The
¡VIEQUES
LIBRE! Page
@ PeaceHost.net, (continued)
Archive: 29 April, to 19 May, 2000
- Subject: ROBERT RABIN GOLPEADO POR LA POLICIA - Robert
Rabin Beaten by the Police
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 21:39:09 -0100
From: Robert Rabin - Nilda Medina
Friends: Below is our press release about the beating of Bob Rabin by the
police. Bob was released from the hospital early Friday morning and is
resting at home under the advice of his doctor.
===========================================================
Press Release
URGENT! VIEQUES LEADER ROBERT RABIN BRUTALIZED BY POLICE
Contact: Pepo Belardo, Rangie de Leon and Kathy Gannett
Camp Justice and Peace for Vieques, Vieques, P.R.
Tel. 787-741-0716
May 19, 2000
Vieques, P.R.- At about 9:15 pm on Thursday, May 18, 2000, a convoy of about seven Navy vehicles lined up
inside the gate of Camp Garcia. At that time many people were present in Camp for Justice and Peace in Vieques,
both in the house across the street from the gate and in the adjacent camp to the north of the house. Then
convoy passed through the gate and took a right onto the road.
Robert Rabin, leader of the Camp for Justice and Peace in Vieques and of the Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques, was already heading North on the same road in a red jeep. The Navy convoy pulled up
behind him and the police Van that was leading the convoy bumped Bob's jeep on the fender right in front of the
camp. Many people saw this happen and the events that follow below.
After Bob's jeep was hit by the police van, 4 policemen ("Fuerza de Choque") got out of the van and opened his
car door and threw him on the ground and punched him in the face several times. These 4 policemen repeatedly
hit Bob with their nightsticks and they kicked him many times. Then they put handcuffs on him and brought him
to the entrance of the navy base.
About 11 policemen stood in a line along the street with Bob sitting behind them handcuffed. People from the
Camp gathered on the other side of the street to observe what would happen to Bob. Then many more police cars
and police arrived and joined the police line.
We were able to take photos of this senseless brutality against Bob with disposable cameras. We plan to make
these photos available to the media as soon as possible.
By the time that Bob was taken away at about 10:15 pm, there were about 35 policemen guarding him and about
7-8 police buses parked around the area. Bob was able to report to us that he was in great pain, most likely his
back and his kidneys. Then police took him to the local hospital (Jesusa Centeno). At about 11:00pm, because of
his condition, they had to transport him by plane to the emergency room of San Pablo hospital in Fajardo.
At 10:20PM or so - after Bob had been taken from the scene where he was beaten, the 30-plus police moved their
line to block the road (instead of blocking the gate) - leaving the entrance to the gate open to the road from the
south. At 10:30 a convoy of about 10 cars arrived from the south (from the direction of Esperanza) at fast speed
and entered Camp Garcia. Only one or two were military vehicles, the other 7-8 appeared to be civilian cars
carrying military personnel. After they entered the gate was closed again.
Perhaps the first military convoy leaving the base was intended to divert attention from the convoy that arrived
to the base from the south later. Toledo, the head of the Police Department, has already claimed that Rabin
"provoked" his own beating ? but Toledo was not present. About 15-20 eye-witnesses observed this attack on
Bob Rabin. He was an innocent victim of police brutality. Rabin has time and again proven his dedication to
peaceful action and has never, nor would he ever, jeopardize the integrity of the movement for Peace in Vieques
by any type of violent act.
The community of Vieques continues to be under a state of siege by the huge presence of the police and U.S.
military everywhere in Vieques. In spite of this aggressive occupation, the community stands strong and united
and determined to work through peaceful means to rid the Isla Nena of the US Navy. We denounce this
senseless and unprovoked brutality against one of the great leaders of this peaceful movement to get the U.S.
Navy out of Vieques.
- Subject: Update on Robert Rabin
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 10:11:10 EDT
From: Kathy Gannett
"Compañeras:
I am sending you this information. I hope to have it in Spanish in a couple
of hours. Bob has been released from the hospital and will arrive in
Vieques in the late morning. He will then be going directly to his home to rest
from this terrible ordeal. he has many scatches and bruises but the information we
have NOW is that his condition is not serious.
