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<font size=4><b>National Lawyers Guild International Committee <br>
Presentation to the United Nations Decolonization Committee<br>
Hearings on Puerto Rico<br>
June 18, 2012<br>
</b></font><font size=3> <br>
The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 as an alternative to the
American Bar Association, which did not admit people of color. The
National Lawyers Guild is the oldest and largest public interest/human
rights bar organization in the United States. With headquarters in New
York, it has chapters in every state. From its founding, the National
Lawyers Guild has maintained an internationalist perspective, with
international work a critical focus for the Guild. Its International
Committee has organized delegations to many countries throughout the
world, and Guild members are involved in international organizations such
as the International Association for Democratic Lawyers and the American
Association of Jurists. Presently, active subcommittees exist for Cuba,
the Middle East, Korea, Haiti, Palestine, Iran, Puerto Rico, indigenous
American peoples, and other nations. Guild members, including myself,
have a long history of defending activists in the Puerto Rican
independence movement.<br><br>
<b>I. Continuing Absence at the International Table<br>
</b>
Due to its continuing status as a U.S. colony, Puerto Rico is unable to
participate in most international fora alongside its sister nations in
Latin America. The latest example is last April’s Summit of the Americas,
where all the nations in the continent except Puerto Rico and Cuba (and
for very different reasons) sat to discuss issues important to all.
Addressing Puerto Rico’s exclusion, an independence party activist noted
that, “all our neighbors and Latin American brothers are meeting with the
United States and Canada to discuss the most transcendental problems of
our region, including the movement of drugs and the economic and
commercial relations among the countries. It’s shameful that in the
21st<a name="_ednref1"></a> century, because of the meanness of the
defenders of colonialism and the interests of the United States, Puerto
Rico is still a colony and cannot express itself among the countries of
the region.”<sup>1</sup> <br><br>
<b>II. Status/Plebiscite<br>
</b>
In 2011, the U.S. President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status issued a
report recommending that a plebiscite take place, while acknowledging
that it would have no binding effect on the U.S. Congress, which holds
Puerto Rico’s sovereignty hostage, and which continues to refuse to
acknowledge Puerto Rico’s illegal colonial status under international
law.<a name="_ednref2"></a><sup>2</sup> As suggested by the report, the
pro-statehood governor at the end of 2011 signed a law mandating a
plebiscite with two questions: whether to maintain the current status,
and if not, then whether the preferred status would be independence, U.S.
statehood, or continuation as a “free associated
state.”<a name="_ednref3"></a><sup>3</sup> The society is rife with
dissension about the legitimacy of the process, whether and to what
extent to participate,<a name="_ednref4"></a><sup>4</sup> as well as who
can participate.<a name="_ednref5"></a><sup>5</sup> One thing is clear:
the exercise will not resolve the status question, because the result is
not binding on the U.S., and because it ignores the mandates of
international law. <br><br>
<b>III. Unceasing U.S. Intervention/Penetration <br>
</b>
Meanwhile, the U.S. inserts itself into Puerto Rican life on an almost
daily basis, disingenuously posing as “the knight in shining armor,” be
it to conduct anti-drug and anti-gang
raids,<a name="_ednref6"></a><sup>6</sup> monitor the
schools,<a name="_ednref7"></a><sup>7</sup> or prosecute
fraud.<a name="_ednref8"></a><sup>8</sup> As one pro-statehood proponent
recognized, “Every part of the colonial, economic, and juridical life of
Puerto Ricans is regulated by the federal government: health, medical,
Social Security, communications, banks, the mail, the ports, maritime
cargo, and even the IRS. There is no human activity in Puerto Rico that
isn’t covered by some federal agency.”<a name="_ednref9"></a><sup>9</sup>
Yet that pervasive presence is ever-expanding, to the point that the
pro-statehood governor has ceded to the U.S. government the
responsibility to prosecute most local felonies and touts an inter-agency
agreement to that effect as the solution to rampant crime in Puerto
Rico.<sup>1<a name="_ednref10"></a>0<br><br>
</sup><b>IV. Abusive Police<br>
</b>
Although the U.S. may hold itself out as a “knight in shining armor,”
this is a sham, completely belied by events. September of 2011 revealed
what the <i>New York Times </i>called “a blistering condemnation” of the
Puerto Rico Police Department, in a report by the U.S. Department of
