The federal docket in San Juan, Puerto Rico, now regularly names the specifics of the United States versus Vieques, as scores of people arrested on the Navy bombing range take their day in court. Over 400 cases pending this year have created a growing burden on the court's calendar, particularly because none of the defendants have been willing to plea bargain. And after a one month postponement in the bombing practice, more are preparing to occupy the range in late April and risk arrest when the Navy resumes its assault on the colony's isla neña.

On February 1, a Christian Peacemaker Team went to the Roosevelt Road naval station on the main island, direct from a five-day solidarity visit to the Peace and Justice Camp on Vieques. Turning the tables, seven of the team walked on the base to deliver a "ban and bar" letter to the Navy. Brian Terrell writes, "...the rest remained outside the gates to sing and pray for the success of our mission. There was a short and intense discussion with military police about who exactly was the trespasser and which of our parties was going to have to leave before those of us who entered were handcuffed and gently escorted to the brig. After four hours of pleasant detention we seven were released with 'ban and bar' letters of our own."

The same day in federal court in San Juan, nine Viequenses were convicted of trespass on the bombing range last October and sentenced to one year probation. And in New York City, Vieques supporters arrested last May during a protest on the field of a Yankee baseball game had their charges dismissed.

A week later in San Juan, two women arrested last June 1 were sentenced to one year probation.

On March 1, the Bush administration suspended the planned March bombing practice. It was a good faith gesture to the new Puerto Rican governor, who wants the Navy out and presented a recent study suggesting a link between the bombing and heart disease on the island. Island activists suspended plans for the fourth "Embrace the Fence" action and instead embarked on another Caravan for Peace through the island's barrios to encourage vigilance in the struggle.

A large group of Viequenses and their supporters nonetheless continued preparations to occupy the bombing range. "This is a struggle of our people. It is the government's duty to defend our people against threats to our peace and security. But if the government shows itself incapable of confronting the Navy, our people have proven their capacity and determination to continue this struggle until the last consequences," said Ismael Guadalupe, one of the principal leaders of the Vieques struggle.

The bombing reprieve was, in fact, only temporary. On April 12, the Navy announced plans to resume bombing the range as early as April 27. Governor Sila Calderon called the announcement "offensive and unacceptable," while on Vieques, popular activity honored Ismael Guadalupe's words.

Through March, several more groups were tried and convicted in federal court, some serving a sentence of two or three hours in the courthouse holding cell. On March 14, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) came to Vieques as part of the Navy's public relations campaign to discredit health concerns about the bombing. One hundred-fifty Viequenses attended - not to receive the ATSDR's "orientation" but as a procession of people carrying crosses marked with the names of island victims of military activity.

A class action suit has been filed on behalf of more than one third of the island's residents who claim illnesses resulting from the contamination of decades of bombing upwind of their homes. Recent soil tests and target surveys are cited as evidence that depleted uranium ammunition has been fired on the range at nine locations and over many years, not simply the one mistake at one location acknowledged by the Navy.

Also in March, the New York State Assembly unanimously called for the "immediate and permanent cessation of all United States Navy military activities on the island of Vieques." Even Republican Governor Pataki of New York joined the chorus of Navy opponents, and visited the island resisters in early April to show support.

In New York City, Puerto Ricans who were cited and fined for a November action at the Statue of Liberty have refused to pay (contrary to our previous report - eds.). The federal government has only proceeded with the trespass prosecution of Alberto de Jes's (aka Tito Kayak) and Gazir Sued. Finding a window open, de Jes's had quickly climbed out onto Lady Liberty's crown, where he hung "Vieques Libre" banners. Sued stayed inside the statue to translate between his companion and police.

de Jes's trial on a single charge of trespass awaits a verdict, after the judge considers written briefs. The fact of the window being open (not broken, as first reported - eds.) and no sign prohibiting his exit were introduced as evidence in his defense. The judge acknowledged the act was selfless and the cause, noble. de Jes's faces up to six months in federal prison plus revocation of probation from earlier protest arrests in Puerto Rico if convicted. While his case was underway in New York, de Jes's again challenged his probation ban from visiting Vieques by participating in Kayaking for Peace in Vieques, a tour by oar from Puerto Rico's main island to smaller Puerto Rican islands. Stops were planned at Vieques as well as Culebra, another Navy bombing target until President Ford halted the practice there in the 1970s.

For more information, contact the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, P.O. Box 1424, Vieques, PR 00765, (787)741-0716, email: bieke@coqui.net, or visit www.viequeslibre.org