Puerto Ricans demonstrate as Rosello sells Vieques

by MIM

Puerto Ricans intensified protest against the sale of Vieques to 
the u.$. Navy after the Puerto Rican government struck a deal 
allowing the  Navy in February to resume bombing Vieques. Wide-
ranging acts of civil disobedience and demonstrations are being 
held across Puerto Rico to fight the u.$. occupation of Vieques. 
Banners and placards read: "Vieques is Not for sale". In early 
February one group blocked the highway in Hato Rey to show 
opposition to the u.$. military presence and the decision to 
resume bombings on Vieques. The groups are handing out flyers 
which in part read: "The U.S. Navy will remain in Vieques as long 
as we all allow it to remain. We believe in the possibility of 
taking it out."

On February 10, the Puerto Rican government, acting as a good 
lackey for u.$. imperialism, agreed to let the U.$. Navy resume 
military training on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. Rosello 
feigned opposition to u.$. military activities, and even vowed to 
disallow another u.s. bomb to fall on Vieques. He has now decided 
that $90 million from the U.$. sufficiently compensates for the 
Navy's destruction of Vieques and the endangerment Puerto Rican 
lives.

Since April, when the Navy "accidentally" killed a civilian 
security guard with a bomb, there has been wide public protest 
against the u.s. Navy presence in Vieques. In 1941, the u.$. 
congress passed legislation to occupy the eastern and western 
parts of Vieques as a part of WWII mobilization. The Navy took 
over 72% of the land and displaced half of the civilian population 
on Vieques. The u.$. Navy set the prices for the land and forced 
the people to the island's center. Navy bombing practice has 
destroyed much of Vieques and now 72% of Vieques residents live 
below the poverty line.

This is a clear attempt by the u.s. to buy access to an important 
training ground for imperialist militarism. The $90 million in 
u.$. economic "aid" is supposed to go towards economic revival of 
Vieques. The U.$. paid $40 million up front to resume military 
exercises. At some as yet un-specified date, the people of Vieques 
are supposed to vote in a referendum concerning the Navy's use of 
live ammunition. Regardless, the Navy can continue bombing with 
so-called dead ammunition (which can very easily kill people and 
destroy the environment) until May 1, 2003. If the people of 
Vieques vote against the bombing the Navy has agreed to leave 
after that date. If vote results favor continued bombing they get 
the other half of the bribe, $50 million in aid, and the Navy does 
what it wants with Vieques.

To prevent bombings, protestors are occupying land previously held 
by the Navy and used as firing ranges. Rosello has signaled his 
willingness to arrest the protesters if they disrupt the agreement 
to accept Amerika's bribe.

MIM supports the Puerto Rican people's just demand to end u.$. 
military occupation. We are not surprised by the U.$. attempt to 
bribe the people. The u.s. has two methods of getting its way, the 
stick of military invasion and the carrot of financial bribery. 
Bribery is the primary strategy the u.s. adopted to deal with the 
population within u.s. borders. Military might is the strategy it 
uses to deal with most of the rest of the world. 

Puerto Rico, as the only official colony of the u.s., and a 
territory very close to the u.s., has received both carrot and 
stick treatment. They have received some financial benefit from a 
close relation with u.s. imperialism although their financial 
development is well controlled. But the u.s. has invaded Puerto 
Rico and enforced its will with violence when needed. The 
importance of furthering u.s. militarist goals on Vieques may 
require both strategies. Either way it is u.s. imperialism 
imposing its will on another nation, refusing them the right to 
self-determination.

Notes:

Vieques Libre - http://www.viequeslibre.org

Washington Post, 2/1/2000.