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Puerto Rico Update,
July 2001
On My Way to the Bombing Area By Dámaso Serrano López, Mayor of Vieques Vieques mayor Dámaso Serrano spent nearly a week on the Navy bombing range in late April in an attempt to stop bombing exercises. Despite raising flare and his calls to the Navy to demonstrate his presence, the Navy bombed anyway. He wrote the following statement before entering the impact range. In the history of peoples, as in the history of individuals, there are moments that transform the future. Mine came when I was present when a soldier, at the entrance to Camp Garcia, shot a boy from Vieques. I saw him die, and I will never forget the expression on his face. I was about his age, but I understood that that shot was directed at all of us. It could have been me, or any one of my playmates. It could have been any Viequense. Since then I have understood clearly that during my whole life I would do all I can so that the Navy gets out of Vieques. I didn't know how, I didn't know what I would eventually do, but I knew I would do what had to be done at the moment when it was needed. The moment for me has arrived, and it coincides with clearest defining moment that our people has seen in its history. As Viequenses we have come to a great crossroads. Either we all make our greatest contribution, in accordance with the ability of each, to free ourselves from the military yoke, or we will be slaves to the Navy for the next sixty years. Never before in our long struggle for our freedom have we had so many factors in our favor. The United States Navy is discredited in the eyes of its own country and the world. They have lost any residue of moral solvency. They are impugned for their long abuse of our people, for the enormous ecological destruction, for the poisoning of the environment, for the illnesses they have caused us, and for the economic, social and spiritual strangulation they have submitted us to for generations. They have kept us poor and marginalized and tried to annihilate our hopes for a prosperous future for our children and grandchildren. They have intervened in our civil society, and have corrupted and manipulated - with some very honorable exceptions - the administration of public life, in flagrant violation of federal laws. When I see [former Navy Public Affairs officers] Alex de la Zerda or Jeff Gordon, slipping among our Vieques brothers who mistakenly think that we have no future without the Navy, poisoning their soul, lying to them, promoting fratricidal confrontation and violence, that memory knocks me back - of that friend who was murdered, of all those who have been sick, all the dead, and I have to look deep in my soul to remind myself that this is a peaceful struggle. It's work, a lot of work. But in this important time, I want to remind all my Viequense brothers and sisters that this is a peaceful struggle for peace. Let's not fall into the traps they try to set for us. We will cover ourselves with glory as a people, confronting with resolute courage that which wants to exterminate us. But in peace, always in peace. May peace be with us. Beloved Puerto Rican compatriots, beloved sisters and brothers of Vieques, I am on my way to the bombing area in obedience to my ministerial responsibilities as mayor, to prevent what does damage to my people. My intention is to go in the impact area and stay there until the Navy stops bombing us, or until the federal marshals arrest me. If they arrest me, I will not pay bail. I do not accept the allegation that I am committing a crime, and I understand that if they lock me up, it will be for political considerations and not because of a crime. The Navy can no longer stop us Viequenses. After 60 years we have seen the promised land, and now we feel attracted to it with a very powerful spiritual force. Those lands are ours, and upon them we will build our future of peace, health and prosperity for all. In the name of the people of Vieques, I make public our deep and fraternal gratitude to all those Puerto Ricans who accompany us, physically and spiritually, in this marvelous work of PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM.
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Fellowship of Reconciliation ©2001 Fellowship of Reconciliation
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