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BATTLE OF VIEQUES - New bombing sparks resistance
July 04, 2000 @ 05:00:00 am
Late in the afternoon of June 25, the U.S. Navy began dropping bombs again on Vieques, Puerto Rico. Despite wide opposition from all sectors of Puerto Rican society, the Pentagon initiated its plan to drop 130,000 pounds of bombs during five days of military practice at the eastern tip of the island, home of the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility.

This is the largest military exercise in Vieques since April 19, 1999, when two 500-pound bombs fell on an observation post in the shooting range and killed a civilian guard, David Sanes.

After Sanes's death the people of Vieques and mainland Puerto Rico penetrated the restricted military zone, establishing encampments and effectively stopping the Pentagon's exercises for over a year.

Then on May 4, hundreds of FBI agents, federal marshals and marines evicted the more than 200 protesters. They sealed the base in an attempt to prevent activists from re-entering.

But demonstrators have managed to return to the area, even though most have been detained. Some remain hidden in secluded areas in an effort to stop the bombing.

The people responded immediately to the latest threat.

Once activists spotted three Navy ships on the horizon June 24, they started penetrating the restricted area. Despite heavy security, over 200 protesters have succeeded thus far, by land and by sea.

One activist managed to jump over the cyclone fence that divides the military from the civilian area. He planted a Vieques flag on the base before marines could catch him.

In a dramatic scene, fishers in five boats, under the leadership of Carlos Zen?n, took a few demonstrators by sea to the restricted shooting area June 26. Two Harbor Patrol boats with military personnel and one helicopter tried to catch the boats. But the protesters threw steel rods at the military vessels and were able to escape to safety.

The Navy later claimed two sailors were injured by the rods.

According to the Associated Press, by June 28 at least 135 demonstrators were arrested. The federal court that oversees these cases has taken a tough stand. The court is imposing $500 cash bail for those who refuse to identify themselves. Several people have been kept in jail for refusing to post bail.

Navy lies, bombs sooner

The brass knew that some protesters were hidden in the target area. But they started bombing anyway.

In fact, there was a calculated move by the U.S. forces to deceive the people of Vieques and endanger their safety.

On the morning of June 25 the Navy posted an announcement in the ferry terminal. It alerted fishers and the public that bombing exercises would resume the following day.

But just a few hours later, children ran scared and houses trembled when the bombs fell and explosions broke the yearlong peace in Vieques.

The Pentagon said these exercises were needed for the aircraft carrier group USS Washington, with its 16 ships, 80 combat planes and 15,000 troops before it is deployed in the Persian Gulf.

But the truth is the military brass feel they must flex their muscles. They don't want the world to think that a few hundred Puerto Ricans, representing the majority of the population, can stop Pentagon business as usual.

This imperialist arrogance hasn't deterred the people's will to resist. It has actually enhanced the solidarity.

For example, the general population of prisoners is showing solidarity with the arrested activists.

Since they are unable to join the incursions into the restricted areas, many prisoners have written "Navy out" and "Free Vieques" on huge banners made by knotting together several white prison sheets and hung them out the windows.

When demonstrators are jailed, the prisoners treat them in the gentlest way, trying to make them feel as comfortable as possible during their stay.

All community, political and labor organizations fighting the U.S. Navy presence are in a state of high alert. While the incursions into restricted areas continue, these organizations are also regrouping, carrying out demonstrations and discussing plans of action.

Their message has been consistent: "These arrests do not deter us. We will get the Navy out."

They are putting those words into action, as shown by the infiltration into the restricted zone June 27 by 100 members of the Puerto Rican Independence Party.

- END -

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