Fast for Vieques in Front of The White House

William Jefferson Clinton
President of the United States of America
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Saludos. I am writing on behalf of the Coordinadora de Justicia y Paz and the Comité Pro-Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques to inform you that beginning today, June 14, 2000, I will start a water-only fast in front of the White House requesting that you meet with the leaders of our community- based organizations. It is imperative that you hear directly from the people that suffer the consequences of the military training of the U.S. Navy how they feel about said exercises.

I believe that this is a tangible goal and that my humble act of fasting will be a minor way of showing our commitment for peace in Vieques. You may contact me directly by crossing the street or by calling me at 202-270-2706. My people would like to have a definite date and place for this meeting. Be informed that I am willing to pay the ultimate consequences of abstaining from nourishment and that I will fast until you agree to our petition.

What follows is a copy of the text of a letter written by H.H. the Dalai Lama sent to me on behalf of the people of Vieques. This letter was my motivation to fast indefinitely until President Clinton agrees to meet with the people of Vieques.

H.H. the Dalai Lama

MESSAGE:

I am concerned by the terrible effects on people, animals and plants of Vieques, an island in the archipelago of Puerto Rico, as a result of the military exercises conducted on the island. I am told that because of the pollution from these military exercises the cancer rate in Vieques is much higher than on the main island. I therefore support the action of the people of Vieques in protesting against such military exercises.

May 8, 2000

El Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques expresó su apoyo y agradecimiento a nombre del pueblo luchador viequense, al joven universitario puertorriqueño, Héctor Rosario, en el octavo día de ayuno frente a Casa Blanca en Washington. Rosario lleva a cabo un ayuno para dramatizar y llamar la atención al horrible problema de contaminación y salud que causa la Marina de Guerra de E.U. con sus prácticas de bombardeo en Vieques, donde Rosario tiene familiares.

Robert Rabin, portovoz del Comité Pro Rescate, señaló que durante la vigilia celebrada aquí el pasado sábado en la noche, cientos de viequenses aplaudieron fuertemente al escuchar las expresiones de Rosario quien vía teléfono desde Washington explicó el propósito de su ayuno. "La gestión de Héctor se considera aquí heróica, un verdadero sacrificio en pro de la paz de nuestro pueblo. Y el valor y sacrificio de este joven boricua está bien agradecido aqu," mencionó Rabin.

Fue Rosario quien logró que el Dalai Lama enviara al Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques un mensaje de solidaridad y apoyo a la lucha por la paz y por la desmilitarización. En mayo, Rosario formó parte de una brigada de desobedientes que se lanzó al campo durnate un juego en Yankee Stadium para atraer atención a la lucha de Vieques.

"Existen muchas maneras de aportar a la lucha del pueblo viequense y Héctor ha demostrado una impresionante mezcla de valor y creatividad en solidaridad con Vieques. Es un digno ejemplo de la juventud puertorriqueña dedicada a las causas nobles en defensa de los derechos fundamentales, dedicado a la paz para Vieques," apuntó Rabin.

Miembros del CPRDV mencionaron la posibilidad de enviar un delegado para acompañar a Rosario en los próximos días en su ayuno en el Parque Lafayette, frente a la residencia del Presidente Clinton en Washington, DC.

Mensaje enviado por Hector Rosario al presidente Clinton el domingo 18 de junio de 2000. Hector lleva ayunando por 6 días Frente a la Casa Blanca solicitando que se le permita a los viequenses reunirse con el Presidente. Hector está solicitando que, en solidaridad con su ayuno y en apoyo a su pedido, se le envíe de inmediato copia por fax de esta carta, junto a expresiones de solidaridad, a Bill Clinton (202) 456-2461, María Echaveste (202) 456-1907, y a Jeffrey Farrow (202) 456-2889.

Message sent by Hector Rosario to President Clinton on Sunday, June 18, 2000. Hector has been fasting for 6 days in front of the White House demanding a meeting between the President and the Vieques’ community leaders. Hector is requesting Vieques’ supporters to fax immediately copies of his letter, along with support statements, to Bill Clinton (202) 456-2461, María Echaveste (202) 456-1907, and Jeffrey Farrow (202) 456-2889.

