|
 |
|
Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. PDP Files Complaint Against PIPPIP Leaders Call For Civil DisobedienceNPP Legislators Request Federal Investigation Of PDPPereira Insists On Arresting Those Who Interfere In ViequesHigh Cost Of Section 956 Hinders ApprovalJustice Referred Claims Of Public Funds Use In CampaignVieques Exercises To Resume
PDP Files Complaint Against PIP March 19th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary General Jorge Colberg Toro announced Tuesday that his party filed a complaint against the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) for alleged violations to the Electoral Law. Colberg Toro said the complaint filed at the State Elections Commission (SEC) is based on allegations that for the past 10 years the PIP supposedly paid the rent of three properties that house municipal committees. "Sen. [Fernando] Martin, in a convenient manner has made an interpretation of the Electoral Law that is not true. The Electoral Law is clear in that the payment for renting a property constitutes a contribution under the Article 1.003 of that law," Colberg Toro said in a prepared statement. Martin, who is the PIP executive president, admitted to the payments for the municipal committees in Ponce, Mayagüez, and Cabo Rojo, but insisted that the practice "is absolutely in accordance to the Electoral Law." According to Martin, the only transfer from the electoral funds that is considered illegal is that performed to buy time and space in the mass media through the transferring of funds to other candidates. But Colberg Toro insisted that the PIP is not allowed to use those funds for the payment of rent from other municipal or regional committees.
PIP Leaders Call For Civil Disobedience By Proviana Colon Diaz March 18th, 2002 Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) leaders urged island residents on Monday who believe in the ousting of the U.S. Navy from Vieques to engage in massive acts of civil disobedience during the next round of military practices schedule to begin on April 1. The party efforts on that matter will be headed this time by PIP Vice President Maria De Lourdes Santiago, who declined to say how many people will accompany her or what will be the group strategy. Still, she said she was "most honored" to be able to lead the group in such mission which she, as lawyer, has defended in court. "If the consequence is to lose my license to practice, I honestly don’t think that will matter. We are all willing to do whatever it takes to denounce these unjustifiable practices," Santiago said. In the past it has been the tradition of members of the PIP to reach the target zone in order to interrupt the practices. This time, however, since the State Police already announced that it will arrest all those who interfere with the maneuvers, Santiago said the strategy is yet to be determined and will be evaluated upon arrival. PIP Executive President Sen. Fernando Martin also denounced the decision of Police Superintendent Miguel Pereira regarding the arrests. "What neither Pedro Toledo nor Pierre Vivoni dared to do, he is now doing it, which just goes to show that our opposition to his appointment was right," Martin said. Martin as well as other pro independence leaders opposed Pereira’s appointment due to his experience within the federal government and the fact that he is married to FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Caribbean and Puerto Rico Marlene Hunter. Although Toledo was also a former FBI agent, it was both his position and that of his substitute Vivoni not to arrest those engaging in civil disobedience as they argued those acts were carried out in federal jurisdiction. The Navy officially announced last week the beginning of a new round of military practices for April 1. The new round of practices will be held during the third anniversary of David Sanes’ death. Sanes, a civilian guard, was killed by a 500-pound bomb that accidentally fell on the observation point he had been posted. His death started the movement to oust the Navy from Vieques as both political and civil leaders engaged in a campaign to fight for the human rights of approximately 9,000 Vieques residents.
NPP Legislators Request Federal Investigation Of PDP March 18th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) – Two New Progressive Party (NPP) legislators handed a petition Monday to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office to investigate the Popular Democratic Party’s (PDP) political campaign. NPP House Minority Leader Anibal Vega Borges accompanied by NPP Rep. Pablo Lafontaine met Monday afternoon with prosecutor Rosa Emilia Rodriguez, who is the executive assistant for Interim U.S. District Attorney Guillermo Gil Bonar to make his petition official. According to Vega Borges, Rodriguez said she will transmit the petition to Gil Bonar, who could refer the case to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The Commonwealth Comptroller’s Office is also included in the request, since the legislators want the investigation "to be performed as soon as possible," said Vega Borges to The Associated Press. The NPP legislator welcomed the fact that these allegations were referred to Justice Secretary Anabelle Rodriguez, although he said she should inhibit herself from the process. Vega Borges referred to the fact that Rodriguez is the sister-in-law of one of the owners of Lopito, Ileana & Howie advertising agency, which was in charge of Calderon’s campaign in 2000. "All the agencies that want to investigate, should investigate. The important thing here is that the U.S. District Attorney’s Office should join the Comptroller's Office in this investigation," Vega Borges affirmed. However, the NPP legislator ruled out that the Independent Citizens Committee for the Investigation of Government Transactions could perform an investigation as Gov. Sila Calderon said Monday. "I don know what the "Blue Ribbon" is going to investigate about, because the governor is the one who designated them and who pays them," stated Vega Borges.
