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<font size=3><b>FBI commits domestic terrorism on Independence Movement
in Puerto Rico<br><br>
</b>“The only domestic terrorist attack here is the U.S. government’s
attack on the people of Puerto Rico.” <br>
New York State Assemblyman José
Rivera.<a name="_ftnref1"></a><sup>1<br>
</sup> <br>
In a
move reminiscent of a U.S. Marine invasion of a foreign country, the FBI
descended in droves on Puerto Rico on February
10.<a name="_ftnref2"></a><sup>2</sup> Without breathing a word of
the invasion to either the colonial governor or the chief of police,
heavily armed, militarized units of the FBI, including the Special
Weapons and Tactics Unit from Miami, hit six different spots throughout
the island. Their purpose, they claimed, was to execute search
warrants on six independence activists they identified as suspected
leaders of the clandestine independence organization,<i> Ejercito Popular
Boricua/Macheteros</i>,<a name="_ftnref3"></a><sup>3</sup> the same
organization whose legendary leader, Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, who the FBI
assassinated five months earlier. Their true purpose was widely
understood as other: with their show of force, to continue their long
campaign to intimidate and criminalize those who support independence for
Puerto Rico, particularly in this moment of the resurgence of the left
throughout Latin America; and, of course, to detract from their own
criminal conduct in taking Ojeda’s life. “This is yet another move
on the part of the FBI to control and warn those who advocate for the
independence of Puerto Rico, exercising their constitutional rights. It
appears they are sending a message of
intimidation,”<a name="_ftnref4"></a><sup>4</sup> said independentist
activist and attorney Roxana Badillo, who added that they are sorely
mistaken if they believe the movement will be intimidated.<br>
Landing in military-style helicopters, accompanied by caravans of
vehicles, sometimes with the license plates obscured, FBI agents swarmed
private residences and businesses in Trujillo Alto and Río Piedras (in
the San Juan metropolitan area), and Mayagüez, San Germán, Aguadilla, and
Isabela (in the west of the island), terrorizing entire
neighborhoods. The search warrants bore the names and addresses of
veteran labor leaders, community leaders, known independentists, and even
a Protestant minister respected for his work promoting small projects of
self-empowerment for poor people.<a name="_ftnref5"></a><sup>5</sup>
<br>
In Río
Piedras, as Homeland Security helicopters hovered above and sharpshooters
watched through their telescopes from neighboring buildings, FBI agents
were ransacking the apartment of independentist Liliana Laboy. The
Puerto Rican media arrived to cover the remarkable event. With the FBI’s
murder of Ojeda Ríos fresh on their minds, independence supporters
quickly gathered at the closed gates of the condominium, shouting,
“Asesinos!”<a name="_ftnref6"></a><sup>6</sup> Meanwhile, the FBI
had banished Laboy from her apartment, and initially ignored requests
from her attorneys to allow them access to their client, grabbing and
threatening to arrest the attorneys if they didn’t leave the
premises. <br>
In San
Germán, agents assaulted the offices of the not-for-profit Ecumenical
Committee for Community Economic Development [CEDECO, its Spanish
acronym], where community activist and independentist William Mohler
García was at work. They not only removed Mohler from his office,
but they handcuffed him and left him to bake in the hot sun this, after
searching his home, pepper spraying his dog, and subjecting his wife to
much humiliation. Supporters gathered at the scene, shouting at the
agents: “Get out of here, damned FBI,” and “FBI, cowards, assassins,
terrorists!”<a name="_ftnref7"></a><sup>7</sup> In Aguadilla, the
FBI searched the home of another CEDECO director, Presbyterian minister
and independentist José Morales. Also in Aguadilla, the FBI spent four
hours searching the home of independentist and elementary school teacher
VilmaVélez Roldán, while she was at school. Agents threw her two
sons out of their home, handcuffed them, and left them outside with no
shade.<a href="??"><sup>8</a></sup> In Isabela, the Cabán
family home was searched.<a name="_ftnref9"></a><sup>9</sup> In
Trujillo Alto, the home of Norberto Cintrón Fiallo was ransacked while he
was away at his workplace.<br>
Before
leaving the scene in Río Piedras, the FBI, obviously unhappy with the
presence of protesters and abundant numbers of media and the prospect of
having to face further public exposure, aggressing against all those
gathered, including attacking the media with pepper spray. Several
journalists were treated by paramedics at the scene, and some went to
nearby hospitals. As the caravan of some fourteen vehicles sped
from the scene, the agents had their assault weapons pointed at the press
