The Honduras situation hasn't changed and in fact the United States Empire has strengthened the Latin American countries stance against imperialism. Every country in the continent of Latin America and the Caribbean are noticing the United States attacks on democracy. The United States diplomatic chess move on Honduras has failed and its imperial attempt in Afghanistan has failed. This so called "democracy" chess move is a disguise of the empire.
http://hondurasenlucha.blogspot.com/
Honduras: isolated, de factos prepare for vote Submitted by WW4 Report on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 22:59. Guatemalan foreign minister Haroldo Rodas announced Nov. 21 that Guatemala was not going to recognize the general elections to be held in Honduras Nov. 29 under the de facto regime installed after the June 28 removal of President Manuel Zelaya. He added that Guatemala would not send observers to the elections. Spain is also planning not to send observers because it "cannot support" elections under these conditions, foreign ministry sources told the Spanish wire service EFE Nov. 21.
Many Latin American governments have rejected the plan to proceed with the elections, although it is supported by the US. The presidents of two of the nations with the largest economies—Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner—confirmed on Nov. 18 that their governments would not recognize the elections if they are held under the coup regime. Ecuador has the same position, according to Foreign Minister Fander Falconí. Organization of American States (OAS) general secretary José Miguel Insulza has said that that organization can't send observers because the representatives of Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela indicated at a special meeting at the beginning of November that their governments wouldn't recognize the elections.
Despite the boycott, a delegation of 250 election observers has been put together. It will include two former center-right Latin American presidents: Vicente Fox Quesada of Mexico (2000-2006) and Alejandro Toledo of Peru (2001-2006). The main Guatemalan business group, the Committee of Commercial, Industrial and Financial Associations (CACIF), has agreed to participate. (Vos el Soberano, Honduras, Nov. 21 from EFE; ADN.es, Spain, Nov. 21 from EFE; Radio YVKE Mundial, Venezuela, Nov. 22; Reuters, Nov. 18)
On Nov. 20 Esdras Amado López, director of the Cholusat Sur Canal 36 television station, said his channel was "off the air because its signal has been interrupted with a signal from a parallel transmitter" playing "pornographic films and some westerns." "[T]errorists paid by the government of [de facto president Roberto] Micheletti" are responsible, according to López. He wrote National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) head Miguel Angel Rodas asking for his "immediate attention to an extremely delicate matter taking place in the moment during which Honduras is getting ready to be present at an electoral process in which freedom of the press is an important bastion for legitimizing the process."
Canal 36 and Radio Globo are the two largest broadcast media that have opposed the coup. The de facto government shut down both of them temporarily in the first days of the coup. (EFE, Nov. 20; Vos el Soberano, Nov. 20; Honduras Coup 2009 blog, Nov. 20)
On the weekend of Nov. 21 the Committee of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees in Honduras (COFADEH), one of the country's leading human rights organizations, warned of a deterioration in the human rights situation as the elections approached. COFADEH reported that there was an unusual deployment of soldiers, police agents and paramilitary groups in the country and that the military had acquired new equipment, including an armored car, a powerful water cannon and a chemical that would enable the authorities to identify anyone hit by the water for 48 hours. The group called for the international community to stay on alert about the situation. (Vos el Soberano, Nov. 22 from Defensoresenlinea.com; Prensa Latina, Nov. 22)
http://ww4report.com/node/7999
The recent developments show Mexico former president Vicente Fox supporting the Honduras coup. This should be condemned immediately and the people of Mexico should hold massive solidarity protest with the people of Honduras. In 2006 a leftist running president election was stolen by the corrupt Mexican government. The leftist candidate has publicly suggested that his country is being controlled by a mafia. The Mexican people should hold massive protest based on election fraud in their own home country and in solidarity with Honduras. They both have something deeply in common when it comes down to democracy.
It recent day's the government of Luis Fortuno has decided to break ties with Venezuela. All news media sources mostly controlled by the United States or waging a propaganda war against the popular Chavez. Below there links to different article's and youtube videos of the propaganda. I denounce the media campaign against my brother Chavez and will personally see that we intesify our operations against the propaganda. Paz.
http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2009/11/40136.php
Gobierno lanza campaña sucia contra la disidencia ...y contra Chávez por Guillermo Morejón Flores Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 at 1:52 AM g.morejon88@hotmail.com
La inagotable ridiculez e ineptitud propia del provincialismo político que caracteriza a nuestro gobierno colonial ha movido a sus voceros a poner las miras de su esperpéntica campaña difamatoria, sobre un blanco inesperado: el Presidente de la República Bolivarianda de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.
