the
strongest message to the Navy: that the days of military tyranny on Vieques are over; that no more bombs will be dropped here; that here lives a people with dignity and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to defend their right to live in peace.
R. Rabin, CRDV
RE: Viequenses paralize ATSDR proceedings
paralize, why would you want to do that,, are you afraid they will find out the truth, or that you are trying to hide the truth, who will benefit by the navy leaving, do you plan on buying land soon?
Firme Sila con Vieques
Firme la respuesta de Sila al jefe de la Marina
jueves, 14 de diciembre de 2000
Por Israel Rodríguez Sánchez
El Nuevo Día
LA GOBERNADORA electa Sila María Calderón no cambiará su posición en torno a Vieques, a pesar de que el secretario de la Marina, Richard Danzig, condicionó la entrega de tierras al oeste de la Isla Nena a que no impida el cumplimiento de las directrices presidenciales.
Calderón respondió ayer la carta amenazante que le envió Danzig en la que le advirtió sobre las consecuencias de las gestiones que su administración
propone realizar para evitar los bombardeos en Vieques. En la misiva, que
Calderón hizo circular anoche, ésta le informa a Danzig que se mantiene firme
en su posición, “que es la misma de la inmensa mayoría de los puertorriqueños”.
La Gobernadora electa le informó, además, que su administración llevará a cabo todas las gestiones necesarias para resolver el problema de Vieques una
vez juramente como Gobernadora el 2 de enero. No se mencionan más detalles en
la carta ni en el escueto comunicado que envió Calderón, quien de paso anunció que se encuentra en Puerto Rico desde el lunes.
COMO ES de conocimiento público, Calderón se comprometió durante la pasada campaña eleccionaria a sacar la Fuerza de Choque de Vieques, a celebrar un reférendum con la opción de “cero bombardeos” si la Marina no convoca una consulta prontamente, y a legislar para prohibir los niveles de las ondas de sonido bajo el mar, que son nocivas para la salud.
Apoyo pipiolo ante ultimátum de la Marina
Apoyo pipiolo ante ultimátum de la Marina
jueves, 14 de diciembre de 2000
Por Julio Ghigliotty
El Nuevo Día
LA GOBERNADORA electa, Sila María Calderón, tendrá todo el apoyo del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) para enfrentarse a la “amenaza” y el “chantaje” que representa la carta del Secretario de la Marina en torno a Vieques, dijo ayer el presidente de la colectividad política, Rubén Berríos.
“Yo creo que eso es una amenaza, un chantaje, y en esto la señora Calderón
sabe que cuenta con el apoyo completo del PIP y estoy seguro que de todos los
sectores que se oponen a la presencia de la Marina en Vieques, sean independentistas o no, para mantener su posición firme frente a la Marina”,
dijo Berríos en entrevista con El Nuevo Día.
El líder independentista dijo que la carta del secretario de la Marina,
Richard Danzig, a la Gobernadora electa representa “una forma imperial de
principios de siglo”.
En la carta, Danzig le advierte a Calderón que la Marina condiciona el
traspaso de los terrenos del oeste de Vieques, pautado para el 31 de
diciembre, a que la Gobernadora electa se ciña las directrices presidenciales
y no tome acciones legales o apruebe leyes dirigidas a detener las prácticas
militares en la Isla Nena.
El vicepresidente del PIP y senador electo, Fernando Martín, por su parte,
dijo que la Marina trata de hacerle a Calderón lo que le hicieron al
gobernador saliente Pedro Rosselló.
“YA SABEMOS que Rosselló sucumbió ante ese chantajismo. Cuando él sucumbió,
ella con toda la razón denunció el que él hubiera sucumbido. Así es que ella ahora lo que tiene que hacer, y para eso cuenta con nuestro apoyo, es hacer lo que Rosselló no hizo que es pararlos en seco”, dijo Martín, quien acompañaba a Berríos en la entrevista.
“Si se mantiene la posición firme la Marina no va a quedar más alternativa
nada más que ceder”, dijo Berríos al reafirmar que “esos son chantajes
insultantes y una amenaza descarnada de parte de la Marina y de los Estados
Unidos”.
“Yo espero que el efecto que tenga (la carta) es de renovar los bríos de la
señora Calderón y la firmeza de sus posiciones, y para eso sepa ella que
cuenta con todo nuestro apoyo, porque el atropello, la amenaza y el chantaje
no es a ella nada más, es al pueblo puertorriqueño que votó en las elecciones; en el caso de Vieques votó con un 66%”, añadió el líder pipiolo,
pero aclaró que no tiene razón para pensar que Calderón no vaya a cumplir con
la palabra empeñada con los viequenses.
U.S. Navy sets vote in Puerto Rico
U.S. Navy sets vote on fate of bombing range in Puerto Rico
December 12, 2000
Web posted at: 12:20 PM EST (1720 GMT)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The U.S. Navy has set November 6 as the date for a vote on whether it must leave its bombing range on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, according to a letter released Tuesday. Under an agreement with the White House, Puerto Rico’s government said it would allow the Navy to set the date for the referendum. The letter from Navy Secretary Richard Danzig to Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rossello requested November 6.
The agreement stipulates that if islanders vote to expel the Navy it would have to leave by May 2003. If they allow the Navy to stay, it can resume training using live ammunition – something the military agreed not to do since an April 1999 accident on the range that killed a civilian guard.
“At least 90 days in advance of the referendum, my office will specify the terms for the referendum’s second option,
which would permit training past May 1, 2003,” Danzig said in the letter, dated Monday.
Years of resentment over the use of live bombs on Vieques, an island of 9,400 residents, turned into an intense dispute
after the accident, in which a U.S. Marine Corps jet dropped
two 500-pound bombs off target and killed security guard David Sanes Rodriguez.
Protesters camped out on the range for the next year, thwarting further exercises, until they were forcibly cleared out by U.S. Marshals in May. The Navy has carried out several exercises since then, but has used non-explosive
“dummy” bombs.
The Navy calls Vieques its most important training ground and says it is vital to the national defense as a unique site for combined air, sea and land exercises. Anti-Navy activists say the bombing has damaged the environment, stunted economic growth and endangered residents — charges the Navy has denied.
article on collapse of Vieques deal
Vieques deal is near collapse
By DALE EISMAN
© 2000, The Virginian-Pilot
December 15, 2000
WASHINGTON — An aid-for-training deal designed to let the Navy retain use of its disputed bombing range on Vieques Island all but collapsed Thursday, as Puerto Rico’s incoming governor signaled her determination to press President-elect George W. Bush to close the facility.
Navy officials said that in light of Gov.-elect Sila Calderon’s stand they
will suspend plans to surrender ownership of some 8,000 of the service’s 22,000 acres on Vieques by Dec. 31. Also in limbo are $40 million worth of economic development projects on Vieques that the Navy had agreed to undertake in an effort to win over local residents.
Navy Secretary Richard Danzig had asked Calderon on Monday for assurances that her administration would honor commitments by departing Gov. Pedro
Rossello not to interfere in training efforts on the island and to provide
security at the main entrance to the Navy’s property on Vieques.
Without her promise to honor the deal, the Navy would not proceed with its
end of the agreement, Danzig warned.
But in a three-paragraph reply dispatched Wednesday, Calderon told Danzig “this is not the time for threats,” and said she’ll take up the issue with the new administration in Washington after she’s sworn in Jan. 2.
“My position … and that of the overwhelming majority of the people of
Puerto Rico is well known,” she added. “I stand firm by that position.”
Calderon campaigned on promises to seek the Navy’s eviction from Vieques, a small island just east of the main island of Puerto Rico that has been a training site for Norfolk-based sailors for more than 50 years. In addition to withdrawing police from the main gate, she suggested she would press for anti-noise ordinances designed to block activity on the range.
The Navy owns two-thirds of Vieques, maintaining much of it as an undeveloped buffer zone for the 900-acre range at the island’s eastern tip. The range is roughly eight miles from the nearest populated area. The Navy says the site is the only place in the Atlantic where ships, aircraft and Marine forces can “train as we fight,” with Marines practicing beach landings as planes and shipborne guns pound nearby targets.
The service had hoped the land transfer and development efforts would persuade a majority of Vieques’ 9,400 residents to support a return to full use of the bombing range, now open only to dummy bombs and shells. The range was closed from April 1999 until May of this year by dozens of local residents, supporters of Puerto Rican independence and
environmentalists who camped on the site to block Navy activities.
The protesters moved in after a mis-aimed bomb wiped out a guard station on the edge of the range, killing a civilian employee. It was the first recorded casualty on the range, though opponents of Navy training on Vieques say the bombing and shelling have spoiled the local environment and crippled efforts to promote tourism.
The protesters were evicted peacefully in early May, but the Navy has fought a running battle with small groups since then who’ve attempted to return to their former campsites.
As part of the agreement, the Navy has set a referendum on the range’s future for Nov. 6, 2001. If it loses, the service has agreed to surrender all 22,000 acres it owns on Vieques by May 2003. If it wins, the service had promised to provide an additional $50 million worth of aid.
With the apparent collapse of the deal, one official acknowledged, the Navy may be pressed by some congressional Republicans to resume use of live ammunition on the range immediately. But a spokesman for Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Okla., who heads a Senate subcommittee on military readiness, expressed hope that Calderon and the new administration can come to an understanding that would not involve such unilateral action by the service.
Inhofe has been Congress’ most outspoken supporter of the Navy’s professed need for live-fire exercises on Vieques, repeatedly arguing that the Clinton administration is placing U.S. forces at risk by deploying them with only the more-limited training now permitted.
Serrano condena presiones de Danzig
Serrano condena las presiones de Danzig
sábado, 16 de diciembre de 2000
Por Leonor Mulero
El Nuevo Día
WASHINGTON – El congresista puertorriqueño por Nueva York, José Serrano, dijo ayer que el secretario de la Marina, Richard Danzig, “está creando una tensión innecesaria en Puerto Rico” con exigencias prematuras a la
gobernadora electa Sila Calderón.
Serrano, quien felicitó a Calderón por buscar que la Marina cese las maniobras en Vieques, dijo que “me preocupa que este hombre (Danzig) está asumiendo ciertos poderes y está creando una tensión innecesaria”. No descartó que eso sea una estrategia naval premeditada.
El congresista señaló que Calderón, como todo el mundo, ha expresado una posición sobre Vieques, pero que ella no se está colocando frente a los portones del campo de tiro para sacar a la Marina de Vieques.
Serrano cuestionó si Danzig amenazaría a Rusia con romper los acuerdos con Estados Unidos sólo porque hay un cambio de gobierno en ese país. Danzig “está fuera de orden haciendo preguntas que no debe hacer. Por más malo que sea el acuerdo, hay ciertas partes que se podrían cumplir. Acaso él está asumiendo una confrontación pública?”, cuestionó. El congresista apuntó que Calderón, como todo el mundo en Puerto Rico, quiere que la Marina cese los bombardeos en Vieques. “La diferencia es que ella quiere que la Marina se vaya mañana. Pero ella no está parándose en los portones para sacarla”,
señaló.
SERRANO DIJO que pedirá al presidente Bill Clinton, junto a sus colegas Nydia
Velázquez y Luis Gutiérrez, que acabe con los bombardeos en Vieques antes de que termine su administración el 19 de enero. En una entrevista radial, Clinton dijo que el Congreso violó el acuerdo presidencial al cambiar disposiciones de las directrices.
Mientras, Ruth Díaz, portavoz de la Marina, señaló que ese cuerpo militar
espera porque Calderón apoye las directrices para poder implementar la
porción federal del acuerdo. “Nos mantenemos firmes en lo que dice el
Secretario en la carta”, señaló. Díaz indicó que no discutirá por ahora los
pasos que tomará la Marina sobre el traspaso de tierras, los $40 millones de
asistencia económica y el uso de balas vivas en los entrenamientos.
In memory of doña Luisa Guadalupe
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716
Email: bieke@coqui.net
15 December, 2000
Press Release
Early in the morning of Friday, Doña Luisa Guadalupe, eighty five year old
member of the Vieques struggle, died in a San Juan hospital. During these past twelve months doña Luisa played a protagonic role at the Peace and Justice Camp, set up in front of the entrance to the US Navy`s bombing range in Vieques. Together with her sister Severing, doÒa Luisa was at the Camp day and night to participate in the civil disobedience action that blocked military transit to the entrance to Camp GarcÌa from December 4, 1999 until the 4th of May of this year. Luis and Severina were two of the tens of people arrested at the Peace and Justice Camp.
Doña Luisa Guadalupe was, for many years, an active member of the Committee for the Rescue and Develoment of Vieques. Also, she was the symbol of a family with very ample participation in the struggle to get the US Navy out of Vieques. Her nephews, Ismael Guadalupe, spokesman for the CRDV and one of the 21 arrested here in 1979 and Angel ®Tato®Guadalupe, arrested in the bombing zone during NATO maneuvers here in October; here grandchildren, Alexai, Pibe, Hilcia, Dara, Ismael y Yaurel have all been arrested during recent civil disobedience actions.
“The people of Vieques have lost a great fighter, an incredible example of the Vieques woman ready to sacrifice everything for the good of her island.
Doña Luisa has left us, but her example will live to motivate our actions for a long time to come,” said Nilda Medina, spokeswoman for the Peace and Justice Camp.
Contact: Robert Rabin, 787 741-0716
Navy Construction Stopped
Navy Construction Stopped-Viequenses paralizan construccion militar
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
(SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH)
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716 Fax 741-0358 Email: bieke@coqui.net
20 de diciembre de 2000
Viequenses paralizan construccion militar
El jueves, 21 de diciembre a las 9:00 AM, varios integrantes del Campamento Justicia y Paz (CJP) y del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV) paralizaron un proyecto de construccion de la Marina de Guerra de EU en territorio civil, en un ·rea adyacente a la verja militar de Camp Garia. Carlos Cruz, Nilda Medina y Robert Rabin, se ubicaron entre los enormes tractores y otro equipo pesado de la Marina para obstaculizar lo que calificaron como ëun movimiento ilegal de terreno en propiedad del pueblo de Puerto Rico.
Durante las ·ltimas semanas los militares construyen un campamento, con estructuras fijas y varias casas tipo “trailers”, a media milla al sur del CJP y la entrada principal de la base, Camp Garcia. Los viequenses sospechan que la Marina prepara una nueva entrada para evitar las
constantes protestas y vigilancia de su movimiento que se realiza desde el
CJP.
Efectivos de la Fuerza de Choque, destacados en el lugar temprano en la
mañana del jueves, intentaron intimidar a los viequenses para que saliera del area y asi permitir a los militares continuar con su trabajo. Los viequenses insistieron que la Marina tenia que producir los permisos de las agencias de gobierno concernientes para asegurar que no estaban llevando a cabo una accion ilegal. El teniente Wally Matos, de la policia estatal, indico que representantes de la Marina informaron que tenian solamente un permiso de Obras Publicas. Los manifestantes señalaron a la policia que no permitirian que continuara con el trabajo ya que los
militares no tenian los permisos de Recursos Naturales, la Junta de Planificacion ni de Arqueologia Terrestre.
Con la llegada de mas personas de la comunidad y confrontados con la falta
de permisos, los militares se vieron obligados a recoger su equipo y personal y regresarar al lado militar por la brecha que habian hecho en su verja. Adem·s de una docena de efectivos de la Fuerza de Choque y varios policias locales, la Marina envio un equipo de seguridad militar con perros, “pepper spray” y marinos equipados con escudos y esposas plasticas.
Mientras los militares supuestamente buscaban los permisos, los integrantes del CJP y del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV), establecieron en el sitio un nuevo campamento que fue nombrado, Campamento Luisa Guadalupe, en honor a la luchadora viequense que fallecio la semana pasada. Miembros del CJP y del CPRDV organizaron una vigilia de 24 horas para poder avisarle a la comunidad cualquier nuevo intento por parte de la Marina de continuar con el trabajo que ayer se paralizo.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
–
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico
(787) 741-0716 Email: bieke@coqui.net
22 December, 2000
Press Release – Viequenses stop Navy construction project
Thursday, December 21st around 9:00 AM, several members of the Peace and
Justice Camp in Vieques stopped a US Navy construction project on civilian
land adjacent to the Camp GarcÌa military fence. Carlos Cruz, Nilda Medina
and Robert Rabin, placed themselves in front of the enormous Navy tractors
and other heavy equipment to block what they described as an ëillegal
movement of land in property of the Puerto Rican people.í
Over the past several weeks military personnel have been building a camp,
with permanent structures and several large trailer homes, about half a
mile South of the PJC and the main entrance to the Navy base of Camp
GarcÌa. The Viequenses believe the Navy plans to make a new entrance to
the base to avoid the constant protests and vigilance by the community
that takes place from the PJC.
Riot Police sent to the area early in the morning, attempted to intimidate
the Viequenses to get them out of the area and allow the Navy to continue
with its project. However, the protesters insisted the Navy produce
necessary governmental agency permits to assure them the Navy was not
acting illegaly. Lt. Wally Matos of the Puerto Rico police, indicated that
representatives of the Navy said they only had a permit from the regional
office of Public Works. The protesters pointed out to police officials
that they would not allow the Navy construction to continue since there
were no permits from Natural Resources, the Planning Board or the
Archaeological Council.
With the arrival of more people from the community and confronted with the
lack of permits, the military were force to take their equipment and
personnel back onto the Navy`s side of the fence. In addition to the dozen
Riot Police and several local policemen, the Navy sent to the scene a
military security team with dogs, pepper spray, sheilds and plastic
handcuffs.
While Navy personnel looked for their permits, members of the PJC and the
CRDV set up a new camp named, Camp Luisa Guadalupe, in honor of the 83
year old Viequense woman and well know activist against the Navy, who died
last week. A 24 hour vigil was organized to keep an eye out and inform the
community if the Navy attempted resume work in the area.
