[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ]
.
.
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2001 2:29 PM
Subject: Cuba & Fidel join Vieques protest
From: "Walter Lippmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 11:24:42 -0700
To: "CubaNews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [CubaNews] Cuba & Fidel join Vieques protest
[Platform.net is a hip-hop site]
CUBA & FIDEL CASTRO JOIN VIEQUES PROTEST
As protests against the U.S. Navy's occupation and military training on the
Puerto Island of Vieques continues, now comes word that Cuba and Fidel
Castro have joined the fight.
For over a year, the Cuban government has organized a weekly Saturday rally,
which usually protests American policies toward Cuba. However, for the first
time in the country's history, last Saturday's (May 26th) rally was
dedicated to lending support to another country<Puerto Rico. The rally was
attended by Cuban President Fidel Castro.
"We are willing to die at their side," Cuban student leader Ernesto
Fernandez told the Associated Press of Puerto Ricans who are demanding that
the U.S. Navy stop conducting military exercise's (which includes bomb
testing) on Vieques. "The struggle over Vieques has become decisive in the
liberty of Puerto Rico," added Fernando Martin, a leader of the Puerto Rican
Independence Party. Participants at the rally cheered speakers and waved
Cuban flags outside of the U.S. Interests Section, the American mission in
Cuba.
The U.S. Navy has used Vieques for over 60 years, arguing that the island is
vital for training and national security. However, opposition to Navy
exercises on Vieques grew in 1999 after two bombs that went off target
killed a civilian guard on the range. The Navy has since stopped using live
ammunition, but protestors still argue that the testing affects the
environment and the health of Vieques residents. Residents of the island
will vote this November whether to remove the Navy from Vieques in 2003 or
allow them to stay and resume using live ammunition.
In related news, more rallies took place yesterday (May 28th) in New York
and Puerto Rico in support of the Rev. Al Sharpton and several others who
have been jailed for protesting in Vieques. Dubbed the "Vieques Four," the
group also includes City Councilman Adolfo Carrion (D-Bronx), Assemblyman
Jose Rivera (D-Bronx) and Bronx Democratic Party chairman Roberto Ramirez.
Sharpton, who recently expressed an interest to run for U.S. President in
2004, was sentenced to 90 days in jail, while the others received 40 days
for trespassing on the Navy's Vieques bombing range. Their attorneys are
appealing the sentences.--Mark Allwood
http://www.platform.net/index.php?flash=1
_________________________________________________
KOMINFORM
P.O. Box 66
00841 Helsinki
Phone +358-40-7177941
Fax +358-9-7591081
http://www.kominf.pp.fi
General class struggle news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Geopolitical news:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
__________________________________________________
