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abolition-usa-digest    Thursday, November 11 1999    Volume 01 : Number 221




----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 16:44:46 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Current Co-sponsors of HCon 177

>Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 15:18:39 -0500
>Subject: Current Co-sponsors of HCon 177
>Priority: non-urgent
>X-FC-MachineGenerated: true
>To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
>From: [e-mail] ([e-mail])
>
>Listed below are the current co-sponsors of the De-alerting resolution.  It
>looks like Congress will be back next week, so keep calling on getting more
>co-sponsors.
>-M
>
>
>
>Name    p-s
>Earl Hilliard    D-AL
>Nancy Pelosi     D-CA
>Barbara Lee      D-CA
>Bob Filner       D-CA
>Henry Waxman     D-CA
>Lois Capps       D-CA
>Lynn Woolsey     D-CA
>Anna Eshoo       D-CA
>Maxine Waters    D-CA
>Pete Stark       D-CA
>Zoe Lofgren      D-CA
>Sam Farr                  D-CA
>Mark Udall       D-CO
>Elanor Holmes Norton      D-DC
>John Lewis       D-GA
>Cynthia McKinney D-GA
>Neil Abercrombie D-HI
>Patsy Mink       D-HI
>Janice Schakowsky         D-IL
>Luis Gutierrez   D-IL
>Rod Blagojevich  D-IL
>Jesse Jackson, Jr.        D-IL
>Ed Markey        D-MA
>Jim McGovern     D-MA
>Marty Meehan     D-MA
>Richard Neal     D-MA
>Michael Capuana  D-MA
>Joe Moakley      D-MA
>John Tierney     D-MA
>William Delahunt D-MA
>Barney Frank     D-MA
>John Olver       D-MA
>Elijah Cummings  D-MD
>John Baldacci    D-ME
>Tom Allen        D-ME
>David Bonior     D-MI
>Sandy Levin      D-MI
>James Barcia     D-MI
>Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick D-MI
>Marty Sabo       D-MN
>Bruce Vento      D-MN
>Bill Luther      D-MN
>James Oberstar   D-MN
>Karen McCarthy   D-MO
>Melvin Watt      D-NC
>Rush Holt        D-NJ
>Frank Pallone    D-NJ
>Tom Udall        D-NM
>Edolphus Towns   D-NY
>Carolyn Malony   D-NY
>Jerry Nadler     D-NY
>Jose Serrano     D-NY
>Joseph Crowley   D-NY
>Major Owens      D-NY
>Maurice Hinchey  D-NY
>Anthony David Weiner      D-NY
>Nita Lowy        D-NY
>Gregory Meeks    D-NY
>Dennis Kucinich  D-OH
>Tom Sawyer       D-OH
>Marcy Kaptur     D-OH
>Sherrod Brown    D-OH
>Peter DeFazio    D-OR
>William Coyne    D-PA
>Robert Weygand   D-RI
>Patrick Kennedy  D-RI
>Sheila Jackson-Lee        D-TX
>Lloyd Doggett    D-TX
>Jim McDermott    D-WA
>Tammy Baldwin    D-WI
>Tom Barrett      D-WI
>
>Maureen Eldredge
>Program Director
>Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
>
>Ph: 202-833-4668
>Fax: [phone]
>email: [e-mail]
>
Alice Slater
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE)
15 East 26th Street, Room 915
New York, NY 10010
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]

GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty to
eliminate nuclear weapons.

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 12:44:45 -0500 (EST)
From: Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Report on Vieques Trip

REPORT ON TRIP TO VIEQUES:
Stop the Bombing
Navy Out
No Weapons in Space

                               =20
By Bruce K. Gagnon   =20


On November 4-8 a delegation of four Floridians traveled to Puerto Rico a=
t=20
the invitation of Victor Rodriguez , a leader of the Global Network affil=
iate=20
called Comit=E9 Contra las Experimentaciones Ambientales.  The four perso=
ns=20
were Joe McIntire (Florida Coalition for Peace & Justice), Don & Matt Loc=
kard=20
(St Augustine) and Bruce Gagnon (Global Network). =20

The Comit=E9 Contra las Experimentaciones Ambientales is the organization=
 that=20
led the protests against NASA in 1998-99 that forced cancellation of the=20
Coqui Two rocket launches in the town of Vega Baja.  The Coqui Two were a=
=20
series of  atmospheric experiments by NASA.  The rockets released chemica=
ls=20
into different layers of the atmosphere in order to test their effects on=
=20
communications and radar signals.  Protests forced NASA to close down the=
=20
operation after eight tests even though 11 had been scheduled.