Justice [DOJ]. The report noted a “profound” and “longstanding” pattern
of civil rights violations and other illegal practices that have left the
Police Department “broken in a number of critical and fundamental
respects.”<sup>1<a name="_ednref11"></a>1</sup> The Justice Department
found that the police were systematically “using force, including deadly
force, when no force or lesser force was called for,” unnecessarily
injuring hundreds of people and killing “numerous
others.”<sup>1<a name="_ednref12"></a>2</sup> The DOJ condemned nearly
every aspect of the force its hiring and training practices, the way it
assigns and promotes officers, and its policies governing officer
behavior and accountability for misconduct. Significantly, it noted
police excessive force and other misconduct designed to suppress
supposedly protected constitutional rights such as expression and
assembly.<sup>1<a name="_ednref13"></a>3<br>
</sup>
Many saw great hypocrisy in the U.S. Justice Department’s harsh criticism
of the Puerto Rico police, given that agents of the U.S. Federal Bureau
of Investigation (FBI) Pedro Toledo and José Figueroa Sancha have
held the position of superintendent of the police department for 14 of
the last 20 years, and given the close relationship between the colonial
and metropolitan law enforcement agencies. Indeed, on the heels of the
report, the colonial administrator named yet another former FBI agent,
Héctor Pesquera, to lead the department out of the
mire,<sup>1<a name="_ednref14"></a>4</sup> this one bringing his
controversial past, including, <i>inter alia</i>, allegations of
misconduct and loyalties to right wing
Cubans.<sup>1<a name="_ednref15"></a>5</sup> While his nomination stirred
outrage among the independence
movement,<sup>1<a name="_ednref16"></a>6</sup> the pro-statehood
dominated Senate nevertheless quickly confirmed
him.<sup>1<a name="_ednref17"></a>7<br>
</sup>
Many also saw irony, given the report of the colonial government’s Civil
Rights Commission on the FBI’s extrajudicial execution of legendary
independentista Filiberto Ojeda
Ríos,<sup>1<a name="_ednref18"></a>8</sup> finding, <i>inter alia</i>,
that the operation which resulted in his “illegal
death”<sup>1<a name="_ednref19"></a>9</sup> was “characterized by the use
of excessive and abusive force,” and noting:<br>
It is a historical fact that during the past decades, the FBI has
represented a model for the Puerto Rico Police, related to operation and
strategies to follow in the field of so-called law enforcement. That
body, additionally, has constituted an important source of training for
police officials in Puerto Rico. Given the FBI’s relapse in the excessive
use of force and abuse of authority, we recommend that the Puerto Rico
Police consider alternative models for its operation and
training.<sup>2<a name="_ednref20"></a>0<br>
</sup> <br>
Further irony was noted in light of the FBI's refusal to seriously
investigate the 1970's murders of the Santiago Mari Pesquera, son of
leading independence advocate Juan Mari Bras, and of Carlos Muñiz Varela,
a Cuban resident of Puerto Rico and an activist against the U.S. embargo
and for normalization of relations with
Cuba.<sup>2<a name="_ednref21"></a>1<br><br>
</sup><b>V. Supreme Court<br>
</b>
The pro-statehood administration’s court-packing and fast-tracking
implemented last year has, in the words of respected legal scholars,
“weaken[ed] the people's trust in the judicial branch and create[d] an
unprecedented constitutional
crisis,”<sup>2<a name="_ednref22"></a>2</sup> in effect erasing the
notion of separation of powers. Three examples illustrate this situation:
the statehood controlled Senate’s refusal to re-appoint judges whose
judicial opinions are contrary to the prevailing statehood leaders’
positions;<sup>2<a name="_ednref23"></a>3</sup> the Senate’s baseless
investigation into the expenditures of the chief judge, who is a
supporter of the status quo
commonwealth;<sup>2<a name="_ednref24"></a>4</sup> and the court’s
interference with a voting recount amid allegations of massive fraud, as
more fully detailed below.<br><br>
<b>VI. Election fraud<br>
</b>
Following allegations by the pro-statehood and commonwealth electoral
parties of widespread voter fraud in the March 2012 primaries for
legislative and mayoral races, the electoral commission ordered a recount
the first time in history for a primary
election.<sup>2<a name="_ednref25"></a>5</sup> <br>
The Puerto Rico Supreme Court entered into the fray by preventing a
specialized trial-level court mandated to deal with election matters from
holding any hearings on the matter. The highly politicized court
acted upon a petition of the pro-statehood party to take the matter away
from the more independent trial-level court, via the
"certification" method, which it has used time and again in
recent history in order to favor the interests of the governing party.
