VIEQUES Since 1940, the U.S Navy has occupied Vieques and turned it into a testing ground for conventional and radioactive weapons and stagingplatform for military intervention around the globe, as the U.S. government now plans to do against the people of Iraq Bombing and military devastation has contaminated the environment and waters with mercury and uranium. As a result, the people of Vieques suffer high rates of cancer, respiratory diseases, unemployment and lack of economic development. Health facilities and educational institutions are critically inadequate. The undersigned in solidarity with Vieques, Puerto Rico, herein request from the United States Government to immediately stop the gross violations of human rights inflicted on the people of Vieques for more than 60 years by the U.S. Navy through its military practices and war games. This includes the immediate cessation of all kinds of military activities and inhuman experiments with depleted uranium and other non-conventional weapons; decontamination of the lands; and the return of the lands to the civilian population for their economic, social and cultural development. Peace and Justice for Vieques and its children NOW On September 23, actions are being held in cities around the world to present the U.S. administration with the just demand of the Puerto Rican people to get the U.S. Navy out of Vieques. In Canada,actions will be held in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Windsor and Vancouver. By demonstrating and holding pickets in front of U.S.embassies and consulates around the world, peoples everywhere are joining the opposition to U.S. military practices and experiments on the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico which have been jeopardizing the health and life of its inhabitants for more than 60 years. Furthermore, the U.S. Navy base in Vieques is one of its main training grounds for U.S. wars of aggression against the peoples of the world. Today, as the U.S. prepares to unleash a devastating war against Iraq, joining the people of Puerto Rico in rejecting U.S. military practices and demanding peace is all the more important. On September 2, 2002 U.S. armed forces started the second phase of current war games in Vieques in the midst of protests by non-governmental organizations and political parties opposed to the exercises. The manoeuvres are continuing for 23 days by air, sea and land with the participation of warships led by the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier. During the past week, a dozen people have been arrested for entering the target range trying to stop the U.S.bombardment of Nena Island. Several members of the Puerto Rican Independent Party and the Socialist Workers Party are under arrest. Lastweek there were violent battles between the U.S. troops using tear gas and hundreds of demonstrators. The protesters are demanding an end to U.S. Navy exercises because of the serious consequences to the health of the 9,400 inhabitants of Vieques. As part of the protest, a march is being held today that will end in front of Camp Garcia, the centre of the military exercises. The struggle against the Navy manoeuvres has intensified since 1999, when a Puerto Rican civil guard died after being hit by a bomb. The island, located 11 kilometres southwest of the main Puerto Rican island, has been used as a training area for the Pentagon since 1941. Actions on September 23 will include pickets and sit-ins in front of U.S. embassies and consulates. A letter will be delivered to U.S. authorities demanding the immediate cessation of the military practices and activities in Vieques. To sign the letter which will be presented to the U.S. Embassy officials or for more information, please write to: ottawapuertorico@yahoo.ca To communicate with Dr. Luis Nieves Falcón, Puerto Rican Human Rights Committee, at the following e-mail: nazysant@caribe.net Tel: 1-787-725-1463 1-787-727-4561 1-787-758-0315 1-787-579-0315 Fax: 1-787-723-9829 1-787-756-0315 For more information about Vieques' struggle for Peace, visit the following websites: http://www.redbetances.com http://www.viequeslibre.org http://www.prorescatevieques.org http://endi.zonai.com/archivo/vieques http://vieques.bravepages.com http://www.viequesvive.net http://www.viequespaz.com http://www.viequestimes.com -