CPT in Vieques, Puerto Rico

More photos at: Check out a page with photos of past delegations, created by one of our delegates. Soldiers going to arrest CPTers inside Roosevelt Roads Naval Base

Miriam Kindy and Gretchen Williams hold banner outside gates of Rossevelt Roads Naval Base

Since February 2000, CPT has sent several emergency delegations to the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, which the U.S. Navy has used as a training ground for the last fifty years. The practice maneuvers, including live bombing runs, have had devastating effects on the environment, the economy and the health of Vieques residents. Following the death of a civilian by a stray bomb in April, 1999, widespread opposition to U.S. military presence erupted throughout Puerto Rico. A broad coalition of church, environmental, and political organizations established a nonviolent protest encampment on the bombing range which successfully halted Navy training operations for over a year. Bombing recommenced in 2001 despite a growing tide of protest by Puerto Rico government leaders, church officials, students, unionists, academics and other citizens.

On May 1, 2003, the U.S. Navy will cease using the site for training, thanks in large part to a broad-based coalition of environmentalists, local fishermen, union representatives, church leaders and others who intensified their cry against the military use of the island after a stray bomb killed a civilian guard in April, 1999.

CPT sent a delegation of peacemakers April 29-May 5, 2003 to join residents of Vieques in celebrating the Navy's withdrawal and encouraging them as the struggle for decontamination of the land and sustainable development continues.

A photo essay of this celebratory delegation by Marc Becker.

Notes from meeting with Robert Rabin, Coordinator of Comité Pro-Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques

It's important for us to be here; continuation of struggle. This is a historic moment. It marks a big step in the right direction to a better life. CPT has been an important part of this. Nice to see that the fences are gone.

Ángel Rodríguez Cristóbal was a martyr killed in a jail cell after being arrested in 1979 in an action here. A delegation is going tomorrow (May 3) at 10 am to plant a cross at the bombing site.

The Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques planned May 1 events before midnight, but the municipal government took over the planning of the events for after midnight. In a sense, knocking over the fence and building was neat, but the lack of security was suprising. Not in agreement with burning the vehicles. That was unnecessary. Destruction of property results in a negative press spin. Not what we want to portray. Can say that the navy has been destroying, but that doesn't change fact that struggle is peaceful.

What are the next steps?

• More demilitarization of last vestiges (radar, etc.) and decontaminate impact zone.
• Demand participation in transition process.
• Will continue to push for complete restoration, with participation of local advisors.
• Create jobs, transfer technology.
• Decontamination becomes part of reconstruction; learn about new technologies, development, tourism, etc.
• Also pursue legal avenues.

What is role of CPT in continuing struggle?

• Possible future for civil disobedience to clean up site and return land. Giving the land to the Department of Interior doesn't meet our demands.
• Inform people that the struggle is not over, even though this is a great success.

Glad navy won't be able to use Vieques again to kill innocent people in places like Iraq. Need financial and informational support. Support to downplay military's anti-American red baiting. It's not a struggle against the U.S. people, but against the government.

Ideas for land?

• In July 1999 a committee for research and development met with people involved in a variety of stuff to articulate alternative vision (300 pp. document). Protesta and propuesta. Articulation of community concerns; speculation, sustainable development (cf. what happened in Culebra), cooperative development. Advocates a community land trust that allows use but not ownership. Held focus groups to develop ideas. Since 1993 it has been a committee for the rescue and development of Vieques.
• Work with UN arms reduction committee, work on economy and development.

What are possibilities? Avoid speculation and create democracy.

Additional Background Information

• Read a letter from the Puerto Rican Mennonite Church to CPT
• Read a CPT's delegation report from Vieques