Fuera la Marina y la Fuerza de Choque de Vieques,
Kathy Gannett"
(This message came with the Press Release posted above. I include it for the personal
reference.)
- Subject: Alerta: Arresto de Robert Rabin/ Robert Rabin Arrested
Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 22:24:45 -0700
From: Raulmax@aol.com
"We have just received news that the police of Puerto Rico has arrested
Vieques Committe chairmen Robert Rabin. Rabin was leaving Committee
headquarters in his jeep when he saw a Navy Convoy leaving Camp Garcia. He
tryed to back up the jeep so he might see better what was happening. A
Puerto Rican police man stoped him and grabbed him by the arm. He was
pulled
out of the jeep by four Puerto Rican police officers and beaten with night
sticks. He is not being held at police headquarters in Isabel Segunda. We
think that he is being held inside Camp Garcia at a makeshift jail."
This is just the first report I received regarding my friend, Bob Rabin's brutal arrest. Keep him
and his wife, Nilda, in your thoughts and prayers. More to come.
- Subject: Delegation to Vieques & PR
Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 10:42:17 -0800
From: Julina Bastidas Bonilla
Disarming the Naval Colossus in Puerto Rico
National Delegation to Vieques and Puerto Rico
August 12 - 20, 2000
Sponsored by the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Caribbean Project for
Justice and Peace
The populated island of Vieques on the eastern end of Puerto Rico has been
bombed by the U.S. Navy since 1941 as part of training for war. NATO forces
have also trained on Vieques. For the last year, Puerto Rico has
experienced an unprecedented movement to recover the land and waters of
Vieques for civilian use. More than a dozen civil disobedience encampments
in the Vieques impact area prevented the Navy from bombing for more than a
year. Other groups are investigating environmental cleanup of the
explosives and economic conversion of the island. Puerto Rican civil
society has played a leading role.
The Navy's firing range in Vieques is part of a complex that includes
Roosevelt Roads, the largest U.S. naval base outside the United States.
Roosevelt Roads also hosts hundreds of Special Forces troops who train Latin
American armed forces, aircraft conducting drug war surveillance, and U.S.
Navy South. Some Congressmen have said that if Vieques closes, Roosevelt
Roads will also close.
This delegation will visit community groups in Vieques and Puerto Rico, meet
with church and civic leaders in San Juan and the communities around
Roosevelt Roads, and explore the prospects for environmental cleanup and
economic conversion of U.S. military bases in Puerto Rico.
We seek individuals with experience in base cleanup, economic conversion and
community organizing to be delegates. Translation to English will be
provided. Cost of $550 covers all food, lodging, and transportation in
Puerto Rico. Please apply by June 30.
For more information and application, contact:
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean
2017 Mission St. #305, San Francisco, CA 94110
Tel: 415-495-6334 Fax: 415-495-5628
E-mail: forlatam@igc.org
FOR Website
The FOR is an interfaith pacifist organization founded in 1915. The
Caribbean Project for Justice and Peace, in San Juan, works for
demilitarization and a culture of peace in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
region. For a report from the 1999 delegation to Puerto Rico co-sponsored
by the Caribbean Project, FOR and other groups, contact the FOR office.
- Subject: Kidnapped!
Date: 9 May, 2000
From: Camp Peace and Justice for Vieques
In front of the gate to Camp García, Vieques
Roberto writes:
"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."
To read the full message, please click on: Kidnapped!
- Subject: CPT SENDS EMERGENCY DELEGATION TO VIEQUES
Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 01:14:23 EDT
From: Esther Ho
Dear Friends: I am forwarding this message asking you to pray for the
Christian Peacemaker Team that is going to Vieques to participate in the
ongoing nonviolent protest of the Puerto Rican people against the bombing by
the US military.