Pereira Insists On Arresting Those Who Interfere In Vieques March 17th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Police Superintendent Miguel Pereira met Sunday with Vieques Mayor Damaso Serrano and members of Cordinadora Viequenses por la Paz to reiterate them his intention of arresting everyone who interferes with the U.S. Navy practices scheduled to begin in April. The meeting held in Vieques for two hours was described by Pereira as "cordial and productive." The superintendent noted that the Viequenses must understand that the police must comply with their duty. Pereira indicated that some 200 agents will guard the fence that separates the civil population from the military camp Garcia, just like in previous military practices. Meanwhile, civil disobedience demonstrators have said they will pose as human shields to stop the bombing practices despite the presence of the police.
High Cost Of Section 956 Hinders Approval March 17th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - The efforts of Gov. Sila Calderon’s administration to obtain the approval of the amendments for Section 956 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code have proven to be more difficult each time, as the proposed amendment would cost approximately $32 billion in 11 years to the federal government. According to published reports, the estimated cost represents another blow to the efforts of the local government to seek Congressional approval for the plan intended to promote the manufacturing industry and create more jobs on the island. Many observers believe the estimated cost is too high for Congress to approve. However, the local government insists that the estimate is inaccurate.
Justice Referred Claims Of Public Funds Use In Campaign By WOW News staff March 16th, 2002 Gov. Sila Calderon referred to the Justice Department the allegations of the use of public funds from the San Juan municipality in her 2000 gubernatorial campaign, without first describing them as "libelous and totally false." "The accusation that public funds were used in the political campaign. . .in what concerns me, is completely false," said Calderon, adding that "I am asking the Justice Department today [Friday] to look into these allegations." After waiting for more than four hours in front of the Government Reception Center, where the governor held Friday an extensive meeting with her Infrastructure Council, the media finally got a chance to get some answers from her, after it was alleged in published reports that former Popular Democratic Party (PDP) General Secretary and now Secretary of State Ferdinand Mercado was the "brain" behind the PDP illegal scheme. Calderon defended the former PDP secretary general as "an honorable person." Calderon also justified her action of referring these allegations to the Justice Department, contrary to what she did with the prior accusations that were referred to the State Elections Commission, since the accusations involve the use of public funds. The executive reiterated that the people should maintain their confidence in the organism that the audit report was commended to. "I want to reiterate to the Puerto Rican people that in what concerns me, who is the person that holds the final responsibility of my campaign, that my whole campaign was done in accordance to the law," the governor said before entering the vehicle which took her back to La Fortaleza.
Vieques Exercises To Resume March 15th, 2002 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)--The U.S. Navy notified Puerto Rico 's government on Friday it will resume military exercises on the outlying island of Vieques next month. The training exercises could begin as early as April 1 and will last about 22 days, Capt. G.H. Cooper said in a letter to the U.S. territory's secretary of state, Ferdinand Mercado. Only inert bombs are to be used at the firing range on the island's eastern tip. The last round of exercises on Vieques was held in September and October. The Navy stopped using live bombs on Vieques after off-target bombs killed a civilian guard on the range in 1999, triggering mass demonstrations. The Navy has bombed the Vieques firing range for six decades, training troops for conflicts from World War II to the Gulf War. Opponents say the bombardment harms the environment and health of Vieques ' 9,100 residents -accusations the Navy denies. In the nonbinding locally administered referendum in July, 68% of the island's voters said the Navy should leave immediately. Islanders were supposed to vote in a binding November referendum to decide whether the Navy should continue bombing on Vieques , but Congress canceled the vote, leaving the question of when the military would withdraw up to Navy Secretary Gordon England. President George W. Bush has said the Navy should stop using Vieques by May 2003.
|