Declaration of Roberto Rabin, Vieques
Tue, 23 May 2000 00:17:34 -1000
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques
Box 1424 Vieques, Puerto Rico 00765 Telefax (787) 741-0716 E mail:bieke@coqui.net
Robert L. Rabin Siegal
Declaration by Robert L. Rabin Siegal during Vigil for Peace Camp Justice and Peace, Vieques In front of the gate to Camp Garcia 20 May, 2000
For more than half a century the US Navy has violated the rights of the people of Vieques daily with its presence and military activities. The US Navy is the fundamental problem of our community. The Navy brings cancer and other sicknesses; the Navy controls of our lands, our natural and cultural resources; the Navy blocks our fishernmen and our economic development; the Navy controls the natural and shortest route that connects us to the main island of Puerto Rico. The Navy practices genocide against the Puerto Rican people on Vieques.
Our people struggle to end the terrible military presence, to take back our lands occupied by the Navy for 60 years and begin a new era of Pax Viequense.
For over a year our people, together with thousands of Puerto Ricans from the main island and other places, in peacefull struggle, have been victorious over the most powerfull navy in the history of humanity. Without firing a shot, without the least agression against those who beseige us, we have paralized more than 30 thousand soldiers and 30 warships, including aircraft carriers and submarines.
I have had the honor of participating, during these past 20 years, in this struggle of the heroic people of Vieques. As a foreigner, I recognize the enormous privelige I have been awarded - the honor to live, work, learn and struggle together with this humble community of people in struggle, example of valor and sacrifice that characterize noble peoples.
About the Puerto Rico police we have in front of us, stationed here at the gate to Camp Garcia. It is necesarry to make the following statement in the wake of the recent incident in which I was brutally attacked by several members of the Police Riot Squad.
FIRST - I DO NOT HOLD ILL FEELINGS TOWARD THEM. I FORGIVE THEM FOR WHAT THEY DID TO ME, AND I WILL FORGIVE THEM IF THEY ATTACK ME AGAIN.
A year ago I would have taken a different position toward those who attacked me: hate and the desire for vengeance would have motivated me to lower myself to acts of violence. However, during this long process of non violent civil disobedience, often times physically and emotionally difficult, I have enjoyed the example of our parish priest, Father Nelson; Pastor Lucy Rosario of our Methodist Church; bishops and lay people and so many humble men and women of diverse religious groups - Puerto Ricans and others dedicated to peace and to life. I have witnessed the sacrifice of many men and women risking their lives in the bombing zone in favor of Peace for Vieques. I have learned more about the meaning of peace as a way of life, a way of seeing and approaching others. I am eternally greatful to the people of Vieques for this chance at spiritual growth and for allowing me to participate in this vital struggle.
I ask everybody to help us spread this message of peace. I implore all to direct toward the US Navy any indignation that results from the violence we suffer. THE PROBLEM OF VIEQUES IS THE NAVY AND NOT THE PUERTO RICO POLICE.
I take this opportunity to denounce the deplorable conditions in which these Puerto Rican policemen and women are forced to work here. They work outside day and night, on long shifts with inadequate sanitary and eating facilities.
They are away from their families for long periods, causing emotional pressures for them and family members. They are also victims of many injustices.
They are here not by choice, but because they have been ordered to participate in an amoral action, providing security for the US Navy - the very Navy that is responsible for the death of our people - placing the police in contradiction to the feelings of the great majority of our people, placing them in a very uncomfortable position among the Viequense community.
This does not justify acts of brutality and aggression that we have exprienced recently. But it is necesarry to reflect on their presence here and about our reaction to their presence. We must remain on the moral high ground of peace and not fall down toward agression.
The Puerto Rican police are here because the Navy ordered police superintendent Toledo to send them as an instrument of repression and intimidation, to create more tension and provoke violence. We must not give them that satisfaction. We must answer the Navy´s violence with our strength based on hope for peace. In the face of police brutality we must dedicate ourselves more firmly to peacefull civil disobedience, focussing our energies on the struggle for peace on Vieques - which means getting the US Navy out of Vieques!
WE CANNOT EVEN THINK ABOUT TURNING AWAY FROM PEACEFUL ACTIONS. NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE SHOULD WE THINK OF CHANGING OUR USE OF PEACEFULL CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE AS THE PRINCIPLE INSTRUMENT IN THE STRUGGLE FOR PEACE ON VIEQUES
Violence against us will not change our course on the road to peace for Vieques.
R.Rabin
Robert L. Rabin Siegal
Comite Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques
Apartado 1424 Vieques, PR 00765
(787) 741-0716 cel. 375-0525
!FUERA LA MARINA DE VIEQUES!
U.S. NAVY OUT OF VIEQUES!