Navy impact on Viequeseconomy-Impacto
de la Marina en el Desarrollo Econmico de Vieques
The Navy Struggle-Letters to the U.S. Government
On the possibilities of Vieques without the Navy
The Battle of Vieques continues . . .
Impacto de la Marina en el Desarrollo
Econmico de Vieques
Comit Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Cul ha sido el impacto de la presencia de la Marina de Guerra de EU en
el desarrollo socio-econmico de nuestro pueblo? En los aos cuarenta,
la Marina expropi 26,000 de las 33,000 cuerdas de Vieques.
Expropiaron las tierras ms frtiles y la Central Playa Grande causando
un aumento drstico en el desempleo. Si es cierto que hubo mucho
trabajo en la nueva Base, es igualmente cierto que, en las palabras de
Justo Pastor Ruiz, (q.e.p.d., pastor de la Iglesia Episcopal de Vieques
en la dcada de 1940 y autor de libro, Vieques antiguo y moderno): "Este
auge de dinero constante y sonante - las vacas faranicas - nunca
compens por muchos atrasos causados por la Base Naval...y...al
decretarse la economa en las obras militares al extremo de dejar slo
un destacamento para maintenance, sobrevino la crisis."
El 20 de febrero de 1942, en el peridico El Mundo, Leoncio Davis,
alcalde de Vieques, seal "que la expropiacin de terrenos cultivables
por las autoridades militares ha trado (...) la prdida de alrededor
del 40 por ciento de los ingresos municipales (...) La situacin actual
no parece tan grave porque hay mucho trabajo, pero tan pronto terminen
las obras militares (...) la poblacin va a tener que emigrar a Puerto
Rico."
Pastor Ruiz informa que en 1943 "el pueblo se fue al camino con banderas
negras. (...) el Alcalde Doctor Davis, Escolstico Cruz, Manuel
Mellado, Marcelo Rivera y Antonio Rivera, auxiliados por el Seor Germn
Rieckehoff, formaron una comisin que visit al Gobernador Rexford Guy
Tugwell (...) para recabar ayuda para resolver la crisis econmica
causada por la llegada de la Marina."
En 1946, el Seor Germn Rieckehoff Morales estableci la asociacin
"Hijos de Vieques" y un peridico titulado, El Eco de Vieques, con el
lema, "La rehabilitacin de Vieques habr de ser obra de sus propios
hijos." En el peridico, El Mundo, del 15 de junio de 1947, apareci el
titular, "Asociacin Hijos de Vieques se opone a base naval en la
isla." Germn Rieckehoff argumentaba que el establecimiento de una base
naval creara una situacin de inestabilidad econmica en Vieques.
En 1947 la Marina planific el traslado de la poblacin entera de
Vieques a la isla de Santa Cruz. El famoso "Plan Drcula" (1961) de la
Marina buscaba la abolicin del municipio de Vieques. En 1964,
amenazaron con expropiar la costa sur de Vieques. Estos intentos de
quedarse con todas nuestras tierras crearon un continuo estado de
inestabilidad e incertidumbre entre nuestra poblacin y los posibles
inversionistas. Claro ejemplo de esto fue el caso de la Compaa
Woolnor. En el peridico, El Mundo, del 18 de julio de 1964, aparece
lo siguiente:
"La sombra de la oposicin de la Marina de Guerra al desarrollo
turstico en Vieques ha obligado a la Woolnor Corporation a abandonar
sus planes de construir un centro residencial en la isla a un costo de
$9,000,000 (...) Una razn importante por la cual la Woolnor nunca
recibi el visto bueno de Fomento sobre el proyecto fue la negativa de
la marina a permitir la expansin de la pista que tiene en la isla."