<br>
After much wrangling in the courts, the recount has been allowed to
proceed, and an investigation revealed votes by people who did not go to
the polls and even by people who were no longer living. Public confidence
in the electoral process is seriously
eroded.<sup>2<a name="_ednref26"></a>6<br><br>
</sup><b>VII. Economy<br>
</b>
The effects of the economic downturn are felt in magnified form in Puerto
Rico, including because of the massive layoffs of government employees
that marked the beginning of the pro-statehood
administration.<sup>2<a name="_ednref27"></a>7</sup> At the beginning of
this year, the reported unemployment rate was a whopping
25%,<sup>2<a name="_ednref28"></a>8</sup> compared to an unemployment
rate in the U.S. of 8.1%;<sup>2<a name="_ednref29"></a>9</sup> while the
labor employment rate in Puerto Rico was
39.9%,<sup>3<a name="_ednref30"></a>0</sup> compared to a labor
employment rate in the U.S. of
64.3%.<sup>3<a name="_ednref31"></a>1</sup> The consequences to the
Puerto Rican people include the development of a new population of
homeless families,<sup>3<a name="_ednref32"></a>2</sup> and, not
surprisingly, a continuing exodus, as Puerto Ricans flee to the United
States in search of work.<sup>3<a name="_ednref33"></a>3</sup> Prospects
for the future of the colonial economy do not bode well for the Puerto
Rican people. Moody's Investors Service, the bond credit rating business,
recently stated that “Puerto Rico’s ongoing recession continues to have
an adverse impact on its financial institutions,” noting “weak prospects
for a sustainable recovery in the coming
years.”<sup>3<a name="_ednref34"></a>4</sup> <br>
<br>
<br>
<b>VIII. Death penalty<br>
</b>
While the death penalty is falling into disfavor throughout the United
States,<sup>3<a name="_ednref35"></a>5</sup> and while the Constitution
of Puerto Rico approved by U.S. Congress in 1952 prohibits the death
penalty, the United States continues to push for the death penalty in
cases before the federal court in Puerto
Rico,<sup>3<a name="_ednref36"></a>6</sup> despite strong anti-death
penalty sentiment, as articulated in an editorial in the island’s most
widely circulated daily newspaper: “As a matter of principle, we condemn
and reject this type of sentence, because it clashes with our
constitutional tradition and our values as a
people.”<sup>3<a name="_ednref37"></a>7</sup> <br><br>
<b>IX. Environment<br>
</b>
The colonial administration’s 92 mile gas pipeline project, awaiting
approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, “wasted more than fifty
million dollars on a project that was never needed, was never practical
and was never supported by the public,” according to a member of U.S.
