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INTRODUCTION ...... 3

CULEBRA: A HISTORY ...... 4

A GUIDE TO THE PENTAGON'S 13% .... 5

CULEBRA: WHY DO THE PEOPLE WANT THE NAVY OUT? . . .1

CULEBRA: THE REAL ISSUES . .8 On September 18, 1970, the San Juan daily ElMundo few years. It impinges on the popular consciousness more carried an article by Eladio Rodriguez Otero, President of than the draft, more than the Chocolate Soldier antics of the Puerto Rican Atheneum, called "Puerto Rico: Nuclear ROTC which has already caused armed confrontation and Aircraft Carrier". deaths, more even than the fact that the Yellow Sub- The burden of the article was that the entire island has marine has been converted into a nuclear aircraft carrier. been converted into a major military complex and thus an That symbol is the tiny island of Culebra which, inevitable prime target in the event of nuclear war. And together with its sister island of Vieques, has erupted into that Puerto Rico, unlike any other nation or colony or the forefront of the battle between the people and the even state of the U.S., would necessarily be totally military. destroyed in a first nuclear strike. It is a nation program- Years ago, the great patriot Albizu Campos decried the med for extinction. U.S. efforts to eradicate the historic meaning of Vieques, Whether the genocide of Puerto Rico comes in a which "was always a strong point in the defense of our mushroom cloud or through attrition by developmentalist Hispanic personality. It was here that the great Leguillou programs, the presence of the U.S. military has been a stopped the second British attempt to conquer our constant problem since the country was first "liberated" national territory." in 1898. Vieques, Albizu Campos declared, was able with its The response of Puerto Rican youth to the immoral own resources to maintain its whole population. It had and unjust military conscription system has already been cattle, fruit, vegetables and 20,000 tons of sugar products. described. Even so, few Americans-even draft resisters It was a province unto itself. But why, Albizu Campos and others who oppose this form of involuntary servi- asked, "why has the United States chosen Vieques to tude—realize that Puerto Rican independentistas have repeat in the broad daylight of contemporary civilization written the most brilliant chapter in the anti-conscription the crime of genocide; that is, the deliberate destruction story. Because of their togetherness and their tenacity in either physically or culturally of a people?" fighting court judgments against them, not one indepen- The question of Vieques is, today, far from solved, dentista has been forced to join rthe death machine. even in the sense of a "final solution". We shall be hearing American pacifists can't claim that good a record, and more about this tiny island off the East coast of Puerto certainly not such an effective political challenge to the Rico. But at this moment the focus is on its even smaller whole system. sister island, Culebra. But an even more important symbol of the-attempted In the articles that follow, something of the meaning- military conquest of Puerto Rico has emerged in the last and the complexity-of the Culebra struggle emerge.

Page 3 ' '•' ' •*:^'S®^I':^^§ ^ W^S^?^ t-v/;*.'> ^o :•*•>"*?•--• ^"Ca*'-''.:*' - ;.>-;-• ~-rt •«•>• t. 'y&Aag V *Y"J CULEBRA: A HISTORY v.£'$ii$

The island of Culebra is located 17 miles from the to move either to rural areas or to other lots on what is Eastern coast of Puerto Rico. Even though the island was now the only town, Dewey. Even if the Treaty of Paris of an integral part of the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico, it December 10, 1898 were considered to be valid, this wasn't colonized until the latter part of the 19th Century. action by the Navy violated the rights of the inhabitants After a period of uncertainty and a lack of organization of Culebra. The document mentioned, written without regarding the best way of colonizing the island, then the consent of the Puerto Rican people, cedes Puerto Rico known as San Hdefonso de la Culebra, Cayetano Escudero as war booty and transposes its national partimony to the arrived there on October 27, 1880 with ten men to begin sovereignty of the United States. the colonization. As an incentive the Spanish Overseas Ministry offered free lands, tax exemption, transportation, some material help, two lots—one urban and one "... all buildings, docks, barracks, forts, businesses, rural, and a free port. public roads and other real estate, which by right is public property, belong as such to the Spanish Crown. A process never clarified, and which constitutes one of Therefore, it is declared that the cession referred to in the juridical aspects of the conflict caused by the military the above paragraph, may in no way interfere with the presence of the U.S. Navy in Culebra, is that of rights to property according to law, of the peaceful urbanization and the distribution of lands. Colonization provider of goods of all kinds in the provinces, began on the deserted island, once an adequate urbaniza- municipalities, public or private enterprise ... and all tion map was drawn up, but the land distribution was individuals whatever their nationality." provisional. The island was divided into several zones, some of which the State reserved for its use, i.e. public lands, mangrove plantations, lands for war use, and some beach areas.