Upon arrival in Puerto Rico our four-person delegation met with several k=
ey=20
Puerto Rican activists to discuss the content of a news conference that w=
e=20
would be speaking at the following day.  The news conference, held at a=20
beautiful cultural center in San Juan, featured representatives from the=20
Comit=E9 Contra Las Experimentaciones Ambientales, el Proyecto Caribe=F1o=
 de=20
Justicia y Paz, Misi=F3n Industrial de Puerto Rico, the FCPJ, and the Glo=
bal=20
Network.  The content of the news conference covered the existence of nuc=
lear=20
weapons in Puerto Rico despite denials by the U.S. Navy and the plans to =
put=20
weapons in space by the U.S. Space Command.  The largest paper in Puerto =
Rico=20
"El Mundo" covered the event and ran a good story with color picture the =
next=20
day.  The top ranked TV station in Puerto Rico, TPR also featured the new=
s=20
conference and ran the story two days in a row. =20

The next day our delegation, plus a large group from the Congreso Naciona=
l=20
Hostosiano, took the one-hour ferry ride from Fajardo to Vieques.  Hundre=
ds=20
of people were on the ferry, some going to a baseball game on the island,=
=20
other just visiting, but many going for protests against the Navy bombing=
 on=20
the beautiful island.  I sat next to New York City Councilwoman Olga Mend=
ez=20
who was part of a 75 person New York political delegation going to Vieque=
s =20
Also on the ferry was an old man named Carmelo who was born on the island=
 and=20
remains one of the leaders in the struggle to stop the 50-year naval bomb=
ing=20
of Vieques.  He told me how he has trained wasps to attack Marines when t=
hey=20
invade Vieques on maneuvers and how he disperses poison ivy dust, which g=
ets=20
into the troops' clothes and drives them crazy.

The Navy controls about =BE of Vieques.  The people live near the center =
of the=20
small, elongated island with the military bombing ranges on both sides of=
=20
them.  From the port in Vieques we took a 30 ft. fishing boat with two 20=
0=20
horsepower engines on the 20- minute rough ride to the camps inside the=20
occupied zone.  Along the short journey we passed 3-4 other fully loaded=20
boats heading back to the port with Puerto Rican flags flying and people=20
waving to us.

My first reaction when we landed on the beach was awe at the sheer beauty=
 of=20
the water and the rock cliffs and mountains.  My second reaction was disg=
ust=20
to see the evidence of bomb parts in the water and on the land.  But the =
most=20
remarkable thing was to see the Puerto Rican flags flying each direction =
I=20
looked:  up on top of one hill where there was a camp; down the beach at=20
another camp; on a far away mountain top, another.  People were taking ov=
er=20
the island.  The Navy must be going crazy!

I was to stay in the new "school" recently built by the Congresso Naciona=
l. =20
The chickee-style shelter with a tin roof was just next door to the small=
=20
chapel, also newly erected.  Immediately after we arrived people began=20
installing the solar electric system that they had carried over from San=20
Juan.  Within a couple of hours three compact florescent light bulbs were=
=20
working.

I learned that day that the U.S. is now saying that it will send in 350=20
Spanish speaking federal marshals in December to arrest those now occupyi=
ng=20
Vieques in opposition to Navy bombing.  N.Y. Councilwoman Mendez had told=
 me=20
on the ferry that she would return to do civil disobedience if this happe=
ned=20
even though she had never before believed in CD as a political tactic.

Just down the beach a camp had been set up by a group of teachers from th=
e=20
village on Vieques.  They were cooking fish and offered me food and drink=
. =20
They told the story about Angel Rodriquez Crist=F3bal who had been hung j=
ust 20=20
years ago in a Tallahassee, Florida jail after having been arrested for=20
non-violent civil resistance on Vieques.  Twenty-one people had been arre=
sted=20
on that occasion, among them a Catholic bishop.

I also learned that 67% of Puerto Rican people receive food stamps.  At t=
he=20
same time K-Mart, Sears and JC Penney stores sell more product in Puerto =
Rico=20
than in 30 other states.  It was so clear that the colonization process h=
as=20
had a staggering affect on the people and the environment of the=20
"commonwealth".  Puerto Ricans have been made to be dependent on the U.S.=
 and=20
our corporate masters.  But in spite of that, the spirit for independence=
=20
remains strong.  The resistance on Vieques is but one example.

