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Seasoned Vet
 
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After Nearly Six Decades of Bombing, U.S. Navy Leaves Island of Vieques
By Michelle Faul Associated Press Writer
Published: May 1, 2003
VIEQUES, Puerto Rico (AP) - Sending fireworks shooting into the sky, islanders celebrated the U.S. Navy's withdrawal from Vieques and the success of a protest movement that helped force an end to nearly 60 years of bombing exercises on the Caribbean island. Hundreds of activists jailed for trespassing to thwart the bombing prepared for their next battle - reclaiming lands transferred Wednesday to the Department of Interior, which will help transform the range into a wildlife refuge. The Navy handed over 15,000 acres of land on eastern Vieques with no fanfare, just a written statement.
"We are here today to mark the beginning of a new era in peace and prosperity for Vieques," Gov. Sila Calderon said Wednesday to thunderous applause. "It is a moment of great joy, for we have achieved our dream."
She announced she will ask Congress to put Vieques on the National Priority List for a cleanup of the bombing range.
To show their continuing defiance to U.S. government control, dozens of protesters entered the seaside range in boats Wednesday evening, saying they want to "send a message ... that these lands belong to the people of Vieques."
Later, militants stole Navy vehicles, drove them to the gate and smashed the lights and windows with sledgehammers. They turned over a Humvee towing a boat and set it ablaze. They also burned two American flags.
"Get out, Navy!" they screamed.
They ignored warnings that the range is dangerous with unexploded munitions. People are "playing Russian roulette," warned Oscar Diaz-Marrero, a biologist in charge of the wildlife refuge.
Outside the gates of Camp Garcia, protesters yelled a familiar refrain: "Out with the Navy! Peace for Vieques."
Pulling large wirecutters out of their knapsacks, activists rushed to help federal workers dismantle a chain-link fence at the edge of the Navy's Camp Garcia.
President Bush announced in 2001 that the Navy would stop using the island this year.
The eastern third will be administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, forming the largest federal wildlife refuge in Puerto Rico, along with 3,100 acres from a munitions warehouse on Vieques' western end.
In the 1940s, the United States bought up 25,000 acres - about two-thirds of Vieques - to make way for a bombing range, forcing out families and farmers with scant compensation. Military exercises began in 1947.
Some now want that land turned over to Puerto Rican authorities. They say islanders should be allowed to open inns and environmentally friendly lodges there to boost tourism and help unemployment that runs at about 12 percent.
Simmering local resentment to the Navy exercises exploded in anger and protests when two 500-pound bombs were dropped off target on the range and killed civilian guard David Sanes in 1999.
Protesters stormed the range and occupied it for a year before federal marshals forcibly removed them. The exercises resumed, restricted to dummy bombs, but protesters continued to invade.
The cause drew celebrities including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., New York civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Congressman Luis Gutierrez of Chicago and actor Edward James Olmos. All were jailed for trespassing on federal land, along with more 1,000 local protesters.
Sharpton, a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, arrived in Puerto Rico Wednesday to join the festivities and said he felt vindicated after spending 90 days in prison in 2001.
Bush "did a good thing by finally listening to the people," said Sharpton.
Protesters say the bombing has fouled the environment, stunted an economy limited to fishing and tourism and damaged the health of the 9,300 islanders.
The Navy denies its practices have been harmful.
---
On the Net:
U.S. Navy: www.news.navy.mil
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques: www.prorescatevieques.org
AP-ES-05-01-03 0229EDT
Evil Unchecked Grows, and Evil Tolerated Poisens The Entire System. Jahwal Nehru ------------------------------------------------------------- In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain.
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Strac Trooper
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Yeah, the Purto Ricans want freedom from the "Bad" Navy, lets give it to them, we don't need a commonwealth who's main exports have been big-butt-R&B-singers who are from NY.
All Kidding aside, This means that the Navy and MC will now come and blow up MY Base! Eglin AFB will be the new bombing range, and our base sits in an area with many more times the people...but i guess that it is better to bomb the Mainland US and risk more lives than to p#^s off the commonwealth-ers and kill off some treehugging PETA/Greenpeace frigging animals!
Got to love how they can get backing from "Celebrities"...especially the Good Rev Al, a convict who probably couldn't even preach the good book to a sunday school...but that's another topic
 
Fighters are our salvation, But BOMBERS alone provide us with the means of VICTORY! - Winston Churchill
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Seasoned Vet
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This one of those stories with the kind of irony that I love.[ ][][][]
Yea!! They wanted the range back, . . well they got it back but Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has announced that the U.S. Navy will close the Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station in Puerto Rico in 2004, eliminating 1,200 civilian jobs as well as 700 military positions. This naval facility is estimated to have put nearly $300 million annually into the local economy.
The next day a stunned Governor Calderon held a news conference protesting the base closure as a serious blow to Puerto Rico's flaccid economy. [scared][scared][scared][scared] The governor stated that "The people of Puerto Rico don't now or never did have an interest in closing the Vieques bombing range or the Roosevelt Roads naval base. My government is interested in both staying in Puerto Rico." (. . . as if he had never heard of the protests!!)
When asked, Admiral Natter of the Western Atlantic Command, said, "Without Vieques, I see no further need for the facility at Roosevelt Roads. None."
So, it is . . . Yanqui go home! Fine. . . . . But we'll take our dollars with us.[][thup][thup][thup] Hasta la vista . . . baby!
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Hard Charger
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That story was on Dateline or 20/20 months ago. The Governor of PR wanted the range closed but he's demanding the base stay open claiming it's being closed out of spite for the loss of the range. The Navy stated the base supported the range activity and there is no other need for the base. The Governor was perfectly aware of the protests as he stated support of them and even took part in some. The Governor was also interviewed demanding the closing of the range in earlier news broadcasts.
It's absolutely true there is no reason for the base other then the existence of the range activity. The Governor stated in the interview it's not up to the military to decide which bases it needs, politicians tell the military what it needs.
The Governor didn't stop at the news conference he is now lobbying for the base to stay open.
Much the same happened to Monterey when the Army wanted the ability to perform airlifts from either an airbase or from an upgraded Monterey airport. The 7th ID being an RDF was forced to transport overland first to SoCal then airlift to deploy.
For years they had talks Monterey saying they didn't want large aircraft because of noise and environment, then the Army said so long been nice. Monterey said wait lets talk, the Army said we have talked for over three years talking is done see ya.
Too bad I liked the Monterey area.
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Seasoned Vet
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One of our the members here, (Ranger Rios) covered this topic extremely well a few months back. He went into great detail about the political enviorment on PR.
If you guys are interested, you can do a search on those topics.
Evil Unchecked Grows, and Evil Tolerated Poisens The Entire System. Jahwal Nehru ------------------------------------------------------------- In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain.
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Seasoned Vet
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I bet they would have more pull as a state.
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Strac Trooper
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What will happen to the "coyboys" that roamed that thorn covered island?
HHC 3/325, 4/325 83 - 89
LETS GO!!!USPMA #11, CVMA #1271 NH 5-1
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