Saludos. As you are well aware, I have been fasting in front of your house since Wednesday morning but my fast actually started on Monday at night. All we are asking for is that you agree to meet with the Vieques community leaders, something you have declined to do ever since they requested it on December 21, 1999. Later, on February 29, 2000 the religious leaders in Puerto Rico asked you to meet with them. You did not even respond. You have suggested that Jeffrey Farrow meet with them, but they do not want to meet with him because all he does is distort reality. You should have the kindness and courtesy to listen to how Viequenses feel about the military exercises on their island for the past 60 years.

We believe you do not have the necessary facts to make a sound decision with regard to Vieques. I will be in front of the White House (I'm accessing the Internet from the Kinko's on 15th St. and K St.) until you agree to meet with them or I have to be taken to the hospital. You decide.

Several congresspeople as well as senators and representatives from Puerto Rico have written letters of support making you responsible for anything that might happen to me simply because you refuse to concede to this meeting, a simple request. Please, let us talk about when to have said meeting.

June 16, 2000 - MESSAGE FROM HÉCTOR ROSARIO, FROM THE FAST AND VIGIL IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE POR PEACE IN VIEQUES

Saludos. I finally got access to a computer! I might not be able to e-mail it but somebody else will. I'm on my third day of fasting. It is 9:27am on Friday, June 16, 2000. I only ate a piece of watermelon on Monday with some juice. On Tuesday I only drank about 20 ounces of juice. I had my last glass of juice on Tuesday at 8:00pm. After that, I've only been drinking water.

Tomorrow Saturday I will announce that if President Clinton does not respond to our plea by Monday at noon, I will go on a dry fast, regardless of how hot it is. Viesques is what's important, not my health. All the people of Vieques are asking for is a meeting with the President. That is not too much to ask since as Commander in Chief, he is responsible for the death of civilian David Sanes and the deaths resulting from the environmental pollution caused by the Navy's bombings.

Yesterday I spoke to Jeffrey Farrow, Clinton's aide in U.S.-Puerto Rico affairs. He tried to convince me that the presidential directive was good and encouraged me to work with them in getting it approved. It seems like he's never met a person with principles and a sense for justice.

In terms of my "accomodations", I'm holding a 24-hour vigil right in front of the White House. I stay there rain or shine. A lot of people have come, especially Puerto Ricans. My brothers and sister in the struggle, I have to keep it short. Hope you stay strong. U.S. Navy out of Vieques!

Here is a copy of the declaration I gave to the members of the press this morning. Your decision to resume bombing practices on our island of Vieques is a shame. That is how you respond to our plea for peace in Vieques. Tyranny is your way. However, we are still fighting and regardless of how powerful you might think your military is, our non- violent struggle for peace in our homeland shall triumph.

Saludos. I wish to take this opportunity to first of all thank the people who supported me physically at Lafayette Park, spiritually through their prayers, and those who contacted me through e-mail and regular mail. Your support is wholeheartedly appreciated.

I have, through much deliberation and vision from my fast, determined that my efforts can best be served and utilized by a change of venue. On Monday we discovered the plans of the U.S. Navy to resume bombing practices on our island of Vieques, Puerto Rico this Wednesday, despite of all the opposition by millions of people around the world. After talking to Robert Rabin from the Coordinadora de Justicia y Paz and to Ismael Guadalupe, from the Comité Pro Rescate y Desarrollo de Vieques, I came to the conclusion that it is better for me to end the fast today and fly immediately to Puerto Rico to join their actions in Vieques. I do this because the demand of my fast was to get a meeting with the President understanding that the military maneuvers would not start until October.

Under this change of scenario, we interpret the resuming of the bombings as Clinton's response to the plea of my people to meet with him. Therefore, I conclude my fast on this eighth day in dignity with much strength. The United States government has once again shown its lack of integrity and its willingness to flagrantly violate basic human rights. Nevertheless, we must continue our work for peace and justice on earth.

I will be arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, June 20. I will be in Vieques on Wednesday morning to be at the service of my people.