Serrano Press Release sobre Vieques

[Raulmax]

Congressman Jose E. Serrano
NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROSALINDA DEJESUS
April 25, 2000


SERRANO SENDS LETTER TO CLINTON REGARDING VIEQUES

Washington, D.C., April 25 - - Congressman Jose E. Serrano (D-NY) today sent
a letter to President Bill Clinton urging him to act immediately to end the
Navy's presence on Vieques and to suspend any efforts to remove the peaceful
protestors from Navy property.

Serrano's letter comes after Federal officials announced that they are
planning to remove, by force if necessary, dozens of Puerto Rican protestors
on Vieques. Protestors have been on the island since a civilian, David Sanes
Rodriguez, was accidentally killed last April during training exercises
there.

Text of the April 25 letter follows:

The Honorable William J. Clinton
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500-0005

Dear Mr. President:

Recent press accounts indicate that we are facing another decisive
moment in the often rocky relationship between the United States and Puerto
Rico, a moment in which I hope you will exercise the intelligent and
independent leadership which has characterized your Presidency. For too
long, the history of this relationship has been driven by events extraneous
to the core issue of tension: the ambivalent political status of the island
vis-a-vis the United States. I fear that proceeding with plans resulting
from recent negotiations between the government of Puerto Rico and the Navy
will postpone but not resolve problems arising from this core tension.

It is therefore my hope that you will act immediately to end the
presence of the Navy in Vieques. Though, of course, I am fully aware of the
recent directive providing for a gradual transition, I write in the hope
that you will act now to proceed to the ultimate objective of the agreement
- the orderly end to an unfortunate Naval presence in Vieques.

Most immediately, I request that you suspend any efforts to remove
the peaceful protestors from Navy property. They are exercising their
right of political expression in a non-violent way, endangering nobody.

With warm best wishes, I am

Sincerely,

Jose E. Serrano
Member of Congress