Gobierno lanza campa...
Tras poco menos de un año de haber sido electo con una mayoría avasalladora, el gobernador colonial de turno en Puerto Rico, abogado corporativo y republicano Luis G. Fortuño Burset y su gobierno han desatado una campaña sucia en contra los sectores que luchan ante el tsunami (que no oleada) de políticas neoliberales que le han ido cayendo arriba al pueblo puertorriqueño y que en enero de 2010 habrá logrado dejar en la calle a más de 25,000 empleados públicos. Su mayor logro, cosa que no es fácil: aglutinar a la gran mayoría del país en contra del gobierno ―el nivel de aprobación de Fortuño actualmente es de menos del 30%―, en pie de lucha y de camino a la huelga general. Y José Figueroa Sancha, Superintendente de la Policía de Puerto Rico, ex Director del FBI en San Juan y escogido por Fortuño, ha demostrado ya en más de una ocasión su disposición a ejercer la represión contra las manifestaciones del pueblo. En éste marco de total desprestigio, los medios de comunicación de mayor alcance se han hecho eco de la campaña sucia del gobierno, criminalizando y demonizando sistemáticamente al estudiantado y la juventud en general, al independentismo, los movimientos sociales y a los trabajadores, a quienes el gobierno amenazó el pasado 15 de octubre, día en que hubo un paro nacional, con acusar de terrorismo tal como se contempla en la llamada “Acta Patriota”, o Patriot Act, infame ley antiterrorista aprobada por el gobierno de Bush al calor de los ataques del 11 de septiembre de 2001.
Como si no bastara con las declaraciones del Secretario de Estado, Kenneth McClintock, en las que afirmó que el paro nacional del 15 de octubre no eral realmente un «paro nacional», propiamente dicho, más bien se trataba de un paro “estatal, territorial, insular” puesto que “aquí no va a haber nadie en Cincinnati ni en Seattle parando labores”; la inagotable ridiculez e ineptitud propia del provincialismo político que caracteriza a nuestro gobierno colonial ha movido a sus voceros a poner las miras de su esperpéntica campaña difamatoria, sobre un blanco inesperado: el Presidente de la República Bolivarianda de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.
Los medios masivos han redoblado las “noticias” contra el líder venezolano con las consabidas acusaciones de “guerrerista”, de dictadorzuelo autócrata, de Venezuela como un narco-Estado corrupto. Entre esos medios, los dos periódicos de mayor tirada del país: “El nuevo día” y “Primera hora”, ambos pertenecientes a la familia Ferrer, tradicionalmente ligada al Partido Nuevo Progresista ―que actualmente ostenta el poder― desde sus inicios. En la pantalla chica, Univisión (canal 11) y la NBC (canal 2) hacen acto de presencia en ésta carnavalesca comparsa anti-chavista. Y el programa noticioso del canal del Estado (canal 6) haría lo propio, de no haber sido eliminado recientemente por el gobernador Fortuño y sus recortes presupuestarios.
¿Pero cómo se logra entremezclar e implicar a Hugo Chávez en el ascendente desprestigio del gobierno colonial? Goebbels se sonrojaría. El 18 de noviembre, con acusaciones que evocan a la época del Libertador, Simón Bolívar, cuando el gobierno colonial ―entonces español― acusaba al independentismo puertorriqueño de ser un germen importado de Venezuela; el senador anexionista y de origen cubano Roberto Arango declaró ante la prensa tener pruebas de que el gobierno venezolano está financiando a grupos disidentes dentro del país. Declaró, además, que tiene intenciones de redactar una resolución en el Senado de Puerto Rico solicitándole al Presidente de los EE.UU., Barack Obama y a la Secretaria de Estado, Hillary Clinton el considerar la posibilidad de cerrar el consulado venezolano en la Isla con motivo de la supuesta financiación a grupos disidentes. “Crear inestabilidad política y crear anarquía en Puerto Rico a través de subvencionar estos grupos en nada es parte de la responsabilidad de los consulados. Los consulados están para traer negocios”, aseguró.