Our friends Victor and Juan Rosario showed us around old San Juan that,=20
except for the cars and the paint on the buildings, reminded me of Havana=
 in=20
Cuba.  One huge fountain with several statues of people and nature was a=20
striking symbol of Puerto Rican nationalism.  The statue and fountain had=
=20
been commissioned as a celebration of 500 years since the Columbus discov=
ery.=20
We were told the story about how the artist had revealed that the centerp=
iece=20
of the statue, a woman on a rock with arms raised to the sky and holding =
two=20
eagle feathers, was really a celebration of her taking the feathers off t=
he=20
U.S. eagle.    Signs of that pesky spirit of independence once again.

I was asked to do a presentation at the school on Vieques about the GN's =
work=20
on space.  With Joe McIntire ably translating, I spoke about U.S. plans f=
or=20
control and domination in space and showed the 20 people present the Visi=
on=20
for 2020 brochure and the poster of a space-based laser weapon with the U=
.S.=20
flag flying overhead.  I talked about the connections between space and=20
Vieques, saying that the U.S. intends to make the whole earth and space a=
bove=20
a colony like we have done to Puerto Rico.  I later learned that this=20
workshop was the first such event in the school on Vieques.  It was an ho=
nor=20
to have helped christen the school.

The next day was unforgettable.  Victor took our delegation on a long hik=
e,=20
up the mountain top to one camp and then down the beach to another.  We=20
visited the camp of a national congress senator from the Puerto Rican=20
independence party who has been on Vieques for the last six months.  As w=
e=20
walked here and there we saw the enormous evidence of years of destructio=
n on=20
the island.  Bombs -- exploded and unexploded - were everywhere.  Wetland=
s=20
were drained and bombed.  Trucks, tanks, and planes were scattered everyw=
here=20
as targets.  One tank is now being used to hold up a tarp for shelter at =
one=20
hill-top camp.  As we looked out over the beautiful ocean beyond Vieques =
we=20
saw a U.S. navy submarine in the near distance probably sending a warning=
 to=20
the occupiers.

When it was time to leave the island to return home our fishing boat anch=
or=20
got caught on a bomb on the ocean floor.  Our captain very carefully work=
ed=20
the anchor free and you could see the fear on the faces of the passengers=
. =20
We saw bombs sticking up out of the water near the shore and we saw tiny=20
islands just off Vieques that had been blasted to bits.  In fact, endange=
red=20
coral reefs are being destroyed all around Vieques from the years of  bom=
bing=20
by the Navy.

Our friends in Puerto Rico are urging activists from all over the world t=
o=20
join them on Vieques as soon as possible to help block any attempts to re=
move=20
them from the island.  It is very easy to get there and once there all yo=
u=20
need is a sleeping bag and some food and water to share.  You will be mad=
e to=20
feel most welcome on this otherwise tropical paradise.  Be sure to bring =
your=20
bathing suit!

If you'd like to go to Vieques just fly into San Juan and take a bus to t=
he=20
port of Fajardo and then for $2 take the ferry to Vieques.  Once in Viequ=
es=20
there are regular fishing shuttles to the camps in the occupied zones.  C=
all=20
first and let Robert Rabin from the local Vieques committee know that you=
 are=20
coming.  His phone is [phone] or [phone]. =20

Please help do what you can to offer solidarity to our courageous friends=
 in=20
Puerto Rico.




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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:07:42 -0500
From: WAND <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Current Co-sponsors of HCon 177

For the record, it's Capuano of Mass, not Capuana.




It looks like Congress will be back next week, so keep calling on getting more co-sponsors.

