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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Calderon Challenged To MarchHouse Asks Congress To Study Rights ViolationsU.S. Seeks Status SolutionPresident Limits Disaster ReliefBerrios Gets 4 Months***** PIP Legislator Challenges Governor To Attend March May 17, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Vice President Fernando Martin summoned Gov. Sila Calderon to participate in the march to be held Monday in support of the people still in jail for trespassing the U.S. Navy's restricted area. "I expect the governor, who will be invited by the Ecumenical Coalition, to participate in this march, accompanying the people's claim for justice," Martin said in press conference. According to the PIP legislator, Calderon's participation will send the U.S. a firm message of her claim for the Navy to leave Vieques as soon as possible. ***** House To Ask U.S. Congress To Study Possible Rights Violations By Proviana Colon Diaz May 17, 2001 The Puerto Rican House of Representatives approved Thursday afternoon a resolution requesting the U.S. Congress to conduct an investigation on the possible human and civil rights violations on the part of the U.S. Navy to those arrested while engaging in civil disobedience in Vieques during the recent military practices. Filed by Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Reps. Jose Varela Fernandez and Severo Colberg Toro, the resolution seeks an investigation by Congress on the possible violation of human and civil rights because the civil disobedience activists were conducting themselves with "dignity and tranquility." But, the resolution continues, when the arrests were made in front of the press, "the agents and federal officials responsible for the arrests proceeded to make use of force, mistreat them, and violate their constitutional rights." "There was abuse, but where were these people entering? The Ritz Carlton? The Caribe Hilton? They were trespassing a highly dangerous place, and they were arrested and treated as they should, because they were arrested for violating the law," said PDP Rep. Jorge De Castro Font, who opposed the resolution. ***** Misla Aldarondo: U.S. Government Seeks To Solve Status Issue May 16, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - House New Progressive Party Minority Leader Edison Misla Aldarondo said President George W. Bush's administration is headed toward seeking a final solution that is constitutionally viable to the status problem in Puerto Rico. Following a meeting in Washington with Karl Rove, Bush's main political advisor, and Ruben Barrales, who heads the Government Affairs' Office at the White House, Misla Aldarondo said it was clearly established that the U.S. president will move forward with the status issue of Puerto Rico. Misla Aldarondo said in a press conference that the president's task group on Puerto Rico's status will soon begin working to evaluate and propose the status' options that will be available to Puerto Rico voters. The group will also be in charge of advising on the use of the $2.5 million in federal funds that were assigned to educate Puerto Rico voters about the final available options. Misla Aldarondo said the Popular Democratic Party will be required to prepare a final formula that will be constitutionally viable and that has dignity, equal to that of the options of independence or statehood. He also said the task group will submit its first report Aug. 1. ***** Bush Declares Only 6 Municipalities As Disaster Areas By Proviana Colon Diaz May 16, 2001 President George W. Bush declined Gov. Sila Calderon's petition to declare the island a disaster zone and authorized federal relief and recovery assistance to only six of the 22 municipalities included in the governor's request. The municipalities declared a disaster zone are Cabo Rojo, Lajas, Guanica, Guayanilla, San German, and Yauco. In her letter to Bush Calderon stated, "I have determined that this situation is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the commonwealth and the local government, and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary." The president responded to the request 10 days after heavy rains caused damages to 22 southwestern municipalities on the island. The official letter issued by Bush, dated May 16, states that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) "will coordinate federal assistance efforts and designate specific areas eligible for such assistance." Calderon did not issue a response to the president's Wednesday decision. ***** Berrios Sentenced To Four Months In Prison After Protest May 16, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) President Ruben Berrios was sentenced to four months in prison Wednesday for trespassing on U.S. Navy land as part of a protest on Vieques. Berrios and hundreds of others tried to thwart recent exercises on the military training ground on Vieques. One other party member, Samuel Soto, was given the same sentence as Berrios, while Felix Rodriguez, Justo Echevarria, Tomas Vargas, and Eddie Questel were sentenced to two months in prison. "It is a classic punitive sentence with political undertones," said PIP Sen. Fernando Martin as he exited the federal court.
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