La intensa lucha de nuestro pueblo entre 1978 y 1980 oblig a la Marina
a admitir que su presencia tiene un impacto negativo en nuestra
economa. En 1983, la Marina se comprometi a crear proyectos de
desarrollo econmico (VEDCO). Sobre este proyecto la profesora Sara
Grusky, de Howard University en Washington D.C. escribi: "Seis aos
despus de iniciar el programa, el desempleo en Vieques contina en
alrededor del cincuenta por ciento. Extensas promesas se hicieron
(...) Muy pocos de estos desarrollos se han realizado; otros comenzaron
pero han fracasado. Nuevas fbricas construidas por la Administracin
de Fomento Econmico yacen vacas y contribuyen a las frustraciones de
la poblacin."
El Lt. Comdr. Michael McCloskey USN, en el ltimo nmero del Vieques
Times, utiliza la vieja estrategia militar para callar la crtica va
promesas de desarrollo econmico. Sabemos que los que han abusado y
atropellado en el pasado se incomodan con el recuento histrico. La
historia de la presencia de la Marina en Vieques demuestra claramente
que la Marina ha sido y es el obstculo principal a nuestro progreso
socio-econmico. La responsabilidad para nuestro futuro desarrollo
recae sobre nuestra poblacin y nuestro gobierno. Si los militares
quieren ser buenos vecinos, que nos devuelvan los terrenos que ocupan .
Repetimos las palabra de Don Germn Rieckehoff: "La rehabilitacin de
Vieques habr de ser obra de sus propios hijos."
(Publicado en el peridico, Vieques Times, noviembre de 1993)
Impact of the US Navy Presence on
the Economic Development of Vieques
R. Rabin
for the Comit Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
What impact has the U.S. Navy had on the economic development of
Vieques? In the 1940's the Navy expropriated 26,000 of Vieques' 33,000
acres. The most fertile lands and the Playa Grande Sugar Factory were
taken, causing a drastic increase in unemployment. If it is true that
there was much work on the new naval base, it is equally true that, in
the words of Justo Pastor Ruiz (pastor of the Episcopal Church of
Vieques in the 1940's and author of the book, Vieques antiguo y
moderno): "This economic boom - the pharaonic cows - never compensated
for the many reverses caused by the Navy Base (...) and (...) when the
military construction was halted, leaving only a maintenance crew, the
crisis set in."
On February 20, 1943, in the newspaper, El Mundo, the mayor of Vieques,
Leoncio Davis, commented that "the expropriation of agricultural lands
by the military authorities has resulted in the loss of around 40 per
cent of municipal income (...) The present situation does not appear
grave because there is work, but as soon as the military construction
ends (...) the people of Vieques will have to migrate to Puerto Rico."
Pastor Ruiz informs us that in 1943 "people took to the streets with
black flags (...) the mayor, Dr. Davis, Escolstico Cruz, Manuel
Mellado, Marcelo River and Antonio Rivera (all leading citizens of
Vieques at the time), with the aid of Germn Rieckehoff, formed a
commission that visited the Governor of Puerto Rico, Rexford Guy Tugwell
(..) to ask for help to resolve the economic crisis caused by the
arrival of the Navy."
In 1946, Germn Rieckehoff established the association, "Sons of
Vieques" and a newspaper titled, The Echo of Vieques, with the slogan,
"The rehabilitation of Vieques will be the work of her own sons and
daughters." In the newspaper, El Mundo, on 15 June, 1947, an article
appears with the title, "Association Sons of Vieques opposes naval base
on the island." Germn Rieckehoff argued that the establishment of a
navy base would create a situation of economic instability on Vieques.
In 1947 the Navy planned to transfer the entire population of Vieques to
the Island of St. Croix. Through the infamous "Dracula Plan" (1961),
the Navy asked for the abolition of the municipality of Vieques. In
1964, they threatened to expropriate the south coast of the island.
These attempts to take over all of Vieques created a continuous state of
instability and uncertainty among our population and among possible
investors. A clear example of this situation was the case of the
Woolnor Corp. The San Juan newspaper, El Mundo, printed the following
in its July 18, 1964 issue:
"The shadow of Navy opposition to tourist development on Vieques has
forced the Woolnor Corporation to abandon plans to build a residential
center on the island at a cost of $9,000,000 (...) An important reason
why Woolnor never received authorization for the project from the PR
Economic Development Office was the unwillingness of the Navy to allow
expansion of the air strip on the island."