Congress.<sup>3<a name="_ednref38"></a>8</sup> The pipeline endangers
human life,<sup>3<a name="_ednref39"></a>9</sup> and, “the impact on the
environment, on our rivers, on our communities is enormous,” according to
the organizers leading the massive, united protest against the
project.<sup>4<a name="_ednref40"></a>0</sup> <br>
Others battle to stem the onslaught of “development,” including fighting
construction of incinerators which would create toxic ash and dangerous
mixtures of gas that would threaten the health and safety of those living
nearby;<sup>4<a name="_ednref41"></a>1</sup> erection of windmills on
some of the most arable land in the
country;<sup>4<a name="_ednref42"></a>2</sup> and devastation of the
Northeast Ecological Corridor, eliminating the designation of nature
reserve and permitting construction of roads and residential, commercial
and high-end tourism projects.<sup>4<a name="_ednref43"></a>3<br>
</sup>
Meanwhile the U.S. courts spurned the efforts of the people of Vieques,
whose island was used for over 60 years by the U.S. Navy as a
weapons-testing ground and firing range, to hold the U.S. government
responsible for the rampant cancer and other ills caused by the Navy’s
presence.<sup>4<a name="_ednref44"></a>4</sup> It was no consolation for
the Puerto Rican people to learn that the cleanup of the deadly
contamination left by the U.S. military will take at least another
decade, as the U.S. has not budgeted sufficient
funds.<sup>4<a name="_ednref45"></a>5<br><br>
</sup><b>X. Political prisoners<br>
</b>
We are honored to make this year’s presentation in the presence of Carlos
Alberto Torres, here with us after having served 30 years in United
States prison for his commitment to the independence of Puerto Rico,
released two years ago. His compañero Oscar López Rivera, however,
remains behind bars, having now served an unbelievable 31 years behind
bars. <br>
What other country holds its political prisoners for such a long time?
Nelson Mandela, perhaps the world’s most internationally renowned
political prisoner, was held for 27 years, and the world was aghast at
the length of his imprisonment.<sup>4<a name="_ednref46"></a>6<br>
</sup>
But the country that holds Oscar López Rivera, as well as Puerto Rican
political prisoners Avelino González Claudio and Norberto González
Claudio, is none other than the United States, the very same country that
routinely uses the release of political prisoners as a measure of other
countries’ compliance with human rights norms. Some examples, in just the
year since this Committee’s last hearing into Puerto Rico’s status: <br>
* The U.S. State Department urged China just this month to release those
imprisoned in Tiananmen Square in 1989, in the context of urging
protection of human rights generally.<sup>4<a name="_ednref47"></a>7<br>
</sup> <br>
* The U.S. State Department urged the government of Belarus “to
immediately and unconditionally free all remaining political prisoners
and ensure the full restoration of their civil and political rights,”
saying this would show “enhanced respect for democracy and human rights,
[which] remains central to improving relations between the United States
and Belarus.”<sup>4<a name="_ednref48"></a>8</sup> <br>
<br>
* The U.S. president greeted Burma’s decision to release hundreds of
political prisoners as “a crucial step in Burma's democratic
transformation and national reconciliation process,” and “urge[d] the
government to [...] free all remaining prisoners of
conscience.”<sup>4<a name="_ednref49"></a>9<br>
</sup> <br>
* When Cuba released some 2,900 prisoners, the U.S. State Department’s
response failed even to recognize the sweeping release, instead stating
its disappointment that a State Department contractor, convicted of
crimes against the state, should be returned to his family "where he
belongs."<sup>5<a name="_ednref50"></a>0</sup> <br>
<br>
* While acknowledging Sri Lanka’s massive release of prisoners, the U.S.
