9 May, 2000
Camp Peace and Justice for Vieques
In front of the gate to Camp García, Vieques
Warm greetings from this island beseiged, a people of great dignity and a spirit of struggle and
sacrifice. Five days after the kidnapping-arrests of hundreds of Viequenses, Puerto Ricans and
other members of the civil disobedience camps, our struggle begins a new phase, with new strategies
in the context of non violent civil disobedience.
It is important to point out that the arrests were conducted peacefully, not by decision of the forces
of repression, but because of the committment of our community to peacefull action. It is equally
important to denounce the multiple violations committed against all those detained by the military, the
FBI and the Federal Marshalls. Everyone was handcuffed and searched more than once, including
old folks and even sick people.
Only one person was handcuffed with metal handcuffs - Nilda Medina, my wife. Only one person
was handcuffed behind the back, also Nilda Medina. We have no doubt this was a selective
punishment to provoke and justify an aggression against us. Nilda and I were the only ones
specifically mentioned in the press by the Superintendent of Police as "agitators" and "troublemakers"
in the days prior to the arrests. Nilda´s strength assured we would not be provoked.
During the trip to Naval Station Roosevelt Roads - a three hour ride in a dirty barge, on a hot metal
floor, without seats, with shade, with drinking water - the heat was punishing. It was impressive to
witness the strength with which older folks like Doña Luisa Guadalupe with her 85 years, the always
present national heroine, Lolita Lebron and Viequense, don Pablo Hernández, supported the horrible
conditions of that voyage. Once at Roosevelt Roads we were searched again, read a document that
all refused to sign and let out, without charges being filed. We had been kidnapped for ten hours.
Five days after this violation, our community remains under siege - armed soldiers at the entrances to
the navy facilities and all along the fences that separate the military and civilian sectors; the Tactical
Squad of the PR Police (Riot Squad) in controll of the street that leads to the entrance of Camp
García from the North and South; a contingent of twenty five members of the Riot Squad stationed
in front of the gate to Camp García. The Coast Guard threatens our fishermen, blocking them from
their work at sea, threatening to confiscate their boats for the "crime" of sustaining their families in
their sea, our sea. Two Vieques pilots were threatened with loosing their license for supposedly
entering into Navy restricted air space during the arrest operation.
The community organizations, leaders of the civil disobedience camps and fishermen have been
meeting during the past few days to plan the next actions. We maintain a firm committment to
actions of peacefull civil disobedience or evangelical obedience in defense of our right to live in
peace, with dignity and with hope for a future Vieques free from the military presence.
About the Navy´s announcement that they resumed bombing yesterday:
First, there are several people still in the impact zone. If they did bomb they are more irresponsable
than we imagined. Second, in May of 1999 the Navy admitted it had shot here 263 depleted
uranium shells during maneuvers in February of that year. Military physicists in space suits
recovered only 52 projectiles before abandoning the area due to the extreme danger of unexploded
ordnance. Any type of bombing in the impact zone while depleted uranium shells are still present
represents a grave danger for all of Vieques.
We are preparing for the next phase of this life and death struggle of our community. We move
forward convinced that God is on our side and that the demilitarization of Vieques will be a
contribution to world peace.
In struggle, in solidarity
Robert L. Rabin Siegal
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
(Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques)
Apartado 1424 Vieques, PR 00765
(787) 741-0716 cel. 375-0525
U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES!
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