The intense struggle of our people between 1978 and 1980 forced the Navy
to admit that its presence had a negative impact on our economy. In
1983, the Navy promised economic development program (VEDCO).
Washington, D.C. economist, Sara Grusky, wrote the following about the
Navy plan:
"(Navy's) efforts to attract industry to Vieques has not been successful
and six years later unemployment remains above the 50% level. Expansive
promises were made, including a jewelry manufacturer's industrial park,
new tourist industry, an herb farm, a mariculture project, electronic,
printing and textile factories, and an improved airport. Few of the
promised developments have taken place; others have started but failed.
New factory buildings constructed by the Puerto Rico Economic
Development Administration (FOMENTO) remain empty and contribute to the
frustrations of the populace."
Lt. Comdr. Michael McCloskey USN, in the last issued of Vieques Times,
used the old military strategy of promising economic development in
order to stifle critics of the Navy. Those who have abused and
mistreated others in the past are uncomfortable with public discussion
of history. The history of the Navy presence in Vieques clearly
demonstrates that the Navy has been and is the principal obstacle to our
peoples' social and economic progress. The responsibility for future
development on Vieques rests upon the shoulders of our people and our
government. If the Navy wishes to be a good neighbor, it has only to
return our land. We repeat the words of Don Germn Rieckehoff: "The
rehabilitation of Vieques is to be the work of its own sons and
daughters".
Vieques without the Navy
On the possibilities of a future economic development in Vieques without the Navy.
These are ideas taken from the community, that include issues like, how to control
land use from speculatores - both Viequenses and outsiders - how to make sure development
will be sensible to the environment-ecology and how to make the economic benefits stay in
Vieques and not all travel to Ct.
DESARROLLO DE UN VIEQUES LIBRE
R. Rabin
El futuro desarrollo socio-econmico de un Vieques libre de la Marina es
un tema de gran importancia para todos los participantes en la lucha por
el rescate de la Isla Nena. La planificacin de este desarrollo es
responsabilidad de todos los puertorriqueos. Modelos de desarrollo en
la Isla Grande, en Culebra y en las Islas Vrgenes nos ensean el camino
incorrecto. La especulacin y el control que ejercen extranjeros
actualmente sobre los terrenos y la economa turstica de Vieques
apuntan a lo inmediato del problema.
Despus de medio siglo de lucha contra las fuerzas militares ms
poderosas del planeta el pueblo viequense no permitir que se entregaran sus tierras
liberadas a unos "buscones". Todos estamos concientes de
los intereses de los mafiosos hoteleros y sus lacayos en el Capitolio y
en las agencias reguladoras. Pero la necesidad - el derecho - de un
real crecimiento socio-econmico y la confianza en las capacidades de
nuestra gente exigen un esfuerzo desinteresado de todos en pro de un
desarrollo econmico positivo para Vieques.
Todava falta mucho por lograr la salida de la Marina y la devolucin de
los terrenos al pueblo viequense. Pero la discusin sobre el futuro uso
de esos terrenos y la direccin de la economa necesitan nuestra
atencin ahora. Durante los ltimos dos aos, el Comit Pro Rescate y
Desarrollo de Vieques (CPRDV) trabaja este tema con la ayuda de
especialistas de Puerto Rico y del exterior. Se han mencionado, entre
otras posibilidades econmicas, proyectos de ecoturismo, la creacin de
centros de estudio de la biologa marina y de la historia del pueblo y
proyectos de agricultura, pesca, y artesana. Nuestro clima posibilita
la generacin de energa abundante y no contaminante (solar-viento) como
parte de un desarrollo sensible a la ecologa.
Nuestra realidad geogrfica e histrica colocan a Vieques en una
excelente posicin para funcionar como enlace entre Puerto Rico - y
otros paises - con la Antillas Menores. Las relaciones histricas -
comerciales y culturales - entre Vieques y varias islas cercanas: St.