>>-M

>>

>>

>>

>>Name    p-s

>>Earl Hilliard    D-AL

>>Nancy Pelosi     D-CA

>>Barbara Lee      D-CA

>>Bob Filner       D-CA

>>Henry Waxman     D-CA

>>Lois Capps       D-CA

>>Lynn Woolsey     D-CA

>>Anna Eshoo       D-CA

>>Maxine Waters    D-CA

>>Pete Stark       D-CA

>>Zoe Lofgren      D-CA

>>Sam Farr                  D-CA

>>Mark Udall       D-CO

>>Elanor Holmes Norton      D-DC

>>John Lewis       D-GA

>>Cynthia McKinney D-GA

>>Neil Abercrombie D-HI

>>Patsy Mink       D-HI

>>Janice Schakowsky         D-IL

>>Luis Gutierrez   D-IL

>>Rod Blagojevich  D-IL

>>Jesse Jackson, Jr.        D-IL

>>Ed Markey        D-MA

>>Jim McGovern     D-MA

>>Marty Meehan     D-MA

>>Richard Neal     D-MA

>>Michael Capuana  D-MA

>>Joe Moakley      D-MA

>>John Tierney     D-MA

>>William Delahunt D-MA

>>Barney Frank     D-MA

>>John Olver       D-MA

>>Elijah Cummings  D-MD

>>John Baldacci    D-ME

>>Tom Allen        D-ME

>>David Bonior     D-MI

>>Sandy Levin      D-MI

>>James Barcia     D-MI

>>Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick D-MI

>>Marty Sabo       D-MN

>>Bruce Vento      D-MN

>>Bill Luther      D-MN

>>James Oberstar   D-MN

>>Karen McCarthy   D-MO

>>Melvin Watt      D-NC

>>Rush Holt        D-NJ

>>Frank Pallone    D-NJ

>>Tom Udall        D-NM

>>Edolphus Towns   D-NY

>>Carolyn Malony   D-NY

>>Jerry Nadler     D-NY

>>Jose Serrano     D-NY

>>Joseph Crowley   D-NY

>>Major Owens      D-NY

>>Maurice Hinchey  D-NY

>>Anthony David Weiner      D-NY

>>Nita Lowy        D-NY

>>Gregory Meeks    D-NY

>>Dennis Kucinich  D-OH

>>Tom Sawyer       D-OH

>>Marcy Kaptur     D-OH

>>Sherrod Brown    D-OH

>>Peter DeFazio    D-OR

>>William Coyne    D-PA

>>Robert Weygand   D-RI

>>Patrick Kennedy  D-RI

>>Sheila Jackson-Lee        D-TX

>>Lloyd Doggett    D-TX

>>Jim McDermott    D-WA

>>Tammy Baldwin    D-WI

>>Tom Barrett      D-WI

>>



<paraindent><param>left,left,left,left,left,left</param>*****************************************

</paraindent>

Susan Shaer, Executive Director

WAND, Women's Action for New Directions

691 Massachusetts Avenue

Arlington, MA  02476

781-643-6740

fax [phone]

<<http://www.wand.org>


<italic>Mission:  To empower women to act politically to reduce
militarism and violence and to redirect excessive military spending to
human and environmental needs.


WAND is the only national peace organization linking women legislators
across the country with local women activists as well as women in
Congress in order to address issues of militarism, violence, and human
needs.</italic>

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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 14:55:48 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Vieques: Puerto Rico:Self-determination&Human Rights

Since we had the report on Vieques, thought i would share with you some =
work
i just did down there as well that is related to Vieques. fab.

- -----Original Message-----
From: Boyle, Francis [mailto:[e-mail]]=20
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 1999 12:57 PM
To: 'Killeacle2'
Subject: Puerto Rico:Self-determination&Human Rights


=20

Self-determination and Human Rights in Puerto Rico

by

Professor Francis A. Boyle

before

Puerto Rico's Rights to Human Dignity:

Conference on Behalf of Amnesty Petition for

Puerto Rican Political Prisoners

San Juan, Puerto Rico

28 August 1999

Draft Only

Check Against Oral Delivery.

=A91999 by Francis A. Boyle. All Rights Reserved.

        I am very happy to be back in Puerto Rico at this critical time =
in
the history of the Puerto Rican People. I would also like to thank the
Organizers of this Conference, and especially my friend and fellow =
attorney
Dr. Luis Nieves Falcon, for honoring me with the opportunity to speak =
at
this most important Conference.

        In order to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's =
invasion
of the Americas, in 1992 I was asked by the Organizers of the =
International
Tribunal of Indigenous Peoples and Oppressed Nations in the U.S.A. to =
serve
as Special Prosecutor of the United States government for committing
international crimes against Indigenous Peoples, People of Color, and
Oppressed Nationalities, including and especially the Puerto Rican =
People.
The Conference was initiated by the American Indian Movement (AIM) with =
the
support of representatives of the Puerto Rican People, the New African
People, the Mexicano People, and progressive White North Americans. Of
course, I do not consider myself to be a "White North American." I was =
born
an Irish Catholic, and I will die an Irish Catholic! During the past =
800
years of resisting one of the most brutal and cruel colonial =
occupations in
the history of humankind, we Irish Catholics know what =
self-determination,
genocide , and gross violations of our most fundamental human rights =
are all
about in our beloved Ireland, which still continue as of today.

