From: | bieke@coqui.net |
Date: | 21 May 2001 17:37:59 -0000 |
Reply: | cpeo-military |
Subject: | [CPEO-MEF] Vieques Digest 5/21/01 |
#1)News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * #2) WE INVITE YOU TO A CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TRAINING!*! ------------ #1) News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International * 9 May 2001 Amnesty International will be sending an observer to Puerto Rico to investigate allegations that the US military police used excessive force against people protesting US military bombing exercises in Vieques. Yanette Bautista, a Colombian national and Officer of Amnesty International's Costa Rica office, will be in Puerto Rico between 10 and 14 May and will observe a hearing on 12 May. The hearing, organized by the Human Rights Commission of the Puerto Rico Bar Association, will look into ill-treatment of demonstrators by US marine officers. Yanette Bautista will also be interviewing victims, attorneys, local groups and others about the events in question. A number of protestors were hospitalized after being doused with pepper spray. Security forces also used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse non-violent demonstrators. A three-month-old infant was treated in hospital after the Navy sprayed gas during a children's activity. Some of those arrested have also claimed that they were ill-treated while in detention. More than 120 people were arrestedd on trespassing charges during the protests between 24 April and 2 May. Most of them have since been released on bail but there are apparently a dozen people still in detention. Background The United States has used Vieques, an island off eastern Puerto Rico, as a bombing range for more than 50 years. The death of a civilian security guard in a botched bombing in April 1999 sparked protests and led to a suspension of operations. However, bombing exercises using inert ammunition resumed after lengthy negotiations between the US Navy and the Puerto Rican authorities. The latest protests began just hours after a federal judge in Washington turned down a last-minute appeal by the Puerto Rican Government to stop the Navy resuming its bombing exercises. The lawsuit contended the bombing could harm the health of Vieques residents and created too much noise. ------------ #2) COMMITTEE FOR THE RESCUE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIEQUES P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765 787 741-0716 E mail: bieke@coqui.net WE INVITE YOU TO A CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE TRAINING!*! SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO SATURDAY, MAY 18TH AT 2:00 P.M. The Carribean Peace and Justice Project invites you to participate in a Non Violence Workshops that includes theoretical and practical exercises, tomorrow Saturday, May 18th at 2 p.m. at the office of Hermandad de Empleados No Docentes (HEEND), which is located in 1001 Andalucia Street in Puerto Nuevo (Enter for the PIP Central Committee en Roosevelt Avenue). The workshops will be offered by Nancy Jodaitis of the War Resisters League, an activist from the United States with vast experience in actions of civil disobedience. The activity is free. For more information, please call 787-722-1640 or 787-767-8021. The Carribean Peace and Justice Project is inviting everyone who is interested in supporting the civil disobedience in Vieques to participate in this workshop which will cover topics related to dealing with fears and anxieties about getting arrested, as well as theoretical and philosphical aspects of Non Violence. May 18, 2001 Santurce, Puerto Rico Contacts: Wanda Col=F3n Cort=E9s 787-754-7343 Carmen E. Mu=F1oz 787-767-8021 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | |
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