Hon. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President
We are writing to you as members of the Puerto Rican Civil Society, to bring to your attention the current state of affairs of our nation, Puerto Rico, and our opposition to our government's policies. Our country is on the brink of a civil conflict of significant proportions, promoted by the current administration of Governor Luis Fortuño (Republican), due to its insistence on actively imposing a public policy of dismantling cherished civil institutions and vital government services. Said policy practically amounts to a political coup, contrary to basic democratic principles, in so far as it is opposite to the peoples’ mandate in the recent local elections and our general well being.
It is for this reason that the government of Puerto Rico is increasingly depending on the state repressive apparatus to support its unpopular and illegitimate policy. As a result the people have called for a national strike today, October 15, 2009, which comes as a consequence of the failed attempts to establish a dialogue with the current government.
Since 1950, through the US Congressional Act 600, your government offered self-rule to the people of Puerto Rico, while leaving us, contradictorily, under the plenary powers of the U. S. Congress. Later, in 1953, it made a concrete yet unfulfilled commitment before the United Nations General Assembly to continuously respect and promote our people’s inalienable right to self- determination and self-government. Although we may have differences as to the nature and implementation of these legal prescriptions, under the applicable International Law concerning decolonization, we all agree that as a people --even with all the present limitations of our territorial status, and the encumbering interference of the three branches of the Federal Government and the US Armed Forces-- we have clearly established our people's firm commitment to social justice and democracy during the past 59 years.
However, the current political administration, in dire violation of the spirit of the 1950-53 constitutional framework, the political and cultural democratic tradition, and the civil, constitutional and human rights of our people, has launched in the past 10 months an open campaign to dismantle civil institutions and the local government and to increase the level of repression against all sectors of society who oppose these measures. Moreover, in certain occasions it has even contravened Puerto Rico constitutional and legal framework, notwithstanding the aforementioned illegitimacy of its actions.
As an example, the current government has activated the Puerto Rico National Guard, to be potentially used against the civilian population in case of civil disturbances. Of particular interest is the fact, in the context of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, that the governor has delegated such authority - to call the local National Guard - to his Chief of Police, which is in contravention of the applicable legal framework under which the Commander-in-chief is the governor. In addition, most recently, the Governor’s Chief of Staff, together with the Chief of Police and the Secretary of Justice, threatened the population with the application of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, if anyone incurs in public demonstrations which they, in advance, label as acts of terrorism.
As intellectuals and academics, we are deeply opposed to these measures and we are particularly concerned with the rapidly deteriorating state of affairs of our nation. While engaging in every opportunity for protest and in every effort to reestablish dialogue, we are aware of the political and psychological clout that your government has on our elected officials. We consider that no effort should be spared in order to avert the increasingly confrontational and violent nature of the present crisis. Thus, we remind you of your express commitment, as a presidential candidate, to our people's right of self-determination and political and economic development, and your most recent manifest commitment, as President, to peaceful and democratic progress for all nations.
In Puerto Rico, 15 October 2009
50 Intellectuals and Academics
ENDORSEMENTS
1. Luis Nieves Falcón
2. Antonio Martorell
3. Silverio Pérez
4.Magalí García Ramis
5. Danny Rivera
6. Liliana Cotto
7. Dolores Miranda
8. Marithelma Costa
9. Rolando Emmanuelli
10. Carlos Rivera Lugo
11. Héctor J. Huyke
12. Rafael Trelles
13. Miguel Rodríguez
14. Marta Moreno Vega
15. Daniel Nina
16. Alfredo Villanueva
17. Edwin Quiles
18. Sheila Vélez
19.George Kamarinos
20. Carlos del Valle Cruz
21. José Rivera Santana
22. Nitza Hernández
23. Luis Raul Albaladejo
24. Inés Aponte
25. Ruth Nina
26. Marel Malaret Badrena
27. Magaly Quiñonez
28. Rosabel Oton
29. Juan Meléndez
30. Ana María Fuster
31. Marielba Torres
32. Orlando Portela
33. Jessica Reyes
34. Yvonne Denis Rosado
35. Marie Ramos
36. Pedro J. Rivera
37. Alberto Martinez
38. Nydia Suaréz Marín
39. Jose Toro Alfonso
40. Juan Carlos Rivera
41. Norma I Peña
42. Maximiliano Dueñas
43. Javier Santiago Lucerna
44. José Luis Vargas
45. Manuel Bahamonde
46. Roberto Mori
47. Humberto Figueroa
48. María Gisela Rosado
49. Marines Bengoa Duprey
50. Errol Montes Pizarro
El autor es abogado notario, Presidente del Bufete Emmanuelli en Ponce, Presidente de la Alianza Pro Sur, Vicepresidente de DISUR, Inc., pasado presidente de la Cámara de Comercio del Sur de Puerto Rico y anfitrión del programa Debido Proceso de Ley, que se transmite todos los sábados a las 11:00 de la mañana por WPAB 550. Para mayor información vea www.debidoproceso.com.
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