How do you feel about the Vieques Island Protesters being removed?

-- me (me@pr.us), May 04, 2000

Answers

The US had very good reasons and were well within their rights in removing the protestors...

http://www.herald.com/content/today/opinion/editorials/digdocs/055665. htm

We sympathize with protesters who want the U.S. Navy to stop bombing on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. But a deal is a deal. And the one agreed to by the U.S. and Puerto Rican governments in January stipulated that the Navy could resume limited training on its Vieques range this month, while Vieques residents would vote to decide if the Navy could stay or leave after 2003.

This has been making local news along the gulf coast here, as the navy has been forced to temporarily move their operations to an area nearby (Eglin AFB is being used as bombing range). "Navy officials insist that the Vieques range is vital to its combat readiness, the only place with enough uncongested air, sea and land for comprehensive shelling and amphibious assault practice."

The navy has been using 2/3 of Vieques as a "practice range" since the 1940s. The residents are being given an opportunity to vote on the issue, but until then, a deal is a deal. I'm all for the removal of the ilegaly trespassing protestors.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), May 04, 2000.

I haven't talked to my Vieques Island friends in quite awhile, but I used to visit there often. It is a wonderful slice of the old Caribbean. No large hotels, no casinos, no theme restarants. Just clear water, clean beaches, good people and one of the last remaining, gloriously bio-luminescent bays (talk about an other-worldly experience!)

Several years ago, I came close to buying a small hotel there and settling. At that time everybody was talking about the Navy giving up the bombing ranges and turning over the land to the islanders. I thought it was a pipe dream even then, but "squatting" is a traditional, and recognized way to acquire land in Vieques.

I haven't read an in-depth report of the protest, but I strongly suspect that big money is behind it somehow. Probably some resort chain wanting another last crumb of paradise.

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-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), May 04, 2000.