'•'••»" ".*'•'_ •, •'-'-.'•'""•'' • •" " *•'• ^- ' • -"-,.-'- . NAVY VIOLATES RIGHTS In September, 1889 a Royal Order extended the Independently of the affront suffered by the people in deadline for a colonist to cultivate his total land in order 1898, by the treatment to their persons as well as to their to acquire a land title from six months to four years. The property, it is necessary to mention here that this treaty process was interrupted in 1898 when the U.S. Navy was not respected by the Navy in its attempts to evict the invaded Puerto Rico as a consequence of the so-called people of Culebra. In 1902 the Navy arrived and removed Spanish-American War, the people from San Hdefonso. It continued in 1936 when naval training was initiated on the peninsula of Flamenco, obliging the residents to move and abandon their farming tasks. It took on juridical character in 1941 when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued executive GUNS KEEP POPULATION STABLE order number 8684, placing in the person of the Secretary According to the census of 1899, the population of the of the Navy or his representative complete control over island was 704. There were 206 urban inhabitants and 498 the territorial waters of Puerto Rico and the air space rural. It is interesting to note that at the present time above the Island. It was intensified in 1960 when the there are 743 inhabitants on its 7,000 acres. After 71 Navy extended its radius of operations over most of the years of Northamerican domination the population of island to the dismay of the inhabitants and with disregard Puerto Rico has grown but not that of Culebra. And it for their lives. isn't because they have found an effective means of family planning! The reason? Last year directed missiles were fired during 228 days, there were air strikes during 13 As a result of this abuse sanctioned by the Metropoli- days, navy gunning during 123 days and other kinds of tan Congress and by those charged with governing the firing during 114 days. island, the residents of Culebra have organized themselves and mobilized public opinion in order to search for ways to get the Navy out of their island. A recent study made After the invasion the Navy evicted the inhabitants by the Commission on Civil Rights lists the following 6 from the original town of San Hdefonso and forced them areas affected by military operations and especially by

Page 4 The fishing industry has been doubly affected since a. Transportation to the Island by the sea route is the shelling has destroyed both the fish and the nets cause of great risk and suffering even in those ships placed by the fishermen. given to the Free Associated State by the Navy. e. The data gathered about student life confirms that there are educational deficiencies which can only be b. The control of the air access is also a source of attributed to the atmosphere or continuous fear in danger, limiting and isolating the inhabitants. which it is carried out. f. Industrial and tourist development, as well as c. The prolongation of military training exercises has investments, cannot prosper since every plan must created an atmosphere of tension and fear because be subordinated to the programs and plans of the of the danger and noise it creates. Navy.

"The Chief of Naval Operations is opposed to any proposal for the independence of Puerto Rico that does not guarantee the keeping and future expansion of our bases there as well as the acquisition of new ones. "The United States must be the only judge of its military needs in the area." -Capt. G. D. Parks, USN, in testimony before Tydings hearings in mid-30's.