and public. Adding insult to injury, the FBI emitted a press
release stating, “It appears members of the media and the general public
attempted to cross the established law enforcement perimeter, and the use
of non-lethal force was utilized. This was done in order to protect
members of the media, the public and the law enforcement officers
executing this lawful search warrant.”<br>
<b>Reaction from the Press<br>
</b>
“It gives us pause that in a democratic society, security forces cut off
the flow of information, and even worse, attack those who work in
journalism, who seek to divulge precise and reliable information,” said
Annette Alvarez, a television reporter who was sprayed, who spoke in her
capacity as president of the Overseas Press Club
chapter.<sup>1<a name="_ftnref10"></a>0</sup> Oscar J. Serrano,
president of the Journalists Association of Puerto Rico, declared, “The
agents didn’t use force and gas to defend themselves; they used them
offensively to attack the press. The act of an agent emptying his
spray can directly in the face of [journalist] Normando Valentín, who had
his hands occupied with the instruments of his trade, cannot be excused
as negligence. That, and the expression of disdain reflected on the
agent’s face, are indicative of a specific intent to cause harm, and
represents nothing less than a criminal
act.”<sup>1<a name="_ftnref11"></a>1</sup> The Association of
Photojournalists, the Center for the Freedom of the Press, the
Organization of Independent Journalists, and the Union of Journalists,
Graphic Arts and Ramas Anexas joined in condemning the FBI’s use of
force on their colleagues. <br>
While
the Puerto Rican print, electronic media and radio provided full coverage
of this extraordinary militaristic operation, the U.S. press was
virtually silent,<sup>1<a name="_ftnref12"></a>2</sup> with only a few
newspapers reprinting slightly differing versions of an Associated Press
wire story.<br>
<b>Reaction from the Puerto Rican Government<br>
</b>
After the September assassination, the FBI lost all hope of credibility
in the eyes of Puerto Rican society. Having been told on
February 10 only after the FBI had begun its assault, and only that they
were serving search warrants on suspected Macheteros, the chief of
police, Pedro Toledo (himself a former FBI agent), as well as the head of
the Department of Justice were quick to distance themselves from the
operation, making public statements that they were not
participants.<sup>1<a name="_ftnref13"></a>3</sup> When Toledo
learnedafter the operation was over that the FBI asserted that this
“ongoing domestic terrorism investigation” averted “a potential attack,
where explosives devices were to be utilized,” to be “directed at
privately owned interests in Puerto Rico, as well as the general
public,”<sup>1<a name="_ftnref14"></a>4</sup> he insisted that,
“[w]ithout a doubt, I should have been
informed.”<sup>1<a name="_ftnref15"></a>5</sup> Toledo rather
resoundingly criticized the entire operation not just the use of force
against the journalists as having used excessive force, listing the use
of so many agents and the incorporation of helicopters. He recalled
his own participation in the 1980's in executing search warrants against
members of the same clandestine organization, when such incidents never
took place. “It was an improper use, completely outside of the
norm. This gas (pepper) is used when your life is in danger,
against an attacker, not a journalist,” he
said.<sup>1<a name="_ftnref16"></a>6</sup> However, although he expressed
that the Puerto Rican Department of Justice would have jurisdiction to
prosecute federal agents for their excessive use of force, he did not
express any intention to conduct such a prosecution, or even investigate
these FBI crimes on Puerto Rican soil.<br>
The
governor was another recipient of such a “courtesy
call,”<sup>1<a href="??">7</a></sup> which also took place only after the
FBI had begun its assault.<sup>1<a href="??">8</a></sup> He, too,
expressed indignation at the assault on Puerto Rican journalists, calling
it unjustified.<sup>1<a href="??">9</a></sup> However he offered
absolutely no criticism of the FBI’s invasion of his country, let alone
of the agency’s failure to even notify him in advance, and failed to
insist that the U.S. government be accountable for the acts of its agents
committed in Puerto Rico.<br>
<b>Reaction from the Public<br>
</b>
The very same afternoon the FBI conducted its show of force, hundreds of
people gathered at the federal courthouse, which houses the FBI offices,
to express their indignation. Called by the Worker’s Socialist
Movement [MST by its Spanish acronym],<sup>2<a href="??">0</a></sup>
people of all ages and walks of life marched and chanted, as elected
officials, spokespeople from a variety of organizations, and those whose
homes had been ransacked, spoke.<br>
The