        In my capacity as Special Prosecutor of the United States =
Federal
Government, I drew up an Indictment under international law that was =
served
upon the Attorney General of the United States and the United States
Attorney in San Francisco prior to the convening of the Tribunal near
"Columbus Day" 1992, with a demand that they appear to defend the =
United
States government from the charges. I take it they saw no point in =
trying to
defend the indefensible because no-one showed up to defend the United =
States
government, though they did publicly acknowledge receipt of our service =
of
process. I will not go through all 37 charges of my Indictment here. =
But the
proceedings of this seminal International Tribunal have been recorded =
in a
formal Verdict by the Tribunal; in a Video of the Tribunal; and in a =
Book on
the Tribunal--all under the title U.S.A. On Trial: The International
Tribunal on Indigenous Peoples and Oppressed Nations in the United =
States.

        For the purpose of this Conference, I want to briefly discuss =
the
eight charges that I filed against the United States government for
committing international crimes against the People and State of Puerto =
Rico.
I believe that these eight charges succinctly state the fundamental
principles of international law concerning the People and State of =
Puerto
Rico. Obviously, these eight charges of my Indictment cannot answer all =
the
questions the Puerto Rican People might have with respect to =
international
law. But I do submit that these eight charges provide a solid =
foundation for
providing guidance to the Puerto Rican People as to their basic rights =
under
international law that can be used in the future in order to resolve
problems and issues as they arise to confront you.

        These eight charges of my Indictment read as follows:

    Indictment of the Federal Government of the United States of America
for the Commission of International Crimes and Petition for Orders =
Mandating
its Proscription and Dissolution as an International Criminal =
Conspiracy and
a Criminal Organization

                ....

                Bill of Particulars Against the Federal Government

of the United States of America

                ....

The People and State of Puerto Rico

    Since its illegal invasion of Puerto Rico in 1898, Defendant has
perpetrated innumerable Crimes Against Peace, Crimes Against Humanity =
and
War Crimes against the People and State of Puerto Rico as recognized by =
the
Nuremberg Charter, Judgment, and Principles.

    The Defendant has perpetrated the International Crime of Genocide
against the Puerto Rican People as recognized by the 1948 Genocide
Convention.

    The Defendant has perpetrated the International Crime of Apartheid
against the Puerto Rican People as recognized by the 1973 Apartheid
Convention.

    The Defendant has perpetrated a gross and consistent pattern of
violations of the most fundamental human rights of the Puerto Rican =
People
as recognized by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the =
two
aforementioned United Nations Human Rights Covenants of 1966.

    The Defendant has perpetrated a gross and consistent pattern of
violations of the 1965 Racism Convention against the Puerto Rican =
People.

    The Defendant has denied and violated the international legal right
of the Puerto Rican People to self-determination as recognized by the =
United
Nations Charter, the two United Nations Human Rights Covenants of 1966,
customary international law, and jus cogens.

    The Defendant has illegally refused to apply the United Nations
Decolonization Resolution of 1960 to Puerto Rico.  Pursuant thereto, =
the
Defendant has an absolute international legal obligation to decolonize
Puerto Rico immediately and to transfer all powers it currently =
exercises
there to the Puerto Rican People.

    The Defendant has illegally refused to accord full-scope protections
as  Prisoners-of-War to captured Puerto Rican independence fighters in
violation of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Additional =
Protocol I
thereto of 1977. The Defendant's treatment of captured Puerto Rican
independence fighters as "common criminals" and "terrorists" =
constitutes a
"grave breach" of the Geneva Accords and thus a serious war crime.

        The distinguished Judges composing this International Tribunal
consisted of seven independent Experts on human rights drawn from all =
over
the world. In their Verdict, Preliminary Findings, and Order of 4 =
October
1992, the Indigenous Peoples' Tribunal did not accept all of the 37 =
charges
that I filed in my Indictment against the United States government for
perpetrating international crimes against Indigenous Peoples, People of
Color, and Oppressed Nations. But interestingly enough, when it came to =
the
Puerto Rican People, the International Tribunal accepted all of my =
charges
against the United States government, and by a unanimous vote.

