Navy Bombs Kill Man in Puerto Rico

[forlatam@igc.org (Fellowship of Reconciliation)]

Note:  The U.S. Navy uses more than two thirds of the small island of
Vieques, which is part of Puerto Rico, as a bombing range, and even rents
out use of the range to allied military forces.  The FOR has worked with
the local community to end the bombing, and will be visiting Vieques as
part of a delegation to Puerto Rico from August 21 to 28 of this year.  For
more information, contact the FOR Task Force on Latin America and the
Caribbean, (415) 495-6334.  E-mail: forlatam@igc.org

Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424
Vieques, Puerto Rico  00765
(787) 741-8651
E mail: bieke@tropicweb.net
April 20, 1999

PRESS RELEASE

Vieques, Puerto Rico - The Committee for the Rescue and Development of
Vieques (CPRDV by its Spanish initials) accused the U.S. Navy of murdering
a Vieques man yesterday when two 500-pound bombs launched from an FA-18
fighter jet hit a Navy observation post.  David Sanes of Vieques died
instantly and four other residents of the island-town were injured.  All
worked for a security company contracted by the Navy.  Because of the
incident, community leaders demanded an immediate end to the military
bombing.

The military classified the incident as an accident, while the CPRDV
described it as part of a process of elimination carried out by the navy
against the people of Vieques since the 1940s.  Ismael Guadalupe, spokesman
for the CPRDV, said that "this is not the first time that military planes
missed their targets.  In 1994, another FA-18 dropped five live 500-pound
bombs outside town, missing the target by ten miles.  Last year, another
projectile perforated the same observation post that they destroyed last
night.  This kind of incident clearly shows the danger of an accident that
at any moment can happen in the civilian area.  It is time to put an end to
this abuse that has oppressed the people of Vieques for more than half a
century."

Spokespeople for the Vieques group described the death of David Sanes as
the first casualty of the Allied Forces in the Kosovo conflict.  Last week,
military officials informed the Puerto Rican press that 80% of the U.S.
ships and jets participating in Kosovo have trained in Vieques before going
to the Yugoslavia region.

Dr. Rafael Rivera Castaño, a Vieques epidemiologist and member of CPRDV,
said that "this regrettable incident is part of set of factors that are
enormously dangers for human life on Vieques.  Add the risk of death from
this kind of accident to the many cases of cancer, and you get a picture of
danger for our community.  We cannot sleep peacefully here for fear of
military bombing and worried about family members sick from cancer."

Robert Rabin, another member of CPRDV said that the only solution to this
tragic situation is an immediate end to the bombing and total withdrawal of
the U.S. Navy from Vieques.  He added that the imminent arrival of the
Southern Command and the military radar being built on the western part of
the island will increase the level of military activity and of danger for
the community.

Finally, Nilda Medina, a member of the Committee's board, called on the
Puerto Rican and U.S. people to support efforts to end the military
presence on Vieques.  She also demanded in the name of the CPRDV support
for the resolutions approved by the Vieques Municipal Assembly and Senator
Roger Iglesias demanding an end to the bombing and military exercises on
the small island of Vieques.

Contact:
Nilda Medina Díaz - 787-741-8651
Ismael Guadalupe - 787-741-2304
Robert Rabin - 787-741-1717 (English-speaking)

Fellowship of Reconciliation
Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean/ Panama Campaign
995 Market St. Ste. 1414
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 495 6334
(415) 495 5628 (fax)
http://www.nonviolence.org/for/