following day, fifteen organizations convened a press conference to
condemn the FBI’s aggressive presence. A spokesperson for CEDECO’s
support network expressed concern that the highly publicized raid could
cost the organization the financial support it receives from grants and
foundations and thereby undermine its ability to offer services of
education and of rehabilitating homes for people with few
resources. Agency spokespeople questioned why the FBI would take
important documents related to one of CEDECO’s urban housing
projects.<sup>2<a name="_ftnref21"></a>1<br>
</sup>
Julio Fontanet, president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, expressed
a common theme: “To complain to the federal government or the
goverment of Puerto Rico is an exercise in futility, and the FBI acts
with total impunity in Puerto
Rico.”<sup>2<a name="_ftnref22"></a>2</sup> Observing that this
type of FBI operation in Puerto Rico has become a custom, Fontanet
announced his intention to take the matter to international
fora.<sup>2<a name="_ftnref23"></a>3</sup> The former dean of the
Eugenio María de Hostos School of Law, law professor Carlos Rivera Lugo,
echoed Fontanet, censuring the Puerto Rican government “for permitting
the U.S. armed forces to act with total impunity in this
country.”<sup>2<a name="_ftnref24"></a>4</sup> The National
Hostosiano Independence Movement coincided: “The governor of Puerto
Rico has the obligation to stand up and defend Puerto Rico. We
demand that governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá energetically condemn the FBI’s
abusive actions in Puerto Rico, and that as a representative of the
people he express the general indignation we all feel, and that he demand
respect for our people.”<sup>2<a href="??">5</a></sup> The
experience moved that organization to commit to redouble its efforts to
“expel forever from our national territory the federal court and the
FBI,” because “the only thing the presence in Puerto Rico of these
federal dependencies has caused is injury, damage, and impediments to our
right as a people to
self-determination.”<sup>2<a name="_ftnref26"></a>6<br>
</sup>
Amnesty International of Puerto Rico expressed its concern for the FBI’s
conduct both in executing the search warrants and attacking the press,
reminding the FBI that they are not above the law of civil and human
rights, and that, like any other law enforcement agency, they must comply
with basic human rights provided by international
law.<sup>2<a name="_ftnref27"></a>7</sup> <br>
Representatives of all the political parties have, however timidly,
expressed preoccupation with the FBI’s conduct toward the independence
movement, but it was the independence party representative who expressed
the sentiment strongly felt throughout the diverse independence movement:
“This operation is the most crude proof that Puerto Rico is a colony,”
noted Juan Dalmau, secretary general of the Puerto Rican Independence
Party.<sup>2<a name="_ftnref28"></a>8</sup> “If the FBI thinks that
with these acts it is going to intimidate the independentists, it is
mistaken. In the face of these abuses, the independence movement
will respond just as it has historically, with more militancy, more
patriotism and a greater commitment to
struggle.”<sup>2<a href="??">9</a></sup> That will be necessary,
given the rumors that the FBI will return to conduct more search and
destroy missions,<sup>3<a name="_ftnref30"></a>0</sup> and to increase
the wave of repression.<br>
<br>
Jan Susler<br>
February 12, 2006<br>
All translations from Spanish to English are the author’s. <br>
<br>
<br>
Websites where photos and videos are available:<br><br>
<a href="http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2006/02/13197.php">
http://pr.indymedia.org/news/2006/02/13197.php</a><br>
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=F9260F8D7C3A47B682B0BA4AAE99B5D2" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=F9260F8D7C3A47B682B0BA4AAE99B5D2<br>
</a>
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=4822DBB409014D1C8C77C89458E01C5A&newscat=panorama&newssubcat=policia" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/noticia.asp?guid=4822DBB409014D1C8C77C89458E01C5A&newscat=panorama&newssubcat=policia<br>
<br>
</a><br>
<sup><a name="_ftn1"></a>1</sup>Jesús Dávila, “Los allanamientos
encienden la chispa en todo borinquen,”<i> El Diario/La Prensa</i>,
February 12, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn2"></a>2</sup>For most Puerto Ricans, it was also
reminiscent of August 30, 1985, when, in another island wide invasion,
the FBI arrested a multitude of independence activists and accused them
of participating in a conspiracy involving $7.6 taken from a Wells Fargo
depot, an action for which the <i>Ejercito Popular Boricua/Macheteros</i>
claimed responsibility.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn3"></a>3</sup>Boricua Popular Army/Sugarcane
