Navy-Vieques protests

The Navy-Vieques protests is the name given by English-speaking media to a series of protests starting in 1999 on the Puerto Rican island-municipality of Vieques, against the United States Navy and Marine Corps (USMC) use of the island for bombing target practices. The protests led to the U.S. military abandoning of its facilities on the island.

Background

During the 1940s the U.S. Navy purchased about 4/5 parts of Vieques grounds by compensated land expropiation. Later, the U.S. military started using them as target practice for bombs and missiles, and for other ground practices — like the USMC beach and helicopter infiltration exercises.

Related Topics:
1940s - Compensated land expropiation

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There have been some allegations that these practices are the cause of Vieques high cancer rate. The World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), published by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) —an opponent of U.S. military and foreign policy— reports that “over a third of the island's population of 9,000 are now suffering from a range of cancers and other serious illnesses”. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/feb2001/vieq-f21.shtml WSWS links these cases of illness to the Navy's target practice on Vieques. A recent study reported that Vieques has a 27% higher rate of cancer than the main portion of Puerto Rico. http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/2003/vol7n22/StudyVQCancer-en.shtml

Related Topics:
Allegation - International Committee of the Fourth International

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In 1999, the death of David Sanes triggered what has been known as one of the most notorious acts of civil disobedience, the Navy-Vieques protests or the Cause of Vieques. A countless series of protests began in Puerto Rico against the U.S. military use of Vieques. That same year, the then Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rosselló, began talks with the U.S. government to try to look for a solution to the problem.

Related Topics:
David Sanes - Civil disobedience - Cause of Vieques - Governor of Puerto Rico - Pedro Rosselló

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In 2001, Governor Sila María Calderón signed a treaty with the U.S. President George W. Bush that guaranteed the military leave of the island in May of 2003.

Related Topics:
2001 - Sila María Calderón - Treaty - George W. Bush - May - 2003

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In November 17, 2002 Milivi Adams, a little girl native of Vieques, died as a consequence of her cancer diagnosis. She became the child-symbol for the protesters in their quest to liberate the island of the bombing practices.

Related Topics:
November 17 - 2002 - Milivi Adams - Cancer

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