Protest Actions Planned for Vieques as Navy Prepares for September Bombing Exercises

Interview by Between the Lines' Denise Manzari.

Twenty-four-year-old civilian David Sanes was killed in April 1999 by an errant bomb during U.S. Naval maneuvers on the tiny Puerto Rican island of Vieques. This incident triggered relentless protests by the people of Vieques, who recently voted in a nonbinding referendum for an immediate cessation of bombing and the U.S. Navy's permanent departure from the island.

In the last series of civil disobedience actions, many protesters were arrested and served jail time, including nonresidents, like activist Al Sharpton, who has since been released after serving his 90-day sentence. In early August, the mayor of Vieques, Al
Damaso Serrano was sentenced to four months in federal prison in San Juan Puerto Rico.

Now, the Navy is gearing up for a new round of manuevers in September, and so are the protesters. Robert Rabin is with the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques. He spoke with Between The Lines' Denise Manzari about his group's determination and strategy to end the 60-year U.S. military presence on Vieques(A RealAudio Version of this interview may be found At  http://www.btlonline.org) .

For more information, call (787) 741-0716 or visit their Web site at www.viequeslibre.org

Related links:
Protesters Arrested as U.S. Navy Resumes Vieques Military Exercises Between The Lines interview with Robert Rabin, for week ending June 29, 2001
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