Thomas, St. Croix, St. Kitts-Nevis, Trtola, Guadalupe y Martinica
podran aprovecharse para fomentar una nueva red comercial en nuestra
parte del Caribe.
Vieques tiene los recursos naturales necesarios para un desarrollo
sostenible en los renglones arriba mencionados. Sin embargo, la
liberacin de las 2/3 partes de estos recursos, controlados por las
fuerzas militares de E.U. desde los aos cuarenta, es un requisito para
cualquier desarrollo. Las tierras ms frtiles, los acuferos ms
importantes, los puntos ms altos de la topografa, las ms hermosas
playas, el punto de contacto ms corto entre Vieques y la Isla Grande,
las zonas pesqueras ms productivas, y ms de doscientos lugares de
importancia arqueolgica e histrica cuentan entre los recursos nuestros
ahora bajo jurisdiccin militar.
Adems de los excelentes recursos naturales y una estratgica
localizacin geogrfica, existen abundantes recursos humanos en Vieques,
en Puerto Rico y en el exterior, interesados en la creacin de un modelo
de desarrollo en funcin de las necesidades de la comunidad. Expertos
en la planificacin, economistas, ambientalistas, arquitectos,
ingenieros y otros profesionales de las universidades y de la prctica
privada en Puerto Rico y fuera, han participado en una serie de
reuniones con el Comit Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques.
Compaeros como Neftal Garca y el equipo de Servicios Cientficos y
Tcnicos, Wilfredo Lpez y Jorge Fernndez de Misin Industrial, el
Proyecto Caribeo de Justicia y Paz, el Instituto Puertorriqueo de
Derechos Civiles, PRISA, cuentan entre algunos individuos y entidades
que participan en estas discusiones con el CPRDV. De la Universidad de
Puerto Rico han ofrecido ayuda tcnica y consejera Liliana Cotto
(sociloga), Edwin Quiles (arquitecto), Anibal Seplveda y Betzaida
Centeno (planificadores), Severo Rivera (Esc. Salud Pblica), Jorge
Rodrguez Beruff y Humberto Garca (Instituto de Estudios del Caribe),
entre otros.
El grupo, Economistas Aliados por una Reduccin de Armamentos
(ECAAR-Economists Allied for Arms Reduction), ayuda al CPRDV a estudiar
cientficamente el impacto econmico de la Marina en la isla. En
coordinacin con expertos en Vieques y en Puerto Rico, ECAAR participa
en la conceptualizacin de un crecimiento econmico saludable para
nuestras futuras generaciones.
En febrero un equipo de estudiantes graduados de la Universidad de
Maine, participantes en el curso, Conversin de Facilidades Militares a
Uso Civil, trabaj con el CPRDV en Vieques. La Dra. Leticia Rivera,
miembro de ECAAR, dirigi el grupo que recopil una gran cantidad de
informacin de las oficinas locales y centrales de las agencias de
gobierno y de extensas entrevistas con nuestra gente. Durante una
reunin en la UPR de Ro Piedras, compartieron sus impresiones y
recogieron data adicional de varios acadmicos conocedores de y
solidarios con la lucha de Vieques. Un equipo de la Escuela Graduada de
Planificacin de la Universidad de Columbia (NY), tambin coordinado por
ECAAR, vendr en el verano para continuar estos trabajos.
Paralelo a los trabajos del Comit Pro Rescate, la Alcaldesa de Vieques,
Manuela Santiago Collazo, contrat la firma de arquitectos Marvel,
Flores y Asociados para preparar un "Plan de Ordenamiento Territorial".
La preparacin de este plan es un requisito para la Autonoma Municipal
que solicita su administracin. Hasta ahora, una falta de participacin
genuina de la comunidad viequense caracteriza este proyecto de la
Alcalda.
