wfn.org | American Baptists Visit Vieques Puerto Rico to Raise Awareness

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AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE
Office of Communication
American Baptist Churches USA
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director
  E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

NATIONAL MINISTRIES' BIBLICAL JUSTICE STAFF TRAVEL
TO VIEQUES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF CRISIS

  Eight members of the Biblical Justice Ministry Center
of National Ministries, American Baptist Churches USA,
recently joined a three-member delegation from the Baptist
Churches of Puerto Rico, led by the Rev. Yamina Apolinaris,
executive minister, in a visit to the small island of
Vieques.  The purpose of the visit was to demonstrate
solidarity with the region and to raise awareness among
other American Baptist congregations about the crisis on the
island.

  For 59 years the U.S. Navy has conducted live
ammunition exercises on Vieques, the largest of many small
islands that are part of Puerto Rico.  Almost 80 percent of
the island's 33,000 acres are controlled by the Navy, with a
naval base and ammunition storage in the western section and
a live ammunition bombing area in the east.  More than 9,300
civilians of Vieques live on one-third of the island between
these two military areas.

  On April 19, 1999 a 500-pound Mark-82 bomb that was
dropped during a military exercise killed David Sanes
Rodriguez, a resident of Vieques who was on duty as a
civilian guard in an observation post. The death of a
civilian has solidified public opinion, with political,
religious and civic leaders calling for the U.S. Navy to
leave Vieques.

  "In addition to this tragic loss of life, severe
economic, ecological and environmental consequences have
resulted from the U.S. Navy activities," noted the Rev.
Hector Cortez, National Ministries' associate executive
director for Biblical Justice.  "But few people in the
United States have been aware of the crisis situation."

  On Feb. 21, responding to a call from religious
leaders, more than 100,000 people of Puerto Rico staged a
silent march to demonstrate their opposition to the
resumption of training exercises on Vieques.  The resumption
has been proposed in a directive from the Clinton
Administration which gained the support of Pedro Rossello,
governor of Puerto Rico.

  "This was the largest march in the history of Puerto
Rico," said Apolinaris, who was one of the leaders in an
ecumenical worship service following the march.  "This is a
difficult moment for our people. We trust that God will open
the minds and hearts of those who will make decisions about
Vieques."

  While in Puerto Rico National Ministries' staff met
with leaders of the Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico, one of
the 34 regions of American Baptist Churches USA.   During
the next ten years, as part of NEW LIFE 2010, Biblical
Justice staff plan to build strategic relations with
American Baptist regions to learn from them about their
prophetic and caring ministries, according to Cortez.

  "One of the goals of NEW LIFE 2010 is to vitalize a
multitude of caring ministries," Cortez said. "But caring
ministries that address the needs of those who are
discarded, dehumanized and devalued in our society are
interrelated with prophetic ministries that challenge unjust
behaviors in social systems.  We cannot provide caring
ministry without doing prophetic ministry to address the
systems that create injustices."

  At the 1999 Biennial Meeting delegates affirmed a
"Statement of Concern on Self-Determination for Puerto Rico"
which includes a call "to American Baptists as individuals,
congregations and organizations to affirm a resolution
passed by the Regional Board of Baptist Churches of Puerto
Rico (June 12, 1999) in solidarity with the people of
Vieques, requesting the cessation of all military activities
on the island of Vieques."

  Suggested actions related to Vieques are included in
"A Faith In Action Alert--Vieques: Seeking Peace and
Justice," which has been prepared by National Ministries.
The Action Alert is included in the Peace Sunday Packet that
is mailed to all American Baptist churches.  To obtain a
copy of the Action Alert or for more information about
Vieques call 1-800-ABC-3USA/ext. 2451.

3/7/00
WFN37A

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