Los comentarios escandalosos del senador Arango vienen a reforzar otra noticia de la campaña sucia que surgió el día anterior. El 17 de noviembre varios periódicos y canales de televisión difundieron la noticia de que que el gobernador lanzó una advertencia a Hugo Chávez ya que éste alegadamente afirmó, en declaraciones que no han podido ser confirmadas aún por ningún medio, que “cuenta con aliados para que Puerto Rico deje de ser una colonia”. Ante las supuestas declaraciones, Fortuño respondió tajantemente con expresiones como: “Nosotros decidimos nuestro estatus, nosotros escogemos quiénes son nuestros gobernantes. No le corresponde a nadie fuera de Puerto Rico escoger por nosotros. Y no lo vamos a permitir”. Palabras bastante grandes si tomamos en cuenta que Puerto Rico es todavía una colonia yanqui y que, encima, el susodicho pertenece al anexionista y asimilista Partido Nuevo Progresista.
No es secreto ni es noticia el apoyo decidido y reiterado a nuestra Independencia por parte del Presidente Hugo Chávez, ni son nuevos los consiguientes comunicados de prensa del partido anexionista condenándole con la paradójica noción de que “aquí mandamos los puertorriqueños”. Pero resulta todavía más paradójico que el gobernador Fortuño, a partir unas declaraciones hasta ahora fantasmas, le acuse por ello de intromisión cuando éste se dedicó a desprestigiar en varias ocasiones la figura del Presidente Chávez y del gobierno venezolano mientras ocupaba el cargo de Comisionado Residente en Wáshington (representante puertorriqueño ante la Cámara de Representantes de EE.UU., sin derecho a voto) durante el cuatrienio 2004 a 2008. Además de distinguirse por multiplicar significativamente su caudal durante su gestión; de ser el representante número cuatro con más ausencias en la Cámara según un estudio del no muy liberal Washington Post, y de despilfarrar una suma de 3.3 millones de dólares en calidad de sueldo para dieciséis “asesores legislativos”; Fortuño encontró tiempo para presentar cuatro resoluciones ante aquella Cámara donde parecía demostrar preocupación por los derechos humanos y libertad de prensa del pueblo venezolano, y censuraba el accionar de su gobierno en una amplia gama de asuntos: desde las relaciones con Cuba, la adopción del nombre “República Bolivariana de Venezuela” y la no-renovación de concesión a la golpista RCTV. Todas las medidas, en su mayoría presentadas conjuntamente con representantes de Florida, fueron rechazadas por esa Cámara.
Para lo que no halló tiempo, evidentemente, fue para elevar a nivel de la Cámara de Representantes, en nombre de los derechos humanos, la indignación que arropó a puertorriqueños de todos los espectros políticos con la vil ejecución de Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Responsable General de la organización clandestina revolucionaria Ejército Popular Boricua (EPB-Macheteros) el 23 de septiembre de 2005, día en que el independentismo conmemoraba la primera proclamación de la República. Éste fue cocido a tiros en su casa por agentes estadounidenses del FBI (habiendo numerosas oficinas de campo de esa dependencia federal en nuestro país) mientras cipayos del patio les custodiaban el perímetro. Se le negó asistencia médica y fue dejado en el piso de su casa a desangrarse como un perro atropellado. Tampoco encontró, el señor Fortuño, tiempo para redactar una resolución, en honor a la libertad de prensa, exigiendo que se investigasen los sucesos acaecidos el 10 de febrero de 2006 donde agentes también estadounidenses del FBI allanaron los hogares de varios independentistas y, en uno de los lugares intervenidos, atacaron desvergonzadamente a periodistas que se habían personado a cubrir la noticia, empujándoles y rociándoles con gas pimienta por alegadamente violar un perímetro. Ante el estupor de la comunidad internacional y la preocupación de organismos como Amnistía Internaconal, entre otros, absolutamente nadie ha sido procesado ni investigado por éstos crímenes. Todos perpetrados por el gobierno federal contra el pueblo puertorriqueño mientras nuestro actual gobernador fungía como Comisionado Residente, con la presunta obligación de hacer valer nuestros intereses y reclamos ante Wáshington.
¿Con qué cara el señor Luis Fortuño se atreve a acusar de intervencionismo y de actitudes dictatoriales al Presidente Chávez? ¿Con qué criterio o lógica afirma que no le corresponde a “nadie fuera de Puerto Rico” decidir sobre nosotros?