Contact: Robert Rabin CRDV 787 741-0716
RONALD DELLUMS INTERVIENE POR VIEQUES
RONALD DELLUMS INTERVIENE POR VIEQUES/RONALD DELLUMS INTERCEDES ON BEHALF OF VIEQUES
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
Scroll down for text of public letter by the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums to President Clinton, urging the President to issue an Executive Order to stop the bombing in Vieques. Congressman Dellums was one of the most influential and respected Members of the U.S. Congress, where he represented several districts from California for 27 years. Congressman Dellums was Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and was a high ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the National
Security Committee. In 1980, he chaired a “Panel to Review the Status of Navy Training Activities on the Island of Vieques”, which recommended that the Navy leave Vieques.
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel-fax (787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
RONALD DELLUMS, INFLUYENTE EX-CONGRESISTA, LE EXHORTA A CLINTON A QUE
EMITA ORDEN EJECUTIVA SOBRE VIEQUES
jueves 21 de diciembre
Washington, DC-
El Honorable Ronald V. Dellums, quien fuera uno de los Miembros mas influyentes y respetados en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos por casi tres decadas, le envio hoy una carta publica al Presidente Clinton exhortandole a que emita una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando la paralizacion
inmediata y permanente de toda actividad militar en Vieques.
Dellums represento a varios distritos de California ante el Congreso de los Estados Unidos por veintisiete (27) años. Fue Presidente del “Congressional Black Caucus” y Miembro de alto rango del Comite de las Fuerzas Armadas y del Comite de Seguridad Nacional de la Camara de Representantes, entre otros. Actualmente trabaja en la empresa privada y sigue activo en varias causas sociales.
En el 1980, Dellums presidio un panel congresional que estudio la situacion de Vieques y recomendo la salida de la Marina de Vieques. En su misiva, Dellums le dice al Presidente Clinton: “Como alguien que estuvo envuelto profundamente en este asunto, le digo sin titubeo ni duda alguna que si usted no emite una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando el cese y desista inmediato y permanente de todo bombardeo y de todas las actividades
militares en Vieques, la Marina no tendr· ningun incentivo en buscar un lugar alterno a Vieques y hara todo lo que este en su poder por quedarse alli indefinidamente. La historia asi lo demuestra.”
Flavio Cumpiano, abogado y representante en Washington, DC del Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, dijo: “El llamado publico del Congresista Dellums a favor de la orden ejecutiva es importantisimo y contundente. El Congresista Dellums ha sido uno de los Congresistas mas respetados en la
historia del Congreso de los Estados Unidos. A la vez, como Miembro del
ComitÈ de Fuerzas Armadas de la Camara de Representantes Federal, presidio un panel que estudio a fondo la situacion de Vieques y recomendo que la Marina se fuese de Vieques. En su carta a Clinton, el Congresista Dellums le explica, con conocimiento de causa, que si no emite una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando la paralizacion inmediata y permanente de toda actividad militar en Vieques, la Marina no tendra incentivo alguno para buscar una alternativa a Vieques y seguir· obstinada en permanecer en la Isla Nena indefinidamente. Agradecemos profundamente la intervencion del
Congresista Dellums a favor de Vieques en este momento tan crÌtico, en donde le queda menos de un mes al Presidente Clinton en la Casa Blanca. Clinton no puede ignorar este reclamo.”
(VER TEXTO DE LA CARTA ABAJO)
December 21, 2000
The Honorable William J. Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Clinton:
I am writing to urge you to issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
I served in the U.S. House of Representatives for twenty-seven years.
Twenty years ago, as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I
chaired a “Panel to Review the Status of Navy Training Activities on the Island of Vieques”. After extensive hearings, the Panel concluded that insensitivity has been the hallmark of the U.S. Navy’s approach towards Vieques and that the U.S. Navy should find an alternative site to Vieques.
Unfortunately, since the Navy was allowed to remain in Vieques and continue to bomb the island while it supposedly looked for an alternative site, the U.S. Navy only increased its insensitivity towards the people of Vieques. Following the death of David Sanes Rodriguez in April 19, 1999 by a U.S. Navy bomb dropped in Vieques, the widespread movement to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques galvanized, while the Navy’s obstinacy to remain
in Vieques continues.
In view of the stated will of the Puerto Rican people, and their many allies in the U.S. and elsewhere, that the U.S. Navy must leave Vieques without dropping any more bombs of any kind choosing to allow bombing to continue in Vieques and to issue Directives that leave the future of the Navy in Vieques in the hands of the next administration and Congress would be disastrous. Under a best case scenario, these Directives would allow
the Navy to continue bombing Vieques for at least three more years. As I am sure you know, these Directives on Vieques were universally rejected by the people of Puerto Rico and have been rejected by the islandís elected representatives.
President Clinton, many lives would have been saved if the recommendations of our Congressional Panel concerning Vieques had been heeded. As someone who was deeply involved in the issue, I tell you with no hesitancy or doubt that if you donít issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all bombings and of all military activities in Vieques, the Navy will have no incentive to find an
alternative site to Vieques and will do all within its power to remain there indefinitely. History has proven this.
I urge you to do the right thing and lift this heavy burden on the close to 10,000 U.S. citizens of Vieques, who have suffered too much for too long. I join those who have strongly urged you to issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, before you
leave the White House.
Sincerely,
(signed in the original)
Ronald V. Dellums
cc:
The Honorable Sila M Calderon
Governor-elect of Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Flavio Cumpiano, Esq.
Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques
Washington, DC
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
December 20, 2000
OPEN LETTER FROM TODO CONNECTICUT CON VIEQUES TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION FROM CONNECTICUT
Todo Connecticut con Vieques (All Connecticut with Vieques) a state-wide
citizens committee that seeks to end the military use of Vieques, Puerto Rico has been urging President Clinton, since November of 1999, to immediately order the U.S. Navy out of this Puerto Rican Island. Now, we are asking the Democrats who represent Connecticut in Congress to join us in requesting President Clinton to order the Navy out of Vieques before he leaves office in January.
The issue of Vieques must be resolved before a Republican President takes
office. Republican leaders in Washington D.C., such as Nancy Johnson and Christopher Shays, have demonstrated that they are willing to do everything
possible to continue to use Vieques for military training on an indefinite
basis. Therefore, Connecticut’s Democrats must act quickly, and urge
President Clinton to use his constitutional authority as Commander-in-Chief to stop the human suffering in Vieques. If Connecticutís Democrats fail to act at this crucial moment, their inaction will constitute a TACIT APPROVAL
of the inhuman policies perpetrated against Vieques by the Navy and by
Republicans such as Nancy Johnson and Chris Shays.
We urge U.S. Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman; and U.S.
Representatives John Larson, James Maloney, Sam Gejdenson and Rosa DeLauro
to act before its too late. Please join us in asking the President to sign an executive order ceasing all military activities in Vieques, now.
Sincerely,
Francis Davila
Chairman
Ivan A. Ramos
Press Secretary
Call Hillary Clinton / Llamen a Hillary Clinton
Call Hillary Clinton / Llamen a Hillary Clinton
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
(version en espanol abajo)
Call the First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, at 202-456-5318 and ask her to
keep the promises she made to millions of Puerto Ricans during her campaign for a Senate seat in New York to intercede on behalf of the people of Vieques and get the U.S. Navy to leave Vieques without dropping one more bomb. President Clinton must issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in Vieques. The First Lady must keep her promises now, before President Clinton leaves the White House on January 20. Hillary Rodham Clinton
cannot wait until after that date when she will be a junior Democratic Senator in a Republican Congress. Call her at 202-456-5318.
Llamen a la Primera Dama, Hillary Rodham Clinton, al 202-456-5318 y exijanle que cumpla las promesas que le hizo a millones de puertorriqueños durante su campaña para Senadora de Nueva York de que iba a interceder a favor de del pueblo de Vieques para que la Marina se vaya de Vieques sin tirar una bomba mas. El Presidente Clinton debe emitir una Orden Ejecutiva ordenando el cese y desista inmediato y permanente de toda
actividad militar en Vieques. La Primera Dama debe cumplir sus promesas ahora, antes de que el Presidente Clinton se vaya de la Casa Blanca el 20 de enero. No puede esperar para despues de esa fecha cuando sera una Senadora Democrata en su primer termino en un Congreso Republicano. Llamenla al 202-456-5318.
Comunicado PIP
Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
San Juan, Puerto Rico- 3 de enero 2001
El senador Fernando Martín y el representante Víctor García San Inocencio
presentan tres importantes medidas legislativas en el primer día de sesión
legislativa.
Tras juramentar como senador y representante del Partido Independentista
Puertorriqueño, respectivamente Fernando Martín y Víctor García San Inocencio
presentaron tres medidas legislativas relacionadas con los temas de Vieques y
el idioma.
En relación a Vieques, los portavoces del PIP en la Asamblea Legislativa
presentaron dos medidas. La primera es una Resolución Concurrente mediante la
cual ambos cuerpos legislativos le exigen al Presidente Clinton que antes de
terminar su mandato y al amparo de la autoridad que le confiere la Constitución como Comandante en Jefe de las Fuerzas Armadas, ordene el cese inmediato y permanente de todas las operaciones militares en la isla de Vieques.
Con la aprobación de esta medida la Asamblea Legislativa se uniría al reclamo
del liderato político, cívico y religioso contenido en la carta firmada el 13
de noviembre de 2000 y enviada al presidente saliente. Los legisladores
independentistas anticiparon que una vez el presidente electo George W. Bush
asuma el cargo, renovarán esta petición ante la administración republicana.
La segunda medida sobre Vieques es un proyecto de ley para que el gobierno
de Puerto Rico adopte como política pública los hallazgos, conclusiones y
recomendaciones contenidos en el informe rendido por la primera Comisión de
Vieques.
Por último, el senador Martín y el representante García San Inocencio
presentaron un proyecto de ley para que se declare y se establezca el español
como idioma oficial de Puerto Rico. El texto de esta medida corresponde al de
la ley del idioma aprobada por la administración del PPD en el 1991.
ALL WOMEN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE FOR VIEQUES!!
Jan. 13, 2001
New York City
Early this afternoon at 2:30PM, The Women for Peace and Justice for Vieques, Puerto Rico staged an ALL-WOMAN civil disobedience action at the U.S. Recruitment Station at Times Square. This action was in solidarity with the struggle to remove the U.S. Navy out of Vieques!!
The Women have been arrested, are currently being processed and will be
taken to 100 Centre Street (Central Booking) and will be released on Sunday Jan. 14th.
The Women for Peace and Justice for Vieques are calling for a support
picket to be out front of 100 Centre St. tomorrow at 2pm!!
JOIN THE SUPPORT PICKET FOR THE BRAVE COMPANERAS RELEASE!!
U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES!!
SUNDAY JAN. 14TH AT 2PM
100 CENTRE STREET
TAKE THE 4,5,6 TO CANAL STREET AND WALK A COUPLE OF BLOCKS!!
For more info. please call Ben Ramos at 718-601-4751
Puerto Rico Governor wants ban on bombings
Puerto Rico Governor Seeks a Ban on Vieques Bombing
January 14, 2001/New York Times/National
By ELIZABETH BECKER
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 The new governor of Puerto Rico said today that she was
repudiating the agreement reached last year to allow the Navy to resume firing training on the island of Vieques and would ask President Clinton to issue an executive order for the immediate cessation of all bombing on the island range before he leaves office.
Pointing to a new study showing a high incidence of heart problems among the
fishermen and children of Vieques, Gov. Sila M. Calderón said this was “dramatic evidence” that 50 years of bombing exercises on Vieques had harmed the health and lives of its 9,000 residents. This preliminary study showed that Vieques residents have a high rate of symptoms of an unusual disorder known as vibroacoustic disease, which is associated with exposure to loud noises like those from jet engines or deep explosions.
“Before he leaves office we would like the president to stop the bombing as
soon as possible,” Governor Calderón said in a telephone interview. “We can
renegotiate a new agreement, but after a more decent quality of life has been
restored to the people of Vieques.”
Saying she was “neither anti-Navy nor anti-United States,” the governor said
she wanted to begin immediate discussions with the administration of President-elect George W. Bush “based on dialogue and consensus.”
“This is a human problem and I believe we are on the same side of the fence, that the United States and Puerto Rico are concerned about the welfare and human rights of the people of Vieques,” she said.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Bush’s transition team said he would have no comment until he took office.
All training on Vieques, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico,
was suspended in April 1999 when a civilian Puerto Rican security guard was
killed in a bombing accident, touching off widespread protests. Governor
Calderón took part in a subsequent commission that found initial proof of
health and environmental problems caused by repeated shelling from ships and
aerial bombardments from fighter jets.
Ms. Calderón’s predecessor, Pedro J. Rosselló, struck an agreement last year
with the Clinton administration allowing the Navy to resume training using inert ammunition on the 900- acre range. It also called for a referendum for the people of Vieques to decide whether to close the site altogether. But the accord was unpopular and protesters staged sit-ins at the camp when the Navy resumed training this summer.
Ms. Calderón, the first woman to be governor of Puerto Rico, was elected in
November on a platform that included a demand for the immediate cessation of
the bombing.
That places her in direct conflict with the Navy. Last month Richard Danzig,
the secretary of the Navy, told Ms. Calderón that he would not transfer land
or initiate several community projects as promised in the accords until she publicly affirmed she would live by them. For the Navy, the range at Vieques is indispensable, the only training area in the Atlantic where the Navy can fire live ammunition in large joint amphibious, aerial and ship bombardment exercises. Those exercises, the Navy says, are essential to prepare for overseas deployments.
In a letter, Ms. Calderón told Mr. Danzig “this is not a time for threats.”
A spokesman said today that the Navy remained committed to last year’s
accords.
“We believe we have a formula for working out the issue of Vieques and hopefully we can continue with that program,” said Kenneth Bacon, the Pentagon spokesman.
That formula included $90 million in aid for Vieques if the residents voted to allow exercises with live ammunition in the referendum the Navy recently scheduled for Nov. 6.
“We thought by declaring an early date for the referendum we were offering
Governor Calderón an olive branch, but it didn’t work,” a defense official said. “Now everything is on hold.”
On Monday, Governor Calderón will release the findings of the study that presents preliminary evidence that the Navy training exercises may be causing
vibroacoustic disease, a recently identified syndrome that can be detected by a thickening of the membrane that encloses the heart.
In the study, 49 of 50 Vieques residents examined had this symptom at a level
rarely seen in a general population. A control study of 50 residents from Ponce, on the main island of Puerto Rico, showed no evidence of the ailment, which is associated with a number of heart, lung and other problems. In addition, the study found, several Vieques children showed an unusual number of heart abnormalities, possibly from jumping into the water during bombing exercises to experience what they called a Jacuzzi effect, to feel vibrations carried through the water.
Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company
GET THE STORY OUT ON DEPLETED URANIUM/URANIUM 238
GET THE STORY OUT ON DEPLETED URANIUM/ URANIUM 238
Friends,
Dr. Andreas Toupadakis is a chemist who quit his job at Los Alamos Laboratories last year for reasons of conscience and now speaks around the U.S. and other places for peace on the planet. He has been working with Dr. Helen Caldicott, pediatrician from Australia to promote a nuclear free world, free of militarism. Please share his work with others. I was
listening to our local pacifica station here in Ithaca, NY while doing the dishes with my 20 year old son Gabriel when we heard Andreas speak. His message was so profound that we had to stop, sit and do nothing but listen. Please let me know if you would like more of this kind of info forwarded to you.
Just imagine the strong trade winds of the Caribbean carrying the depleted
uranium dust over Vieques and the rest of Puerto Rico. On August 14th the winds were so strong at Camp Justice and Peace, when the bombing began again, that the laundry was blown off the line. Read on….
Peace for Vieques, NOW!
Thanks, Mary Anne Grady Flores
Ithaca Catholic Worker Vieques
Support Group
FROM: Toupadakis
12 REASONS (revised and expanded)
Dear Friends,
In light of the current events in Europe, I would like to raise my voice of concern in support of the Greek soldiers, Greek civilians and in general Europe and the world. Below I have expressed some more of my thoughts and I would appreciate it very much if you would disseminate them.
1. Most of the uranium oxide that was formed during the bombing has not just stayed there, but most likely has moved all around the area, around the tragic places. Uranium oxide forms as a very fine powder under the conditions of impact, which means it becomes like a cloud in the sky. I have some experience with uranium oxide. The very tiny particles are able to fly away so easily, just like the water particles in clouds or the solid particles in smoke. A strong wind is not necessary to transport them, not only just to Greece or Italy, but also around the whole earth within a
year. Geologists have concluded that a complete mix of the atmosphere takes place within a year. The tiny particles are of different sizes. The heavier particles can fly only for a short distance, finally depositing themselves near the impact area. The lighter move further, and the even lighter mix with the air and move in all directions. Eventually they find themselves all around the earth. Some of them will stay in the atmosphere forever. Most will precipitate on the land, rivers, the seas, and the lakes during rainstorms. Why don’t the scientists speak out concerning these facts? Perhaps it is because they are under a government salary. These facts need to be made public immediately. Any release of nuclear material on earth, especially in the way that it was released in Kosovo and Iraq, sooner or later will kill millions of people around the globe. A
large number of our relatives and friends have died from cancer, and it was not just caused by other chemicals; it was also from global nuclear tests. That something cannot be proven immediately does not necessarily mean that it is not true.
2. No one can clean a place like Kosovo or Iraq from radioactive materials. He will simply take an extremely small portion of it and bring it to some poor people’s backyard. Eventually it will find its way into the bodies of poor and rich, humble and arrogant, white and black, Christians and Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus, Americans and Russians,
Israelis and Palestinians alike. Radiation does not discriminate. It is
just like the rays of the sun in that they fall all over, but unlike the sun’s rays, these rays will kill the body sooner or later.
