In an act of brazen colonial brutality, U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered Federal Marshals and FBI agents along with thousands of U.S. troops-combat-equipped Marines-into battle. The victims of this aggression are unarmed Puerto Rican civilians defending their land-the island of Vieques-from U.S. Navy bombardment.
In an act of brazen colonial brutality, U.S. President Bill Clinton ordered Federal Marshals and FBI agents along with thousands of U.S. troops-combat-equipped Marines-into battle. The victims of this aggression are unarmed Puerto Rican civilians defending their land-the island of Vieques-from U.S. Navy bombardment.
The attack took place three days after thousands of workers and their supporters marched through the streets of San Juan on May Day. The march expressed solidarity with the Vieques encampments. Puerto Ricans have shown unprecedented unity in demanding an end to the Navy occupation of Vieques since civilian David Sanes was killed by a Navy bomb in April 1999. Their message has been clear: “Not one more bomb!” Hundreds of people have set up civil disobedience encampments on the training grounds, stopping the military exercises. Over 13 percent of Puerto Rico’s land is occupied by Pentagon military bases. The Southern Army of the U.S. Southern Command-the primary arm for U.S. military intervention in Latin America-moved to Puerto Rico from Panama in 1999. Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States in 1898, never being granted the right to self-determination.
Author: Monica Somocurcio/Teresa Gutierrez
News Service: WW News Service
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