^:'m>ym, HV,''- . v '*?^%?f.;&#$*t*:is A GUIDE TO THE PENTAGON'S 13%

RAMEY AIR BASE LUQUILLO RAIN FOREST Only Strategic Air Command base in Latin America. Has Training area for "Green Beret" anti-guerrilla units in complement of B-52 bombers and guided missiles. Both tropical jungle conditions. Large radar and radio installa- carry nuclear weapons. Used in the Dominican interven- tions of undefined purpose, suspected to be used for tion of 1965 to transport troops, food and American intelligence purposes. diplomats to the headquarters of the Dominican Army, San Isidro Air Base. •• SAN JUAN NAVAL STATION Headquarters of Caribbean Sea Frontier and Commandant Tenth Naval District. Both of these administrative divi- sions are admiral rank and cover the whole Southern ROOSEVELT ROADS Atlantic and the Caribbean area. Largest naval base of the southern hemisphere. Has three deep water harbors. Home base of the Southern Atlantic VIEQUES Fleet. Large air field handles squadrons of Navy bombers This is an island off the eastern tip of Puerto Rico. Of its and fighter aircraft. Headquarters for combined naval total of 33,000 acres the Navy has expropriated 26,000 operations with Latin American naval units (the "Spring- for use as a training area and arsenal. Huge military board" exercises use 40,000 men each year). "Enterprise" training operations go on here regularly. The civilian trained here before going to Vietnam. Naval units from population has declined from 10,000 in 1940 to less than here took part in the Cuban missile crisis blockade. 7,000.

CULEBRA Another small island to the northeast of Puerto Rico. It is SALINAS RESERVE TRAINING AREA used as a firing range, and sea traffic is restricted. This Anti-guerrilla training for Army and Marine units as well greatly limits and hampers the 700 people that live there as National Guard. Air Force target practice area. since fishing is the main economic activity. CULEBRA: WHY DO THE PEOPLE WANT THE NAVY OUT?

a) Excerpts from US. Senate Hearings by Senator Charles Goodell (R-NY), July 9, 1970

In 1940, a child died as the result of the detonation of against^'TMnf- ROC^ 'one of those* Ibird refuges, and a shell; there have been other such incidents in which thousands of nesting marine birds were killed. residents have been injured. On May 24, six mortar rounds The will of the people of Culebra and of Puerto Rico were fired into a bathing area on Flamingo Beach, landing has been clearly expressed, and it is about time that the within 200 yards of seven children and an adult. There is Navy began to heed it., danger of serious injury or death resulting from future bombardment. Several weeks ago, an errant Navy shell nearly killed the Governor of Puerto Rico, who happened to be sunning himself on a supposedly safe yacht in the SCHOOLCHILDREN AFFECTED cove off Flamingo Beach. Carmelo Feliciano, who has been a schoolteacher at i ;. "' F.^-'it.'"' -.: ' -~wf"' '..;:' '.' Escuela Nueva (New School) in Culebra for thirteen years, I have noticed the Navy's recent statement before a testified as follows in the recent Culebra Hearings: House Armed Services sub-committee and particularly, its "Teaching in Culebra is an extremely difficult job. The assertion that there are no alternatives to the island for continuous flow of air traffic at low altitudes over the fulfilling the weapons training function. It has maintained school, helicopters, jets and propeller planes, make an that all safety precautions possible are being taken to infernal noise, creating a state of tension and anxiety and insure the safety of the citizens of Culebra. rendering it virtually impossible to hold the attention of the students. I am unconvinced that the Navy has carefully explored • '' • '•'• '?*- the availability of alternative target sites. The continuing danger to the Culebrans from accidental weapons misfir- "When bombs and shells are exploding the school ing speaks for itself on the inadequacy of the Navy's buildings tremble with every explosion. You can see fear safety precautions. in the children's eyes. They sit in school in a peculiar way as if ready to run at a moment's notice. During the We must be concerned about the economic well-being periods of heavy night bombing, students fall asleep in of all American citizens. The Navy's continuing bombard- class. They look sleepless and teachers there know why ment has had a serious impact upon the island's cattle this is so. Bombing is carried out far past midnight every production. Its ships destroy lobster traps and fishing day and these kids are kept awake by the noise and nets, and with them the potential development of a tremor caused by the bombs until early morning hours.. . prosperous fishing industry on Culebra. [nS>".\' ' V ' The beaches of Culebra are unparalleled in their "Due to all this noise caused by Navy aircraft and beauty, but the continuation by the Navy of its bombard- boats bombing and shelling, and also because they live in ment activity has prevented the development of its natural constant fear of losing their lives, the students' work at resources. school is very poor. There has not been an honors graduate in Culebra in more than three years. Intelligence tests show a far below normal IQ for Culebran students. I have observed that many of these students have moved ECOLOGY THREATENED out and attend school in the main island of Puerto Rico and their grades are considerably higher at these other We have been much concerned in recent months with the challenge to preserve the quality of our environment. schools. The ones that return to Culebra fall back way The Navy now threatens to destroy the ecological balance below in their school work." of Culebra. The detonation of explosive shells continues to kill fish, lobsters, and birds in large numbers. An indication of the intensity of the air traffic alone is On one occasion in 1967, in fact, 15 tons of dead fish provided by the Navy's "Culebra Utilization Data," which washed up on the Culebran beaches. states that in 1969 the Culebra targets were used by 6,101 In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt designated the aircraft making a total of between 35,000 and 40,000 keys off Culebra as national wildlife refuges. And yet, in target runs. This, of course, excludes helicopter as well as May 1968, the Navy lodged a massive bombardment non-target overflights. w