3. Instead of only asking the governments to clean these places, we must protest on the streets, even risking our comforts for the complete cessation of making or using any nuclear materials wherever they might be, in bombs, nuclear reactors, or any other place.
4. If we do not protest, we are heading toward the total annihilation of life on this planet. People of the earth should ask themselves what the role of NATO is after the cold war was over. If we do not ask soon we will have a new cold war, which already has appeared on the horizon. It will be the last one.
5. If anyone wants to see numbers and references, he can easily find them.
However, I am of the opinion that most of those who work with numbers and
references are the ones who have brought death on the earth. Their science is immoral and it is now surely fulfilling the predictions of the wise thousands of years ago. What I have written is common sense and most scientists know that it is true but how many will back it up? Only those who work for truth, not for salaries.
6. A number of European nations have begun screening Balkan veterans. For
what? To see if they are sick or if radioactive materials have contaminated them? Which news reporter will dare to raise his/her voice to report that this is a gigantic fallacy? Why? Because you do not need to detect radiation in somebody’s body to figure out he has been hurt. One tiny particle can start cancer in the body. This is known in the
scientific community, but the largest part of the scientific community does
not work for the welfare of humanity. It works for its destruction in the name of peace and health. No instrument can detect that particle; it can start the cancer and later be eliminated from the body anyway, without ever being detected. Tragically, the most accurate detection of this inhumane treatment of the people of the earth will be by counting the increasing number of deaths, and the weeping that will result in the very near future. Uranium does not kill just because of its radiation; it also kills
because of its high toxicity as a heavy metal like lead.
7. Indeed we have lost our sanity. At the same time that we are burying our children and parents and friends and neighbors by the millions worldwide from cancer, we at the same time are searching for data to prove why and if and when and how.
8. The solution? Come out people, come out before the great storm hits. Stop collaborating with secrecy and evil, and do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot touch your souls. Do not be afraid for tomorrow. If you come out you will be protected. But you must disengage from all practices whatever they might be that promote the exploitation of the weak and poor.
9. Greek Soldiers must come immediately back from Kosovo.
10. It is time that the citizens of Europe understand the extremely
dangerous motives of NATO and also its disregard of life, even of its own
soldiers, and vote finally for the independence of Europe.
11. DU weapons must immediately be banned. Why did the Pentagon use DU
in large amounts in Iraq in 1991, in Bosnia in 1995 and in Kosovo in 1999, when it is prohibited by international law? Clearly the leaders of NATO are not suitable for world governance as they
envision themselves in the future. Let no one from east or west, south on
north entertain illusions of taking away the freedom of the people of the
earth under the name of world peace. That will just not happen regardless
of the insane plans of a few.
12. Why hasn’t all this outbreak of news on DU in Europe appeared in the USA press yet? It is because of the approximately 697,000 U.S. troops
stationed in the Gulf during the war, over 100,000 veterans are now
chronically ill. American families are burying their sons and daughters by
hundreds if not by thousands because of DU. It shows the degree of control
of the American media. Unfortunately most of those who serve the press are
serving it not for reporting truth but for a monthly check.
The site below is one of the best I know about depleted uranium and its effects on humans. There are personal stories and pictures. It is all real. I met Mr. Akira Tashiro a few weeks ago at my house. He is to be trusted. His awards in Japan and the newspaper he works for speak of his work and character.
http://www.chugoku-np.co.jp/abom/uran/index_e.html
In regard to any comments about presenting myself as Andreas of Crete,
people should know that I am proud of my roots, as any person on earth should be proud of his/her own roots. People without love and respect for their roots cannot offer anything useful to a changing world. The hidden agenda of the New World Order is to cut the roots of the people in every nation.
PEOPLE OF THE EARTH, DO NOT COOPERATE!
Andreas Toupadakis, Ph.D.
or Andreas of Crete
PR Mayors Appeal to Clinton in Person Over Vieques
Puerto Rico Mayors Appeal to Clinton in Person Over Vieques
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
The following letter by the Honorable William Miranda Marin, President of
the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico, was hand delivered to President Clinton at the White House this afternoon by the following mayors: the Hon. Marcos Irizarry, Mayor of Lajas; the Hon. Walter Torres, Alcalde de Peñuelas; the Hon. Isidro Negron, Mayor of San German; the Hon. Martin Vargas, Mayor of Guanica; the Hon. Rolando Ortiz, Mayor of Cayey; and
Angel Castillo, Executive Director of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico.
The Mayor of Vieques, the Hon. Damaso Serrano, also recently sent a letter
to President Clinton stressing the same demand, as did Governor Sila Calderon, President of the Popular Democratic (Commonwealth) Party, Senator Norma Burgos, President of the New Progressive (Statehood) Party, and Ruben Berrios Martinez, President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.
MAYORS ASSOCIATION OF PUERTO RICO
P.O. Box 9066565
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00906-6565
Phone (787) 724-1939 / 725-3434
Fax (787) 721-8333
January 15, 2001
Hon. William J. Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500 Hand Delivered
Dear President Clinton:
I am William Miranda Marin, Mayor of the Municipality of Caguas, Puerto Rico and the President of the Mayors Association of Puerto Rico. Our Association comprises 45 municipalities in the island and represents over 50% of our population. I am also a former Chairman of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the National Democratic Party.
As you have but a few days left in the White House, I am writing to stress
the critical importance and urgency of your issuing an Executive Order
ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military
activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
It is plain to see that the success of the struggle of the people of Puerto Rico to have the U.S. Navy stop bombing and finally leave Vieques will be almost insurmountable, unless you issue that Executive Order now. If you fail to do so, the Navy will continue indefinitely to claim that there is no alternative site to Vieques, and its 10,000 U.S. citizens. That would be a gross injustice to our people, especially to the human rights of the children of Vieques, that we trust you will not allow. You have only a few days to address this critical human rights situation.
I urge you to bring peace to Vieques now, through an Executive Order, ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all military activities in the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. If you do so, our people and the world will remember you, forever and ever, as the U.S.A.
President that brought peace for the children of Vieques, after almost sixty years of war.
Sincerely,
(signed)
William Miranda Marin,
President
Calderon To Press Clinton on Vieques
Monday January 15 2:22 AM ET
Calderon To Press Clinton on Vieques
By MARCELO BALLVE, Associated Press Writer
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s new governor plans to pressure
President Clinton to halt Navy exercises on Vieques island before he leaves office on Jan. 20.
Gov. Sila Calderon will cite a new study, requested by the Puerto Rican government, that shows a high rate of a heart-damaging disease among a sample of the island’s 9,400 people, said her press secretary, Cecil Blondet.
All but one of 50 people on Vieques examined by doctors showed abnormal
thickness in a heart membrane, Blondet said Sunday. A control group of the
same number examined in another part of Puerto Rico showed no evidence of the disorder.
The disease can be caused by noise and vibrations associated with jets and
bomb explosions, Blondet said.
Navy spokesman Jeff Gordon said he had not seen the study but was familiar
with similar research that drew a link between sonic booms from Navy training and medical problems on the island. He said the studies were part of a “disinformation campaign.”
“We have seen a barrage of intellectually dishonest studies recently,” Gordon said. “None of them have been able to survive scientific peer reviews, or hold up in court.”
Calderon already has angered federal officials with plans to offer a local
referendum that includes the choice of the Navy leaving Vieques immediately.
Her appeal to Clinton comes as the president works franticly in his final
days, making changes by executive order. For example, he banned road building and most logging in nearly a third of the federal forest land in 38 states.
President-elect George W. Bush has said he will stand by an agreement that would let residents decide in a Nov. 6 referendum whether the Navy should leave Vieques. The pact, reached after months of negotiations, would delay any Navy withdrawal until May 2003.
Vieques residents live between an eastern Navy training ground and a weapons depot. Decades of resentment over the Navy’s presence boiled over in April 1999, when a Navy jet dropped a bomb off target and killed a civilian security guard on the bomb range.
The Navy has since stopped using live bombs. But if islanders vote in the
referendum to allow the military to stay, the Navy can resume using live ammunition.
The Navy says Vieques is a vital training ground for its Atlantic Fleet because it provides the opportunity for simultaneous bombing, shelling and beach assaults.
Estudio vincula enfermedad a bombardeos
http://endi.zonai.com/locales/html/p8a15m01.asp
Estudio vincula enfermedad a bombardeos
martes, 16 de enero de 2001
Por Mildred Rivera Marrero
El Nuevo Dia
UN ESTUDIO cientÌfico comisionado por la gobernadora, Sila M. Calderon, revelo que un grupo de pescadores viequenses y sus familiares padecen de la enfermedad conocida como vibro acustica, que estaria ligada a los bombardeos de la Marina.
El estudio piloto fue considerado ayer como otra prueba de los daños que
causan los bombardeos en la salud de los viequenses y una herramienta de presion mas para que el gobierno de Estados Unidos saque la Marina de la Isla Nena.
La investigacion, realizada entre noviembre y diciembre, evidencio que 98%
de los 50 viequenses que participaron padece de vibro ac·stica, condicion
que afecta los sistemas neurologico, inmunologico,,cardiovascular,,respiratorio y gastrointestinal, asi como el comportamiento.
Tambien revelo que 32% de los participantes tienen un movimiento del
menton cuando se rasca la palma de su mano (reaccion mento palmar) que
refleja una posible disfuncion cerebral.
Se desconocen las consecuencias
El estudio de Calderon se concentro en el sistema cardiovascular y revelo engrosamiento anormal del pericardio, la capa que cubre el corazon, y el
engrosamiento y mal funcionamiento de las valvulas que permiten el flujo de sangre a ese organo. A nivel mundial, aun no se sabe cuales pueden ser las consecuencias de esas condiciones, afirmo el cardiologo Roberto Torres Aguiar, principal investigador del estudio.
El galeno explico que se estudiaron 50 viequenses y a un grupo control de
50 personas con las mismas caracteristicas que el primero, con la unica excepcion de que viven en Ponce. Estos ultimos no presentaron ninguna de
las condiciones de los viequenses. En cada grupo hubo ocho niños de menos
de 18 años de edad. El mas joven tiene siete años. Torres Aguiar, quien
califico los resultados del estudio piloto como “contundentes y con un
alto valor estadÌstico”, afirmo que “condiciones presentes en Vieques son
las posibles causantes de las anomalias cardiovasculares reflejadas en dicho estudio”.
Al preguntarle si el estudio vincula directamente el padecimiento de la
enfermedad con el bombardeo de la Marina, Torres Aguiar, afirmo: “no puedo decir que esta intimamente ligado a los bombardeos de la Marina, pero no puedo decir que no lo esta, que es lo mas importante”.
El investigador recalco que el estudio “si demuestra que puede haber potencialmente una asociacion” y que para ampliar el conocimiento que hay iniciaron una segunda etapa este fin de semana para aumentar la muestra de personas.
Origen del sindrome
El sÌndrome, descubierto hace 19 años por el portugues Nuno Castelo Branco, resulta de la exposicion a fuertes ruidos, de mas de 100 decibeles y en una frecuencia menor de 500 megaherzt, y apenas fue recogido por la literatura norteamericana en el 1999.
Castelo Branco descubrio la enfermedad haciendo estudios en un grupo de
empleados de un campo de construccion y reparacion de aviones en su pais natal. Su estudio revelo que las personas sufren de viBro ac·stica luego de estar expuestas por 10 años o mas a los fuertes ruidos, pero la investigacion en Vieques evidencio la existencia del sindrome en un niño de siete años.
El estudio se hizo con un grupo de cientÌficos en Puerto Rico y otro en
Europa, liderado por Castelo Branco, al que se le enviaban los resultados
simultaneamente. El estudio se hizo utilizando la prueba de ecocardiografia.
Guillermo J. Tirado, medico internista que participo del estudio, explico
que de los hallazgos medicos mas comunes de la enfermedad estan la epilepsia, depresion del sistema inmunologico por lo cual se proliferan ciertos tipos de c·ncer, anomalÌas en el corazon, asma, gastritis y efectos en el comportamiento. Esto ·ltimo se evidencio cuando los
participantes fueron expuestos a musica y lloraban o se mostraban violentos, explico.
Viequenses en alto riesgo
Torres Aguiar, profesor de la Escuela de Medicina de Ponce, explico que 49
de los 50 viequenses tienen un grosor del pericardio que es cuatro veces mas que el de las personas de Ponce. “Esto es claramente anormal, esto no se ve en nuestra practica diaria”, afirmo.
En terminos de la v·lvula mitral, se evidencio que el riesgo de los
viequenses de sufrir un engrosamiento de la misma es 16 veces mas que en
Ponce, y que tienen 5.5 veces mas riesgo de tener insuficiencias en esa valvula que los ponceños. Asimismo, tienen posibilidad de padecer de un
engrosamiento de la valvula aortica un 32.5 veces mas los de los participantes residentes en Ponce.
Armas de Uranio en Vieques y Europa
Armas de Uranio en Vieques y Europa
DU in Vieques and Europe
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
(SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH)
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net
10 de enero de 2001
Communicado de Prensa
Graves preocupaciones por las armas de uranio en Europa y en Vieques
El gobierno italiano protesto por los graves problemas de salud entre sus
soldados, causados por el uso de armas de uranio 238 por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses en los recientes conflictos en los balcanes. El tema de las armas de uranio aparecio en primera plana en los medios de varios paises de Europa, pertenecientes al OTAN, debido a la muerte por cancer y leucemia de soldados que participaron en las acciones belicas en Kosovo, Yugoslavia y Bosnia donde lanzaron grandes cantidades de
proyectiles de uranio.
Desde 1994, el Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV) ha
denunciado el uso de armas de uranio, al conocer sobre estos en una conferencia de Justicia Ambiental en Washington, D.C. “Escuchamos con horror a los cientÌficos y a los activistas comunitarios de los Estados Unidos cuando hablaron de este nuevo armamento que se habia utilizado en
la Guerra del Golfo. Poco antes habÌamos escuchado al retirado Almirante, Diego Hern·ndez, decir que el entrenamiento de la Marina en Vieques fue crucial para el ëÈxitoí de las fuerzas de EU en la guerra contra Iraq,” señalo Ismael Guadalupe, portavoz del CPRDV.
Miembros de la organizacion viequense mencionaron tambien que el 80% de los barcos y aviones de EU que participaron en los ataques en Yugoslaviañ donde se lanzo otra enorme cantidad de balas de uranio ñ practicaron primero en Vieques antes de salir para el Mediterr·neo.
“Por años hemos denunciado la relacion entre la contaminacion militar y la
exagerada cantidad de casos de cancer en Vieques. Los metales pesados y otros quÌmicos componentes de los explosivos, nocivos para la salud humana, combinados con las balas radioactivas de uranio 238, ponen en peligro la vida tanto de los viequenses de ahora como de las proximas
generaciones,” dijo Nilda Medina, portavoz del CPRDV.
En mayo de 1999, portavoces de la Marina admitieron que sus aviones lanzaron cientos de proyectiles de uranio en Vieques durante maniobras en febrero de ese aÒo, en pr·cticas para la guerra en Yugoslavia. El oxido (polvo) de uranio que resulta del impacto de esta balas puede viajar mas de veinte millas y causa una larga lista de enfermedades, incluyendo el cancer. Entre las personas que han muerto recientemente de cancer en
Vieques se ha detectado altos niveles de uranio y de metales pesados.
La Marina admite que no ha podido recoger todas las balas de uranio que lanzaron en la parte este de Vieques. Los militares planifican mas bombardeo aquÌ en enero y febrero.
“No hay forma de garantizarnos que el proximo bombazo o cañonazo no impacte un artefacto de uranio, lanzando al aire particulas radioactivas que podrian llegar aerotransportadas al sector civil, a nuestros niños, ancianos, a cualquiera de nosotros. Exhortamos a las autoridades
responsables por la proteccion de nuestra salud y de nuestra seguridad, a que paralicen cualquier futuro bombardeo que ponga en peligro a toda la comunidad viequense,” expreso Medina.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net
11 January, 2001
GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT URANIUM WEAPONS IN EUROPE AND IN VIEQUES
The Italian government is protesting the serious health problems of its soldiers caused by the use of uranium 238 weapons by the US military in the recent conflict in the Balkans. The topic of depletued uranium (238) weapons captured the front pages in the press of several European
countries, members of NATO, when soldiers from the region began to die of cancer and leukemia after their return from Kosovo, Yugoslavia y Bosnia, where large quantities of uranium 238 projectiles were launched.
Since 1994, the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV)
has denounced the use of uranium weapons, upon learning of such arms at an
Environmental Justice Conference in Washington, D.C. “We listened in
horror as scientists and community activists from the US told about this
new type of weaponry that had been used extensively in the Gulf War. We had recently heard retired Admiral, Diego Hernandez say that the ‘success’ of the US forces in Iraq was due in great measure to their practicing in Vieques,” said Ismael Guadalupe, spokesman for the CRDV.
Members of the Vieques organization mentioned also that 80% of the ships
and jets that participated in the attacks against Yugoslavia ñ where large amounts of uranium shells were used ñ practiced first in Vieques before leaving for the Mediterranean.
“For years we have denounced the relationship between the military
contamination and the exaggerated levels of cancer on Vieques. The heavy metals and other chemical components from explosives, dangerous to human health, combined with the radioactive uranium 238 projectiles, jeopardize the life of Viequenses today as well as the future generations,” according to Nilda Medina, another spokesperson for the CRDV.
In May of 1999, Navy representatives admitted that their jets had launched
hundreds of uranium projectiles on Vieques during maneuvers in February of
that year, while practicing for the war in Yugoslavia. The uranium oxide (dust) that results from the impact of the projectiles can travel more than twenty miles and cause a long list of illnesses, including cancer. Among people who have recently died of cancer in Vieques, high levels of uranium and heavy metals have been detected.
The Navy admits they could not recover all the uranium tipped shells shot at the Eastern part of Vieques. Military officials plan more bombing here in January and February.
