wfn.org | Two Methodists freed on bail after Vieques arrest

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Aug. 8, 2001 News media contact: Linda Bloom7(212) 870-38037New
York10-32-71B{344}

By United Methodist News Service

Two Methodists were freed on bail Aug. 8 after participating in a protest
against the resumption of U.S. naval bombing exercises on the Puerto Rican
island of Vieques.

The Rev. Lucy Rosario, pastor of the Vieques Methodist Church, and the Rev.
German Acevedo-Delgado, a staff executive with the United Methodist Board of
Global Ministries, were arrested Aug. 3 for trespassing on U.S. government
property after entering a restricted area.

The Methodist Church of Puerto Rico posted $900 of the $3,000 bail set for
the two pastors. The remainder will be brought to court when their trial
opens. A trial date has not been set.

Among those arrested along with Rosario and Acevedo were the president of
the Women's Alliance of Vieques and the former president of the Puerto Rican
Lawyers Guild.

On July 29, 80 percent of the registered voters on Vieques voted on a
non-binding but symbolic referendum regarding the U.S. Navy presence on the
island. About 68 percent opposed the Navy's presence, while 30 percent
favored an indefinite Navy stay and 1.7 percent said the Navy should stay
only until 2003.

The United Methodist Church officially opposes the Navy's use of the island
for bombing exercises. A resolution passed by the 2000 United Methodist
General Conference, the denomination's top legislative body, supports the
return of the land to the people of Vieques and U.S. government attention to
the health concerns and economic development needs there.

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United Methodist News Service
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