State Department urged the release of all those who remained in
custody.<sup>5<a name="_ednref51"></a>1<br>
</sup> <br>
During her visit to Burma, and after meeting with a celebrated political
prisoner, U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was widely quoted as saying,
<i>"We believe that any political prisoner anywhere should be
released</i>," and that "<i>One political prisoner is one too
many in our view</i>."<sup>5<a name="_ednref52"></a>2</sup> <br>
There should be no problem, then, with President Obama’s compliance with
this Committee’s resolution to release the valiant Puerto Rican
independentistas in U.S. custody, so that perhaps next year, Oscar López
Rivera can stand at the side of his compañero Carlos Alberto Torres and
speak in support of independence for his homeland.<br><br>
<b>XI. Conclusion<br>
</b>
The National Lawyers Guild International Committee, incorporating the
requests sought by other presenters before this Honorable Committee,
urges the adoption of a resolution calling for the General Assembly to
consider the case of Puerto Rico; and calling on the government of the
United States to:<br>
* immediately cease the brutality, criminalization and harassment of, and
attacks on, the Puerto Rican Independence Movement, the students, and all
those who exercise their fundamental rights to expression and
association;<br>
<br>
* immediately release Puerto Rican political prisoners: Oscar López
Rivera, who has served more than 31 years in U.S. custody, and Avelino
González Claudio and Norberto González Claudio;<br>
<br>
* identify and hold criminally liable all those responsible for the
assassination of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos (2005), Santiago Mari Pesquera
(1976), Carlos Muñiz Varela (1979), and other militants of the Puerto
Rican independence movement;<br>
<br>
* withdraw the FBI, the U.S. court, and all other U.S. police, repressive
and military forces from Puerto Rico;<br>
<br>
* withdraw from Vieques, formally return legal property of the land to
the people of Vieques, cease detonating unexploded ordnance, completely
clean up the pollution left by the U.S. Navy’s 60 year occupation through
the use of proven, environmentally friendly clean-up methods, and
compensate the people of Vieques for the damage to their health done to
them by the same;<br>
<br>
* cease and desist from the application of the death penalty in Puerto
Rico;<br>
<br>
* formally commit to negotiate in good faith with the people of Puerto
Rico a solution to the colonial condition; and recognize the proposals
that emanate from a Constitutional Assembly, initiated by the people of
Puerto Rico, such as that called for by the Puerto Rico Bar Association,
as the true expression of the aspirations of the people of Puerto Rico,
and respond to them accordingly.<br>
<br>
Dated: June 18,
2012
<br><br>
Respectfully submitted,<br>
<br>
Jan Susler<br>
People’s Law Office<br>
1180 N. Milwaukee<br>
Chicago, IL 60642<br>
773/235-0070<br>
<a href="mailto:jsusler@aol.com">jsusler@gmail.com</a>
<br>
<br>
On behalf of the National Lawyers Guild International Committee<br>
<a href="http://www.nlginternational.org/">
http://www.nlginternational.org/</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<a name="_edn1"></a>[i]<sup>1</sup>Inter News Service, “Ausente Puerto
Rico de la Cumbre de las Américas: El tema principal es el tráfico de la
droga hacia Estados Unidos,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, April 14, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/ausentepuertoricodelacumbredelasamericas-1236141.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/ausentepuertoricodelacumbredelasamericas-1236141.html</a>
; “Lamenta el PIP ausencia de PR en Cumbre Américas,” <i>NotiCel</i>,
April 14, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.noticel.com/noticia/122110/lamenta-el-pip-ausencia-de-pr-en-cumbre-americas.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.noticel.com/noticia/122110/lamenta-el-pip-ausencia-de-pr-en-cumbre-americas.html</a>
; “Ortega, ausente de la Cumbre, critica la exclusión de Cuba: El
mandatario advirtió que el gobierno de La Habana debe estar presente en
"las mal llamadas Cumbres de las Américas," <i>El Nuevo
Diario</i>, April 14, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/248125" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/politica/248125</a> (Nicaraguan president
Daniel Ortega “recalled that at the last presidential Summit, which took
place in Trinidad Tobago, he criticized the exclusion of Cuba and Puerto
Rico, the latter, he said, occupied by the United States, and thus, he
said, he didn’t feel represented at the summit. Now, how could I show up
at this summit (in Cartagena de Indias) after having said that I don’t
feel represented because Cuba and Puerto Rico are excluded.”).<br>
<sup><a name="_edn2"></a>2</sup>
<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/Puerto_Rico_Task_Force_Report.pdf</a>
. <br>
<sup><a name="_edn3"></a>3</sup>“Puerto Rico: Status Vote Set as Crime,
Unemployment Rise,”<i> Weekly News Update on the Americas</i>, January 3,
2012,