“There is no way to guarantee that the next bomb or cannon shot will not impact one of the uranium shells, putting into the air radioactive particles that could be air transported to the civilian sector, to our children, to our old folks, to any one of us. We urge the authorities responsible for our health and security to block any future bombing that puts in danger the entire Vieques community,” expressed Medina.
Contact: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
Resolucion PIP sobre Vieques en Senado
Caliente el Senado por el término ‘exigir’
miércoles, 17 de enero de 2001
Por Israel Rodríguez Sánchez
El Nuevo Día
LA RESOLUCION concurrente que presentó el senador independentista Fernando Martín para “exigirle” al presidente de los Estados Unidos, Bill Clinton, que ordene el cese inmediato los bombardeos en Vieques fue aprobada ayer en el Senado, luego de un debate semántico sobre el lenguaje expresado en la pieza legislativa.
La medida, que fue aprobada ayer con los 19 votos a favor de la mayoría popular, no contó con el respaldo de la minoría novoprogresista, con excepción de Norma Burgos, quien apoyó la resolución. Su voto, sumado al de Martín, aumentó a 21 los votos a favor contra siete en contra.
El caliente debate que se desató ayer en el hemiciclo, antes de la votación final, comenzó cuando el senador popular Juan Cancel Alegría sugirió que se enmendara la resolución para cambiar la palabra “exigir” por “solicitar”. Esto propició que Martín, como autor de la medida, pidiera de inmediato un turno para expresarse.
“Estoy convencido de que éste no es momento para paños tibios, ni para mandar
un mensaje de debilidad y ambigüedad”, reclamó Martín. “Si partimos de la premisa de que se trata de un problema de derechos humanos lo que procede es exigir”, agregó enérgico.
ESTE ARGUMENTO fue rebatido por el portavoz de la delegación novoprogresista, Kenneth McClintock, quien indicó que para “exigir hay que tener poderes”. “Y la realidad es que la Asamblea Legislativa no tiene el poder para compeler”, puntualizó McClintock, al expresar preocupación con la traducción al inglés de la resolución.
Incluso, McClintock pidió que la traducción al inglés de la resolución fuera repartida a los senadores antes de ser aprobada. Pero el presidente del
Senado, Antonio Fas Alzamora, fue firme en que “nuestro vernáculo es el español y yo mismo me encargaré de que la traducción sea la correcta”.
El turno siguiente le correspondió a la vicepresidenta del Senado, Velda
González, quien admitió que McClintock “me sacó de quicio”. “Cuando se habla
de derecho a la vida, a la salud, no estamos hablando de poderes”, expuso
González, al lamentar que “su ideología le nuble” el entendimiento.
Sin embargo, fue la senadora Burgos quien sorprendió a todos cuando dijo “que
mi ideología es la misma de mis compañeros, pero no me nubla para defender
los derechos humanos de los viequenses”.
BURGOS EXPRESO en un tono combativo que la Constitución de los Estados Unidos
garantiza el derecho a felicidad y a la vida, por lo que ella como ciudadana
americana estaba en posición de exigir. “Tenemos que hablar con propiedad y
exigir los derechos”, enfatizó.
La senadora fue contundente cuando dijo: “Basta ya de palabras tibias, llevamos más de un año buscando palabras suaves para que el Presidente escuche nuestro reclamo”. Esta postura le ganó felicitaciones de Martín y de Fas Alzamora. Y, posteriormente, Cancel Alegría retiró la enmienda para cambiar la palabra “exigir”. Esto provocó que algunos miembros de la delegación novoprogresista criticaran a Burgos.
El portavoz alterno Orlando Parga, por ejemplo, la fustigó al declarar que “esto es no es cuestión de ser más macho que nadie” en referencia a la postura de Burgos. Parga también cuestionó el hecho de que se le pidiera a Clinton que tomara una decisión a cinco días de concluir su mandato, acción que le criticaron al ex gobernador Pedro Rosselló cuando hizo 133
nombramientos durante sus últimos días en La Fortaleza.
“Los que hablan ahora son los mismos que criticaron a Rosselló por hacer unos
meros nombramientos de jueces o miembros de juntas”, expresó Parga con su
tradicional estilo fogoso.
If there is no Clinton order to move the Navy
If Clinton doesn’t order the Navy out of Vieques now. . .
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
Ronald Dellums on the fate of Vieques if President Clinton doesn’t order the U.S. Navy out of Vieques now:
“As someone who was deeply involved in the issue, I tell you with no hesitancy or doubt that if you donít issue an Executive Order ordering the immediate and permanent cease and desist of all bombings and of all military activities in Vieques, the Navy will have no incentive to find an alternative site to Vieques and will do all within its power to remain there indefinitely. History has proven this.”
-Excerpt from letter by forrmer Congressman Ronald Dellums to President
Clinton, December 21, 2000.
Protest this Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Protest this Saturday in Washington, D.C.
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
(Note: The demands to get the U.S. Navy to stop bombing the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico and leave Vieques once and for all will be part of the Protest at Saturday’s Presidential Inaguration in Washington, DC. Please see message below from the International Action Center)
January 20th 2001 Action
Time 10:00 am
Title Protest at the Inauguration
Location Pennsylvania & 14th St NW, Washington DC
Phone Contact 202-588-1205
Sponsor Int’l Action Center
On January 20, 2001, the next president of the U.S will be inaugurated in
Washington D.C. Whether it’s George W. Bush or Al Gore, one thing is certain: executions will not stop. Whichever politicians come or go, police brutality and racial profiling remains. Thirty years after the Attica prison rebellion, the racist prison-industrial complex will
continue to grow.
More than 2 million people will observe Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in U.S. prisons-including political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal, who waits with 4,000 others on death row. The people must make it clear to the next president that the death machine must stop. No more executions. Mumia Abu-Jamal must be granted a new trial or set free.
We must stop the U.S. death machine around the world. The bullets & bombs
that have murdered and maimed hundreds of Palestinians are made in the USA. Ten years after the bombing of Iraq began on Jan. 16, 1991, the U.S. still maintains economic sanctions that have killed more than 1.2 million Iraqis.
The Pentagon continues to plot another Vietnam war in Colombia, and to bomb the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Along with NATO, the U.S military machine forces colonial subjugation of the Balkans, and elsewhere in the world. We must stop capitalist deathonomics. U.S. transnational corporations and banks, along with their puppet institutions–the
International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization–continue to impose the death machine of globalization on the world, reaping super-profits from their exploitation of the planet while more than a billion people go hungry, and at least 2 billion live in abject
poverty.
IMPORTANT LOGISTICS INFORMATION for Jan. 20
*This email contains information about PARKING!
BELOW ARE DIRECTIONS TO JAN. 20 BUS PARKING &
METRO DIRECTIONS
* A map of DC metro:
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.htm
* Low cost housing information can be found on the IAC web site
(compiled by JAM)
DIRECTIONS TO J20 BUS PARKING plus Metro Directions to Protest Site
FROM THE NORTH EAST (Baltimore, Philadelphia, NYC, RI, CT,
Boston, Maine, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: Down I-95 south to I-495 Beltway West to Exit #30 North (just north of Layhill Rd.) to free
surface/multi level parking at Glenmont – Red Line Station–Directions to Protest Site: Take Red Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 27 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks
South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE NORTH WEST (Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Western PA, Western NY, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: Down I-270 south to just past Rockville. Go east on Shady Grove Rd. to free surface/multi level parking at Shady Grove – Red Line Station.
–Directions to Protest Site: Take Red Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 34 min.). Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE WEST (West VA, Kentucky, etc.)
–Driving & Parking Directions: East on I-66. Get off at Nutley Rd. Exit 59 to parking at Vienna/Fairfax-GMU – Orange Line Station–Directions to Protest Site: Take Orange Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 27 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and
Pennsylvania NW
FROM THE SOUTH (Richmond, Atlanta, NC, TN, FL, Texas, etc.)–Driving & Parking Directions: Up I-95 north to Franconia/Springfield Pkwy. Exit #169A Go East to Franconia Dr. to parking at Franconia/Springfield – Blue Line Station.–Directions to Protest Site: Take Blue Line to Metro Center Station 12th & G, NW (approx. time 33 min.) Exit the Metro and go 3 blocks South, 2 blocks West, to Freedom Plaza, at 14th and Pennsylvania NW
METRO INFORMATION: Metro cost is $2.10 each way. Special hours of METRO (D.C. Subway) operation for January 20 is 5:30 am Saturday ñ 2:00 am Sunday. Metro signs are square with an M inside.
International Action Center
39 West 14th Street, Room 206
New York, NY 10011
email: iacenter@iacenter.org
web: http://www.iacenter.org
http://www.inauguration-2001.com (Official Inauguration site)
http://www.j20.org (Inauguration Protest site)
Letter to Senator Judd Gregg
January 19, 2001
Honorable Judd Gregg
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-2904
Dear Senator Gregg:
Congratulations to you and the Grand Old Party for being once again leading the future of the United States of America. Tomorrow, January 20th, Mr. George Walker Bush will be sworn in as the 43rd President of this nation, and therefore, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces. I am confident that you understand the responsibility that comes with those titles.
It has been about a year since we began corresponding by electronic and regular mail. Hence, I have witnessed the promptness with which you have replied to the letters and concerns of this temporary New Hampshire resident. This time I write to recommend an amendment to the platform of the Republican Party regarding its position on the political status of Puerto Rico and to urge you to reevaluate your position regarding the issue of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
First and foremost, the support of the Republican Party to my nation becoming a state of the Union is an oxymoron we must fight together. Puerto Rico is a country with a distinct nationality and culture that has resisted over one hundred years of American subjugation. We are, and will continue to be, citizens of the Puerto Rican nation…state or not. Besides, statehood will give many independence supporters yet another legitimate reason to take on armed struggle as the only viable means to attain independence. This will be a recursive headache to your government with over two million Puerto Ricans in the United States and almost four million in Puerto Rico, all U.S. citizens since 1917.
For the welfare and the integrity of both nations, your Party should favor independence for Puerto Rico, albeit upsetting some loyal millionaire supporters that the GOP has on the island. I urge you to take action to correct this terrible mistake.
Furthermore, due to the traditional military values that the Republican Party upholds, President Bush is better positioned to order the permanent cease and desist of all military activities in Vieques than was the draft-dodger Bill Clinton. Although I understand the need of your the troops to be trained with live-fire ammunition in realistic conditions before being deployed, understand that those exercises should be conducted in the continental United States, since that is the country those soldiers have sworn to honorably defend.
I regret to inform you that I will probably be leaving Dartmouth College and the Granite State this summer to return to my homeland, Puerto Rico. Thank you for treating me as your constituent.
Respectfully,
Héctor Rosario
10 Sachem Village
West Lebanon, NH 03784
(603) 653-0027
United for Vieques / Unidos por Vieques
[PuertoRicanEvents] United for Vieques
Dear friends,
Former executive comittee members of the October 21 Vieques Alliance have joined together to developed a new comittee “UNITED FOR VIEQUES.” This NYC based comite is a multicultural organization dedicated to educating the masses, uniting the people and expressing our concerns.
For those interested in the newly formed “UNITED FOR VIEQUES”…
send an Email to:
UnitedforVieques@ Hotmail.com
Pentagon to Examine Heart Illness on Vieques
January 21, 2001
Pentagon to Examine Heart Illness on Vieques
By ELIZABETH BECKER/New York Times/National
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20. In his last hours in office, President Clinton ordered
the Defense Department to examine a new study that shows a high incidence of
heart problems among the residents of Vieques, P.R., where the Navy has held
bombing exercises for 50 years.
Gov. Sila M. Calderon of Puerto Rico asked the president last week to order
an immediate halt to the bombing based on the preliminary findings of the study, which blamed the noise from huge exercises for a high rate of symptoms
of an unusual disorder known as vibroacoustic disease.
Mr. Clinton asked the Navy to find an alternative site to the Vieques range,
which the Navy considers indispensable to prepare sailors and marines for overseas deployment.
“The Navy has agreed to continue to look for an alternative training site and
cooperate with the Department of Health and Human Services in examining the
new study,” said Adm. Stephen R. Pietropaoli, a spokesman for the Navy.
Richard Danzig, departing secretary of the Navy, wrote to Governor Calderon
saying that the Navy had begun its review of the new study but that the initial findings did not seem applicable to the kind of training done on Vieques, the Navy spokesman said.
The Navy is now restricted to using only inert ammunition for its training
exercises on Vieques, a small island off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico,
pending a referendum scheduled for Nov. 6.
In April 1999 a civilian Puerto Rican security guard was killed in a bombing
accident, leading to a temporary ban on all training, which was later lifted.
For the Navy, the range at Vieques had been the only training area in the
Atlantic for joint amphibious aerial and ship bombardment exercises using live fire.
Governor Calderon won election last November on a platform that included a
permanent end to all exercises on Vieques.
Martin Sheen supports Vieques!
Martin Sheen makes plea for bombing to stop in Vieques/Martin Sheen aboga por la paz en Vieques
Vieques Libre – http://www.viequeslibre.org
(SCROLL DOWN FOR ENGLISH)
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716 Fax (787) 741-0358
E mail bieke@coqui.net
22 de enero de 2001
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
Actor Martin Sheen abogo por cese de bombardeo en Vieques
El conocido actor estadounidense, Martin Sheen, protagonista de la serie televisa, The West Wing – en la cual juega el papel del Presidente de los Estados Unidos – envio una carta al ex Presidente Clinton con fecha del 13 de enero, exhortandole a ordenar el cese inmediato y permanente de la actividad militar en la isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico. En la carta Sheen le pidio a Clinton que actuara “inmediatamente, con valor y compasion” para terminar con la ocupacion militar de la isla municipio.
En carta aparte al Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, Sheen señalo que estaba “inspirado por la lucha no violenta” y que “como norteamericano me entristece saber de la destruccion y contaminacion causada por las pruebas de armas de los E.U. y de la OTAN, y en particular el uso de uranio reducido.”
La estrella de television y del cine estadounidense ha jugado papeles
protagonicos en importantes pelÌculas como Ghandi, Catch 22 y en Apocalypse Now, sobre la guerra de Vietnam.
Basado en su fe cristiana, Martin Sheen ha participado en varios actos de
desobediencia civil en protesta contra el militarismo y es conocido por su
apoyo a las luchas por la justicia social tanto en los Estados Unidos como
en otros paÌses. El nombre de Sheen se añade a una larga lista de celebridades de las artes y de la politica – incluyendo a Tito Trinidad, Jesse Jackson, Ricky Martin, Hillary Clinton, el Dalai Lama, premio nobel Rigoberta Menchu y el pelotero boricua, Carlos Delgado – que se han expresado a favor del cese inmediato y permanente del bombardeo en Vieques.
Contacto: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
ENGLISH VERSION
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net
22 January, 2001
Actor Martin Sheen asked Clinton to stop bombing on Vieques
Well known actor, Martin Sheen, star of the TV series, The West Wing – in which he plays the part of the President – sent a letter to ex President Clinton, dated 13 January, urging him to order the immediate and permanent cessation of military activity on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. In the letter Sheen asked Clinton to act “immediately, with courage and compassion” to end the military occupation of the island municipality.
In a separate letter to the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, Sheen said he was “inspired by the non violent struggle . and that.as a North American it saddens me to know of the destruction and contamination caused by the weapons testing by the US and NATO, and in particular, the use of depleted uranium.
The star of TV and film has played important leading roles in movies such
as Ghandi, Catch-22 and Apocalypse Now, about the Vietnam War.
Based upon Christian faith, Martin Sheen has participated in several acts of civil disobedience in protests against militarism and his is know for his support of social justice struggles both in the US and in other countries. The name of Sheen adds to a long list of celebrities of the arts and from politics / including Tito Trinidad, Jesse Jackson, Ricky Martin, Hillary Clinton, the Dalai Lama, nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu
and Puerto Rican baseball player, Carlos Delgado – that have expressed support for the permanente and immediate cessation of bombing on Vieques.
Contact: Robert Rabin 787 741-0716
Delicado el consenso sobre Vieques
En entredicho el consenso por la paz viequense
lunes, 29 de enero de 2001
Por Ismael Torres
The Associated Press
EL PLAN de accion de la gobernadora Sila Calderon en el manejo del asunto de Vieques parece comenzar a quebrar la fragil unidad estrategica entre el Partido Popular Democratico y el independentismo puertorriqueño, principalmente el Partido Independentista.
Al menos asi se desprende de los comentarios de dos influyentes senadores, el independentista Fernando Martin y el popular Eudaldo Baez Galib, al referirse a la decision de la gobernadora Calderon de no presentar legislacion la semana pasada cuando comparecio ante la Asamblea Legislativa.
“No sabemos lo que hay en la mente de la Gobernadora para no haberlo dicho dentro de los primeros veinte proyectos”, dijo Baez Galib al especular que podrian haber unas aperturas donde se logre lo que ella quiere.
Dijo que habria que esperar que el presidente George Bush diga que la Armada no se va de Vieques para que entonces el Partido Popular tenga que ir sobre su promesa de que si la Marina se va.
MARTIN, POR su parte, levanto sospechas con la lentitud que maneja el Partido Popular el asunto de Vieques, principalmente en el area legislativa donde desde el primer dÌa de sesion, el 8 de enero, pudo haber aprobado legislacion para celebrar el referÈndum en Vieques para decidir si la Marina se queda o no. Dijo que igual pasa con la decision de sacar la Fuerza de Choque de la PolicÌa de Vieques y derogar la ley de referendum aprobada por el Partido Nuevo Progresista en la pasada Asamblea Legislativa.
“Un dia despues se pudo haber aprobado un referendum para ni un tiro mas en Vieques para que cuando Calderon se vaya a reunir con el señor Bush y con quienes fueran, llevara en su maletin las manifestaciones constatadas de la voluntad de este pueblo”, dijo el legislador del PIP.
