[Peace] Vieques 2

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

English version 
The month of August has seen much activity in this struggle for peace in 
Vieques. Here is a brief summary: 

August 3-9 The struggle of the people of Vieques was presented at the War 
Resisters International Convention, held in Dublin, Ireland, by a delegation 
comprised of attorneys Fermin L. Arraiza and Jose Juan Nazario, Dr. Luis 
Nieves Falcon and Dra. Aurea Rodriguez; La delegation had the opportunity to 
share time with the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Maired Corrigan Maguire. 

August 12, 14, 16, 21  Brigades from the Organizing committee for the Relay 
for Peace (in Vieques) visited the following local communities: Residencial 
Jardines de Vieques , Urbanizacion Isabel II, Parcelas Las Marias,  Barrio La 
Esperanza, Barrio Monte Santo, Monte Santo Playa , Villa Hugo, and Parcelas 
Florida. More than 3,000 flyers were distributed, and posters were put up, 
while the people were invited to the activity. 

August 15  - We celebrated a luncheon in our Camp with panelists from the 
International Conference of Peace and Development "Peace in Peace", which has 
been held in San Juan. They visited the "little girl island" (Vieques) to 
learn of the problems that viequenses experience due to the military 
practices, and to dialogue with local leaders.  During the event in San Juan, 
several panelists had expressed their desire for the US Navy to cease its 
bombings and leave the island municipality. The delegation was composed by 
Novel Peace Prize winner, ex-Costa Rica President Oscar Arias; retired US 
Marines Captain Roberto Schwartz; human rights activist Alda Faccio; director 
of the Arab-Israeli Center Sarah Ozacky; attorney Carole Wacey; journalist  
Roberto Savio; Pakistani Ayesha Siddiga-Agha; and Catholic Sister Mary Ann 
McGiven. In the activity the visitors were asked to urge President Bush to 
sign an Executive Order guaranteeing that the Navy would leave before May 1, 
2003. 

August 15 - A protest took place in Vieques against the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA). At the same time that EPA was announcing a plan to 
clean the lands occupied by the Navy, the Navy announced that it would resume 
bombing. CRDV denounced the action of EPA as a hypocritical public relations 
act on behalf of the Navy. 

August 17- A delegation of viequenses traveled to Guaynabo to lead a vigil in 
front of the federal prison, dedicated to Roberto Rabin. We picketed the 
prison and stayed overnight in the camp located in front of the prison. 

August 19 - A  concurrent press conference was held in the Lawyer's Guild in 
San Juan, by the various organizations that would be participating in the 
Relay for Peace (in Vieques, August 24.) 

August 24 - the group 4 members of the Christian PeaceMaker Teams arrived in 
Vieques. Many of their members have been arrested in various protests, not 
only in Vieques but also in other countries struggling for peace. 

August 24  RELAY FOR PEACE.  After much work, more than 23 organizations held 
an activity that exceeded all expectations.  Fulfilling all commitments 
exactly, the embarcation of Dr. Hector pesquera (a leader of the National 
Hostosian Congress) brought to the pier on the western end of Vieques the 
Torch and Flag of Peace, which were presented to Vieques Mayor Damaso Serrano 
and Vieques Catholic Church pastor Father Nelson Lopez, at the stage near the 
pier. The opening ceremonies began the activities at noon. 

The people who were expropriated by the Navy during the 1940's -- to whom the 
activity was dedicated -- began the walk from Punta Arenas (the extreme west 
of the island) at 1 pm. They carried the flags of Puerto Rico, Vieques, peace 
and the lit torch.  These symbols were passed from group to group for the 
entire 19 kilometers from Punta Arena up to Camp Garcia. In the walk hundreds 
and hundreds of observers lined the sidewalks to applaud the marchers and 
shout slogans against the Navy's presence.  By 5:30 PM the group of children 
organized by Camp Milivy finished the march. This last segment, represented 
the continuation of the struggle, which has not yet reached its conclusion 

This Relay also represented a struggle which has gone on in stages, much like 
a relay.  Since the struggle commenced in organized form against the Navy in 
March 1964 the people of Vieques have continued struggling. The Masters of 
Ceremony Nilda Medina, Eva Luisa Torres and Enrique Romero recognized the 
presence of various figures and organizations that marched. Among them were 
Rademes Tirado representing the expropriated; Josefina Pantojas for All 
Puerto Rico with Vieques; Jose  Manuel Emeric for the organizing committee 
and the special message by civil disobedient Ruben Berrios Martinez, 
president fo the Puerto Rican Independence Party. A moving letter from 
prisoner for peace Robert Rabin was read, as well as letters from New 
Progressive Party Senator and civil disobedient Norma Burgos, and Flavio 
Cumpiano, representative in Washington DC for the CRDV. 

The following organizations were also recognized: the Expropiated , Horsemen 
for Peace, Teacher's Federation, Giants of Carolina, National Hostosian 
Congress, New Independence Movement,  Puertorrican Sindicate of Workers, 
General Union of Workers, Puerto Rican Federation for Workers, Socialist 
Front, Socialist Youth, Puerto Rican Workers Central; UTIER, UIA, Federal 
Employees, Viequenses in Exile, Vieques Teachers, Mayaguezanos Alert and 
Available, All PR with Vieques, Alliance of Viequense Women, Women's Group 
for Peace ("the 31"), United Vieques Youth, University Pro-Independence 
Federation, Civil Disobedients, Committee for the Rescue and Development of 
Vieques, Camp Luisa Guadalupe, Peace and Justice Camp, and Monte Carmelo. 
Photos of the Relay are at this link: Photos: 
http://www.prorescatevieques.org/relevo/Relevo.html 

August 28 - All PR with Vieques held a successful civil disobedience 
workshop. Many people were recruited for actions during September. 

August 30  A delegation of environmentalists and pacifists arrived in Vieques 
to be witnesses to the upcoming military maneuvers. the women in the 
delegation are from  Asheville, North Carolina: Elizabeth Roebling of 
Asheville Friends Meeting (North Carolina); Clare Hanrahan, imprisoned for 6 
months for protesting against the U.S. Army School of the Americas in 
Georgia; Darcel Eddins and Sharon Martin, active in environmental and social 
justice causes. Roebling has already participated in civil disobedience in 
Vieques and has served time in Guaynabo. This delegation will report back to 
the Western North Carolina Peace Coalition and other groups.