Luis Fortuño subió al poder en enero de 2009 tras unas elecciones arrolladoras. Menos de un año después se ha visto obligado a multiplicar su escolta personal, a reducir al mínimo sus apariciones públicas y huír de varias más. Ha redoblado la vigilancia y ha colocado un perímetro permanente alrededor de la histórica residencia de los gobernadores, La Fortaleza, para protegerse del mismo pueblo que lo eligió.
Señor Luis Fortuño: ¿con qué moral te atreves a hablar en nombre de un pueblo contra el que te has tenido que armar?
REFERENCIAS: Advertencia de Fortuño a Chávez http://www.elnuevodia.com/advertenciadefortunoachavez-638789.html
Populares critican gestión de Fortuño http://www.vocero.com/noticia-1246-populares_critican_gestin_de_fortuo.html
‘Ojo federal’ a nexos de Chávez en la Isla http://www.elnuevodia.com/ojofederalanexosdechavezenlaisla-639018.html
Parco el FBI sobre ‘conexión’ Venezuela http://www.vocero.com/noticia-34866-parco_el_fbi_sobre_conexin_venezuela.html
No permitirá intromisión de Venezuela en status local http://www.vocero.com/noticia-34828-_no_permitir_intromisin_de_venezuela_en_status_local.html
Subdirector del FBI a la Superintendencia de la Policía http://www.elexpresso.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1557&Itemid=38
Comunicado de la Embajada de Venezuela en Washington http://www.telesurtv.net/noticias/secciones/nota/12122-NN/comunicado-de-la-embajada-de-venezuela-en-washington/
RESOLUCION EN RECHAZO AL RECLAMO DE HUGO CHAVEZ DE INDEPENDENCIA PARA PUERTO RICO http://www.pierluisi2008.com/ver_noticia.asp?id=139
Periodistas de Puerto Rico critican a parlamentario que continúa atacando al gobierno de Venezuela http://www.aporrea.org/medios/n95465.html
Congresista estadounidense defensora de terrorista Posada Carriles impulsa resolución contra Venezuela http://www.aporrea.org/tiburon/n63423.html
Arrecia el enfrentamiento mediático entre Chávez y Fortuño http://dialogodigital.com/es/node/3356
Se "juye" el gobernador http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2009/11/39965.php
H. CON. RES. 224. 109th CONGRESS. Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and civil liberties of the people of Venezuela.
H. CON. RES. 328. 109th CONGRESS. Condemning the anti-democratic actions of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should strongly support the aspirations of the democratic forces in Venezuela.
H. CON. RES. 50. 110th CONGRESS. Calling on the Government of Venezuela to uphold the human rights and civil liberties of the people of Venezuela.
H. CON. RES. 77. 110th CONGRESS. Calling on the Government of Venezuela to respect a free and independent media and to avoid all acts of censorship against the media and free expression.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva isn't the only one not surprised about Barack Obama’s "Change" in United States policy. What more could we have expected from the United States? The people of Puerto Rican know all too well about the false promises made by the United States when it comes down to climant change. The people of Vieques would not have expected anything less. The people who live in Vieques continue to live in a land mine of exploded uranium shells and a radioactive waste land that has affected the coral reefs in the small island. Until this day the United States has not cleaned the mess it has made. Emerging reports are pointing out that many people living on the little island of Vieques have been diagnosed with cancer because of agents used by the United States military. The people of Puerto Rico already know about broken promises that are made by America's leadership when it comes down to climinate change policies. But could we have expected any less from a country that plunders the worlds resources? The people of Puerto Rico have something in common with President Lula de Silva and the people of Brazil. We salute our brothers in Latin America for standing on our side in saving humanity.
Lula Disappointed with U.S.-China Stance on Climate Change
ROME – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Monday that he will telephone U.S. counterpart Barack Obama and China’s Hu Jintao to discuss the fight against climate change after Washington and Beijing agreed they are not ready to set targets for emissions reduction.
“I’m disappointed, but not surprised” at the agreement reached in Singapore between Obama and Hu, but “the United States and China must sooner or later propose their targets also, although it won’t be at the Copenhagen Conference,” Lula told reporters after meeting in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
The United States and China, the world’s biggest polluters, on Sunday dealt a blow to the climate conference that will begin Dec. 7 in Copenhagen after informing the Danish government that it will not be possible at that summit to achieve an accord that will set targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, the main factor in global warming.