Cutters.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn4"></a>4</sup>Associated Press, “Abogada
independentista acusa a federales de intimidación,”<i> El Nuevo Día</i>,
February 10, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn5"></a>5</sup>Jesús Dávila, “Ofensiva FBI contra
independentistas,” <i>El Diario/La Prensa</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn6"></a>6</sup>Id.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn7"></a>7</sup>Jackeline Del Toro Cordero, “Operativo
federal buscaba documentos,” <i>El Vocero</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn8"></a>8</sup>Comunicado de Prensa, Movimiento
Independentista Nacional Hostosiano de Aguadilla,
<a href="http://www.redbetances.com,">www.redbetances.com,</a> February
12, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn9"></a>9</sup>Carmen Edith Torres, “Irrumpe el FBI en
seis puntos del País,” El Nuevo Día, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn10"></a>10</sup>Associated Press, “OPC censura agresión
contra la prensa,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 10, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn11"></a>11</sup>Mabel M. Figueroa, “Condena al vicioso
ataque a reporteros: Una sola voz de repudio al FBI,” <i>Primera
Hora</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn12"></a>12</sup>With the notable exception of <i>El
Diario/La Prensa</i>.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn13"></a>13</sup>See, e.g., Maritza Díaz Alcaide,
“Callaron lo del ‘ataque terrorista’,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, February 11,
2006; Yanira Hernández Cabiya, “Informada la Policía tras iniciar el
operativo,”<i> El Nuevo Día</i>, February 10, 2006; José R. Ortúzar, “El
Súper se lava las manos,” <i>El Vocero</i>, February 11, 2006. The
chief of police of Mayagüez, whose police were roundly criticized by the
public for having cooperated with the FBI during its assassination of
Ojeda Ríos, and who was also not informed by the FBI about their
operation, was also quick to distance himself from this assault.
Associated Press, “Jefe de la Policía Mayagüez confirma operativo,” <i>El
Nuevo Día</i>, February 10, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn14"></a>14</sup>FBI Press Release, February 10,
2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn15"></a>15</sup>Maritza Díaz Alcaide, “Callaron lo del
‘ataque terrorista’,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, February 11, 2006. <br>
<sup><a name="_ftn16"></a>16</sup>Daniel Rivera Vargas, “Con poder
Justicia para acusar,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 12, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn17"></a>17</sup>Yanira Hernández Cabiya, “Informada la
Policía tras iniciar el operativo,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 10,
2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn18"></a>18</sup>Maritza Díaz Alcaide, “Callaron lo del
‘ataque terrorista’,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, February 11, 2006. <br>
<sup><a name="_ftn19"></a>19</sup>Id. <br>
<sup><a name="_ftn20"></a>20</sup>EFE, “Convocan a manifestación contra
FBI,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 10, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn21"></a>21</sup>Melisa Ortega Marrero, EFE, “CEDECO
niega vínculos con el independentismo puertorriqueño,” <i>Primera
Hora</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn22"></a>22</sup>Associated Press, “Varias voces
expresan rechazo a operativo del FBI y su trato a periodistas,”
<i>Primera Hora</i>, February 12, 2006. <br>
<sup><a name="_ftn23"></a>23</sup>EFE, “Denunciarán ante organismos
internacionales actos del FBI,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, February 11,
2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn24"></a>24</sup>Jackeline Del Toro Cordero, “Académico
critica el operativo,” <i>El Vocero</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn25"></a>25</sup>“MINH [Movimiento Independentista
Nacional Hostosiano] condena atropello FBI,”
<a href="http://www.redbetances.com.">www.redbetances.com, </a>February
12, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn26"></a>26</sup>Id. <br>
<sup><a name="_ftn27"></a>27</sup>Melissa Correa Velázquez, “FBI choca
con periodistas,” <i>El Vocero</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn28"></a>28</sup>“Dalmau: tienen la Isla en estado de
sitio,” <i>El Diario/La Prensa</i>, February 12, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn29"></a>29</sup>“Dalmau asegura FBI mantiene a la Isla
en estado de sitio,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, February 11, 2006.<br>
<sup><a name="_ftn30"></a>30</sup>Ricardo Cortés, “Anticipados más
allanamientos,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 12, 2006.<br><br>
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