NtfeRi b) Excerpts from An Island in Transition: Culebra 1970, A Staff Report on the Environment, to the Governor's Special Commission on Culebra

Punta Flamenco. This peninsula has an extensive area evident over a radius of about 200 feet, where large pieces of reef type "2". Large massive heads of corals, especially of corals, particularly Acropora palmata, were broken brain corals and Montastrea, are very abundant, providing down. a fairly irregular bottom with great boulders of coralline growth reaching nearly to the surface from depths of Sedimentation and silting were evident in this area 15-20 feet. The presence of many sea fans and other soft where the loose sandy substrate had been exposed to the corals as well as a large variety of and abundance of wave action. This may present a threat to the coralline tropical fish enhances the beauty of the extensive coral adjacent to the damaged area. Corals here are growing in formation. crystal clear water where coralline secretions have stabi- lized the substrate. Now, with the loose substrate ex- During the investigator's visit to this area, the results of posed, silt and coarser particles could be picked up by the ordnance disposal by the U.S. Navy were observed. wave action and bury the adjacent corals, extending the According to Navy officials, ordnance, ranging from actual damage. The rapid erosion of the exposed coralline 100-pound to five-inch shells, has been accumulating on rock will also increase sedimentation and these waters the bottom in the littoral zone surrounding the peninsula may no longer be clear. for a period of about 30 years. As a result of disposal .''•*'-';;":/- v' ••£."../ " '*'4i::;%^s'-- ^^^ activities, many dead fish were collected following a Some dangers of these disposal activities might be blasting on December 2. The following morning, frigate minimized if all ordnance deemed safe to remove was birds (Frigata magnificensis] were feeding upon dead fish transferred to bare sandy bottoms devoid of corals before which presumably rose to the surface during the night as demolition. they began to decompose. A quick survey revealed at least .. * -..•;. •-- -A '* .,<*•£ V" '",-'j" i". •'',-"• :!,:'/> '~'^ 20 more medium size specimens (groupers, snappers, In addition, great consternation was expressed at the parrot fish, and others) still trapped on the bottom by destruction of valuable living coral reefs, which have Carolline debris. required centuries to develop to their present state, by the methods of ordnance disposal in use by the U.S. Navy. Here a total destruction of the corraline mass was Although the continuation of military activities will observed over an area of about 50 feet in diameter, depend on requirements for national security, much of cutting through a calcareous deposition of about 10 feet their impact could be reduced by -exclusively using thick down to the sandy basement. Partial destruction was dummy bombs and shells.

c) Excerpts from Culebra, Overview and Analysis, April 1, 1971', DOD Study

ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

1. Culebra has some unique and valuable features: the only such natural growths remaining in the world. (They include thirty unique plant forms and a. The shallow water coral reefs around Culebrita, Luis a number of rare varieties of orchids.) Pena and the Flamenco Peninsula are the best of their kind under U.S. control anywhere in the d. The Flamenco, Resaca, Brava, and Culebrita beaches world. are unspoiled and among the most beautiful sandy beaches under U.S. control, being superior to any b. Bird rookeries on the Northwest Peninsula and beach in CONUS. outlying keys are one of only two areas remaining in the Caribbean where the birds have not been 2. All of these assets have been under U.S. Navy control depleted. (The sooty tern colony is the largest in the and except for the recent demolition of unexploded world.) ordnance against the coral reefs south of Flamenco c. The virgin forests on Ml. Resaca and Luis Pena are Peninsula, the Navy has not damaged these resources. ,>•*•-? nSQ: ,-=$•,'viS, «•„•> -'-- .IYT^'V'"- ;«*• f. CULEBRA:THE REAL ISSUES >:<'* t- l, *-/*'. ti*i. ^&-:':;>'•.: i '* J^'"^ " Ivan Gutierrez del Arroyo