Lula emphasized that he will go to Copenhagen regardless to defend Brazil’s climate proposals.
Last Saturday, Lula and French President Nicolas Sarkozy noted that the final objective of the Copenhagen summit is a worldwide reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared to their level in 1990.
Lula is in Rome to attend the World Summit of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. EFE
Mass Work Stoppage Set to Protest Puerto Rico's Layoffs, Union-Busting by EmeterioBetances Follow Me on Twitter http://twitter.com/EmeterioBetance
Share this on Twitter - Mass Work Stoppage Set to Protest Puerto Rico's Layoffs, Union-Busting Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 07:52:34 AM PDT More than 200,000 people are expected to march in a mass rally tomorrow in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a one-day work stoppage to protest Gov. http://blog.aflcio.org/...
As Foreclosures Hit All-Time High, Wall Street on Pace to Hand Out Record $140B in Employee Bonuses
http://www.democracynow.org/
Democracy Now covers the report on Puerto Rico mass protest.
More than 200,000 people are expected to march in a mass rally tomorrow in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a one-day work stoppage to protest Gov. http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/10/14/mass-work-stoppage-set-to-protest-puerto-ricos-layoffs-union-busting/
As Foreclosures Hit All-Time High, Wall Street on Pace to Hand Out Record $140B in Employee Bonuses
http://www.democracynow.org/
Democracy Now covers the report on Puerto Rico mass protest.
The Puerto Rican Government has since January fired 25,000 public sector workers in the Island Nation. Their response to the fiscal crisis IS NOT an acceptable solution to an already severely under served people by their Government. In addition to the firings, the Government has announced that they will break all labor agreements with Unions ... Read Morerepresenting public sector workers. The impoverished Island Nation, a Colony of the United States since 1898 was already facing over 15% unemployment at the beggining of the year.
The response of the people of Puerto Rico to this crisis has been peacefull rallies and demonstrations. The Puerto Rican Government's response to to the people has been to ignore the the opposition to the administration policies.
On Thursday, October 15th Puerto Rico's social Justice movement and Organized Labor have called for a 1 Day General Strike. The NATIONAL CONGRESS for PUERTO RICAN RIGHTS, Labor Council Latin American Advancement LCLAA, The Network of Support for Puerto Rican Workers, The Puerto Rican Community and supporters of Social Justice will rally in support of the people of Puerto Rico in N.Y.C.
-NCPRR NYC CHAPTER SPONSORED EVENT
ACLU reported on the current situation in Puerto Rico following the protest that may lead to massive unrest. The story describes the use of civil disobedience proclaimed as an act of terrorism by Gov. Fortuno. No link is available.
ACLU rips officials for citing 'terrorism' in general strike - Puerto Rico Daily Sun - 08/10/09
Front Page Photo - Puerto Rico Daily Sun by Humberto Trias: More than 1,000 activists participated in a march organized by the Popular Democratic Party in Old San Jaun on Wednesday to protest the Fortuño administration's public policy of reducing the size of the government through layoffs. The protesters, headed by 20 government employees who received their dismissal letters, walked from Plaza Colón to La Fortaleza carrying signs saying "Give me back my job" and "We want to work."
Front Page Headline: Mitigation plan ready - Daco, retail associations say there will be food, gas during strike
BY EVA LLORENS VELEZ - DaiIy Sun staff - ellorens@prdailysun.net
The Fortuño administration is trying to scare public workers into not participating in the Oct. 15 general strike with its threats that protesters will be charged with engaging in acts of terrorism if they prevent the flow of goods and passengers at airports and seaports, American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director William Ramírez said Wednesday.
According to Ramírez, such actions do not qualify as "terrorism."
"Calling individuals who are exercising their right to protest terrorists is dangerous in a democracy, and I am very worried about the turn of events. These are public servants," Ramírez said. "[Officials) are sowing fear because no one wants to be labeled a terrorist."
Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Antonio Sagardía and Police Superintendent José Figueroa Sancha warned organizers of the Oct. 15 general work stoppage that they could be charged with engaging in terrorism if they block access to ports or the airport, because they would be interfering with interstate commerce. In a radio interview Wednesday, Gov. Fortuño also described such actions as terrorism.