La participacin en la planificacin futura de Vieques es un deber de
todos. No podemos confiar en el gobierno, porque la historia no lo
permite. Sin embargo, debemos exigirle a las agencias de gobierno -
Recursos Naturales, Fomento Econmico, Autoridad de los Puertos,
Turismo, etc. - un alto nivel de eficiencia y una reglamentacin
riguroso aplicada al desarrollo con el fin de proteger los intereses de
la ecologa y de la comunidad. Es menester abrir los procesos de
discusin y de toma de decisiones sobre el futuro de Vieques.
Es precisamente una participacin activa, amplia, concientizada y
genuina de la comunidad en la planificacin de su desarrollo, la ms
eficiente manera de combatir el oportunismo poltico y econmico que
generalmente contaminan estos procesos. La creacin de una
reglamentacin que protege el ambiente y que garantice que los
beneficiarios principales del futuro desarrollo sean los viequenses, ha
de ser una aportacin del pueblo. El CPRDV est comprometido con las
responsabilidades que evocan su nombre: luchar por la devolucin de los
terrenos controlados por la Marina y concientizar a la comunidad sobre
el deber y el derecho del pueblo a jugar un papel determinante en el
futuro desarrollo de un Vieques Libre.
(Publicado en CLARIDAD, abril de 1995)
top
The Navy Struggle
COMMITTEE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT & RESCUE OF VIEQUES
P.O. BOX 1424
VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO 00765
March 20, 1998
Mr. Jeffrey Farrow
Co-Chairman, Interagency Group on Puerto Rico
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Mr. Farrow:
This is in response to your request during our meeting on Monday, March
9th. At that time you asked me to send you a report on environmental
contamination in Vieques and its effect on the health of our people.
I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
Since 1938, the US Navy has been acquiring land in Vieques by
expropriation. During World War II the land was mostly used for storing
bombs and other military weapons in he western part of the island. By
1946, the Navy started using the land they acquired in the eastern part
of the island for landing and bombing exercises. After the Navy left
the island of Culebra in 1972, these bombing exercises have increased to
the point that at times the bombing effects are felt in Culebra and even
in St. Thomas.
Now, the Navy plans to install the transmitter of a ROTHR system in the
area of Playa Grande in the western part of the island.
II. ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION:
There are very few studies on environmental contamination in Vieques.
In March 1988, Engineer Rafael-Cruz Perez, made a summary of these
studies in a paper he published in Dimensions, a scientific magazine
published by the Puerto Rico College of Engineers. In this paper,
Cruz-Perez states:
1. In August 1978, in a study done by Gorge A. Young, from the
Explosives Chemistry Branch of the Naval Surface Weapons Center, found
levels of hydrocarbons in the area, one mile from the explosion site
which were higher that the normal federal criteria.
(4.68 p.p.m. versus 0.24 p.p.m.).
2. In May 1978, John C. Hoffsomer and Donald J. Glover, from the same
Naval Center, found levels of TNT, NO3, NO2, RDX and Tetryl in soil and
water samples in Vieques. They stated, "there is no essential
difference between water and soil samples taken outside and inside the
impact area in explosive content". (pag. 5a of the report).
3. The Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board in 1972 had found high
levels of NO2, ozone, hidrocarbons and particulates in air samples in
Esperanza and Isabel II. In 1978 they repeated the study and found
similar results. They also found abnormal values of iron in soil
samples.
All of these contaminants are by-products of the detonation of explosive
ordnance and are evidence of the contamination produced by the naval
practices. It must be emphasized that nitrites (NO3) are are potent
carcinogens and have been linked to the production of cancer of the
gastrointestinal tract. By 1972, nitrites were present in the the water
that Viequenses were using. RDX was identified as a carcinogenic threat
to the drinking water supplies on Cape Cod, for which reason EPA
demanded a cease firing at the Massachussets Military Base. o
The US Navy, in its Roosevelt Roads publication, El Navegante, admitted
in November 1992, that hey used Napalm during the exercises held in
Vieques in October of the same year.