DIJO QUE a esa inaccion se suma que al dia de hoy no se ha hecho ni una denuncia ante la comunidad internacional, que segun el dirigente independentista, “en la medida que esas cosas no se plantean desde antes, ella va a entrar debilitada a la reunion con los funcionarios norteamericanos”. Expreso que esa linea de accion es preocupante cuando se recuerda lo ocurrido a Pedro Rossello cuando confronto al Senado federal y luego tuvo que replegarse y defender las directrices presidenciales.
El presidente Bush expreso la semana pasada al comisionado residente, Anibal Acevedo Vila, segun informo el legislador puertorriqueño, que apoyaria las directrices sobre Vieques del presidente Bill Clinton, lo que plantea una linea de choque con la posicion del gobierno puertorriqueño que demanda el cese inmediato de los bombardeos en Vieques y la salida de la Armada.
Latino Journalist Quits Pacifica Radio Show
Many progressive people depend on independent radio to get news like this.BUT this is under threat from the Board of Pacifica Foundation and its corporatized supression of WBAI-FM station in New York City. Read & Distribute this article from Jouranlsit Juan Gonzalez,& check website http://www.savepacifica.net
====================================
MEDIA ADVISORY:
Award-Winning Reporter Resigns On-Air from Pacifica; Calls for Campaign to Oust Network Leadership
January 31, 2001
In a dramatic on-air announcement, Juan Gonzalez, the co-host of the
Pacifica Radio Network show “Democracy Now!,” resigned this morning from the
network. Citing harassment and muzzling of free speech, Gonzalez said that
“the current management situation at Pacifica has become intolerable…the
last straw being the Christmas Coup at this station, WBAI, last month”- a
reference to the recent unexplained firings and bannings of top staff.
“I’ve come to the conclusion that the Pacifica board has been hijacked by a
small clique that has more in common with modern-day corporate vultures than
with working-class America,” Gonzalez said.
Addressing his co-host at Democracy Now!, Amy Goodman, Gonzalez continued:
“You are a wonderful and committed journalist and you have been subjected to
slanderous personal accusations and constant undermining of your efforts.
And the board of Pacifica has tolerated it and, I think, even encouraged
this.”
Gonzalez ended his on-air resignation by announcing a “national corporate
campaign” to oust the Pacifica Foundation’s embattled new board leadership,
which he accused of “illegally chang[ing] the Foundation’s bylaws.” He said
the campaign would call on listeners, instead of donating to Pacifica, to
contribute money to groups challenging the board’s legitimacy and working to
democratize the network.
Gonzalez said the current leadership group “does not respect free speech; it
does not respect labor or civil rights; it doesn’t even practice due process
for its own managers.”
Pacifica’s Washington, D.C. station, WPFW, censored most of Gonzalez’s
statement, cutting away to taped programming.
Gonzalez, who has co-hosted “Democracy Now!” since 1996, is a staff
columnist with the New York Daily News. He has won numerous awards,
including a George Polk award. His latest book is “Harvest of Empire: A
History of Latinos in America” (Viking 2000). He was a founding member of
the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
FAIR executive director Jeff Cohen commented: “Juan Gonzalez exemplifies the
best in the Pacifica tradition-a journalist who tells the stories of the
powerless and holds the powerful to account. As the two-year-long Pacifica
crisis worsens and the network’s survival is seriously in question, FAIR
joins Gonzalez in calling for the national board leadership to step down.
Whatever these individuals’ intentions, unless there is a prompt and
thorough transformation in Pacifica’s national leadership, it is impossible
to see Pacifica fulfilling its unique, historical mission.”
For more information about Gonzalez and the campaign, call (212) 871-9322 or
email pacificacampaign@yahoo.com.
Senado de P.R. pide cese al bombardeo
Senado rechaza directrices presidenciales
Por: Betzaida Ramirez
Redactora en EL VOCERO/2 de febrero 2001
Luego de un debate de hora y media, el Senado aprobo ayer de manera partidista una resolucion concurrente que rechaza las directrices presidenciales y adopta como polÌtica publica legislativa las 13 recomendaciones de la Comision Especial de Vieques, que dispone el cese inmediato y permanente de los bombardeos, entre otros. Se aprobo con 18 votos de los senadores populares y del portavoz independentista, Fernando Martin. En contra votaron 7 senadores novoprogresistas. El portavoz penepe, Kenneth McClintock y la senadora popular, Yasmin Mejias, se ausentaron. Martin voto a favor de la medida, no sin antes consignar para el record legislativo que la resoluciÛn concurrente no es el “vehiculo” que se debio usar para adoptar las conclusiones. El deseo del portavoz independentista era que el Senado le diera paso al Proyecto de Ley #3 que radicÛ con la de la senadora del PNP, Norma Burgos, para que fuera el Estado Libre Asociado quien adoptara las recomendaciones como politica publica. Un proyecto similar se aprobo en la Camara de Representantes. Pero el presidente del Senado, Antonio Fas Alzamora, adopto la propuesta de Martin y la radico a manera de resolucion concurrente, que es una medida que se limita a expresar el sentir del cuerpo sobre un asunto y no requiere la firma de la Gobernadora. Añadio ademas un inciso para expresar el rechazo a las directrices. Esto, a pesar de que la Comision de Gobierno, que preside Roberto Prats, habia recomendado positivamente la aprobacion del Proyecto #3.
Fas Alzamora alego que la resolucion concurrente es un mecanismo mas agil.
“Demas esta decir que yo hubiera preferido que el vehiculo procesal para esta materia fuera un proyecto de ley, porque de esa manera tendria un efecto vinculante sobre los funcionarios gubernamentales que en la Rama Ejecutiva estaran a cargo de desarrollar las politicas del pueblo de Puerto Rico hacia el tema de Vieques”, señalo Martin.
Su satisfaccion habria sido mayor, segun dijo, si se hubiese aprobado la resolucion junto a la legislacion que ha prometido la Gobernadora para reducir el ruido permitido en Vieques y “donde ya se hubiese tomado pasos formales y concretos” para viabilizar un referendum criollo en la isla municipio. “Porque despues de todo, el movimiento se demuestra andando”, añadio. Acusa al PPD de temblarle las rodillas “A mi me sorprende sobremanera que habiendo el senador Martin y esta servidora sometido un proyecto aqui en el Senado de Puerto Rico para hacer ley la politica publica que el propio PPD adopto, que eran las 13 recomendaciones… ahora estan demostrando que le estan temblando la rodilla y los pies”, señalo de su lado Burgos, ex presidenta de la Comision Especial de Vieques, en la que participo tambien Sila Maria Calderon. Dijo que fue a traves de los medios que supo de la resolucion de Fas Alzamora. “Esta es la politica publica de una de las ramas de Puerto Rico, del Gobierno, de la rama legislativa, eso no fue lo que ustedes endosaron en la campaña en la plataforma”, añadio Burgos, para luego leer parte de la plataforma del PPD que señala que “la politica publica adoptada por el PPD sera la posicion adoptada en consenso por la Comision Especial de Vieques”. “A que temen… no quieren ustedes que la señora Gobernadora se exprese sobre la politica publico del PPD”, cuestion”. “La compañera Norma Burgos preferiria que fuera una ley, pero ha sido uso y costumbre de la Asamblea Legislativa que las expresiones se hacen mediante resolucion concurrente”, contesto Fas Alzamora.
Parga dice es un show para la opinion publica El portavoz alterno del PNP, Orlando Parga, acuso a los cuerpos legislativos y la Gobernadora de no tener una postura unisona sobre el asunto de Vieques. “Anoche la Gobernadora de Puerto Rico estaba tocando en Do, ayer un grupo de ustedes en la Camara de Representantes estaba tocando en Fa, y hoy ustedes estan en Re”, señalo Parga, para añadir que la aprobacion de la resolucion le da armas a la Marina para insistir en practicar con armas vivas en Vieques. “Esto es para consumo de la opinion publica puertorriqueña, esto es para que piensen que ustedes estan haciendo lo que prometieron que iban a hacer”, dijo el portavoz.
“Estamos tocando la sinfonia y la armonia del pueblo de Puerto Rico porque estuvo silente por los pasados meses cuando ustedes eran mayoria en este cuerpo”, le contesto el senador Prats. En conversacion con este diario, Prats confirmo que la Comision de Gobierno recomendo la aprobacion del proyecto de Martin y Burgos, dijo que descargo su responsabilidad y que corresponde que la medida siga con el tramite legislativo. Dijo que las dos medidas se pueden aprobar porque no se excluyen mutuamente.
En tanto, el senador del PNP, Sergio Peña Clos, cuestiono la importancia que le dio la delegacion PPD a la resolucion, ya que en determinado momento del debate llegaron a haber solo 7 de los 17 senadores presentes de la delegacion. Algunos de ellos estaban en el homenaje que le rindio el Senado al cantante Luis Fonsi, a quien el llamo “principiante de la farandula”.
“Este Senado esta vacio, pero aqui al lado esta lleno, por eso es que yo digo que este pueblo se muere de nada, no hay compromisoî, dijo Peña Clos.
Daran curso a medida para detener referendo
Daran curso a medida para detener referendo
Por: Maria Vera
Redactora en EL VOCERO/2 de febrero 2001
El caucus de la mayoria popular en la Camara de Representantes respaldo que la medida de la autoria de Carlos Hernandez, para derogar la ley que viabiliza el referendum de Vieques, siga su curso parlamentario. Asi lo anuncio el presidente cameral, Carlos Vizcarrondo, luego de terminar un caucus de la mayoria. La medida de Hernandez, suscrita por otros 15 representantes populares, provoco una controversia en los pasados dÌas porque la presento sin consultar el caucus. La pieza legislativa no cuenta con el apoyo de la Gobernadora, Sila Calderon, porque seg·n alega no es cÛnsona con sus estrategias para sacar a la Marina de Vieques.
Vizcarrondo anuncio que ayer le informarÌa a La Fortaleza sobre la decision del caucus en la reunion que celebran todos los jueves en el Departamento de Estado junto a la asesora en asuntos legislativos de la Primera Dama, Rosa Bell Bayron, y el Secretario de Estado. En esa reunion se discuten, explico, los trabajos legislativos, las medidas y las iniciativas del Ejecutivo.
Vizcarrondo dijo que la Gobernadora le informa a los presidentes legislativos que les informara sobre las estrategias que ha diseÒado su gobierno para sacar a la Marina de Vieques. IndicÛ que la Primera Ejecutiva se reunir· con ellos “donde hara una presentaciÛn sobre los pasos que est· tomando en la direccion de resolver el problema de Vieques”.
Reitero que la Rama Legislativa tiene un compromiso de apoyar al Gobierno en sus estrategias. Insistio en que los pasos del Ejecutivo y el Legislativo no deben ser aislados, sino que se deben integrar los esfuerzos.
Dijo que el no puede limitar las iniciativas legislativas, pero puede coordinar los esfuerzos. Reitero que el es parte del equipo de trabajo de la Gobernadora y, por eso, debe engranar la gestion legislativa con las estrategias de Calderon “de las que me va a ser participe en su momento”.
No obstante, dijo que desconoce cuando la Gobernadora les hara saber sus estrategias para sacar a la Marina de Vieques, las que compartira con sus compañeros legisladores. Indico que espera que “sea muy pronto”.
Al ser preguntado por la prensa sobre el futuro de la medida si al conocer las estrategias de Calderon descubre que no es consona con estas, afirmo que “no nos adelantemos a los acontecimientos. Vamos a dejar que los procesos fluyan”.
Reacciona autor medida.
Por su parte, Hernandez afirmo antes de la celebracion del caucus que las llamadas que ha recibido por la controversia han sido para felicitarlo y pedirle copia del proyecto, el cual no retirar·. Reafirmo que esta tranquilo consigo mismo porque radico la legislacion para conseguir la paz para Vieques. Dijo que, en su momento, atemperar· su medida a las estrategias de Calderon.
“Yo consulto con otras ramas cuando est· dentro de mi rol y mi prerrogativa como legislador. Como ordinario, no”, dijo Hern·ndez, quien reitero que no va a renunciar a la prerrogativa constitucional de la separacion de poderes.
Dijo que como polÌtico actua para hacer lo correcto, segun sus ideales, “y en esta ocasion he hecho lo propio”.
Rechazo las alegaciones de Jorge de Castro Font de que su medida fue producto de la falta de comunicacion entre La Fortaleza y la mayoria parlamentaria. Sostuvo que ìes un proceso natural de ajuste”.
“Creo que el mandato constitucional de la Camara es claro, que tenemos la prerrogativa de someter los proyectos de ley que creamos propios”, afirmo.
Mientras, De Castro Font exhorto a la Gobernadora a reunir la conferencia legislativa para “evitar los deslices que provocan la falta de comunicacion… Se supone que la Gobernadora antes del primer mes se reuna con la mayoria y no ha ocurrido. Por eso lo de ayer”.
Reitero sus criticas a Vizcarrondo por decir que consultara con la Gobernadora medidas como la de Hernandez. El Legislador le solicito al presidente cameral que “se eche para atras. La Camara no puede ser un sello de goma de nadie”.
PIP somete proyecto para prohibir bombardeos
Ley para prohibir bombas en la isla
viernes, 2 de febrero de 2001
Por Israel Rodriguez
El Nuevo Dia
PARA EL senador independentista Fernando Martin, “es inconcebible y “contradictorio” que mientras se lleva a cabo una lucha sin cuartel para lograr el cese de los bombardeos en Vieques, en el Campamento Santiago de Salinas contin·en las pr·cticas militares.
“¿Que tipo de mensaje estamos enviando al permitir tal actividad?”, manifesto Martin, quien radico ayer un proyecto de ley que, de ser aprobado, prohibiria las practicas con bombardeos en todo Puerto Rico, asi como en sus aguas territoriales.
UNA DE las razones expuestas para someter la pieza legislativa esta relacionada con el riesgo que sufren los vecinos de los barrios Cuyon, Palmarejo y el sector Rio Jueyes del barrio San Idelfonso de Coamo, que colindan con el campo de tiro del Campamento Santiago. En este campamento, tanto la Guardia Nacional y el Comando Sur del Ejercito de los EE.UU., realizan maniobras.
Calderon no afloja el consenso
Calderon no afloja el consenso
viernes, 2 de febrero de 2001
Por Mildred Rivera Marrero
El Nuevo Dia
EN MEDIO de las gestiones que hace para reunirse la proxima semana con el gobierno de Estados Unidos a discutir el tema de Vieques, la gobernadora, Sila M. Calderon, celebro dos reuniones anoche con lideres viequenses, y con el presidente del Partido Independentista PuertorriqueÒo (PIP), Ruben Berrios.
Calderon indico que las reuniones tenian el fin de mantener informados a los grupos interesados en Vieques sobre sus gestiones y de escuchar sus planteamientos. Rechazo estar consultando algan aspecto en particular de su estrategia y dijo que hablaron de todo lo relacionado con Vieques. Prometio mantener el dialogo con esos grupos. A su salida de la Mansion Ejecutiva, a las 9:00 p.m., Berrios dijo que le recomendo a Calderon que informara al pueblo sobre sus acciones para cumplir con sus promesas program·ticas. “Debe, transparentemente, traerse ante el Pais, si posible con un calendario”, todo sobre los asuntos pendientes, como el referendum local, el proyecto de ley que convertiria en politica publica el informe sobre Vieques del primer grupo.
BERRIOS AFIRMO que tiene diferencias de criterio con Calderon sobre como se deben hacer las cosas, pero indico que lo esencial es que se mantenga “la presion sobre la Marina” localmente y a nivel de Estados Unidos. Una de las cosas en las que dijo que coincidirian es en la celebracion de un referÈndum local. Indico que Calderon no le revelo estrategias especificas, y que el no lo pretende. Destaco que no es cuestion de coincidencias sino de mantenerse mutuamente informados de las gestiones que hace cada grupo. Tambien destaco que el dia que considere que los pasos que se estan dando son los equivocados, lo dira. Mientras, los lideres viequenses que se reunieron con Calderon horas antes en el Departamento de Estado fueron: Carlos “Prieto” Ventura, Robert Rabin y el alcalde, Damaso Serrano. En la reunion discutieron diferentes temas: desde la salida de la Fuerza de Choque, hasta el desarrollo economico de la Isla Nena y las gestiones que realizara en la Capital Federal, segun dijo Calderon.
En esa reunion, tambien participaron el comisionado de Vieques, Juan Fernandez, el superintendente de la Policia, Pierre Vivoni, el secretario de la Gobernacion, Cesar Miranda, y el secretario de Estado, Ferdinand Mercado.
AL FINALIZAR su conversacion con los lideres viequenses, y a minutos de reunirse con Berrios, la Goberna dora explico que “discutimos distintos aspectos, en forma general, de los compromisos que yo he hecho, de las gestiones que ya he hablado publicamente que me propongo hacer en Washington. Acordamos que vamos a continuar esa conversacion y que representantes mios van a reunirse tambien con otras organizaciones del liderato viequense”. Calderon enfatizo que es fundamental que se mantenga la unidad de proposito en el pueblo. Por su parte, Rabin dijo que hablaron sobre temas generales “sin muchos detalles” sobre el desarrollo economico y las reuniones en Washington, pero “no hablamos en detalles de estrategia”. Fue Rabin el que expreso diferencias de criterio con Calderon en cuanto a la salida de la Fuerza de Choque porque el hubiese preferido que sacaran la misma antes de diciembre y que no se cambiaran “macanas grandes por macanas cortas”. Rabin anticipo manifestaciones de desobediencia civil cuando comience la proxima ronda de bombardeos.
Victory at Bronx Court
http://www.RenacerMachetero.org
Yesterday morning, February 1st, the seven demonstrators that had protested the bombing of Vieques at Yankee Stadium
on May 5th of last year, walked home with their records clean after their criminal tresspassing charges were dismissed “in the interest of justice.”