<a href="http://weeklynewsupdate.blogspot.com/2012/01/wnu-1111-police-commander-arrested-in.html" eudora="autourl">
http://weeklynewsupdate.blogspot.com/2012/01/wnu-1111-police-commander-arrested-in.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn4"></a>4</sup>CB Online Staff, “Battles lines drawn on
status plebiscite,” <i>Caribbean News</i>, February 20, 2012,
<a href="http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=68282&ct_id=1&ct_name=1" eudora="autourl">
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=68282&ct_id=1&ct_name=1</a>
; Rosita Marrero, “Expertos no le ven el uso al plebiscito,” <i>Primera
Hora</i>, January 28, 2012, <br>
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/expertosnolevenelusoalplebiscito-607339.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/expertosnolevenelusoalplebiscito-607339.html</a>
; Pedro Pierluisi, “Puerto Rico Status Referendum is Historic,”
<i>Jurist</i>, February 17, 2012,
<a href="http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2012/02/pedro-pierluisi-referendum.php" eudora="autourl">
http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/hotline/2012/02/pedro-pierluisi-referendum.php</a>
; Rafael Cox-Alomar, “Setting the Record Straight on the Puerto Rican
Plebiscite,” <i>Jurist</i>, March 7, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://jurist.org/hotline/2012/03/rafael-cox-alomar-status.php" eudora="autourl">
http://jurist.org/hotline/2012/03/rafael-cox-alomar-status.php</a>; Rubén
Berríos Martínez, “El por qué y el para qué del plebiscito,” <i>El Nuevo
Día</i>, May 1, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-elporqueyelparaquedelplebiscito-1247177.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-elporqueyelparaquedelplebiscito-1247177.html</a>
; Cándida Cotto, “Noel Colón Martínez: Proyecto para desorientar la
opinión pública,” <i>Claridad</i>, October 11, 2011, <br>
<a href="http://www.claridadpuertorico.com/content.html?news=F4B1E2D29FE915427740A791CDF8ED31" eudora="autourl">
http://www.claridadpuertorico.com/content.html?news=F4B1E2D29FE915427740A791CDF8ED31</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn5"></a>5</sup>Kevin Mead, “Serrano: Extend plebiscite
to states,” <i>Caribbean Business</i>, <br>
October 6, 2011,
<a href="http://www.caribbeanbusiness.pr/news03.php?nt_id=62965&ct_id=1&ct_name=1" eudora="autourl">
http://www.caribbeanbusiness.pr/news03.php?nt_id=62965&ct_id=1&ct_name=1</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn6"></a>6</sup>Frances Rosario, “Federales desarticulan
18 puntos de gangas violentas en el residencial Arístides Chavier:
Policía ocupará residencial para devolverle la tranquilidad a la
comunidad, informó el gobernador,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, March 8,
2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/federalesdesarticulan18puntosdegangasviolentasenelresidencialaristideschavier-1207811.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/federalesdesarticulan18puntosdegangasviolentasenelresidencialaristideschavier-1207811.html</a>
; Limarys Suárez Torres, “Operativo federal en el área metropolitana:
Pesquisa contra un grupo de personas dedicadas a crímenes violentos,”
<i>El Nuevo Día</i>, March 28, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/operativofederalenelareametropolitana-1223176.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/operativofederalenelareametropolitana-1223176.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn7"></a>7</sup>Keila López Alicea, “Federales supervisan
escuelas boricuas: Visitan para cerciorarse de que se usan los fondos
federales adecuadamente,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, March 26, 2012, <br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/federalessupervisanescuelasboricuas-1221606.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/federalessupervisanescuelasboricuas-1221606.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn8"></a>8</sup>Inter News Service, “Barceloneta mayor
charged and jailed for extortion, <i>Puerto Rico Daily Sun</i>, February
16, 2012,
<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Barceloneta-mayor-charged-and-jailed-for-extortion" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Barceloneta-mayor-charged-and-jailed-for-extortion</a>
; “Servicio Postal realiza arrestos por fraude: Organización cambiaba
giros postales que producía en una máquina impresora de la agencia,”
<i>El Nuevo Día</i>, May 3, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/serviciopostalrealizaarrestosporfraude-1249045.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/serviciopostalrealizaarrestosporfraude-1249045.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn9"></a>9</sup>Hernán Padilla, “La federalización de
Puerto Rico,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, November 14, 2011,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-lafederalizaciondepuertorico-1118618.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-lafederalizaciondepuertorico-1118618.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn10"></a>10</sup>Combined Wire Services, “Gov.