        In its own words, the exact findings of this Tribunal on the =
People
and State of Puerto Rico were as follows:

PUERTO RICAN PEOPLE

    With respect to the charges brought by the Puerto Rican People, the
Defendant, the federal Government of the United States of America is, =
by
unanimous vote, guilty as charged in:

    Since its illegal invasion of Puerto Rico in 1898, Defendant has
perpetrated innumerable Crimes Against Peace, Crimes Against Humanity =
and
War Crimes against the People and State of Puerto Rico as recognized by =
the
Nuremberg Charter, Judgment, and Principles.

    The Defendant has perpetrated the International Crime of Genocide
against the Puerto Rican People as recognized by the 1948 Genocide
Convention.

    The Defendant has perpetrated the International Crime of Apartheid
against the Puerto Rican People as recognized by the 1973 Apartheid
Convention.

    The Defendant has perpetrated a gross and consistent pattern of
violations of the most fundamental human rights of the Puerto Rican =
People
as recognized by the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the =
two
aforementioned United Nations Human Rights Covenants of 1966.

    The Defendant has perpetrated a gross and consistent pattern of
violations of the 1965 Racism Convention against the Puerto Rican =
People.

    The Defendant has denied and violated the international legal right
of the Puerto Rican People to self-determination as recognized by the =
United
Nations Charter, the two United Nations Human Rights Covenants of 1966,
customary international law, and jus cogens.

    The Defendant has illegally refused to apply the United Nations
Decolonization Resolution of 1960 to Puerto Rico. Pursuant thereto, the
Defendant has an absolute international legal obligation to decolonize
Puerto Rico immediately and to transfer all powers it currently =
exercises
there to the Puerto Rican People.

    The Defendant has illegally refused to accord full-scope protections
as Prisoners-of-War to captured Puerto Rican independence fighters in
violation of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Additional =
Protocol I
thereto of 1977. The Defendant's treatment of captured Puerto Rican
independence fighters as "common criminals" and "terrorists" =
constitutes a
"grave breach" of the Geneva Accords and thus a serious war crime.

        As Special Prosecutor for the Tribunal, it came as no surprise =
to me
that the Judges unanimously accepted all of my charges against the =
United
States government with respect to the People and State of Puerto Rico. =
This
is because the principles of international law with respect to the =
People
and State of Puerto Rico are incontestible, and thus so glaringly =
obvious
for the entire world to see. I most respectfully submit that the Puerto
Rican People must use this analysis and the Tribunal's Verdict, =
Preliminary
Findings, and Order in order to support, promote, and defend your basic
rights under international law.

        In the final section of its Verdict, the Tribunal also rendered =
the
following unanimous decision that directly concerns the international =
legal
rights of the People and State of Puerto Rico:

ADDITIONAL FINDINGS

    In light of the foregoing findings, this Tribunal also, by unanimous
vote, finds the Defendant guilty as charged in paragraph 37, which, as
amended, reads:

    In light of the foregoing international crimes, the Defendant
constitutes a Criminal Conspiracy and a Criminal Organization in =
accordance
with the Nuremberg Charter, Judgment, and Principles and the other =
sources
of public international law specified above, and the Federal Government =
of
the United States of America is similar to the Nazi government of World =
War
II Germany. [Emphasis added.]

This powerful Finding speaks for itself and requires no explanation by =
me.

        The Tribunal concluded its Verdict with the following Order to =
the
United States government: "Now therefore, it is ordered, adjudged and
decreed that the Defendant cease and desist from the commission of the
crimes it has been found guilty of herein." Of course, the United =
States
government paid no attention to the Order of this Tribunal. Likewise, =
the
United States has paid no attention to the decisions of the =
International
Court of Justice in The Hague, the so-called World Court of the United
Nations System. Nevertheless, the Verdict, Preliminary Findings, and =
Order
of this Indigenous Peoples' Tribunal qualify as a "judicial decision" =
within
the meaning of Article 38(1)(d)of the Statute of the International =
Court of
Justice. Pursuant thereto, this Verdict, Preliminary Findings, and =
Order
constitute "subsidiary means for the determination of rules of law" for
international law and practice. Furthermore, the Statute of the
International Court of Justice is an "integral part" of the United =
Nations
Charter under Article 92 thereof. Hence the Indigenous Peoples' =
Tribunal's
Verdict, Preliminary Findings, and Order can be relied upon by the
International Court of Justice itself, by the Permanent International
Criminal Court now being organized, by some other International =
Tribunal, or
by any other Court in the world today, as well as by any People or =
State of
the World Community--including and especially by the Puerto Rican =
People.