For more information and to read the judge’s decision, please visit http://www.ViequesLibre.org and enjoy the
completely renovated website.
The names of the defendants are Juan Antonio Casañas, Carmen Ana Davila, Freddie Marrero, Miguel Marrero
Bermudez, Elliot Monteverde, Ruben Ortiz, and Hector Rosario Rivera.
VIEQUENSES SENTENCIADO A UN AÑO
Scroll down for English
Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424
Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716
VIEQUENSES SENTENCIADO A UN AÑO DE PROBATORIA POR ACTOS DE DESOBEDIENCIA CIVIL
El jueves, 1 de febrero, ocho de los nueve viequenses arrestados en la zona de bombardeo en Vieques el pasado 17 de octubre fueron enjuiciados por el juez Pérez Jiménez en el Tribunal Federal de San Juan. El noveno miembro de la brigada, Don Angel Navarro – veterano de la guerra de Corea – no pudo asistir porque está en tratamiento por un tumor canceroso. El grupo entró para obstaculizar las maniobras. Sin embargo, los militares llevaron a cabo su bombardeo durante catorce horas a pesar de la presencia en la zona de tiro del grupo de nueve viequenses. El grupo de acusados incluye – Justino López, Díacano de la Iglesia Católica de Vieques Radamés Tirado, alcalde de Vieques (PNP) de 1976 a 1980´y veterano del ejército estadounidense Cedricd Morales, Vice Pres. de la Asoc. de Comerciantes Viequenses Juan Silva, viequenses cuya esposa murió de cáncer el mismo día que mataron a David Sanes Angel Guadalupe, retirado maestro viequense y veterano de las Fuerzas Armadas de los EU Emilio García, capellán del grupo Veteranos Viequenses por la Paz, veterano de Vietnam y ministro en la Iglesia Católica Agapito Belardo, veterano y miembro del Campamento Justicia y Paz Robert Rabin, miembro del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques y Director del Archivo Histórico de Vieques Las licenciadas Linda Backiel y Rosa Meneses trabajaron fuertemente durante meses en la preparación de la defensa y viajaron a Vieques en varias ocasiones para reunirse con el grupo. También participaron en el juico los licenciados Enrique Juliá y Wilma Reverón, principal coordinadora de la asistencia legal provista durante este pasado año y medio por el Colegio de Abogados.
(A continuación reproducimos el comunicado de prensa del 17 de octubre de 2000, anunciando la entrada a la zona de tiro por los viequenses enjuiciados la semana pasada)
17 de octubre de 2000
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
VIEQUENSES PENETRAN ZONA DE BOMBARDEO PARA OBSTACULIZAR PRACTICAS MILITARES
Una delegación de viequenses penetraron la zona de bombardeo de la Marina de Guerra de EU en la parte este de Vieques esta madrugada. El grupo tomó el nombre de Brigada Luisa Guadalupe, en honor a la luchadora viequense de 85 años, miembro del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV).
Entre los miembros de la brigada se incluyen al Diácono de la Iglesia Católica de Vieques, Justino López, hijo; el ex Alcalde de Vieques por el PNP (1976-80) Radamés Tirado; un líder de los comerciantes viequenses y dueño de los principales supermercados en Vieques, Sedric Morales; Angel Guadalupe, sobrino de Luisa Guadalupe y veterano; Robert Rabin, uno de los portavoces del CPRDV y del Campamento Justicia y Paz. El sexto miembro de la brigada es Guito Silva, viequense cuya esposa murió del cáncer poco antes de la muerte de David Sanes.
Los viequenses burlaron la fuerte vigilancia militar y entraron a la zona retringida en el extremo oriental de la Isla Nena con el fin de obstaculizar el bombardeo que la Marina ha anunciado para estos próximos días. El grupo se disperó hacia distintos puntos en la zona de bombardeo.
Portavoces del Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques señalaron que la Marina de Guerra de Estados Unidos será responable por cualquier daño a los integrantes de la Brigada Luisa Guadalupe mientras estén en la zona de tiro.
Otra brigada compuesta por Veteranos Viequenses por la Paz entró simultaneamente e incluyó a los veteranos viequenses Emilio García, Agapito Belardo y don Angel Navarro de setenta años y veterano de la Guerra de Corea.
Se esperan más acciones de desobediencia civil durante el periodo de las maniobras actuales, las más grandes desde la muerte de David Sanes el 19 de abril de 1999.
Contactos: Nilda Medina o Ismael Guadalupe 741-0716 o 741-0358
ENGLISH VERSION
VIEQUENSES SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR PROBATION FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ACTIONS Thursday, February 1st, eight of the nine Viequenses arrested in the Navy´s bombing zone this past 17 October, were on trial before Federal Judge, Pèrez Jiménez in San Juan. The ninth member of the brigade, Angel Navarro – veteran of the Korean War – could not assist because he was undergoing treatment for a cancer tumor. The group entered the bombing area to hinder planned bombing by the Navy. However, despite the presence in the area of nine Viequenses, the Navy continued to bomb for approximately fourteen hours. The group on trial included – Justino López, Deacon of the Vieques Catholic Church Radamés Tirado, Mayor of Vieques from 1976 to 1980 and US veteran Cedricd Morales, Vice President of the Vieques Businessmen´s Association Juan Silva, Viequense whose wife died of cancer the same day David Sanes was killed Angel Guadalupe, retired teacher and veteran of the US armed forces Emilio García, Vietnam Veteran and chaplain for the Viequense Veterans for Peace Agapito Belardo, veteran and member of the Peace and Justice Camp Robert Rabin, spokesman of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques and Director of the Vieques Historic Archives Lawyers Linda Backiel and Rosa Meneses worked tirelessly during the past months preparing the defense and travelled to Vieques on several occassions to meet with the civil disobedients. Also participating in the defense were lawyers Enrique Juliá and Wilma Reverón, who has been the principal coordinator for the continuous legal assistance provided by the Puerto Rico Bar Association during this past year and half.
(Below we reprint the Press Release of October 17, 2000, announcing the entrance into the bombing area of the Viequenses sentenced last week in Federal Court)
October 17, 2000
PRESS RELEASE
A delegation of Viequenses penetrated the US Navy bombing range on the Eastern end of Vieques early this morning. The group took the name, Luisa Guadalupe Brigade, in honor of this 85 year old anti Navy activist and member of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV).
Members of the Brigade include the Deacon of the Catholic Church of Vieques, Justino López, Jr.; the ex Mayor of Vieques for the Statehood Party (PNP- 1976-80); Viequense Chamber of Commerce leader, Sedric Morales; Angel Guadalupe, nephew of Luisa Guadalupe and veteran of US military; Robert Rabin, spokesman for the CRDV and the Vieques Peace and Justice Camp. The sixth member of the brigade is Juan “Guito” Silva, Viequense whose wife Minguita died of cancer shortly before the killing of David Sanes.
The Viequenses got through the tight military security and entered the restricted zone on the Eastern extremity of Vieques with the purpose of creating obstacles for Navy bombing announced for the following days. The group dispersed in teams to different points in the bombing zone.
Spokesmen for the CRDV pointed out tha the US Navy would be held responsible for any damages suffered by the members of the Luisa Guadalupe Brigade while they were in the impact area.
Another brigade made up of Vieques Veterans for Peace entered simultaneously and included Viequense veterans of the US military Emilio García, Agapito Belardo and seventy year old Korean War Veteran, Luis Angel Navarro.
More civil disobedience actions are expected during the current maneuvers, the largest to take place here since the death of David Sanes on 19 April, 1999.
Reina la incertidumbre por Vieques
El Nuevo Dia
5 de febrero de 2001
Reina la incertidumbre por Vieques
INDEPENDIENTEMENTE DE si Sila Calderon puede convencer a sus criticos de que nunca “venderia” la flexibilidad sobre Vieques a cambio de otras ventajas economicas y gubernamentales, la Gobernadora se enfrenta a una agenda que requiere la celebracion de un referendum sobre Vieques al final de su primer año en el cargo. Aunque se ha comentado tanto en Washington como en San Juan sobre una renegociacion de los terminos del acuerdo Clinton-Rossello, el reloj apunta hacia la fecha del referendum en noviembre.
Cu.n de cerca ha seguido el desarrollo de la situacion de Vieques. Como de costumbre, los electores estan optimistas y, en su mayoria, apoyan a la nueva gobernante al iniciar su termino, pero la opinion sobre Vieques esta claramente dividida. La presente Encuesta de El Nuevo Dia compara y contrasta las opiniones de los puertorriqueños que viven en la Isla Grande con la de los que residen en Vieques. Aunque no es sorprendente que los residentes de Vieques, para quienes hay mucho en juego, sigan mas de cerca este asunto sobre las relaciones entre Estados Unidos y Puerto Rico que ninguna otra persona, han surgido algunas sorpresas en la encuesta.
Por un lado, las personas que viven en Vieques aceptan firmemente por lo menos la parte del acuerdo Clinton-Rossello que los convoca a votar, de forma exclusiva, en un referÈndum sobre el destino de la Marina estadounidense en la isla. Por otro lado, los puertorriqueños que viven en la Isla Grande parecen sentir que el asunto de Vieques es demasiado importante para quedar solo en manos del pueblo viequense: ellos tambien quieren votar en el referendum.
Entre los electores de la Isla Grande, la mayoria indico que rechazaria el dinero y sacaria a la Marina. Sin embargo, entre los electores viequenses, el panorama no es tan claro.
Vieques captura la atencion del publico
Dos terceras partes de la poblacion de la Isla Grande (66%) dice haber seguido de cerca la situacion de Vieques en los Ultimos meses, con un 27% que dice que ha seguido la situacion “muy de cerca”. Otro 34% de la poblacion indico que en realidad no ha estado muy pendiente del asunto de Vieques.
Preferencias sobre la elegibilidad para votar en el referendum sobre Vieques Aunque las mayorias de todos los grupos socioeconomicos dicen estar al tanto de lo que sucede en Vieques, la atencion al asunto de Vieques aumenta con la educacion y el ingreso. El 72% de los que devengan mas de $20,000 anuales indico que sigue de cerca el caso de Vieques, comparado con el 61% de los que viven en hogares con un ingreso menor de $5,000 anuales.
En Vieques, una cantidad predeciblemente mayor, el 72% de los residentes, dijo que ha prestado mucha atencion a los eventos concernientes a la isla, tanto en los medios como en el lugar. El 43% de los residentes de Vieques describe su atencion como muy intensiva.
Viequenses quieren votar solos
5 de febrero de 2001/El Nuevo Dia
Viequenses quieren votar solos
EN LA Isla Grande, existe un amplio, si no profundo, consenso en que todos los puertorriqueños, no solo los residentes de Vieques, deben votar en el referendum de noviembre para decidir el destino de la Marina. Aunque el acuerdo Clinton-Rossello propone una votacion en Vieques solamente, la mayoria de los puertorriqueños no ha aceptado las explicaciones de por que debe ser asi. Solo existe duda sobre este particular entre los electores mas educados y de clase alta, ya que para el resto de la “Isla Grande”, decidir el futuro de Vieques es algo por lo que todos los ciudadanos de Puerto Rico deben votar.
Opcion favorita para el referendum de noviembre de 2001
Por un margen de 62% a 35%, los electores de la Isla Grande opinan que el referendum de noviembre no debe limitarse a los residentes de Vieques, sino que deben participar todos los puertorriqueños. Este sentir cuenta con el endoso del 70% de los electores del PPD, 56% de los electores del PNP, 77% de los electores del PIP y 57% de las personas que no est·n afiliadas a ningun partido.
Sin embargo, la situacion no podria ser mas distinta en Vieques. En su mayoria, los residentes de Vieques rechazan firmemente la idea de que todo Puerto Rico debe participar en el referendum. A excepcion de los seguidores del PPD que viven en Vieques, entre quienes existe diferencia de opiniones, la mayoria de los demas grupos demograficos de la Isla Nena opina que el referendum que determinara el destino de Vieques concierne exclusivamente a los residentes de la isla y a nadie mas.
Entre todos los grupos, una abrumadora mayoria de un 70% de los residentes opina que el referendum debe celebrarse solo en Vieques y el 27% dice que se debe permitir votar a todos los puertorriqueños. Entre los que se identifican con el PNP, el 86% opina que el voto debe limitarse a los residentes de Vieques. Lo mismo piensa el 67% de los seguidores del PIP, el 71% de los electores no afiliados y el 58% de los electores del PPD.
Las personas que no viven en Vieques parecen estar mas seguras que los residentes de la Isla Nena en cuanto a cual debe ser el resultado de un referendum sobre el futuro de Vieques. Mientras que en todo Puerto Rico el 53% de la poblacion votaria para que la Marina abandone la isla en el 2003, en Vieques solo el 46% dice que votara de este modo.
El 18% de los electores de Vieques indico que votara a favor de permitir que se quede la Marina, a cambio de $50 millones. En Puerto Rico, solo el 11% dijo que votaria de esta forma. Y hay dos veces mas viequenses (17%) que no estan seguros de como votaran sobre su futuro al compararlos con los residentes de Puerto Rico, donde solo un 9% no se ha decidido.
El legado de la presencia de la Marina
Los que se oponen a la presencia de la Marina estadounidense en la isla de Vieques han citado varias razones para su ferrea oposicion a que se reanuden los ejercicios de la Marina. La encuesta de El Nuevo Dia pregunto a los residentes de la Isla Grande y de Vieques cual de las tres inquietudes comunmente citadas es el problema mas serio que atribuyen a la presencia de la Marina estadounidense en Vieques.
El problema mas serio atribuido a la presencia naval de EE.UU. en Vieques
En la Isla Grande, una gran mayoria (62%) contesto que la alta incidencia de cancer y otros problemas de salud constituyan el problema mas grave, mientras que citaron con menos frecuencia el daño ecologico y la contaminacion ambiental (30%) y el estancamiento economico y el alto nivel de desempleo (5%).
Entre los residentes de Vieques, los problemas de salud tambien fueron los mas mencionados (47%), pero una mayor cantidad de encuestados dijo “no estar seguro”, en comparacion con Puerto Rico (16% contra 3%), mientras que el 7% de las personas no quiso revelar su respuesta.
Vieques Residents Alarmed
Vieques Residents Alarmed by Depleted Uranium Reports
by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero
[Published on Tuesday, January 30, 2001 by Inter Press Service]
Residents of the island-town of Vieques are alarmed and angered by the United States military’s use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in a firing range located next to a civilian area.
Since 1941, Vieques has been used by the US Navy for target practice. During the last two years, Puerto Rican peace activists have engaged in a massive and unprecedented civil disobedience campaign to get the Navy to close its firing range there.
Vieques residents have followed with great concern the controversy raging
in Europe over the use of DU in the 1999 NATO war against Yugoslavia. They
remember very well the US Navy’s statements to the effect that most ships
and aeroplanes that were used in that war were tested in Vieques.
According to a study carried out by the Puerto Rico Health Department, the
cancer rate in Vieques is 26.9 percent above Puerto Rico’s average. The study, which covered the years 1990-94, says nothing about the possible causes of this unusually high cancer rate. But the Navy’s opponents are certain that military activities on the island, including target practice with DU munitions, are to blame.
Doctor Rafael Rivera-CastaÒo, who lives in Vieques, believes that the PR Health Department cancer study’s data are already somewhat dated, and that the current cancer rate in Vieques is even higher. ”I estimate that the cancer rate here is now 52 percent over the Puerto Rico average,” he said in an interview.
Members of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV)
recently met with environmental justice activists from the United States and heard their experiences with DU.
”We listened in horror as scientists and community activists from the US told about this new type of weaponry that had been used extensively in the Gulf War. We had recently heard retired Admiral Diego Hern·ndez say that the ‘success’ of the US forces in Iraq was due in great measure to their practising in Vieques,” said CRDV spokesman Ismael Guadalupe.
”For years we have denounced the relationship between the military
contamination and the exaggerated levels of cancer on Vieques. The heavy metals and other chemical components from explosives, dangerous to human health, combined with the radioactive uranium 238 projectiles, jeopardise the life of Viequenses today as well as future generations,” said Nilda Medina, also of the CRDV.
”There is no way to guarantee that the next bomb or cannon shot will not impact one of the uranium shells, putting into the air radioactive particles that could be air transported to the civilian sector, to our children, to our old folks, to any one of us. We urge the authorities responsible for our health and security to block any future bombing that puts in danger the entire Vieques community,” expressed Medina.
The Navy admitted that it had used DU ammunition in Vieques in a May 10,
1999 statement in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the
Military Toxics Project, a US-based organisation. In the communique, signed by B.L. Thompson, the Navy said that it fired DU rounds in Vieques once, in February 1999, and claims that it used only 263 airplane-fired, low-calibre rounds, and that it had been done by mistake.
However, military scientist Doug Rokke, one of the world’s leading authorities on DU, finds the last two claims unbelievable. ”If they fired 263 DU rounds in Vieques, then it’s going to snow in San Juan tomorrow,” he said.
During a recent visit to Puerto Rico and Vieques island Rokke said 263 rounds is ”not even a burst of automatic gunfire. The A-10 Warthog attack plane, which fires DU ammunition, can fire three to four thousand rounds per minute.” He added that it couldn’t have possibly been a mistake, since the Pentagon keeps very strict inventory of all its ammunition.
DU consists mostly of uranium 238 (U238), a by-product of uranium enrichment, the process through which uranium 235 (U235) is separated from the uranium ore. Both isotopes are radioactive, but unlike U235, U238 is useless for nuclear bombs or nuclear power. It is simply radioactive waste and it will remain radioactive for 4.5 billion years. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimated in 1991 that there must be one million
pounds of this material in the United States.
The US government has decided to dispose of this radioactive waste by selling it as ammunition. DU is an ideal material for bullets, since it is 70 percent more dense than lead, and is extremely susceptible to friction. Violent impacts can make it reach temperatures in the thousands of degrees Fahrenheit in a fraction of a second. For these reasons, a DU bullet can pierce a tank’s armour like a knife through butter and scorch the crew inside.