Those of you who are Brethren may know Cliff Kindy, who is on the
delegation. Also Duane Ediger is a friend of mine from CPT training. I am
also including the April 28 message asking for messages to Clinton and
Jeffrey Farrow, as I did not send it to some of you the first time. When I
called the number given for Farrow, I was told that his actual phone number
is 202 456-2896. She said, "Oh, you got that number from the e-mail." She
took the message, however, and said, "We are keeping a record of where the
calls come from." It is obvious to me that the many calls are having an
impact. Keep us the good work! Esther
Subj: PUERTO RICO ALERT: U.S. Marshals/FBI en route to Vieques
Date: Friday, April 28, 2000 2:21:13 PM
From: CPTnet.editor.guest.48855@MennoLink.org
To: menno.org.cpt.news@MennoLink.org
CPTNet
April 28, 2000
PUERTO RICO ALERT: U.S. Marshals Threaten to Arrest Nonviolent Protesters
on Vieques Island. CPT To Send Emergency Delegation
CPT asks supporters to be especially vigilant in the coming days regarding
the situation on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. Pentagon sources say a raid
on nonviolent protest camps by U.S. Marshals and FBI agents could occur
early next week.
CPT will send an emergency delegation to Puerto Rico on Monday, May 1 in
response to requests from Church leaders involved in the peace encampments
who say a presence from the mainland will be very important if authorities
attempt to remove the protesters.
CPT invites churches to:
1) Make calls and send e-mails to President Clinton and Jeffrey Farrow,
Clinton's point person on Puerto Rico, urging them to respect the voice of
the Puerto Rican people who say "Not one more bomb. " Tell both Clinton and
Farrow not to authorize the use of force against those engaged in nonviolent
witness on Vieques. (Contact info below)
2) Prepare groups from our churches and meetings to gather for special
prayer in the offices of Senators and Representatives if the arrests are
carried out.
3) Undergird those traveling to Puerto Rico on short notice as part of CPT's
emergeny response with prayers and financial support.
BACKGROUND:
Vieques, Puerto Rico, is a small island, two thirds of which is still
controlled by the U.S. Navy. A small part of the island has been used by
the Navy for bombing and military maneuvers for about 60 years.
One year ago a civilian guard was killed when two 500 pound bombs missed
their target. Since then, protest encampments in the restricted zone have
prevented any bombing or maneuvers. The people of Vieques are saying, "Not
one more bomb; not one more minute."
The churches of Puerto Rico have been united across denominational lines in
support of the struggle to stop the
Navy actions on Vieques.
Several times in the last five months the Navy intended to carry out major
military maneuvers on Vieques, but had to move them to other sites because
of the presence of the peace encampments. A huge church-sponsored march in
February made it clear that an accord-signed behind closed doors between the
Clinton administration and Puerto Rico's Governor Rosello, calling for the
removal of the camps and renewed maneuvers in March-does not have the
support of the Puerto Rican people.
Now, threats of arrest are increasing against the protest encampments.
Rumors of guns in the camps are being used to discredit this strong,
organized, nonviolent witness.
ADDRESSES:
The White House
Phone: 202-456-1414
e-mail: President
Jeffrey Farrow4
Phone: 202-482-4964
_________________________
Subject: PUERTO RICO: CPT SENDS EMERGENCY DELEGATION TO VIEQUES
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 14:28:19 CDT
From: CPTnet.editor.guest.48855@MennoLink.org (CPTnet editor, Rochester, NY)
Reply-To: CPTnet.editor.guest.48855@MennoLink.org (CPTnet editor, Rochester, NY), menno.org.cpt.news@MennoLink.org
To: menno.org.cpt.news@MennoLink.org
CPTNet
May 1, 2000
PUERTO RICO: CPT SENDS EMERGENCY DELEGATION TO VIEQUES
A nine-member emergency Christian Peacemaker Teams delegation is enroute to
the Puerto Rican island of Vieques to support the non-violent resisters who
have been protesting the U.S. Navy use of the island for bombing practice.
Dozens of Puerto Ricans from environmental, labor, political and church
groups have prevented military maneuvers there for a year, camping in the
bombing impact zone since the death of civilian by a stray bomb in April
1999. Thousands of Puerto Ricans across the political and religious
spectrum are calling for an end to the military use of the island.
