National Boricua Human Rights Network » peter

In Memorium: Black Political Prisoner Bashir Hameed (1940 - 2008)

peter — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:32:44 +0000

Long time Black Liberation Political Prisoner Bashir Hameed died August 30, 2008 at the age 67, from complications of a triple bypass surgery at the New York prison system. Formerly James York, Hameed was born and raised in New Jersey. In 1982, Bashir and a former BPP comrade, Abdul Majid (formerly Anthony LaBorde), were charged and later convicted of the murder of two police officers, a case known as the Queens Two. In almost three decades of incarceration, Bashir, a devout Muslim, applied his religious and political principles to the struggle against injustice and racism behind the walls, gaining wide respect among prisoners.

Human Rights Committee in Puerto Rico announces a Fast for Release of Puerto Rican Political Prisoners

peter — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:17:42 +0000

A 72 hour fast to demand the release of three Puerto Rican political prisoners will be

the next step of the Human Rights Committee of Puerto Rico, in the campaign for the

freedom of prisoners Oscar López Rivera, Carlos Alberto Torres and Avelino González

Claudio.

“They are prisoners for their struggle for the (political) freedom of the Puerto Rican

people, for their social struggle against racism, discrimination and other social issues,”

said attorney Eduardo Villanueva, chair of the Committee which was created 13 years

ago and which, for the past five years, has focused its efforts advocating for the pardon

of the Puerto Ricans imprisoned in U.S. prisons, accused of seditious conspiracy.

The fast will take place from early Friday morning through Sunday at 7:00 p.m. As an act

of solidarity, in Plaza Colón in old San Juan, several cultural activities will take place,

including a night of poetry (Friday), an arts and crafts fair which will include graphic

arts (Saturday), the play “The shipwreck of Freedom” (Saturday night) and a concert

with the participation of Danny Rivera and Los Reyes Magos Cantores (sunday).

Oscar López Rivera, 65 years old, was sentenced to 78 years in prison, while Carlos

Torres, 55 years old, is serving a sentence of 88 years. Both were tied to the Armed

Forces of National Liberation (FALN) and have served 26 and 27 years, respectively, of

their sentences. Avelino González Claudio, 65 years old, is being held in a maximum

security federal prison since being arrested last year at his home in Manatí after 22 years

in clandestiny. Linked to The Macheteros, he is accused of alleged participation in the

theft of $7 million from a Wells Fargo armored car in Connecticut in 1983.

His trial will begin in a month.

Heavy Metals in Vieques

peter — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:26:19 +0000

Recently, an important study was published about contamination in Vieques crops from military toxics deposited on the island municipality during more than half century of bombing and other war practices. Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Produce from an Organic Farm in the Barrio Luján, sector Destino of Vieques (Puerto Rico), by scientists Elba Díaz de Osborne, Pablo Acevedo Acevedo and Arturo Massol Deyá, from the Biology Department of the University of Puerto Rico’s Mayaguez campus - with participation of Casa Pueblo (Adjuntas) - is the most recent study documenting horrible effects of US Navy presence and activities on Vieques environment. The publication of the investigation was the basis upon which Puerto Rico Secretary of Health, Johnny Rullán, based his opposition to Navy petition to burn vegetation on Vieques as part of the so-called ‘clean up’.

In addition to applauding and thanking the team of Puerto Rican scientists and, in particular, Massol and friends at Casa Pueblo, the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques energetically supports the demands included in the publication:

Extend responsibility for compensation by the Navy to the civilian zone and to Viequenses affected by the dispersion of diverse military toxins;
Navy compensate Vieques economically for future damages to its territorial integrity
Remove chemical contaminants discharged in great quantities and in the area of lagoon systems that interconnect with the sea
Remove unexploded bombs from the ocean bottom on the North and South of Vieques
Deny Navy petition for open burning of between 200 and 400 acres of vegetation on Eastern Vieques

The CRDV coordinates with Dr. Massol an upcoming presentation in Vieques about the scientific findings and implications for the environment, health, agriculture and a discussion about community strategies to confront the Navy’s insistence on open detonation of bombs and burning of vegetation.

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