        Obviously, in my brief presentation here today, I do not have =
the
time to go through each and every one of these nine charges; to discuss =
all
of the factual evidence that supports these nine charges; or to provide =
you
with an analysis of the international legal basis for each one of these
charges. For that type of information, I refer you to the Video and the =
Book
on the Tribunal as well as to the Verdict, Preliminary Findings, and =
Order
itself. But in the discussion that follows, I will be happy to answer =
any
questions you might have. Thank you.

=20
F.A.B.

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:04:49 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) FW: IADL on Puerto Rican POWs

- -----Original Message-----
From: Boyle, Francis [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 1999 10:46 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: IADL on Puerto Rican POWs




August 25, 1999

Mr. John Podesta, Chief of Staff
White House,
Washington, D.C.
    By Telecopier: [phone]

Dear Mr. Podesta:

    As Vice-President and Permanent Representative to the United Nations for

the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, I write to congratulate

President Clinton and to thank all who have been involved in the review of
the status of the 15 Puerto Rican political prisoners.  You have taken an
important step in the direction of executive clemency by your effective
recognition that these prisoners' sentences were excessively harsh.

    Our Association, founded in 1946 to support law in the service of peace,

has consistently argued for respect for all human rights, including the
right
to self-determination.  We were in the forefront of the campaign for a free
and democratic South Africa, we have been strong advocates of the Northern
Ireland Peace Process towards which President Clinton has made such a
positive and principled contribution and we have campaigned for the right of

the Puerto Rican people to determine their own future.

    In this connection, we believe that the approach to all of the
politically motivated Puerto Rican prisoners should mirror that taken by the

British and Irish governments toward those imprisoned as a result of the
Northern Ireland conflict.  Indeed, it is noteworthy that the British
government appointed to oversee this process the same South African lawyer
whom Nelson Mandela had picked to review the release of politically
motivated
prisoners in his own country.

    The common thread that connects these issues is the recognition that the

prisoners themselves have an important contribution to make in redirecting
the political dialog away from paramilitary violence and toward building the

confidence of civil society in the use of democratic processes. Like the
IRA's cease-fire and Sinn Fein's endorsement of the Mitchell Principles, the

Puerto Rican prisoners have already signaled, in a collective statement
submitted to the U.S. House Resources Committee, that they intend to
integrate themselves into the civic and civil life and legal political
process of their communities, that they understand that times have changed,
and they have indicated their willingness to participate in a truly
democratic, inclusive process to resolve what they and many others consider
to be the colonial status of Puerto Rico.

    We believe that, just like IRA prisoners, they should be released
without
the requirement to report to parole officers and without any restrictions
imposed on the freedom of association, speech, assembly and travel to which
they are entitled under international human rights law.  No individual IRA
or
loyalist prisoner is required to sign any formal undertaking, to report to
any governmental agency or to submit to any restrictions on his or her
freedoms of association, speech, assembly or travel.

    It is noteworthy that the United States campaigned for the unconditional

release of Nelson Mandela, who was jailed on charges identical to those for
which the Puerto Rican prisoners have been imprisoned.  Many IRA and
loyalist
paramilitaries serving life sentences for multiple homicides are now free on

license with their sentences reduced by decades.  The peace process has been

strengthened immeasurably by this recognition of the important role of the
prisoners.  Even were that process to break down, it would not be the fault
of the prisoners but rather of politicians who are too hesitant to move
forward to equality and democracy.

    This is not a time for hesitation over the Puerto Rican prisoners
either.
 It is time to permit them to return to their homes and communities to
continue their commitment to peaceable means of achieving their full human
rights.  We urge their immediate and unconditional release as a humanitarian

gesture and an act of political reconciliation.

                    Very truly yours,


                    Lennox S. Hinds, Esq.,
                    Vice-President and Permanent U.N. Representative
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Private reply:         "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
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Questions?             Rebecca Alexander, [e-mail]
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 18:04:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Three Things You Can Do!

