[CPEO-MEF] Vieques Digest 6/29/01

[bieke@coqui.net]

#1) VIEQUENSES IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE JACKSON FAMILY

#2) VIEQUES SUPPORTERS ARRESTED IN HARTFORD

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#1)



ENGLISH VERSION

VIEQUENSES IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE JACKSON FAMILY

Spokespersons for the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
(CPRDV) expressed their gratitude to Jacqueline Jackson, her husband, Rev.
Jesse Jackson, and their children, for Mrs. Jackson's particpation in the
recent civil disobedience actions. "Actions in solidarity, such as those of
Mrs. Jackson, and the consistent support from renowned religious leaders such
as her husband, Rev. Jesse Jackson, have helped to spread the word about the
struggle of our people internationally," declared Robert Rabin, CPRDV
spokesperson.

According to members of the Viequense committee, the firm stance of Mrs.
Jackson in the moment of her arrest, her dignified position before the judge,
and her rejection of the humiliating body cavity search in prison demonstrate
her moral force and commitment to the cause of Vieques.

Nilda Medina, member of the Board of Directors of the CPRDV, expressed her
gratitude for the efforts of the Jackson family, which according to the
viequense leader represent "worthy examples of the historic struggle in the
United States for the rights of the African American community and in defense
of justice and peace."

The viequenses recognized the valuable contribution of the other women
prisoners for peace in Vieques, who yesterday also rejected body cavity
searches in prison. Viequense - Puerto Rican women have been important
inspirations in this long period of struggle to end the military presence in
Vieques.

#2)


VIEQUES SUPPORTERS ARRESTED IN HARTFORD
Wednesday June 27, 2001
Hartford, Ct- A group of Vieques supporters were arrested in front of the U.S.
Armed Forces Recruitment Center in protest of the United States' Navy's ongoing
bombings on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. State Representative Evelyn
Mantilla was one of the demonstrators arrested for peaceful civil disobedience.
The peacefully assembled group of demonstrators engaged in this act of civil
disobedience, in an effort to call on President's Bush to fulfill his moral
duty as Commander in Chief to respond to serious violations of human rights.
. Organized by the Committee All Connecticut con Vieques, protesters believe
that the Navy must immediately end all military activities on the Island.
A total of 7 persons were arrested when they blocked the entrance to the
military recruitment offices. A group of more than 100 supporters chanted and
demonstrated their support as the persons who blocked the entrance of the
military offices were being arrested. Several prominent religious and political
leaders showed their support from the sidewalk on the other side of the street.
Some of the supporters included State Representatives: Art Feltman, Minnie
Gonz=E1lez, Felipe Reinoso and Lydia Mart=EDnez.
Those arrested were: State Representative Evelyn Mantilla, Francis D=E1vila the
Chaiman of Todo Connecticut con Vieques, Jos=E9 A. Garc=EDa social worker,
Joyce Tenor from the Hartford Green Party, Cal Robertson Vietnam 
Veteran, Reynaldo Rojas, graduate student at the University of Connecticut and
Brian Kavanagh from the Hartford Catholic Worker.
For 61 years, the people of the Puerto Rican municipality of Vieques- made U.S.
citizens by an act of the U.S. Congress-have been subjected to the
expropriation of their lands, forced migration and expatriation, bombings and
the destruction of the island's economy, natural resources and environment, at
the hands of the United States Navy.
The U.S. government denies the impact of bombing practices in Vieques, and
justifies its actions as essential to the U.S. national security. Yet, while
the U.S. Navy's presence and practices have destroyed the island's key
industries (fishing, agriculture, and cattle-ranching), the Navy employs only
30 of the island's 9400 local residents. Today, there exists an unemployment
rate of almost 50%, and 72% of the island residents live below the poverty
level, according to conservative estimates. More startling is that the children
of Vieques are born, and its people live, condemned to the slow and painful
torture of preventable, painful and deadly diseases. 
For over sixty years, Navy bombings have produced toxic levels of lead and
cadmium contamination. The Navy's admitted use of tons of explosives, uranium
shells, and napalm has led to an island-wide cancer rate which exceeds that of
the Puerto Rico's main island by 27%, according to Puerto Rico Department of
Health. Other diseases such as lukemia, scleroderma, lupus, thyroid
deficiencies and asthma plague the island residents in much higher rates than
the Puerto Rican nation as a whole. Every bomb dropped on the practice range
further spreads the contamination.




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