HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK ---------------------------
US NAVY OUT OF
VIEQUES!
NOW!
----- Original Message -----
From: V S C <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2002 4:18
PM
Subject:Federal Judge Dismisses Puerto Rico
Lawsuit
Vieques Support Campaign
http://palfrente.tripod.com
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_____________________________________________________
NO TO RACISM & IMPERIALIST WAR!
U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES & ALL OF PUERTO RICO!
_____________________________________________________
At a time when the U.S. government is sounding the drums of war, increasing
its arrogance towards other countries, while propagating racist hate of
other peoples abroad, the court's dismissal of this
lawsuit is a blatant disregard for the victimized people of Vieques.
The decision to dismiss this lawsuit is for all intents and purposes a call
for continuing the criminal U.S. Navy bombing of Vieques.
No matter what racist court officials decide, the peoples struggle
continues. The global war campaign the U.S. government is engaged in will
not prevent popular opposition everywhere in the world and the peoples
struggle to eventually get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques.
-VSC
----------------------------------------------
Federal Judge Dismisses Puerto Rico Lawsuit
Associated Press
Thursday, January 3, 2002
A federal judge dismissed Puerto Rico's lawsuit to stop the federal
government from resuming Navy bombing exercises on the territory's island of
Vieques. The Puerto Rican government said yesterday it would appeal.
U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler said that although the political and
policy issues surrounding the case were complex, "the legal issue, in
contrast, is simple and straightforward."
Puerto Rico had filed its complaint last year after Gov. Sila Calderon
signed a law banning loud noises along the island's shores. That law cited
the U.S. Noise Control Act of 1972, which allows states -- or, as in Puerto
Rico's case, U.S. territories -- to set noise-control laws.
In a ruling issued Monday, Kessler said she must dismiss Puerto Rico's case
"for lack of subject matter jurisdiction." She said the Noise Control Act
"does not provide plaintiff a cause of action to sue in federal district
court for the violations alleged."
Puerto Rican Justice Secretary Anabelle Rodriguez pledged to appeal the
ruling.
"We think the decision is erroneous," she said yesterday in San Juan.
President Bush has said he wants the Navy to end its training on Vieques by
2003, but many in Puerto Rico question whether the U.S. war in Afghanistan
will cause him to back away from the commitment.
In addition, Congress passed legislation last month that would bar the Navy
secretary from closing the site until he and top military leaders certify
the availability of a site or sites that would provide "equivalent or
superior" levels of training.
A Pentagon spokesman would not comment because he had not seen the ruling.
Puerto Rican researchers have linked heart disease and other health problems
found among Vieques residents to naval gunfire and pollutants released
during military exercises.
The Navy denies the allegations.
___________________________________________
PEOPLES' FORUM
U.S. Navy Out Of Vieques!
U.S. Colonialism Out Of Puerto Rico!
No To Racism!
No To War!
12 noon, Saturday,
January 26, 2002
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
521 West 126th Street
Manhattan, New York City
(Between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenues)
Take the IRT, # 1 or the IND "A" subway trains to 125th Street.
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