wfn.org | RESPONSE URGED IN VIEQUES CRISIS

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

To: wfn-editors@wfn.org

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

AMERICAN BAPTISTS CALLED TO RESPOND
AS VIEQUES CONFRONTATION LOOMS
 As U.S. military personnel move closer to forcibly
evicting protesters on Puerto Rico's Vieques Island,
American Baptists are being called both to pray about and
respond to the federal policy on military exercises there
that has caused widespread dissension.
 Almost 80 percent of the island's 33,000 acres are
controlled by the Navy, which has conducted live ammunition
exercises there for nearly 60 years.  Last year a bomb
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.  That incident has
solidified public opinion, with political, religious and
civic leaders calling for the U.S. Navy to leave Vieques.
 About 50 protesters resolutely have remained within a
Navy bombing range on Vieques.  They claim the long-term
testing additionally has caused a higher rate of cancer and
produced environmental hazards for the 9,300 inhabitants of
the island.
 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."
 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.
 Eight members of the Biblical Justice Ministry Center
of American Baptist National Ministries earlier this year
joined a three-member delegation from the Baptist Churches
of Puerto Rico in a visit to 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.  "A Faith In Action Alert -
Vieques: Seeking Peace and Justice," sent by National
Ministries to American Baptist churches in March, provided
background and resources for dealing with the crisis.
 The Rev. Hector Cortez, National Ministries' associate
executive director for Biblical Justice, has noted: "One of
the goals of NEW LIFE 2010 is to vitalize a multitude of
caring ministries.  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."
 Cortez and other American Baptist leaders are urging
American Baptists to pray for a peaceful and just resolution
to the crisis and to lift up in prayer the residents of
Vieques, the protesters and all who are involved in the
ongoing events there.   Cortez also is calling for American
Baptists to voice their concern immediately by calling their
congressional representatives (Capitol switchboard--202-224-
3121) and the White House (202-456-1414).
5/3/00
WFN53A

 -0-