[CPEO-MEF] Lutherans for Vieques (a-g)

[bieke@coqui.net]

Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques

P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 0765

Tel. (787) 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net



26 March, 2001



Press Release



Lutheran Bishops from Puerto Rico and US in Solidarity with Vieques



Friday, March 23, Francisco Sosa, Bishop of Puerto Rico=B4s Lutheran Church,
together with George Anderson, Presidentof the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
the United States (ELCA) met in Vieques with representatives of diverse
sectors of the community to talk about the impact of the military presence on
the island municipality. Also participating in the meeting were Donald
McCoid, Director of the Conference of Bishops of ELCA; Mar=EDa Valenzuela,
Director of Latin Ministries; Russell Siler, Director of the Office for
Governmental Affairs; and several Lutheran pastors from Puerto Rico.



The religious leaders met with members of the Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques (CRDV), the Vieques Women=B4s Alliance, young people,
teachers and Vieques doctors to learn more about the impact of the US Navy
presence on the life of this community. Myriam Sob=E1, spokewoman of the
Women=B4s Alliance, emphasized the peacefull nature of the struggle for
demilitarization that contrasts, according to Sob=E1, with the violence that
characterizes the Navy and its supporters. Ismael Guadalupe, veteran leader
of the Vieques struggle, mentioned the case of Lt. Alex de la Zerda,
community liason officer for the Navy in the 1970=B4s, who ordered bombs
placed in a Vieques Air Link airplane and at the Puerto Rico Bar Association
office in San Juan. Eva del Mar Emeric, Viequenses university student,
described the economic crisis and the lack of job opportunities that keep
university students from returning to Vieques after graduation.



The Lutherans made a commuittment to take the case to the National Assembly
in the US and lobby in Washington for the immediate and permanent cessation
of military practices in Vieques. A similar commitment was made recently by
the Bishop of Chiapas, Samuel Ru=EDz, during his visit to Vieques, and by the
ex president of Costa Rica and Nobel Peace Laureate, Oscar Arias. In
February, the Sisters of Notre Dame, based in Rome, sent a letter to the CRDV
to express their support and solidarity with the people of Vieques. The
congregation of 4800 members in 35 countries became interested in the Vieques
case because of their "commitment with justice, peace and the integrity of
the Creation," according to the letter. Members of the Catholic Church of
Vieques will travel soon to Rome to hand deliver a letter to Pope John Paul
II, asking for his support for the struggle for peace on this little island.


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