Baker Environmental Inc., based in Coraupolis, Pennsylvania, prepared a
document for the Department of the Navy, Div. of Atlantic Naval Base
Command in Norfolk, Virginia, in which they described three areas in the
Navy occupied land in the Western part of Vieques that were heavily
contaminated with by-products of missile fuel. Specifically, they
stated that 1,775 lbs. of mixed amines and 5,275 of nitric acid were
dumped in these three areas. The areas studied contain three small
lakes whose water eventually gains access to water used in Vieques.
These findings were published in a Community Relations Plan prepared by
Roosevelt Roads in August 1993.
Dr. Jose Seguinot-Barbosa, Director of the Geography Department of the
University of Puerto Rico, reported in 1989 "an extensive destruction of
natural resources, coral reefs, beaches, etc." in the area of bombing
practices.
III ROTHR CONTAMINATION
The U.S. Navy claims that electromagnetic waves from the ROTHR has no
athermal effect on the environment and the health of human beings. This
is based mostly on the statements from the US Air Force Armstrong
Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas which expresses that non-thermal
radiation from the ROTHR has no ill effects.
However, R. Cletus Kanavy, a researcher in the Phillips Laboratory at
Kirkland AFB< New Mexico, in a memo to his supervisor said, "It is
existence of any biological effects which are not thermal".
(Microwave News, Sept-Oct 1993).
There is extensive scientific literature that maintains that ROTHR's
electromagnetic waves have non-thermal effects in the environment and
human health populations. I will refer to some of the most prestigious
scientists that adhere to this fact:
1. Dennis Ajeresm, Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico (Health
Physics, 1991).
2. Ross Adley, Researcher at VA Hospital, Loma Linda, California.
(Senate Subcommittee Hearings, August 1992).
3. Edward Elson - Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. (1st World
Congress for Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine, Orlando,
Fla., June 1992).
The Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons in their comments to
the EIS prepared by the Navy in 1997, included 15 pages of references on
studies on the effect of electromagnetic waves on the health of human
populations, specially the production of cancer (see Annex I). Some of
these effects that may be linked to cancer in human beings are:
alteration in intercellular communication, alteration in the processing
of genetic information and dysfunction of the immune system.
IV CANCER IN VIEQUES
I left with you a copy of a study mad on cancer in Vieques by the Puerto
Rico Department of Health in November 1997. In it, the incidence of
cancer in Vieques as compared to the whole island of Puerto Rico, is
shown to be higher. Although the report finds that the 1985-89 report
is statistically significant, further analysis of the data done by the
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology of the University of Puerto
Rico School of Public Health, shows that the rise incidence starting in
1975-79 is statistically significant. More so, the upper level of the
confidence interval (at 95%) of that period lies in the "alert level"
recommended by the Agency in Toxic Substances of the Us Health & Human
Services Department. Also, according to the same agency, the cancer
level registered in 1980-84 reached a point at the "action level". This
means that cancer in Vieques is a serious problem since 1975-79.
A projection for the period 1990-94 puts the cancer incidence in Vieques
at 152 compared to the standard level of 100 for Puerto Rico. In other
words, it is 52% higher than the main island of Puerto Rico, where there
is no bombing.
V CONCLUSION
US Navy exercises in Vieques have been an important source of
environmental contamination in the island. Some of these contaminants
(like nitrites and RDX) are known to be potent carcinogens.
The ROTHR installation in Vieques will add significantly to the existent
contamination and, therefore, to the continuing rise in he incidence of
cancer in Vieques.
I hope that his information is valuable to you and that it will help us
in our struggles to keep ROTHR our of Vieques.
Sincerely,
Rafael A. Rivera-Castao, M.D., M.P.H.
Committee for the rescue and
Development of Vieques
c: Hon. Pedro Rossell, Gov. of P.R.
