Future of the Island of Vieques, Puerto Rico

Letter to President Clinton: October 12, 1999

Future of the Island of Vieques,
Puerto Rico

The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs signed the letter printed below on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The letter was sent to President Clinton on October 12, 1999. Action Needed: Please use this letter as a guide in writing to President Clinton, your Senators, and your Representative concerning the future of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

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October 12, 1999

The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Clinton:

We, the undersigned representatives of religious, social justice and humanitarian assistance organizations write to express our deep concern over the future of the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.

For over fifty years the US Navy presence on the island has significantly affected the daily lives of its residents. We urge you to respect the wishes of the people of Puerto Rico, who have overwhelmingly (70 % in a recent public opinion poll published by the San Juan Star) expressed their desire for the Navy to cease all operations on Vieques and return the land to the government of Puerto Rico. In an unprecedented movement, the three main political parties in Puerto Rico have also joined hands to demand that the US government cease military operations on Vieques and withdraw the Navy from the island. While the people of Puerto Rico do not enjoy the democratic rights that they would as a state or an independent nation, the United States must respect the consensus that exists in Puerto Rico on this issue.

We also urge you to implement a comprehensive clean-up program on the island to reverse the environmental damage caused by the US Navy. The US Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed in a recent statement that the Navy has not complied with federal clean-water regulations in its training exercises on Vieques, and the land and water around the island have been contaminated as a result.

We respectfully request that the US cease all military operations on Vieques and that the Navy leave the island as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

General Board of Global Ministries
The United Methodist Church

Jaydee R. Hanson
Assistant General Secretary
The United Methodist Church, General Board of Church & Society

David A. Vargas
Latin America and the Caribbean Office
Common Global Ministries Board
UCC/CC (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Mark Brown
Assistant Director for International Affairs and Human Rights
Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Marie Dennis
Director
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Charles McCollough
Staff Associate
Office for Church in Society/United Church of Christ

Jim Matlack
Director
American Friends Service Committee, Washington Office

Bob Schwartz
Executive Director
The Disarm Education Fund

Patricia Krommer, CSJ
Washington DC Representative
Humanitarian Law Project

Marie Clarke
Co-Director
Quest for Peace/Quixote Center

Grahame Russell
Director
Guatemala Partners

Cherrene Horazuk
Executive Director
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador

John Dear
Executive Director
Fellowship of Reconciliation - Task Force on Latin America and the Caribbean

Rodney I. Page
Executive Director
Church World Service/
Deputy General Secretary
National Council of Churches

cc: Secretary William Cohen

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