On January 18, 1971, a week after an agreement was purpose in writing this is to try to analyze for North signed between the United States Navy and the colonial Americans the political implication of these events in our government of Puerto Rico, 75 persons began to construct struggle for Independence and Socialism. Another impor- a chapel on Culebra's Flamingo Beach, in the Navy's tant purpose is to point out the responsibility that North target area. The demonstrators were made up of people Americans have for the liberation of Culebra and of the from Culebra, the Puerto Rican Independence Party rest of Puerto Rico as well. (P.I.P.), the Puerto Rican Clergy Committee to Rescue Culebra, and North Americans from A Quaker Action Group (AQAG). Three days afterward, on January 21, 1971, U.S. AQAG JOINS STRUGGLE marshals handed those of us within the chapel an A Quaker Action Group is the third group of North injunction from the federal district court in San Juan Americans to join us in our struggle for liberation. The ordering us to leave the chapel before 9:00 A.M. Six first group was the "American League for the Indepen- persons representing the groups involved decided to stay dence of Puerto Rico" which was active during the in the chapel. At that time we did not feel that the arrest nineteen forties and fifties. Their main job was to present of more than six people could make a special contribution our struggle to the United States government, to the to our struggle for independence. On Friday evening, United Nations, and to the American public. Ruth January 22, 1971 the men who had remained in the Reynolds, the League's secretary, was sentenced to six chapel were arrested by U.S. marshals and flown by years in prison for participating in the Nationalist uprising helicopter to San Juan. During the weeks immediately of 1950. She was later freed by a decision of the U.S. following the first arrests, demonstrators repeatedly went Supreme Court. She mentioned something in her defense into the target area in an effort to stop the Navy's that would be good to remember today: "No nation will "Operation Springboard". Ten more demonstrators, most be free as long as it holds another one in colonialism." A of them Culebrans were also arrested for contempt of second group, Peacemakers, have also protested in Puerto court. The trial was held in the US. District court in San Rico against the US. government. Juan on February 18, 1971. The demonstrators were found guilty of contempt. Thirteen have served three months sentences in the Puerto Rican Penitentiary in Rio In the spring of 1970, AQAG began to explore in detail Piedras. Two minors were released. One man did not show the possibility of a joint action in Puerto Rico with the up in court. Puerto Rican Peace Center. I have been in contact with AQAG since 1968 when I attended a conference by Bob Eaton at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Bob Eaton was the captain of the sailboat "Phoenix", which in 1967 took medical supplies to North Vietnam thus ENTER TARGET AREA violating the law against "trading with the enemy." Bob Eaton and AQAG became symbol for me of militant Nine more people, including two women were arrested nonviolent revolutionaries. during the following week. For the first time since the start of "Operation Springboard" members of the Pro The first action of AQAG came at a Conference About Independence Movement (P.I.M.) were also arrested, some the "Progress and Democracy" of Puerto Rico in Oswego, on February 24th and two others the next day. On New York when Joyce Barr and some Puerto Ricans February 25, 1971, the last day of manuevers members of disrupted the conference by exposing one example of the the P.I.M. led by secretary general Juan Mai Bras stopped lack of progress and democracy in Puerto Rico: US. the shooting for several hours when they entered the Navy's hold on Culebra. Negotiations with regard to an target area in two motorboats. action proejct on Culebra began in October. In early December an advance-man for AQAG came to Puerto This is a brief summary of the latest events in our Rico for ten days. There was some misunderstanding in struggle to liberate the island-municipality of Culebra, the beginning because it was very difficult for even AQAG where 743 Puerto Ricans are victims of constant exploita- to grasp fullily the political implications of their participa- tion, oppression, and humiliation by the US. Navy. My tion in our struggle. They thought that they could remain

