>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: "International"<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > NOT ONE MORE U.S. BOMB ON THE PEOPLE OF VIEQUES > >Contact: Monica Somocrucio, Teresa Gutierrez (212) 633-6646 > > >February 4 2000--The International Action Center denounces the so- > called agreement forced upon the Puerto Rican people by the >Pentagon and the Clinton administration that paves the way for >renewed military bombardments on the island of Vieques. > > >Puerto Rico is one of the last remaining colonies in the world. Since >1898, the US Congress and President have had final say on matters >that concern the island nation. This latest agreement goes against the >expressed will of the people of Puerto Rico who want to live in peace > by seeing the US Navy out of Vieques. > > >Fearing a negative response from the people, the pro-statehood >governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Roselló, agreed to the Clinton/US >Navy proposal secretly. He didn’t even consult with his appointed >Vieques Working Group. > > >Jorge Farinacci, leader of the Socialist Front on the main island of >Puerto Rico, referring to Roselló’s betrayal said, “This is a shameful >act and we will support the people of Vieques until the very end. We >will be with all those continuing the resistance.” > > >On February 1, President Clinton, in a brief televised message-his first > ever to the people of Puerto Rico-announced the agreement >between the two governments. He pleaded with the people to accept >the proposal. > > >The agreement, which calls for a referendum of the people of Vieques > in about a year and a half, establishes as policy the prompt renewal of > exercises with inert bombs. These bombs are not without risks. In >fact, a 1999 US Navy study concluded that inert bombs are less >accurate and therefore more dangerous to the general population. The > agreement also calls for $40 million for Puerto Rico. > > >The referendum gives no choice for an immediate halt of military >exercises on the island. Instead, it asks the Viequenses to “choose” >between letting the Navy resume practices on it's "own terms", >including live ammunition, and an additional $50 million; or voting to >end all Navy activities by 2003, when the firing range will be >transferred, not to the people of Vieques, but to the US General >Services Administration. In the meantime, the US will be trying to find > ways to convince Viequenses to let the Navy stay. > > >Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, in a show of arrogance and >contempt towards the people of Vieques said, "I think it is useful for >the people of Puerto Rico in general and of Vieques in particular to >have some time to talk among themselves and to evolve their position >in respect to this." > > >But the people of Vieques have suffered the Navy for over 60 years >now and have decided that the Navy must go. To them, the offer is >unacceptable. Carlos Zenon, a leader of the Committee for the >Rescue and Development of Vieques, said, “The people of Vieques >have already made a decision: US Navy out and not one more bomb >of any kind.” > > >The Committee, along with other pro-independence and community >activists, has vowed to fortify the encampments in the US Navy >occupied areas. These civil disobedience actions have stayed the hand > of the US Navy for almost a year now. > > > >The IAC denounces the US and its strong-arm tactics in wresting this > recent agreement from a colonized nation. And finally, the IAC >extends its unconditional solidarity and support to the fighting people >of Vieques. > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
