wfn.org | United Methodist to end fast over Navy bombing of Vieques

[NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG]

Sept 29, 2000      News media contact: Joretta Purdue ·(202)
546-8722·Washington    10-32-71B {442}

WASHINGTON (UMNS) -- A United Methodist lay missioner has announced the end
of his fast and White House vigil for Vieques, the Puerto Rican island that
the U.S. Navy is using for bombing practice.

Andres Thomas Conteris, a missionary between assignments, said he will end
his hunger strike Oct. 2, 10 weeks after it began and seven weeks after he
switched to a more stringent, water-only fast. He reported that he has lost
60 pounds in his bid for President Clinton to meet with religious and
community leaders from Vieques.

Speaking at a press conference across the street from the White House on
Sept. 28, Conteris said he would make his final vigil appearance there that
evening. He began the vigil July 25 and continued it each weekday evening.

"My own conscience led me into this appeal to the conscience of President
Clinton," said Conteris. He hoped that the president has been touched by
concern for the people of Vieques, he said.

Conteris has said that contamination from more than 50 years of bombing is
responsible for Vieques having a higher cancer rate than the rest of Puerto
Rico. 

On Sept. 22, Conteris was among those arrested during a civil disobedience
action in front of the White House while calling for an end to the U.S. Navy
presence on Vieques. Also arrested were the Rev. Eddie Lopez and Franklin
Guerrero, United Methodist Board of Global Ministries staff members, and
several others.

The three were acting on their own, according to a Board of Global
Ministries statement, but their participation reflects the position of the
United Methodist Church regarding Vieques.

Likewise, speaking as individuals, United Methodist Board of Church and
Society executives James Winkler and the Rev. Eliezer Valentin-Castanon
added their voices to those of peace group and church representatives at the
press conference, who called for an end to the bombing in Vieques.

Conteris said he expects to break his fast Oct. 2 after he consults with
religious and other leaders in Puerto Rico, some of whom are also fasting.
He said he plans to fly to Puerto Rico Sept 29 for the Oct. 1 rally being
planned there.

Puerto Rican leaders have decided that requesting a meeting is no longer
where they should focus their energy, Conteris said.

Although the president has not held the long-requested meeting with
religious and community leaders, Conteris said, the issue is getting
attention in Congress as part of a sign-on letter to the president dealing
with the bombing issue. The hunger striker also said that he had an
hour-long phone call from Jeffrey Farrow, the president's aide on Vieques.

Conteris noted that his fast has been debilitating to his health but added
that he has been surprised it has not taken a greater toll. He said that he
uses a wheelchair for comfort rather than necessity, and that his strength
came from the support of so many communities.

During the press conference, Conteris also spoke in support of an
international call to prayer, fasting and action for peace that is scheduled
for Oct. 2.

More than 50 people have endorsed the call. United Methodists who have
signed the call include the Rev. Robert Edgar, chief executive of the
National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA; Bishop Sharon Zimmerman
Rader of Sun Prairie, Wis.; the Rev. Joe Eldridge, chaplain at American
University; the Rev. Thom White Wolf Fassett, top executive of the Board of
Church and Society; the Rev. German Acevedo-Delgado of the Board of Global
Ministries; Donald Reasoner, a United Methodist missionary on special
assignment to Latin America and the Caribbean; and several pastors.

Bishop Juan A. Vera of the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico and the Rev. Lucy
Rosario, pastor of a Methodist church on Vieques, also signed the call.
Bishop Isaias Gutierrez, chairman of the Latin American and Caribbean
Council of Methodist Churches, and the Rev. Eunice Santana, a former
president of the World Council of Churches, are supporting the call, along
with representatives of several other churches and organizations that work
with peace or Puerto Rican issues.

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United Methodist News Service
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