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. -v*iiOs>,' "V 7&n£$ apolitical and at the same time help liberate Culebra and shows very precisely how the United States government the rest of Puerto Rico. has worked in Puerto Rico since the invasion of July 25, 1898. It shows too how the United States has worked to Don Pedro Albizu Campos, the greatest Puerto Rican produce an impotent leadership which could accept the of this century had predicted long before that American status of "colony by consent" on July 25,1952 and ratify liberalism would not be able to face up to the realities of the "bombing by consent" of Culebra on January 11, US. colonialism in Puerto Rico. Albizu Campos was 1971. Curiously enough January 11th is precisely the day telling the Quakers in advance that they would have to that our people set apart to commemorate the birthday of decide to side with the forces of colonialism and Eugenio Maria de Hostos, one of the most outstanding imperialism or with the forces of freedom and justice men in the struggle for the Independence of Puerto Rico which have been struggling for our independence and for and for the Confederation of the Islands of the Antilles in social justice since the beginning of the 19th century. the Caribbean. Albizu's comment puts in proper perspective the liberalism of men like Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy, Fulbright So the stage was set for a major confrontation with the and Jackson and the others who claim that they respect Navy. The government of the United States through two the self-determination of our people while they remain American lawyers and the colonial leadership decided to silent about the injustice perpetrated by their government join their efforts to safeguard the colonial structure that in Puerto Rico. Ruth Reynolds did the same thing in a &'-"???,*? ' was being challenged successfully by the forces of hearing on a Bill to Amend the Organic Act of Puerto independence and by the patriotic conscience of the Rico in 1948. She said that Congress should decide to act majority of our people. The week AQAG representatives despotically or within the framework of liberty and went to see the mayor of Culebra about final details with justice. regard to the upcoming protest, an agreement was signed between the Navy and the colonial administrators. The main objective of the agreement was to confuse the HUMAN DIGNITY AT ISSUE residents of Culebra and of Puerto Rico, those citizens of This background is important because our colonial the United States who have heard about our struggle, and administrators wanted to solve the problems of Culebra international public opinion. Just as in 1952 the United within the present colonial relationship. They did not States government wanted to have a document which it want our people to view this problem in terms of the could show other nations to demonstrate that our people problem of our independence. This corrupt leadership has had consented to the use of the western peninsula of insisted that the problem of Culebra is not a political one Culebra as a target area for the US. Navy and its guests. but a problem of human dignity: this is to say, the For example during this year's Operation Springboard American citizens of Culebra were not being treated as naval units of seven other countries (Canada, Holland, full American citizens with equal rights. AQAG could England, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and have been fitted into this scheme very easily: good Columbia) paid for the privilege of bombing Culebra. The Americans from the mainland would come to help their aim of the agreement of January 11, 1971 was to nullify fellow Americans on Culebra to get equal rights as citizens the challenge of the independence forces. of the US. This would only have ratified and deepened the colonial mentality of our people because this time the oppressors would not be the Navy, the Army or the big 'RECONSTRUCTION' BEGUN monopolistic corporations but good and humble Ameri- The events that followed the signing of the agreement can pacifists who were against and were resisting the same show very clearly the beginning of the bankruptcy of the injustices as the Culebrans. United States domination of Puerto Rico and at the same The independence forces view the problem of Culebra time the beginning of the reconstruction of our future by rather as a consequence of the invasion of Puerto Rico by our own people. US. military and economic interests with the result that basic human rights cannot exist. The island-municipality On January 18, 1971 a week after the so-called of Culebra is the most dramatic example of United States agreement was signed, a group of about 75 persons domination of Puerto Rico. It is also the best example of celebrated an ecumenical service in the town square of the old but still present manifest destiny policy toward all Culebra before marching to Flamingo beach to defy the of Latin America. U.S. militarism is the safeguard for the Navy. Nobody really knew how our policemen would economic exploitation of third world countries. react to our challenge. One of the points of the so-called agreement was precisely that the colonial administrators The background of the signing of the so-called agree- would use all their power to insure that the Navy ment of January 11, 1971 is very interesting because it operations could go on without interruption. The United