Hon. Manuela Santiago, Mayor, Vieques
Hon. Carlos Romero Barcel, Resident Commissioner
Hon. Nydia Velazquez, Congresswoman
Hon. Jose Serrano, Congressman
Hon. Luis Gutierrez, Congressman
Committe to Include the Vieques Navy Bases
in the List of Base Closings of the U.S. Federal Government
471 Magnolia Street
Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765
(809) 741-8651
8 February, 1993
Mr. Les Aspen
Secretary of Defense
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Aspin:
Warm greetings from the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. We respectfully
request that you include the U..S. naval Bases on Vieques in the program
of closings of military facilities that began last year (1992). The
closure of the Vieques bases will no only contribute to the Federal
Government's plan to save 60,000 million dollars in the Defense budget,
but the return of our land will help return the dignity of our people
through the civilian economic development that will ensue.
Since the 1940's, when the U.S. Navy expropriated 72% (26,000 of 33,000
acres) of Vieques' territory, our island has suffered a prolonged
economic crisis and a massive out-migration. From a population of
around 15,000 in the forties, Vieques currently has 8,000 inhabitants.
A 50% unemployment rate, lack of adequate housing, health facilities and
a growing crime rate are among the manifestations of the critical
economic situation on Vieques. Lack of control over 2/3 of the island
is widely recognized as the principal cause of Vieques' economic and
social woes. The devastating ecological impact of five decades of Naval
bombardment and military maneuvers has been well documented by
government and private experts.
(Page 2 of 2)
In 1980, Congressman Ron Dellums directed the House Armed Services
Committee's Investigation of Naval Activities on the Island of Vieques
and opined in the final conclusion that the Navy should relocate.
In 1983, then Governor of Puerto Rico, Carlos Romero Barcel, signed an
agreement with the Department of the Navy whereby the Puerto Rican
government dropped litigations against the military for ecological and
economic damage on Vieques in exchange for a Navy commitment to mitigate
the ecological impact of their activities and help with local economic
development. All of the economic projects set up in Vieques with
assistance from the Navy and the Pentagon closed down within one to two
years after initiating operations.
In October, 1992, during a two week training activity, the Navy dropped
twenty tons of live explosives on the island and, for the first time in
ten years, carried out bombing practice with live napalm.
We believe that closing Vieques' naval facilities and turning over the
land to our people will have a profoundly positive impact on the federal
budget, and, more importantly for us, on opening up possibilities for a
future Vieques with a solid economic base thereby ending a half century
of social and economic martyrdom on behalf of U.S. national security.
Thanks in advance for your attention and cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
The Battle of Vieques ContinuesThe arrival this year of elements of the Southern Command to Puerto Rico
will produce a noticeable increase in military activity and in related
serious problems. For more than 50 years the people of Vieques have been
affected by bombing and other activities of the U.S. military forces and
those of other countries who "rent" the U.S. Navy facilities on the island
of Vieques, PR. That is why the people vigorously protested 2 years ago
the news of the transfer of the Southern Command to Puerto Rico.
In a press release on August 2, 1997, the Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques opposed the decision to locate some elements of the
Southern Command in PR because "it will mean an increase in war activities
on Vieques and it will constitute an attack on the efforts of the community
to get back the 33,000 acres of land (3/4 of the land mass of Vieques)
controlled by the US Navy since the decade of the 1940's". In the same
communiqu the Viequenses stated that "the horrible consequences of the
more than 50 years of military presence, both for the people and for the
environment of our "little island," forces us to oppose this increase in
the militarization of PR."
In the form of a notice to the Puerto Ricans on the "big island", the
leaders of the Vieques struggle explained that "the presence of the U.S.
Navy has not brought any benefit whatsoever, either economic or social, to
the inhabitants; that the 6 decades of military presence on Vieques have
been characterized by continual confrontations between the military and
civilians, the strangulation of the local economy, the forced emigration of
thousands of Viequenses, and an ecological disaster with grave consequences
for the environment and the health of our people." Dr. Rafael Rivera
Castano, member of the Executive Board of the Committee for the Rescue and
Development of Vieques, stated in the communique that Vieques suffers from
a higher than 50% unemployment rate, that 72% of the population live below
the poverty level, and that there are an alarming number of cases of cancer
and respiratory illnesses.
