By Lora Bright. CNS Correspondent. 20 July, 2000. CNS News
(CNSNews.com) - A Cuban-sponsored resolution, already endorsed by a United Nations panel, calls for Puerto Rican independence from the United States and the release of "all Puerto Rican political prisoners." However, Senator Jesse Helms, (R-NC) Chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, has a simple message in response: "The Castro regime and the United Nations can go jump in a lake."
The resolution, which "reaffirms the inalienable rights of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence," was approved by the UN Decolonization Committee July 12th. It appears to reflect one of the UN's stated goals from the last decade, making the 1990's the "Decade
for the Eradication of Colonialism."
Although Puerto Rico is not on the official list of 17 non-self-governing territories watched by the special committee, the group has been observing the island for several years, according to a UN spokesperson.
On August 11, 1999, President Clinton offered clemency to 16 members of the FALN and Macheteros Puerto Rican groups, most of whom had been convicted of building and planting a series of bombs at 28 locations in Illinois during the 1970's.
The FALN and Macheteros members considered themselves "political prisoners," and compared their activities to those of America's forefathers. However, in investigating Clinton's offer of clemency, Representative Dan Burton (R-IN), Chairman of the Government Reform and Operations
Committee, left little doubt about what he thinks of the 16 Puerto Ricans.
According to Burton's report, the investigation revealed that the Puerto Rican inmates had "built bombs, were engaged in a wide-ranging conspiracy, and committed crimes that justified lengthy prison terms."
"I don't think it's correct that you call the political prisoners terrorists," said Raphael Dausa, Ambassador to the Cuban mission to the United Nations. "I cannot accept that these persons are terrorists. They are fighting for independence of Puerto Rico and they are political
prisoners."
Dausa refused to offer a distinction between "political prisoner" and "terrorist." It's "your definition against my definition," he said.
Burton also released parts of Justice Department-issued "Threat Assessments", concerning the FALN and Macheteros prisoners. The Threat Assessments connected Cuba with the Puerto Rican terrorists. The "father" of the FALN is a "trained Cuban intelligence officer,"
the Threat Assessments said.
Another terrorist "is regarded by many as the current overall leader of the FALN and is thought to be residing in Cuba as a subsidized guest of the Castro government," the assessments said.
Dausa admitted to Cuba's close relationship with Puerto Rico, saying the two countries have a linked history reaching to the late 1800's. "Cuba is fully committed with the cause of the independence of Puerto Rico. We believe that Puerto Rico is a colony," the ambassador said.
Cuba is pushing for Puerto Rican independence even though a majority of Puerto Rican voters are not seeking complete self-determination, according to the office of Puerto Rican governor Pedro Rossello. Less than 5 percent of voters favor the Independence Party, which seeks "nation"
status. The rest of the voters are split over whether to seek statehood or remain a commonwealth, said a spokeswoman for the governor.
"I don't think that our position is related to certain figures. I think our position is a political position and a position of principles," Dausa said.
Should Puerto Rico become an independent nation, Cuba does not "have any problem" with Puerto Rico becoming a democracy, according to Dausa. "It's a problem of a definition of democracy. We have our democracy. There's no...one and unique kind of democracy. Puerto Rico will choose
freely the government they want to enjoy. They have the right as we have the right."
Cuba expects to be "more free" if Puerto Rico becomes independent, Dausa said. "If Puerto Rico get[s] independence, I'm sure we will be free to establish contacts, relationship, trade...that right now has some limitation because of the objection of the United States."
"We are a free country, we are an independent country, and we do not take orders from [the] United States," Dausa said. |