CPTnet
June 17, 2001
CHICAGO/SAN JUAN: Vieques 4 return to Puerto Rico
Four members of a CPT emergency Spring delegation -- Mark Byler of Goshen,
IN; Brian Ladd of Boulder, CO; H.A. Penner of Akron, PA; and Rich Williams
of West New York, NJ will depart Chicago on June 27 after a big send off
party at the Christian Peacemaker Team offices. They face trial and
possible imprisonment if the judge continues to mete out severe treatment
as he has for other protesters.
The four climbed through a fence surrounding the U.S. Navy base in Vieques
on May 2, 2001. They added their number to some 180 others -- primarily
residents of Puerto Rico and Vieques -- who were arrested in late April and
the first days of May protesting of the Navy's use of the island for bombing
practice and other military exercises.
Opponents of the navy bombing received qualified vindication for their
efforts on June 14, whenthe White House announced that the Navy will cease
all such bombing in 2003. The letter below by Mark Byler will help readers
understand how this White House decision is interpreted by local people who
expect to continue to protest the current round of bombing exercises
scheduled to begin any day.
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Dear News Editor,
President Bush made public his decision to have the Navy stop bombing
exercises on Vieques, Puerto Rico, by May 2003. One would think that the
prospect of ending the hardship of the people of Vieques would have them
dancing in the streets, but it might be good for us on the "mainland" to
understand why the rejoicing is rather muted.
First of all, the Navy leaving nearly two years from now does nothing for
the day-to-day hardship of living next to military maneuvers. Having the
Navy in Vieques is like having an unwanted relative parked in your living
room, and promising to stay "only" two more years.
Secondly, there is credible evidence of adverse health effects caused by
continued bombing and ship-to-shore target practice. Vieques has the dubious
honor of being one of the most heavily bombed corners of the world. Over the
decades the chemicals used in munitions have accumulated there, and whenever
the soil is disturbed the dust floats downwind to the civilian population
and on over to Puerto Rico. The concern is that the higher-than-average
cancer rates and other health problems unique to Vieques may be due to noise
and munitions-related pollution. Is it fair to continue the bombing for two
more years while hoping that the health problems are due to something else?
Thirdly, President Bush is making no statements about cleaning up the mess
left by the Navy. While residents of Vieques may be looking forward to
returning to the places they were forced from 60 years ago, they are
realizing that those places are now contaminated. It's not clear to whom
the Navy would hand over the land either. When the Navy abandoned the
western end of Vieques in May, it was parceled out to various agencies, and
very little of it ended up in the hands of the Viequenses. Polluted
sections were left in the hands of the Department of Interior, thereby
avoiding any responsibility for cleanup.
Finally, we would do well to realize that Puerto Rico is not our back yard,
it is someone else's land. Puerto Rico is not ours to do with as we please;
it is a "free state" with very close ties to the United States. If we no
longer have the permission of the people of Puerto Rico to stay on Vieques,
it would be for the good of all for us to leave quickly and responsibly.
There is much good will that remains between Puerto Rico and the United
States. There is much we can gain from each other. But we will be better
off if we walk in this world as a friend, not as a bully.
Mark Byler,
Goshen, Indiana.
Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative among Mennonite and Church of
the Brethren congregations and Friends Meetings that supports violence
reduction efforts around the world. Contact CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL 60680,
TEL. 312-455-1199 FAX 312-432-1213 / To receive news or discussion of CPT
issues by e-mail, fill out the form found on our WEB page at
http://www.cpt.org/subscribe.php
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