Despite this united opposition, the Clinton administration and the
Puerto Rican governor signed an agreement in January specifying that the
Navy could re-start training exercises there. U.S. government officials say
the resisters will be removed by force, if necessary, as early as this week
so that the Navy maneuvers can resume.
Church leaders involved in the encampments have invited the CPT delegation,
saying that a nonviolent presence from the mainland U.S. will be important
if authorities begin arresting members of the encampments.
Members of the CPT delegation are: John Buschert (Goshen, IN),
Mark Byler (Goshen, IN), Peter DeMott (Ithaca, NY), Duane Ediger (Dallas,
TX), Sue Frankel-Streit (Goochland, VA), Mary Anne Grady Flores (Ithaca,
NY) , Teresa Grady (Ithaca, NY), Cliff Kindy (N. Manchester, IN), and
Joanne Lingle, (Indianapolis, IN).
CPT asks that supporters undergird the team with prayers. See also April 28
CPTNet release, "Puerto Rico Alert" for action suggestions.
________________
Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) is an initiative among
Mennonite and Brethren congregations, and Friends meetings who support
violence reduction Teams around the world. Contact CPT at P.O. Box 6508
Chicago, IL 60680 USA; Tel: 312-455-1199; Fax: 312-432-1213; e-mail:
CPT@igc.org
To join CPTNET send an e-mail to admin@MennoLink.org and the
message: Group: menno.org.cpt.news
Visit us on the WEB: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt
- Subject: Vieques Alert Guideline - PLEASE FORWARD!
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 22:01:35 -0500
Vieques Libre kindly provided me with an HTML page of
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). It's a great resource of information regarding the ongoing
actions on Vieques. You may (& I urge you to) check it out @: The FAQs, ma'am, just the FAQs.
- Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 17:07:20 -0100
Dear Friends in Solidarity with Vieques
From Vieques with love and great appreciation for the support from all the organizations and
individuals in solidarity with the struggle of the people of Vieques.
Before the threat of a violent intervention by the military and police forces of the US Government
and their assistants in Puerto Rico, the people of Vieques respond with love and bravery in defense
of their human rights and dignity. In the civil disobedience camps the only weapons are justice and
peace. The only violent elements in this situation are the military. Our people are commited, more
each day, to peaceful civil disobedience in defense of our right to life.
We are attentive to the lies of Carlso Romero Barceló and his diabolic capacity to plant (together
with the FBI and the Navy) violence through provocative agents and fabricated evidence.
The men and women in the 14 civil disobedience camps in the bombing area and those of us here in
front of the gates to the Navy facility at Camp García, remain firm and tranquill. The Puerto Rico and
US press inform about intervention in the coming days. We have been prepared for some time now.
Here everyone is committedd to continuing actions of peacefull civil disobedience and with plans for
a continued pressure against all attempts by the Navy to resume bombing in Vieques.
Mass mobilizations in important US cities is key to denounce the arrests and to increase pressure
against Navy plans for Vieques. We recognize the great efforts of the organizations and individuals in
solidarity with Vieques throughout the US and in other areas.
It is crucial not to pay attention to rumors. In these critical moments the only official information is
that which comes from the community organiztions on Vieques or from our representatives in Puerto
Rico and the US.
In struggle, in solidarity,
Robert Rabin
- Subject: VIEQUES URGENT ACTION: Call Janet Reno (202-514-2001).
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 09:28:29 -0500
This urgent request from Vieques libre:
Alert! Media has confirmed that two Navy Warships just left Virginia, will
stop in North Carolina to pick up 1000 Marines and equipment, and will
participate, along the FBI and Federal Marshals, in a military operation
to remove by force protesters from the resistance camps on Vieques. The
navy says it takes 2-3 days to sail to Vieques.
Now is the moment for all of us to take action and call IMMEDIATLY Janet
Reno (202-514-2001) to let her know that the people of Puerto Rico reject
any military raid on Vieques. Let her know that the best interest of the
U.S. will be served by suspending said plan, since arrests will only bring
shame to the U.S. in the eyes of the international community and that
massive protests will take place both in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Now, more than ever;
PEACE FOR VIEQUES!
Not one more bomb!
¡Vieques Libre! Main Page