CPTNet
Puerto Rico: CPT delegation calls for End to Bombing Vieques
Feb. 2, 2001

San Juan, Puerto Rico - Twenty-seven Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)
delegates presented a "ban and bar" letter to Roosevelt Roads Navy base,
urging an end to the U.S. Navy presence on the Puerto Rican island of
Vieques. The delegation has been in Puerto Rico since January 25 listening
to a wide range of groups involved in the conflict around U.S. and NATO use
of Vieques as a practice bombing range since World War II.

Upon entering the base to present their request to Rear Admiral Kevin
Green, seven delegates were arrested, detained for several hours at
Roosevelt Roads, issued "ban and bar" letters of their own, and released
the same day. Such letters ban persons from one or more military
instillation for period

CPT, has sent delegations to Vieques for the past year to support
courageous, non-violent workers calling for a homeland free of the violence
perpetrated by armed forces. "Viequenses should be no more subject to live
or 'inert' bombing, than should my family in Michigan," explains delegation
member Rachael Waas Smith. "The widespread and well-organized work for the
removal of this sophisticated site for target practice coming from the
people of this island is an example to the world."

Currently, the US Navy controls 70% of the 21 mile long small island of
Vieques, including vital shoreline. The US is joined by NATO partners in
practicing military manouvres on the island Heavy metals including
depleted uranium have contaminated land and water. Cancer rates, heart and
other serious health problems are significantly higher on Vieques than
those on the bigger Island of Puerto Rico, and are linked to the naval
activity.

The killing of a Puerto Rican civilian guard, David Sanes, by a miplaced
bomb in May 1999 sparked new and creative work against the practice
bombing. Thousands of Puerto Ricans and internationals peacefully occupied
the bombing zone on Vieques, stopping the violence for over a
year. Participants were removed in May 2000, but will re-occupy the impact
zone when bombing resumes perhaps in March of this year. In their last
elections, a strong majority of Puerto Ricans voted for candidates who want
to see the Navy out of Vieques.

Christian Peacemaker Teams members will continue to support the peaceful
resistence with their physical presence and by petitioning their elected
representatives for a bomb-free Vieques. Members of the delegation who were
detained for four hours by military security at Roosevelt Road Naval Base
home of the U. S. Southern Command were Jim Clune, Binhamton NY; Anne
Herman, Binhamton, NY; Brian Ladd, Boulder CO; Joanne Lingle, Indianapolis
IN; Lisa Martin, Winnipeg, MB; Rev. Steve Ratzlaff, Lincoln NE; Brian
Terrell, Maloy IA. Other members of the delegation included Mark Byler,
Goshen IN; Robert Epp, Henderson NE; Noelle DePape, Winnipeg MB; Christine
Dull, Englewood OH, Ralph Dull, Englewood OH, Christopher Friedman, Boulder
CO; Jim Gibble, Littiz PA, Ruth Johnston, Woodstock Ont; Miriam Kindy,
North Manchester IN, Cliff Kindy, North Mancester IN; Eric Meyer,
Millersburg IN; H. A. Penner, Akron PA; Rick Polhamos, Fletcher OH; Lisette
Sanabria, San Juan PR; Ryan Siemans, Winnipeg, MB; John Sherman, Dayton OH;
Rachael Wass Smith, North Manchester IN; Dick Williams, Boulder CO;
Gretchen Willisms, Boulder CO; Rich Williams, NJ

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a program of Brethren, Quaker and Mennonite
Churches. CPT P. O. Box 6508 Chicago, IL 60680 tel. 312-455-1199 FAX
312-432-1213, E-Mail cpt [at] igc [dot] org?Subject=Re:%20Puerto%20Rico:%20CPT%20delegation%20calls%20for%20End%20to%20Bombing%20Vieques&In-Reply-To=<981137423 [at] MennoLink [dot] org> WEB www.cpt.org