Page 9 . States strategy in Puerto Rico has been the same as that of destroying violently that which showed resistance to their all traditional colonial powers: to put the natives to fight AUTHORITY. When the Navy destroyed the chapel for among themselves in order to confuse them and to the second time, most of the men and women of the town persuade international public opinion that no problem of Culebra went at once to Flamingo beach to express exists between the metropolis and the colony. This their indignation. They pulled down the ten-foot high strategy failed this time because the Puerto Rican police cyclone fence, pulled apart the coils of barbed wire, were moved by the energetic and challenging words of burned the sentry box, and rescued the cross from the Ruben Berrios Martinez, the 32 year old president of the chapel. They also threw rocks and some molotov cocktails P.I .P. This was the second time that "pacific militancy" at the Navy people who were firing tear gas at them. The (our term for militant nonviolence) was used successfully discipline of pacific militancy had been well observed up by the Puerto Rican Independence Party. The first time until this incident in which three sailors were slightly was during a hunger strike which lasted for 28 days in the burned by molotov cocktails. main foyer of the University of Puerto Rico in October of 1969 to protest the presence of the ROTC on the university campus. On February 18, 1971, 14 persons were tried for refusing to leave Flamingo beach (their land) and for disobeying the injunction of the U.S. Federal court in Puerto Rico. All of them refused any defense based on any technicality of an immoral law and refused to CHAPEL BUILT IN 3 DAYS recognize any legal or moral authority of the U5. Federal court over them. They affirmed very strongly that they The People's Chapel was built in three days on the had consciously violated the immoral laws imposed upon target area and an ecumenical service was held inside the us by the U.S. in order to fulfill the moral laws of our chapel before the federal marshals came with their orders. country and of their consciences. They also expressed that The contrast of the fences and the armed marines their action was following the tradition of the prophets of surrounding our chapel show very concretely the moral the Old Testament Isaiah and Daniel, of Jesus, Thoreau, and positive aspects of our action. Six persons were Jose Marti, Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Gandhi. All selected from the various groups to stay inside represent- of them, including a brother from the United States, were ing their groups and the will of our people to struggle sentenced to three months in jail. They have fulfilled this against our invaders. It took three more days for the sentence in a high spirit because, as Thoreau said: "Under United States government to deci<^^|^|^fa|fl|.to an unjust government the place for a just man is in jail". do with the six patriots inside the chapel who refused to obey the immoral laws of the United States. During those three days our brothers were fed with clothes and food by the people of Culebra. US. Assistant Attorney General Richard Kleindienst just happened to be present in Puerto Rico during this time on his way to the Virgin Islands to address the Bar Association there on Operation Crime- TRESPASSERS' DETAINED stop. During the week of February 19-25, 9 persons were The U.S. government always operating in the late hours detained for allegedly trespassing on the target area. In the of the night took the six to the Federal District Court in hearing of the first cases only three people were actually San Juan. Nevertheless, around midnight about 1,000 charged with trespassing; two were released. Two others, supporters were on hand to greet the six men when they members of the Pro Independence Movement, deliberately were released on their own recognizance. failed to show up for the hearing because they do not recognize the authority of the federal court in Puerto Rico. They joined the picket line in front of the Federal NAVY DOWNS CHAPEL TWICE Building and said they recognize "no other tribunal but During the weeks after these incidents other demon- the revolutionary will of our people in their struggle to strators, largely residents of Culebra, went inside the expel their aggressors." The other is still pending. target area to disrupt Operation Springboard. The Navy destroyed our chapel twice, both times at late hours of Culebra like Vietnam is 'iSi!^-^today a mirror wher;"e Ameri- the night. Apparently the all powerful Navy of the United cans can look at their real selves. The People's Chapel like States could not stand the powerful symbol of our the sailboat Phoenix is a constructive symbol for the peaceful chapel. Morality was too obviously on our side. emergence of a new America, a new Puerto Rico, and a They responded like clasically paranoid colonial powers: new Man.