Vieques protests continue



Protests continue throughout Puerto Rico against the US Navy's 
occupation of two thirds of the island of Vieques for military 
exercises. After more than a year reprieve in response to protests 
against the military exercises, the Navy began bombing again on 
June 25th. The exercises lasted 3 days before the ships and 
airplanes headed off to the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf to 
further u.s. imperialist goals in that region of the world.

Over 200 protesters were arrested trying to stop the U.$. military 
exercises during the three days of bombings.(1) Many of those 
arrested over the past month do not recognize the jurisdiction of 
the Federal Courts, which imposed fines and jail sentences on 
them. The protestors' refusal to pay the fines has led to the re-
arrest of many protesters.(2) MIM agrees that the federal courts 
have no right to sit in judgement over the Puerto Rican people. 
These courts were set up by a u.s. lackey government. There is no 
justice possible for the oppressed in the oppressor's courtroom.

Vieques fisherpeople helped ferry protesters to the range on June 
27th. The fisherpeople want to stop military operations, because 
these are destroying the waters around Vieques. As the fishing 
boats were heading home the Navy tried to intercept them. The Navy 
then released reports that they were attacked by the fishers. A 
reporter for the Virgin Island Daily News backed up the fishers 
denial of these actions -- though MIM would defend the right of 
the people of Puerto Rico to defend their territory against the 
u.s. Navy invasion.(3)

The u.s. is destroying the island of Vieques to improve its 
military. Although Puerto Rico is the only official colony of the 
u.s., the u.s. uses its military, economic and political power 
over many other countries making them into neo-colonies serving 
the interests of their imperialist masters. The military might 
exercised by the u.s. is an important part of its global 
domination. MIM opposes to the military exercises on Vieques 
because we oppose the u.s. colonization of Puerto Rico and theft 
of Vieques land. But we also take this stand against the u.s. 
military training to expand the reach of imperialism throughout 
the world.

MIM works towards Maoist revolution because we know that the 
imperialists will not be stopped without force. Even if peaceful 
demonstrations ultimately stop the u.s. Navy from bombing Vieques 
it will not end the imperialist colonization of Puerto Rico or the 
Navy operations against the people of the world. Only through 
revolutionary struggle will we be able to win this battle.



1. Weekly News Update on the Americas, Issue #544, July2, 2000. 
Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York, wnu@igc.org.

2. The San Juan Star, Friday July 7, 2000. P.7.

3. The San Juan Star, Monday July 10, 2000. P.6.