Live Radio Broadcaste on the current events in Puerto Rico protest. http://www.radioisla1320.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=91 Download player.
The video below explains a bit of what is happening today in Puerto Rico, the head of government belongs to the only pro-US Statehood party of the island, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) which is not progressive, do not be mistaken by the name, but a latin american conservative right wing party (like Uribe's party in Colombia or today´s PRI in Mexico) that wishes to annexate Puerto Rico as a US state. Fortuño, who is a US-republican sympathizer calls himself a 'republican' even though there is no republican party registered in Puerto Rico's general elections; many now see him as the 'Michelleti of the caribbean' (Michelleti is Hondura's post-coup president) for being a ruthless egomaniac who despises the latin american left and labor unions. Fortuño's government has already tear-gassed students and threatened to arrest demonstrators. Fortuño won the elections after former head of government, Anibal Acevedo (which last year went to the United Nations to denounce the unresolved issue of Puerto Rico's status and self determination and also to support a sovereign option for the island-nation) signed a 7% sales tax which enraged many people, Puerto Rico's first ever sales tax. One of the labor unions, among many others, who are joining today the national strike, the international SEIU created this video.
Listen I think that the United Nations constitution would allow us to criticize the United States and for that matter arm ourselves against any occupying force in Puerto Rico. The United States continues to occupy Puerto Rico by force, subversion and asymmetric warfare. Our Demands are simple, we want Puerto Rico to be allowed to trade with all Latin American countries, we want to elect our own President to represent the Puerto Rican people, we demand that democracy be allowed to flourish. Millions of Puerto Rican's are left without a chance to vote. To my fellow Puerto Rican Patriots, understand that our plight and my concern about U.S. intervention in Puerto Rico and the region will demand that we all alert our reactionary forces. We understand what the United States policy is, when it comes down to Puerto Rico’s economy and development. We see the stagnation in our economy and demand that all oppressive and colonial rule by the United States government end. We are demanding real change; we want Puerto Rico to write its own geopolitical policies and destiny. We want Puerto Rico to make its own policies in all areas including political, geopolitical and economical. The U.S. gives us millions of dollars but in return Puerto Rico has given America a bigger sacrifice. Millions of young Puerto Rican soldiers continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to protect the American people. Puerto Rico is not under attack, America is under attack! In return for our lives what have we received? The majority of Puerto Rican's are more impoverished than those living on the mainland United States. We have been occupied for over 600 years and our level of poverty in Puerto Rico is not even considered equal to the level of poverty on the mainland. So why should we become part of a nation that has not even improved our standard of living? The fact is that we will never improve our standard of living as long as Puerto Rico continues to be under foreign military occupation by United States military forces. Imagine if Puerto Rico was able to trade and build technology, import cheap oil and other resources from other countries. Improving its agricultural sectors to improve internal consumption and external output? Increase solar power, educational reform and medical reform like other nations in Europe or Latin America. But the United States prevents this from actually happening. The United States continues to dictate to the Puerto Rican people what its internal and external political or economical policies should be. In all of these sectors our nation continues to be occupied by the United States and the matter should be in every discussion, either on the international level or the domestic level. The Latin American reactionary forces cannot continue to sit idly by and continue to be paper tigers in the 21 century. We most protect our homelands in order to accomplish the vision of a unified Latin America. Hasta La Victoria Siempre!
This is a great article written by two Dons who have written about a history that has never been taught to the Puerto Rican population in the United States. Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé, Emeterio Betances, Pedro Albizu Campos, Filiberto Ojeda Rios will never be forgotten. There sacrifice has made our people struggle and our real history will be revealed. America and those who impose an undemocratic theocratic system in Puerto Rico will never bend the will of Puerto Rico. Never. This article reflects a historic figure, a grand Liberator of Latin America.
By: Jorge Gerardo Muñiz Ortiz and Daniel Prieto
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé was born in the city of Fajardo in the Eastern part of the island of Puerto Rico on October 26, 1790. He is also known as the Liberator from Puerto Rico because he joined Don Simón Bolívar in his struggles to gain independence of Latin American countries from Spanish rule.
