CPTnet
April 20, 2001
Chicago: CPT Sending Emergency Delegation to Vieques

A U.S. Navy ship will leave its Virginia port for the Puerto Rican Island of
Vieques on April 27, 2001, signalling a possible return to the Navy's
practice bombing runs in the near future.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is assembling an emergency delegation to
Vieques, Puerto Rico, April 30-May 7, 2001 to support groups challenging the
U.S. military presence there.

When a stray practice bomb killed a civilian guard in April 1999, hundreds
of resisters halted Navy training maneuvers for more than a year by
maintaining a dozen peace camps on the bombing range. Members of CPT's
first emergency delegation to the area were among over 200 people arrested
in May, 2000, when U.S. Marshals moved in to clear the camps.

The U.S. Navy controls 2/3rds of Vieques Island, which lies eight miles
off the coast of Puerto Rico, and some 200,000 square miles of surrounding
waters. Military use since the 1940's has resulted in serious contamination
of land and ocean waters, which, together with high noise levels, adversely
affects the health of the 9400 Vieques residents.

The U.S. Navy contends that use of Vieques is essential in training for
military readiness, while thousands of Puerto Ricans -- including the new
governor -- assert that the costs of these maneuvers are too great.

To be included in the CPT emergency team, contact Claire Evans immediately
at guest.76645 [at] MennoLink [dot] org?Subject=Re:%20Chicago:%20CPT%20Sending%20Emergency%20Delegation%20to%20Vieques&In-Reply-To=<987779492 [at] MennoLink [dot] org>, phone 312-455-1199.