- from Guaynabo

by Robert Rabin Siegal

To the Judge and all exceptional folks...

- Particularly the meek... and the working people of Puerto Rico, all those who defend and safeguard PEACE in Vieques -

My name is Robert Rabin Siegal. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America, and I have had the honor to live and work in the Island Municipality of Vieques for the past 21 years and the privilege to participate in this heroic and historic struggle of the people of Vieques.

Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts - United States - seat of the Revolution for the Independence of the United States of North America; resident of Vieques since I was 25 years old and member of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques from its genesis in 1993; I hereby reaffirm before this court, before the benevolent people of Puerto Rico and Vieques, and before God...

My commitment to struggle for peace in Vieques.

This PEACE - understandably - means much more than the lack of bombing and shelling. And as such, the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques depicts these historic claims as the 4Ds -
Demilitarization, Decontamination, Devolution, Development.

I was raised in a traditional Judeo-Christian social environment which considered love and peace superior values to hate and violence. My parents - meek, gentle and loving folks - taught me these values they hold very true to their lives...

My purpose for entering the bombing range was to obstruct the military exercises that cause so much damage to our environment, to our health.

On May 4th, 2000, I was arrested - kidnapped is a better word - by federal agents at the Justice and Peace Camp; On October 18th of that same year I was arrested at the bombing range together with an impressive delegation of distinguished Viequenses...

I was brutally beaten by the Swat Force Team on May 2000 and on several instances I have been accused of blocking military traffic in the streets of Vieques -

Ideology motivates me to carry out these acts... But the ideology that moves me in this struggle is neither statehood, nor commonwealth, nor independence -

The ideology I embrace during these times of the Battle of Vieques, is that of the children -

- for Carmen, Betzaida and Jaqueline I battle; it is for Milivy that I fight; it is for my nieces that I struggle;

- for so many innocent children that die victims to the ideology of MILITARISM I will fight.

About September 11th -

This court - its judges influenced by the ideology of WAR - attempt to liken us to terrorists; they would like to lay blame on us and relate us to the mysterious and dangerous enemy of their nation - which admittedly, is mine -

They would like to enforce upon us the new anti-terrorism laws; but they face the dilemma of a confrontation with our peace force...

Against PEACE - the United States Navy, neither its court nor its police enforcing repression and injustice -

Against PEACE - the Navy and its friends stand defenseless.

Against LOVE the Navy is rendered defenseless.

Against our benevolent, hard-working people - armed with TRUTH and JUSTICE - the force of DEATH and VIOLENCE remain without arms and DEFENSELESS...

[Robert Rabin Siegal wrote this court statement while in prison, awaiting sentencing for trying to halt to the bomb-ing of Vieques by entering the target range. He is now serving a six-month federal sentence in Puerto Rico.]