Spain to study military science and graduated in 1807 as a junior officer. He served in the Spanish Army and helped defeat Napoleon’s army at the Siege of Zaragoza in 1808, which granted him a promotion to the rank of colonel. Valero’s view towards the monarchy in Spain was so disdainful, due to the King’s policies towards the colonies in Latin America that he resigned from his commission with the army and fled to Mexico. In Mexico, Valero joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army and was named Chief of Staff and successfully helped in achieving Mexico’s independence from Spain. This led to the proclamation of Agustin de Iturbide, Valero’s leader during the resurrection, as the Emperor of Mexico. However, due to the fact that Valero despised the idea of monarchies, he
fled Mexico after revolting against Iturbide. Valero was captured and sent to a prison in Cuba, where he escaped with the help of a group of men who believed in Don Simón Bolívar’s pursuit of Latin American independence and Pan Americanism. Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé learned of Don Simón Bolívar’s struggle for independence and unification of Latin America and decided to join him in his battles. Valero traveled to the small island of Saint Thomas in the Caribbean, where, it has been historically documented, many Puerto Ricans had established a base for their fight for the island’s independence from Spain (it has been documented that independence proponents Ramón Emeterio Betances and Eugenio María de Hostos would later be exiled to St. Thomas. They also believed in the unification of antillian nations into a confederacy). Valero travelled to Venezuela where he met General Francisco de Paula Santander (4th President of the Republic of the New Granada and 2nd Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia). After gaining Don Simón Bolívar’s confidence Valero would be appointed various positions including Military Chief of the Department of Panama, Governor of Puerto Cabello, Chief of Staff of Colombia, Minister of War and Maritime of Venezuela. Valero’s dream, which was not realized, was to liberate Puerto Rico from
Spain and become part of the United Provinces of New Granada as a separate state called Boriquén. Valero served as honor guard during Don Simón Bolívar’s funeral and in 1853 was honored by Venezuela with “The Bust of the Liberator of Venezuela”. Valero would also be awarded with “The Medal of the Liberators of Mexico”, “The Bust of the Liberator of Peru”, and the “Medal del Callao”. Valero died in the capital city Bogotá, Colombia on June 7, 1863 and was buried there. A quote from Don Simón Bolívar about Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé: “Al llegar a Lima a principios de 1825, se presenta al Libertador. Bolívar ese mismo día le escribe a Santander: ‘Hoy ha llegado el General Valero con su hermoso batallón. No he hecho más que verlo, pero me parece un excelente oficial, por
lo que he oído de él y por su fisonomía. Le he dado el mando de la división que sitia al Callao a las órdenes del General Sálom’. Valero, siempre con el deseo de liberar a Cuba y Puerto Rico le presenta el plan a Bolívar. Este le responde las mismas razones que Santander le ofreció, pero le comenta que tiene el deseo de la liberación de las islas antillanas. Sabemos que Antonio Valero era un hombre apuesto, gentil con el sexo opuesto, fuerte de carácter y excelente ventrílocuo. Este don en que en una época era considerado como sobrenatural,
lo utilizaba con humor. Cuentan sus amigos que en el campo de batalla era ‘un león desencadenado’”. English Translation: “At the time of his arrival at the beginning of 1825, [Valero] presents himself to the Liberator. That same day, Bolívar writes Santander: ‘Today General Valero has arrived with his beautiful battalion. I’ve seen him, and appears to be an excellent official, based on what I’ve heard about him and by his features. I have given him command of the divison based in Callao under the orders of General Sálom’. Valero, always with the wishes of liberating Cuba and Puerto Rico presents his plan to Bolívar. Bolívar responds with the same reasons that Santander gave him, but tells him about his wishes for the libration of the Antillean islands. We know that Antonio Valereo was a handsome man, gentile with the opposite sex, strong of character and excellent ventriloquist. This talent, which during my time was considered supernatural, he used is with humor. His friends say that on the battlefield Valero was an ‘unchained lion’”.
Link: http://www.phiota.org/PhiotaSum09.pdf Footnote: 1. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on June 25, 2009: http://lainformacion.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1683&Itemid=28
Cuba y Puerto Rico son
de un pájaro las dos alas:
reciben flores y balas
sobre un mismo corazón.
Qué mucho si en la ilusión
que mil tintes arrebola
sueña la musa de Lola
con ferviente fantasía
¡de esta tierra y la mía
hacer una patria sola