Dear Abolition 2000 Network Members,

   Now, more than ever, your action and support are needed to make a
difference.   As the year 2000 quickly approaches, we must unite in our
common endeavors to create a more peaceful and just world, free from the
threat of nuclear weapons.  Although our different organizations are unique
and have a variety of priorities and agendas, we all are striving for the
same end...nuclear abolition.

   Did you know that the sunflower is not just one flower, but actually a
collection of as many as 2,000 individual flowers assembled together to
appear as one united being?  As you may know, the sunflower is the official
logo for Abolition 2000, and how appropriate!  Abolition 2000 is like the
sunflower because it is not just one organization, but rather a network of
organizations united by our common work.

Here are three things you can do to unite and strengthen the Network:

1. In May 1999, at our annual general meeting held at the Hague Appeal for
Peace conference, we agreed that the year 2000 poses a critical challenge
for the Network and we set a goal of enrolling 2000 sponsors by the NPT
Review Conference which will begin in April 2000.  Currently there are
1,377 organizations in 89 countries who have endorsed the Abolition 2000
statement.  We need your commitment to outreach to youth groups, religious
groups, environmental groups, women's groups and all sectors of society and
enroll organizations if we are going to reach our goal.

2.  Please continue to circulate and collect signatures for the Abolition
2000 International Petition.  To date, more than 13,280,718 signatures have
been collected.  Please use the petition as a tool to bring awareness and
outreach to both individuals and organizations.

3.  The Network needs the financial support of its members to sustain
coordination of the Network's activities and offer travel costs for our
annual general meetings to participants from resource poor countries and
indigenous participants who would otherwise not be able to participate.
Please commit to making a donation, however large or small to forward our
common work and goals for this upcoming critical year.

   Thank you for your commitment in our common endeavor to rid the world of
nuclear weapons.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

   In Peace,

   The Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee

Janet Bloomfield, UK    Jackie Cabasso, US       Pol Huyvetter, Netherlands
David Krieger, US       Richard Salvador, Belau  Alice Slater, US
Hiro Umebashi, Japan    Ross Wilcock, Canada     Alyn Ware, Aotearoa




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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 18:04:17 -0800 (PST)
From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) [abolition-caucus] Three Things You Can Do!

Dear Abolition 2000 Network Members,

   Now, more than ever, your action and support are needed to make a
difference.   As the year 2000 quickly approaches, we must unite in our
common endeavors to create a more peaceful and just world, free from the
threat of nuclear weapons.  Although our different organizations are unique
and have a variety of priorities and agendas, we all are striving for the
same end...nuclear abolition.

   Did you know that the sunflower is not just one flower, but actually a
collection of as many as 2,000 individual flowers assembled together to
appear as one united being?  As you may know, the sunflower is the official
logo for Abolition 2000, and how appropriate!  Abolition 2000 is like the
sunflower because it is not just one organization, but rather a network of
organizations united by our common work.

Here are three things you can do to unite and strengthen the Network:

1. In May 1999, at our annual general meeting held at the Hague Appeal for
Peace conference, we agreed that the year 2000 poses a critical challenge
for the Network and we set a goal of enrolling 2000 sponsors by the NPT
Review Conference which will begin in April 2000.  Currently there are
1,377 organizations in 89 countries who have endorsed the Abolition 2000
statement.  We need your commitment to outreach to youth groups, religious
groups, environmental groups, women's groups and all sectors of society and
enroll organizations if we are going to reach our goal.

2.  Please continue to circulate and collect signatures for the Abolition
2000 International Petition.  To date, more than 13,280,718 signatures have
been collected.  Please use the petition as a tool to bring awareness and
outreach to both individuals and organizations.

3.  The Network needs the financial support of its members to sustain
coordination of the Network's activities and offer travel costs for our
annual general meetings to participants from resource poor countries and
indigenous participants who would otherwise not be able to participate.
Please commit to making a donation, however large or small to forward our
common work and goals for this upcoming critical year.

   Thank you for your commitment in our common endeavor to rid the world of
nuclear weapons.  Your support is greatly appreciated.

   In Peace,

   The Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee

Janet Bloomfield, UK    Jackie Cabasso, US       Pol Huyvetter, Netherlands
David Krieger, US       Richard Salvador, Belau  Alice Slater, US
Hiro Umebashi, Japan    Ross Wilcock, Canada     Alyn Ware, Aotearoa




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------------------------------

End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #221
***********************************

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