These concerns of the Viequenses have been confirmed with the publication
of the Environmental Assessment for the Relocation of the Special
Operations of the Southern command and Selected U.S. Army elements from the
Republic of Panama to U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, PR and Other
Locations. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, Tetra Tech,
Dec., 1998) The name of Vieques-- along with other places in Puerto Rico
which will feel the effects of this military move-appears in the document
before the introduction and figures prominently throughout the text of more
than 200 pages.
In the section entitled Environmental Consequences, the document states
that on Vieques the activities of these special operations forces will
result in direct adverse effects both on the air quality and the noise
level caused by military vehicles, planes, and helicopters. In addition,
the arms and explosives used by the Special Operations Command, South (SOC
South) will cause an increase in air and noise pollution. The soil of
Vieques will also suffer an increase in damages caused by the military
activity. According to the Environmental Assessment of SOC South,
maneuvers and training with live ammunition will have a direct adverse
impact on the vegetation and the soil, increasing the problem of erosion in
the affected areas. In the same section of the report, they describe the
direct adverse effects they expect on biological resources. (Do they
include us, the people?!) It states that helicopter flights- identified in
the document as the principal source of the increase in air pollution
caused by emissions of volatile organic compounds and carbon monoxide-the
movement of land troops and the use of live ammunition, will "disturb" the
vegetation and the wild life of the island.
The Environmental Assessment concerning the relocation of SOC South
describes in Section 3.0 the multiple tasks of its operations. The Special
Operations Forces (SOF), the document states, "are specialized military
units designed to carry out a great variety of missions in support of
national policy, both in peace time and wartime. Missions of the SOF units
include direct actions; strategic reconnaissance; unconventional warfare
(military or paramilitary operations in enemy territory in support of
forces fighting against an established government); internal defense of
foreign countries (organization, training and assistance to military and
paramilitary forces of a host country); civil affairs (relations between
the military and the civil authorities); psychological operations
(influencing public opinion); contra-terrorism; and more.
The Southern Command, and its various elements, is related historically to
U.S. military intervention in the internal affairs of the countries of
Latin America and the Caribbean. The Southern command, in coordination
with the CIA, other military forces in the White House, is in charge of
maintaining in power those governments who respond to the economic and
political interests of the U.S. Anyone who dares to defend the interests
of his own country or who is perceived in Washington as a threat for any
reason, gets a visit from the Southern Command. In 1973 President Salvador
Allende, elected by the Chilean people, was assassinated by Chilean
military forces-organized, trained, equipped and aided by Special
Operations Command South. The most horrendous dictators of the Americas,
Pinochet, the Duvaliers, Trujillo, Batista and the Somoas, to name a
few-were kept in power with the support of the Southern Command, or by
similar military forces. The U.S. interventions in Cuba (1961), Santo
Domingo (1965), Granada (1983)and Panama (1989) form part of a long history
of the kind of military operations which the Southern command will now
carryout from Vieques.
These documents themselves justify the concerns of the Vieques community.
There will be more bombing, more practice with different types of weapons;
more noise of helicopters, planes and explosions; more pollution of water,
air and land; more destruction of the biology and the geology of the
island; more restrictions on local fishermen; more destruction of fish
traps, and fishing grounds, more deaths of sea turtles, manatees, whales,
more military vehicles in the streets of Vieques, more confrontations
between military and civilians, more cancer among our people.
In these times when the struggle against the military presence on our
"little island" is heating up again, with the serious situation of cancer,
the economic crisis brought on by the closing of General Electric, the
construction of ROTHR radar on the island, we can be sure that the training
and the practices of the Special Operations Forces of the Southern Command
on Vieques will spread out beyond the barbed wire fences of the base. For
years "psychological operations" (propaganda) have been used against the
struggling people of Vieques. Now, however, we will have the specialists
in those practices right here in our own back yard. We can be sure that
among the next missions of the Southern Command there will be one with the
name: THE BATTLE OF VIEQUES.
Written by Robert Rabin
Member of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
March, 1999