”These bullets are not coated or tipped with this material. They are pure, solid DU,” informed Rokke.
When a DU round is fired, 60 percent of its mass ends up as microscopic aerosol particles in the air, which can be carried miles downwind, according to the Military Toxics Project. Although it is less radioactive than weapons-grade U235, the group claims that a single DU particle a thousandth of a millimetre in size lodged inside a human lung emits 800
times the amount of radiation considered safe by federal standards.
The use of DU ammunition constitutes ”a crime against God and humanity”, declared Rokke, who directed the Pentagon’s Depleted Uranium Project and
wrote its Cleanup and Handling Protocol for Depleted Uranium.
Based on his studies, he concluded that anyone who comes in contact with these munitions must get medical attention, not only those who have been fired at with them, but also those who have fired them, as well as anyone who has come near structures impacted by these bullets.
Rokke speaks from experience. He suffers from radiation poisoning since he
visited the Persian Gulf area to study the effects of DU ordnance used by
US forces in the 1991 war against Iraq. His urine contains 2000 times the amount of uranium considered normal.
In his view, DU is largely responsible for the unusual health problems that US veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have been suffering, known collectively as the ‘Gulf War Syndrome’. The military denies that there is any such causal relationship.
”Vieques must be the place to stop the criminal actions of the US armed forces, which use the cloak of secrecy to claim that there’s no danger in using depleted uranium ammunition and ignore veterans’ calls for medical attention, and refuse to take on their responsibility to clean up and decontaminate,” said Rokke.
Rokke also senses a pattern of environmental racism in the Pentagon’s
decision to test DU in Vieques and in the Japanese island of Okinawa. ”The US Defence Department’s policy is racist and discriminatory, contrary to the principle of environmental justice. We have the cases of Vieques and Okinawa, where DU ammunition has been experimented with. These are not isolated events, or errors or chance. These are planned actions to
test and later use this highly polluting ammunition in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf.”
The US Department of Defence claims that DU does not represent a significant hazard to human health. Its spokespersons refer to an April 1999 RAND Corporation study, which supports the military’s position.
But the RAND report is biased and incomplete, says ‘DoD Analysis: The
Good, The Bad and The Ugly’, a report written by Dan Fahey, a former naval
officer and currently Director of Research at the Gulf War Resource Centre. Fahey’s report, which was written for the US General Accounting Office, states that RAND made no reference at all to 62 relevant information sources.
According to Fahey, RAND ignored studies which demonstrate a clear relationship between DU and harm to human health, for example those carried out by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.
US armed forces have already used these munitions extensively. During the 1991 Gulf War US troops fired an estimated 300 tons of it into civilian and military targets in Iraq.
According to Physicians for Social Responsibility, in the 1999 NATO war
against Yugoslavia, US tanks fired 14,000 high-calibre DU rounds, while planes fired 940,000 smaller calibre DU bullets. US armed forces are not the only ones to use DU ammunition. Authorised arms dealers sell them to 16 countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Taiwan.
Copyright 2001 IPS
Absurdo separar a Vieques de Puerto Rico(?)
Vieques: ¿absurdo? separarlo de PR
Por: Maricelis Rivera Santos
Redactora ñ EL VOCERO/8 de febrero
La idea de separar la isla municipio de Vieques de la jurisdiccion de Puerto Rico fue calificada como absurda, inconstitucional o un ultraje a la unidad del pueblo por diversas entidades que se oponen a las practicas de la Marina.
D·maso Serrano, alcalde de Vieques, manifesto mientras reÌa que esa no es la mejor soluciÛn para el problema con la fuerza militar y que de entrada, no est· de acuerdo. Aseguro que el Congreso o la Marina no tienen que negociar con Èl porque Puerto Rico tiene un ordenamiento jurÌdico con una Gobernadora y una Legislatura.
“No se puede correr de prisaî, sostuvo el Ejecutivo Municipal a preguntas de EL VOCERO. Dijo que el conflicto con la Armada se resolver· tal como ocurrio en Culebra en la decada del 1970, pero que debe existir voluntad para hacerlo.
El martes salio a relucir que el grupo Viequenses Pro Marina, que dirige Luis Sanchez, comenzo a circular una peticion al Congreso para que se desvincule a la Isla Nena del resto de Puerto Rico y se convierta en un territorio con potestad para negociar directamente y recibir ayudas federales.
Ante el seÒalamiento, el comisionado de Vieques, Juan R. Fern·ndez, declaro que ìes una idea que esta totalmente fuera de la realidadî. Aseguro que los que promulgan esa alternativa estan desenfocados al pedir esa separacion de poderes al Congreso porque para realizarlo tendrÌan que reformular la Constitucion de Puerto Rico mediante una enmienda que sea aprobada en un referÈndum. Fernandez sostuvo que el ordenamiento juridico del paÌs no permite crear o eliminar un municipio si antes enmendar el estatuto de 1952. En una declaracion separada, el procurador del Ciudadano, Carlos Lopez, fue mas lejos al decir que esa iniciativa seria la peor demostracion del imperialismo norteamericano contra un pueblo indefenso como es Vieques. “Eso es un ultraje intelectual contra la identidad puertorriqueña y la unidad del pueblo”, sostuvo un indignado Ombudsman. De igual manera, opinaron el reverendo metodista Hector Soto, el portavoz de Todo Puerto Rico con Vieques, Jose “Che” Paralitici, y el presidente de la Federacion Iberoamericana de Ombudsman, Leo Valladares. Segun Paralitici, esa idea es absurda y proviene de un grupo con un numero infimo de adeptos que estan desesperados por la posicion de unidad en el pueblo. Agrego que si se dispone que los viequenses dejen de ser puertorriqueños, eso constituiria un desmembramiento del pais. Valladares indico, por su parte, que desde el punto de vista del derecho internacional no se puede pedir a un pueblo que decida sobre un asunto de esa naturaleza cuando una parte substancial de la tierra es ocupada militarmente.
esto es una cuestion de dividir para conquistar
Montar eleciones solamente en Vieques es una violacion de la propria patria que es unica, indivisible. Estos son terminos legales no misticas aunque tambien tengan
esta conotacion. La marina y los estados unidos esta usando esta estragetica anceana que es dividir para conquistar.
Letter To President Bush
The following is a letter signed by Mr. Daniel Figueroa, III, Director of ATLAWS (American Territories Land Air and Water Society). Vieques Libre would like to encourage Vieques supporters to familiarize themselves with a language that is appropriate to the political realities of the new administration. A prototype of a modified letter will be available at our website. You will be able to print it to either mail it ot fax it to every Republican senator and member of Congress. The letter might be particularly useful to Los Cabilderos del Pueblo and other Washington lobbying initiatives.
Freddie Marrero
Héctor Rosario
16 February 2001
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
Congratulations to you and the Republican Party as you undertake the role of leading the United States of America. With you as the forty-third President of our nation, and therefore, Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces, the Grand Old Party has the responsibility to persuade the opposition when shaping our national security policy. Hence, I am writing to share with you my concerns regarding what I consider to be an ill-conceived policy from the previous administration, in particular,
holding on to Vieques Island in Puerto Rico.
Undeniably, the issue of Vieques has created great resentment among many civic and religious sectors of this nation for what they perceive as human rights violations, economic stagnation, and environmental contamination weapons range. He acknowledged that “the United States owes a great deal to the people of Puerto Rico for their past sacrifices on behalf of our common national security.” A Commander in Chief respected by his troops, as you definitely are, possesses the moral stature and integrity required to make the radical policy changes that this nation needs if it is to outlast the twenty-first century.
I strongly urge you to reconsider your position on this issue and order the firing range in Vieques to be permanently closed as soon as administratively possible. This will enable us to promptly return all the land currently under the control of the U.S. Navy to its rightful owners, the people of Puerto Rico, and in particular, the residents of Vieques. It
is my understanding that this course of action will not only reduce the operational costs of our military (without adversely affecting combat
readiness) but will also serve as a validation to the world and all Latinos in this country that the American democratic principles of government truly represent the will of the People.
I am confident that you understand the political and military value of this rationale and will act accordingly.
Most respectfully,
(signed in original)
Daniel Figueroa, III, Director
ATLAWS (American Territories Land Air and Water Society)
P.O. Box 729
Parkchester Station
Bronx, NY 10462
(917) 226-0660
Foro de Discusion
Estimados/as Compatriotas:
Por favor envienos sus opiniones, criticas constructivas y/o comentarios a nuestro foro de discusion localizado en la pagina http://www.independencia.net
Un abrazo solidario,
Hans Perl-Matanzo
Co-Administrador
http://www.independencia.net
DECLARACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO HOSTOSIANO
DECLARACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO HOSTOSIANO DEL SUR SOBRE EL REFERÉNDUM EN VIEQUES
Debemos despejar nuestra mente de cierta manera rutinaria de pensar, cargada de prejuicios y temores, que impide ver la presente lucha en contra de la marina yanqui como un nuevo punto de partida. Estos prejuicios y temores son la creencia en la falta de voluntad del
pueblo puertorriqueño y de sus líderes para luchar por la independencia como un derecho natural y como única alternativa de descolonización verdadera.
La lucha viequense y de Puerto Rico por la salida de la marina de guerra yanqui solamente es eficaz cuando se libra al nivel de lucha antiimperialista. El uso de estrategias que lleven a la violación de los principios de la lucha por la independencia es nefasto para el futuro de la lucha.
El proyectado referéndum, sea versión marina o versión local, viola el principio de integridad territorial nacional establecido por nuestro patricio Pedro Albizu Campos al calor de las luchas heroicas que comenzó en la gloriosa década del 30.
Este referéndum, no importa su índole, es en su fondo asimilista, segregacionista y anexionista, preámbulo a la incorporación de la colonia externa a la colonia interna; su naturaleza excluyente
garantiza que se materialice la voluntad imperialista yanqui.
El fondo ideológico y ético que lo impulsa es débil e inconsecuente,
promueve el inmovilismo del potencial frente viequense, que se sabe que existe y del cual no debe haber duda. El efecto inverso del referéndum trabajaría de forma tal la voluntad de desalojo y retiro de la marina yanqui del territorio puertorriqueño de Vieques, que la
vaga concepción liberal-reformista del liderato puertorriqueño terminaría aceptando la voluntad del enemigo en contra de los intereses y la voluntad del pueblo puertorriqueño en lucha.
Varios factores frenaron la masificación de la participación, tanto en Vieques como en Puerto Rico, a las acciones de desafío. El desafío sigue siendo el arma principal de enfrentamiento contra la
marina y el militarismo en Puerto Rico y hay que llevarla a una verdadera participación popular activa.
El frente masivo viequense hace tiempo llegó a su radio de acción más grande, hasta donde lo permitió la ideología del sector religioso. No le quitamos el valor y el sacrificio que a tenido como factor de lucha, pero ese radio de acción hay que expandirlo. Se necesita una
iniciativa política que impulse aprovechar la coyuntura por la que
pasan Puerto Rico y Vieques en este momento. En política todos los
factores se resumen políticamente. No podemos depender de las convocatorias del sector religioso, ni se puede justificar la lucha sólo con razones humanitarias y ecológicas porque todas éstas se resumen políticamente, en nuestro caso, como problema del colonialismo que el imperialismo yanqui sostiene en Puerto Rico.
Tampoco se debe tratar este asunto como uno doméstico, de política interna de EEUU, como optaría el sector “autonomista”, así con comillas.
El referéndum no se justifica como uso estratégico, su naturaleza no está hecha para la lucha anticolonial, al igual que los plebiscitos. Su efecto será el mismo que a tenido las pasadas elecciones
coloniales, paralizar y ahogar como cámara de gas las energías de la lucha del pueblo.
La lucha de Vieques sirve a la liberación del espíritu de lucha de los puertorriqueños. La lucha de Vieques debe ser una para fomentar la lucha por la independencia, no para la prolongación del coloniaje por medio del referéndum viequense.
Trabajemos los factores subjetivos de nuestro pueblo desde una perspectiva de lucha de masas, lucha fuera de los canales de legalidad colonial paralizante.
Urge un cambio de táctica, miremos hacia Ceiba, la consigna debe ser: ¡Invadir Ceiba! Ceiba es a una torre de control, lo que el área de maniobras es a una pista de aterrizaje; interrumpir el monitoreo de la base en plenas maniobras, ése debe ser uno de nuestros objetivos.
Toda la voluntad masiva de expresión de repudio no se puede canalizar en Vieques. El complejo de Roosevelt Road comprende la isla municipio de Vieques y la parte oriental de Puerto Rico desde Ceiba.
En Ceiba, al igual que en Vieques, la marina viene despoblando esa parte oriental de Puerto Rico; tómese como dato el último censo efectuado en Puerto Rico y se verá como esa parte de nuestra nación viene perdiendo población. Tenemos un precedente en Guantánamo.
Desde ahora la lucha debe ser masiva, no limitada a grupitos para llevar un control una vez se entra a la zona rescatada hace ya casi dos años. La resistencia debe ser activa no pasiva, dejarse arrestar diezma nuestros recursos y paraliza en cierta medida la lucha a favor de los caprichos arbitrarios de la repulsiva corte federal yanqui. De lo contrario podemos sentarnos a esperar por el referéndum de doña Sila, en lo que ella a su vez espera por Mr. Bush. Sumemos a ésto un posible proyecto de constituyente como el del 1952 a la atención pública entre los autonomistas sin comillas y los autonomistas con
comillas y digámosle adiós a Vieques.
El aceptar que Puerto Rico se envuelva en un referéndum en Vieques es hacer realidad la sentencia de Pedro Albizu Campos: “En Vieques lleva a cabo el gobierno de los EEUU la vivisección de nuestra nación.” Además, es aceptar que sólo ellos tienen la última palabra.
El Movimiento Hostosiano del Sur, cumpliendo con su compromiso con la
lucha por la independencia y por la paz en todo el territorio puertorriqueño, basado en las razones antes expuestas y en las enseñanzas de los maestros Don Eugenio María de Hostos y Don Pedro
Albizu Campos se opone a cualquier referéndum colonial que trate de
complacer los deseos del imperio en violación a los más elementales
derechos de los viequenses a vivir en paz y en el derecho de todos los puertorriqueños a su soberanía sobre el territorio nacional.
¡NI UNA BOMBA MÁS EN VIEQUES NI EN NINGUNA OTRA PARTE DEL ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE PUERTO RICO!
Urgente e mail al parlamento holandes hoy mismo
Estimados compañeros:
Los compañeros del Comité de Holanda con Vieques nos acaban de comunicar de que hoy se presentó al Comité de Defensa del Palamento Holandés la petición de participación de la flota Holandesa-Belga en la prácticas del NATO desde el 6 al 26 de marzo de 2001 e informaron que para 2002 también piensan participar en las prácticas en Vieques.
La decisión de participación tiene hasta mañana a las 8am para tomarse,
necesitamos que todas las organizaciones se movilizen esta noche y todos los
que reciban este email y le envie su posición a la presidenta del parlamento, Mrs. J. Van Nieuwenhoven a su email
Nieuwenhoven@tk.parlement.nl y le expliquen el porque de nuestra oposición y de los daños ambientales y a la salud del pueblo viequense. Es vital que se le solicite que no vengan a practicar ni a contaminar a Vieques. Los holandeses mantienen en todas las plataformas de todos los partidos políticos medidas de protección ambiental y se jactan de ser los líderes en la conservación del ambiente del mundo. Hay que repetirles que si vienen a vieques son tan responsables como el USA Navy por los daños a la salud y al ambiente. Todos aquellas/os que tengan fotos de peces y animales muertos y destrucción física o información/ estudios sobre daños a la salud pueden unirlo a su carta. Aquellos que tengan evidencia de personalidades en el mundo del arte, los deportes, las ciencias y la vida pública que los envien. Aquellos políticos solidarios es importante que se movilizen ahora. Los compañeros del comité y algunos parlamentaristas solidarios van a tratar de ganar un poco de tiempo pero necesitamos movilización desde este momento.
Les estoy enviando los nombres y direcciones de todos los parlamentaristas
para que les envien sus mensajes. También les estoy enviando el site del Ministro de Defensa Holandés.
/wwhttp:/w.parlement.nl/kfc/kle/hfdframe/klei01.htm (está en holandés)
Compañeros; tiene que ser esta noche!!!
En el dia de hoy el parlamentarista Harrie Van Bommel del Pardido Socialista
se comunicó con el campamento Justicia y Paz para oscultar la posición de los
viequenses. Van Bommel ha lidereado la defensa de la posición de “no mas
bombardeo en Vieques” y logró que el Dutch Royal Navy tuviera que informar al
parlamento y conseguir aprobación antes de cualquier acción en territorio
viequense. La lucha viequense ha contado con el apoyo del parlamentarista Ad
Harrewijn del Partido Groenlinks (Partido Verde). La ayudante de Van Bommel
es Krista van Velzen y su email es
K.vVelzen@tk.parlement.nl. Krista ha sido
vital en esta lucha de vieques y es una activista muy reconocida en europa
por su lucha en contra de las armas nucleares y a favor de la paz.
Holanda es líder en Europa y los otros países van a estar esperando la
reacción del parlamento holandés.
Los que necesiten mayor inormación me pueden llamar al 791-4662…un abrazo…
Moraima Rivera
Emails del Parlamento holandes
J.vdAkker@tk.parlement.nl, N.Albayrak@tk.parlement.nl,
Apostolou@tk.parlement.nl, A.vanArdenne@tk.parlement.nl,
M.Augusteijn@tk.parlement.nl, B.Bakker@tk.parlement.nl
Balemans@tk.parlement.nl, J.Balkenende@tk.parlement.nl,
M.Barth@tk.parlement.nl,
W.vanBeek@tk.parlement.nl,
J.Belinfante@tk.parlement.nl,
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VIEQUES REVISITED
VIEQUES REVISITED
Sunday,February 25,2001/New York Post
Puerto Rico’s new governor, Sila M. Calderone, is in the middle of her first official visit to the mainland – a trip that coincides with some disturbing news from the Mideast.
