Vieques Update

The bombing of Vieques, the Puerto Rican island expropriated a half century ago for live-fire NATO and U.S. Navy training, has yet to resume. It's a political stalemate, with the Pentagon seeking something Puerto Ricans are deeply committed to prevent. Key to Puerto Ricans' success so far are at least ten civil disobedience encampments on the Navy's preferred live-fire range and in front of the gate to the island's Camp Garcia.

The bombing range camps, established last May and now occupied by 100-200 people at any given time, continue to thrive with the active support of a broader cross section of Puerto Ricans. Construction of a basic church, school, dock, and dance hall on the range has already been completed. Despite the daily hardship of creating community on an isolated and bombed-out stretch of coastline, and the constant intimidation of helicopter overflights, photographic surveillance, and threats of arrest, spirits are high and the Pentagon is left only with its bluster about national security instead of a bombing range.

President Clinton's early December offer to use only dummy bombs and stop altogether in five years was promptly rejected by Puerto Ricans. The Camp Garcia protesters cut access to the gatehouse, forcing civilian security guards to gain access only when protesters removed their own locks. The Governor, using his executive power, then announced an award of several million dollars compensation to scores of Puerto Ricans illegally spied upon during several decades of police anti-independence activity. The result: some of the money being channeled into support for the civil disobedience camps.

Upping the ante even more, Filiberto Ojeda, leader of the armed clandestine independence group Los Macheteros told a television interviewer in December that if the Navy bombs Vieques again, "we'll reserve the right to throw bombs too, and the 'federales' (U.S. authorities) know we are serious."

With the Navy unable to host NATO live-fire exercises, Great Britain stepped in and offered their bombing range at Cape Wrath in northwest Scotland for the purpose. The next round of practice bombing in Vieques is set to begin in late February or March.

For updated information on the situation in Vieques, contact the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, P.O. Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765, (787)741-8651; email: bieke@coqui.net   web: http://www.viequeslibre.org