Gov. Calderone is the first female chief executive of the American territory. She was elected on a reform agenda that strongly stressed an expansion of economic opportunity.
At the same time, Calderone ran on an explicit platform of forcing the U.S. Navy to abandon its target-practice ranges on the island of Vieques – the only such range available on the East Coast.
The governor reiterated that goal Thursday in an address to Hispanic journalists in New York. “The bombing must stop immediately,” she said. Which brings us to the bad news from the Mideast.
Also on Thursday, the Pentagon announced that last week’s airstrikes on Iraq produced, at best, mixed results. Navy fliers missed 60 percent of their targets – an astonishingly high figure given the sophistication of the weapons involved.
Certainly the miss rate exceeds anything posted from the Gulf War onward. Given that political pressure of the sort Gov. Calderone is now applying already has cut aerial bombing artillery practice at Vieques sharply, it’s fair to wonder whether the reduction itself is a big factor. Yes, there could be other reasons.
For one thing, new technology was employed during the recent raids. Still, it’s only a matter of time before the training cuts will have a real impact.
And if Gov. Calderone gets her way – that is, an immediate and total training ban – that day will arrive all the more quickly.
Practically speaking, the Vieques range is going to be closed.
The principal question is whether it will be available to train naval aviators while the Bush administration searches for an alternative.
Last week’s dismal performance over Baghdad may have been an aberration. More likely, it was a harbinger.
PR Governor Asks U.S. to Stop Bombing Vieques
Puerto Rican Governor Asks U.S. to Stop Bombing Vieques
February 27, 2001
Washington – Puerto Rican Gov. Sila Maria Calderon today formally requested that the Pentagon halt its controversial military maneuvers on Vieques until the results of new studies concerning the effects of those maneuvers, which include the detonation of numerous explosives, on the health of the island’s more than 9,000 residents are available.
Calderon made the request Tuesday afternoon at a meeting with Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with whom she spoke at the Pentagon concerning the subject that has caused tension between the United States and Puerto Rico for the last two years.
“Today’s meeting follows an extensive conversation at a dinner given by the
White House (for the National Governors Association)” last Sunday, Calderon
noted. Calderon asked Rumsfeld to stop training missions at the island’s
firing range until the U.S. Department of Health completes a preliminary
investigation of the effects the noise from bombings has on the residents of Vieques.
Defense Department spokespersons say the Navy has not made a final decision
concerning the use of the Vieques facility for training exercises next
month.
Calderon hopes that Rumsfeld’s office will respond to her request before
ordering further bombing training missions on Vieques. “No decision was made at the meeting, but they indicated they would get back to me soon,” Calderon said at a Washington press conference in which she gave some details concerning her talk with Rumsfeld and U.S. Senate
Republican leaders.
Calderon, a member of the autonomous Popular Democratic Party (PPD) and former mayor of San Juan, said she was “very grateful for Secretary Rumsfeld’s kindness.” Apparently, Secretary Rumsfeld did not subject her to another lecture concerning the vital importance of Vieques to the Pentagon, which considers the island “the crown jewel of its air, land and sea training facilities.”
“This is the first time Rumsfeld has confronted this subject,” a conflict
inherited from the Clinton administration, which had scheduled a meeting to determine the future of military training on Vieques residents.
Clinton’s initiative, which had the support of former Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rossello,consisted of a referendum giving Puerto Ricans the choice of having the Navy withdraw from Vieques in May 2003 or continuing unlimited training on the island.
Calderon insists options should include an immediate and permanent halt to
military operations on the island. The governor also met Tuesday with Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott, and his second-in-command, Senate Majority Whip
Republican Don Nickles.
Calderon acknowledged that Lott favors the Navy’s continued use of Vieques
as a training facility, but she added that she had not discussed the subject
with Nickles.
Rumsfield hands a P.R.”win”
Rumsfeld Hands Puerto Rico a Win
By Robert Burns
AP Military Writer
Friday, March 2, 2001; 6:18 a.m. EST
WASHINGTON — In the Navy’s long-running battle to keep using the Puerto Rican island of Vieques for combat training, Puerto Rico has won another round. The final victor, however, remains in doubt.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld revealed Thursday that he ordered the Navy to call off planned training this month on Vieques for membersof the USS Enterprise battle group and a contingent of Marines. He is trying to find a permanent solution to the dispute, which erupted in full force in April 1999 after a civilian guard on Vieques was killed by an errant bomb from a Marine Corps jet.
The Navy wants to retain use of Vieques, saying it is vital to combat training for the Atlantic Fleet.
Rumsfeld made the decision after a private meeting Tuesday with Puerto Rican Gov. Sila Calderon, who has taken a hard stance against any further Navy training on Vieques, a 19-mile-long island used by the Navy for more than half a century. She has renounced an agreement her predecessor reached with President Clinton in January 2000 to allow Navy training until the 9,400 residents of Vieques vote in November on whether to permit the Navy to stay or force its withdrawal.
The January deal included a Navy concession not to use live bombs on Vieques and to train on few days.
Thursday on Vieques, Rumsfeld’s decision was cheered by opponents of the Navy’s presence.
“This triumph is a momentary triumph and not an eternal victory,” said anti-Navy activist Ismael Guadalupe. “We need to redouble our efforts now to try to transform this suspension into a halt to Navy bombing on the island forever.”
“What we want is the Navy to leave and give us back our land,” he said.
Back in Washington, the U.S. territory’s delegate in the House, Anibal Acevedo Vila, called the decision “a clear sign that the Vieques issue is starting to be discussed as one of human rights and health.” Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., a virulent critic of the Navy for persisting in its use of the range, greeted Rumsfeld’s announcement with cautious optimism but said: “We hope that this becomes a permanent cease-fire on the entire island and that we can then begin the long road to helping the people of Vieques get their lives together again.”
In her Tuesday meeting with Rumsfeld, Calderon asked him to hold off on further Navy training on the island until he reviews a study suggesting noise from the bombing has caused heart disease among residents.
A few days before leaving office, Clinton ordered federal health authorities to investigate a Puerto Rican government study showing 49 of 50 volunteers tested on Vieques had a thickening of the sack surrounding the heart, a condition called vibroacoustic disease.
The Navy disputes any link between its training activities and health problems on Vieques.
Navy Capt. Mike Brady, a spokesman at U.S. Atlantic Fleet headquarters at Norfolk, Va., said the decision to suspend training on Vieques affects the USS Enterprise battle group and a Marine Corps amphibious ready group led by the USS Kearsarge.
It is not a permanent halt to training on Vieques, although that could be the eventual outcome.
“The battle group and the amphibious ready group are expected to receive an adequate level of training to deploy” as scheduled in late April, Brady said. They will use the waters off Puerto Rico to do other training, but they will not be able to use Vieques for practice bombing and naval gunfire training.
In seeking to retain the Vieques training range, the Navy has argued that it is the only place to provide the training to ensure that battle groups begin overseas deployments fully ready for combat.
Asked Thursday about the state of discussions with Calderon, Rumsfeld told reporters: “The Navy is going to proceed with some aspects of their training but not using the inner range, pending the discussions that are taking place.” His term “inner range” refers to the bombing range and other training areas on the island, other officials said.
Rumsfeld would not comment further.
The Navy calls Vieques the “crown jewel” of its Atlantic training sites, saying exercises there are vital to national defense because they uniquely combine air, sea and land maneuvers that cannot be done elsewhere.
The Navy owns two-thirds of Vieques, and its bombing range covers 900 acres–less than 3 percent of the island.
Esta informaciÛn es cortesÌa de:
ComitÈ de Nueva York
Partido Independentista PuertorriqueÒo
(212) 330-8258
Almirante insiste Vieques ya no es necesario
Former Admiral John J. Shanahan stated once again to the press that the Vieques? target range is no longer necessary for the United States and that those types of practices are obsolete. He has called upon President Bush to take advantage of the revision-process taking place in the U.S. Military and to close the outdated Vieques’ target range.
Vieques Bombs Silent Because Pataki Wasn’t
Vieques Bombs Silent Because Pataki Wasn’t
When the Navy did a sudden about-face last week and suspended bombing practice on the tiny Puerto Rican island of Vieques, a force behind the scenes was Gov. Pataki. Pataki confirmed yesterday that he mounted a strenuous lobbying campaign with the Bush administration in recent weeks to end 60 years of Navy
bombardment. On Thursday, the Navy, which had opposed any halt to training, suspended a new round of exercises scheduled for this month. While the Navy calls the suspension temporary, many
observers in San Juan and Washington believe the last bomb has been
dropped on Vieques.
If so, much of the credit should go to New York’s governor, according to Dennis Rivera, the powerful hospital workers union leader who for the past two years has spearheaded the Vieques campaign by New York’s Puerto Rican leaders. “The governor’s participation has been critical to get the Bush administration to suspend the bombing,” Rivera said
yesterday. “He is committed to fight with us.” Pataki, after all, is a Republican, and a Bush loyalist. He carries far
more weight in the Bush White House than the Democrats in Congress who until now have been leading the fight.
“I have grave concerns about how you can raise a child with thundering bombs being dropped just down the road from where you
are,” Pataki told the Daily News yesterday.
“There are almost 10,000 people living on Vieques. It was once a tropical paradise,” he said, but decades of bombing “have devastated the island.”
During the past few weeks, Pataki said, he had made his views known “to virtually everyone in the administration: the President, Health and Human Services Tommy] Thompson.
Thompson is important because his agency is in charge of reviewing a recent health study of people on Vieques. The study
concludes that years of bombing practice have caused severe increases in heart problems on the island. If the findings are confirmed, they could provide the Bush administration with the proof it needs to persuade Congress to shut the training range permanently.
Until now, the Navy has called Vieques the crown jewel of its training sites because it enables the military to conduct air, sea and land maneuvers simultaneously. Navy brass say that
makes it essential for keeping the Atlantic Fleet in top fighting shape.
Pataki refuses to buy that argument.
“I cannot conceive that in the entire Western Hemisphere there is not someplace else you can have the training without
risking these environmental consequences,” he said. “Not to mention
the human rights consequences of the bombing.”
Rivera is so grateful to Pataki that he is planning an unusual rally Thursday at his union headquarters, where he will
publicly thank the governor.
The rally is sure to shake up politicians across the state. Rivera, after all, is a major figure in the Democratic Party.
The support of his union, Local 1199, is considered essential for the victory of any Democrat.
Pataki faces a tough 2002 reelection fight. Even getting 1199 to reduce its enthusiasm or, better yet, sit on the
sidelines would be a huge plus for him.
The two men have shown they can unite in the past. They joined up a few years ago to win expansion of Medicaid coverage
to nearly 1 million of the state’s children, and the governor backed a generous increase in wages for 130,000 home health-care workers, many of
them represented by 1199.
Rivera, meanwhile, is furious at Bill Clinton and the national Democratic Party. He lobbied feverishly in the last
days before the Bush inauguration to persuade Clinton to suspend the Navy
bombing.
In the end, Clinton did nothing. The President, it seems, was too busy Jan. 19 drawing up his list of last-minute
pardons to worry about Vieques.
‘The president was prepared to take the heat on the issue of Marc Rich,” Rivera said, “but he was not prepared to take
some heat from the Navy for pardoning the people of Vieques. That’s unforgivable.”
Original Publication Date: 3/6/01
Peace Caravan on Vieques
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(787) 741-0716
Press Release – 10 March, 2001
San Juan Bishop Roberto Gonzalez and ex President of Costa Rica Oscar Arias to participate in Peace Caravan on Vieques
The Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) received
with joy news that the Bishop of San Juan, Roberto Gonzalez and Nobel Peace Laureate and ex President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias will participate in the Peace Caravan that will take place in Vieques this Sunday. After a meeting with community leaders and the mass at the
Catholic Church in town, Gonzalez and Arias will head the Caravan for Peace organized by the CRDV.
The visit to Vieques by these two important Latin American figures comes
at a crucial moment in the struggle to end the military presence on Vieques. In recent months, a long list of religious and political leaders and public figures in Puerto Rico, the US and other countries have expressed support for this cause: Hillary Clinton; Jesse Jackson; Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Mench*, from Guatemala; the Dalai Lama; world
champion boxer, Tito Trinidad; Puerto Rican major league baseball star,
Carlos Delgado; singer Ricky Martin; well known actor and human rights activist Martin Sheen; the Governor of New York, George Pataki; democratic and republican congresspeople, among others. Last week the Bishop of Chiapas, Samuel RuÌz and the Bishop of Caguas in Puerto Rico, Ruben Gonzalez, traveled to Vieques to hear testimony from the community about
the effects of military contamination and other problems related to military activity.
“We returned Friday from a successful trip to Washington and the visit by
Bishop Gonzalez and Oscar Arias helps renew our strength to continue with
this long and sometimes difficult battle,” said Nilda Medina of the CRDV
and part of the Peopleís Lobby Group. “With the suspension of bombing in
March we maintain a posture of continued pressure and planning for the next civil disobedience actions, if these are needed,” finished Medina.
Contact: Robert Rabin 741-0716
Viequenses paralize ATSDR proceedings
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
Tel. (787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net
15 March, 2001
Special Report
Viequenses paralize ATSDR proceedings
On Wednesday, March 14, a large group of Viequenses, representing diverse sectors of the community, paralized the proceedings of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) in Vieques. The agency arrived on Vieques as part of the US Navy’s public relations program designed to discredit the arguments of our envirnomental scientists and silence our denunciation of the negative impact on our health from
military contamination.
During five hours officials of ATSDR waited to receive people from the
community to offer their “orientation” about the lack of military contamination of our waters. Nobody showed up!. In solidarity with the call from our organizations for NO COOPERATION with the federal agency, our people rejected ATSDR’s invitation. The only visit they received was from around 150 Viequenses – men and women, mothers, grandmothers and
great grandmothers, fishermen, teachers, young people, students, doctors,
civic, political and religious leaders ñ who entered the Multiple Uses Center to denounce the agency’s presence here and the health crisis caused by the Navy.
The protesta action was organized by the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques (CRDV) with the active participation of the Vieques Women’s Alliance, Vieques Youth United, the Federation and Association of Teachers of Puerto Rico (Vieques locals), Horsemen for Peace, Vieques Veterans for Peace, Peace and Justice Camp, Luisa Guadalupe Camp, the ex-Mayor of Vieques, RadamÈs Tirado, Association of Fishermen, among others.
A procession of people carrying crosses with names of victims of cancer or
military violence, heavy metals and other chemical contaminants began the entrance to the meeting hall. Then four people carried in a wooden casket that was placed in the center of the room, followed by about one hundred citizens with crosses and signs about contamination and deaths due to
cancer. With litanies, chants, hymns and several brief messages, the group clearly and firmly expressed the community’s rejection of intervention by this agency whose history is one of serving the industrial and military interests accused of contaminating. Harry Felix sang a song he recently wrote dedicated to Milivy Adams, a 4 year old viequense girl with cancer who has become a symbol of the cancer crisis here.
Among those holding crosses were Fela Garcia, cancer patient whose cross
had the name of her husband ñ don Angel Navarro ñ also a cancer victim;
don Suso Bermudez lifted high a cross with his daughter¥s name ñ Minerva ñ
died of cancer at the age of 20; also with a cross was the family of Liza
Rosa, who died at the age of 16 with leukemia. Fishermen’s Associations
leaders Carlos Ventura and Carlos Zenon also participated, as did Education Department officiales and members of the Municipal Government.
With an impressive discipline and strength of expression, the protesters
filed out of the Multiple Uses Center, leaving one by one the sixty crosses (one for each year of the Navy presence) on the ATSDR information table. We stayed outside the Center until at 5 PM, the hour to end the Public Audience – that never took place!!
We must thank our environmental scientists-advisors for their important
help in creating awareness about ATSDR and for helping us to critically
analyze the agency¥s report suggesting no Navy contamination of Vieques drinking waters. Sara Peish (Center for Environmental Action), UPR chemist, Jorge ColÛn (Technical and Professional Group in Support of Vieques), chemist Jose Sepulveda, spokesman for the Villa Cristiana community in Puerto Rico that suffered terrible mercury contamination and expected health crisis, although ATSDR certified their neighborhood as
“safe”.
All aspects of the protest were discussed in two community meetings at the Peace and Justice Camp, the second with the participation of more than forty people representative of the diverse segments of our civil society. The tasks were divided and a program of action prepared to carry out what was proposed and discussed with the intention of paralizing the ATSDR proceedings in Vieques. Everyone did their work ñ and this collective action ended in a small but signficant victory in defense of our health and against military contamination.
The struggle for Peace on Vieques has received great impulse recently: the
excellent work of the People¥s Lobbyists in Washington, D.C.; declarations of solidarity from public figures like the Governor of New York, the ex-president of Costa Rica, Hillary Clinton, the Bishops of Puerto Rico and of Chiapas, actor Martin Sheen, Ricky Martin; the Governors statement that the health of our people is not negotiable.
All of these actions are important. However, it is the organized and
militant work of our people in the streets of Vieques, our fishermen in
the sea, our constant protest in the Navyís face at the gate to Camp Garcia, and actions like the paralization of the ATSDR ñ with the participation of diverse sectors of our community ñ that send the
strongest message to the Navy: that the days of military tyranny on Vieques are over; that no more bombs will be dropped here; that here lives a people with dignity and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to defend their right to live in peace.
R. Rabin, CRDV
RE: Viequenses paralize ATSDR proceedings
paralize, why would you want to do that,, are you afraid they will find out the truth, or that you are trying to hide the truth, who will benefit by the navy leaving, do you plan on buying land soon?