federalizes more local crimes,” <i>Puerto Rico Daily Sun</i>, September
21, 2011,
<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Gov-federalizes-more-local-crimes" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Gov-federalizes-more-local-crimes</a>;
Luis G. Fortuño, “Compromiso con la Seguridad Pública,” <i>El Nuevo
Día</i>, June 14, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-compromisoconlaseguridadpublica-1278381.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-compromisoconlaseguridadpublica-1278381.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn11"></a>11</sup>Charlie Savage and Lizette Alvarez,
“Police in Puerto Rico Are Accused of Abuses in Justice Dept. Report,”
<i>New York Times</i>, September 8, 2011,<br>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/us/08police.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y" eudora="autourl">
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/08/us/08police.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y</a>
; Editorial: “Unconstitutional Policing,” <i>New York Times</i>,
September 14, 2011, <br>
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/opinion/unconstitutional-policing-in-puerto-rico.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y" eudora="autourl">
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/15/opinion/unconstitutional-policing-in-puerto-rico.html?_r=1&emc=tnt&tntemail1=y</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn12"></a>12</sup>U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights
Division, Investigation of the Puerto Rico Police Department, September
5, 2011, Findings Letter,
<a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/prpd_letter.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/prpd_letter.pdf</a>;
Executive Summary,
<a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/prpd_exec_summ.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/prpd_exec_summ.pdf</a>.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn13"></a>13</sup>Ángel Rosa, “Contundente informe
federal,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, September 12, 2011,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-contundenteinformefederal-1064556.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/columna-contundenteinformefederal-1064556.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn14"></a>14</sup>Associated Press, “Former Puerto Rico
FBI director nominated to lead island’s beleaguered police department,”
<i>Washington Post</i>, March 29, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/former-fbi-director-to-lead-puerto-ricos-beleaguered-police-department/2012/03/29/gIQAZpmEjS_story.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/former-fbi-director-to-lead-puerto-ricos-beleaguered-police-department/2012/03/29/gIQAZpmEjS_story.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn15"></a>15</sup>“Historial controversial de supuesto
sustituto de Díaz Colón,” <i>Telemundo Puerto Rico</i>, March 29, 2012,
<a href="http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/ultimas-noticias/Historial-controversial-de-supuesto-sustituto-de-Diaz-Colon-144854675.html?m=y&smobile=y" eudora="autourl">
http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/ultimas-noticias/Historial-controversial-de-supuesto-sustituto-de-Diaz-Colon-144854675.html?m=y&smobile=y</a>
; Editorial, “Un nombramiento desesperado y peligroso,” <i>Claridad</i>,
April 3, 2012,
<a href="http://www.claridadpuertorico.com/content.html?news=7923B18ABED994D8899F5BEF2A234598" eudora="autourl">
http://www.claridadpuertorico.com/content.html?news=7923B18ABED994D8899F5BEF2A234598</a>
. <br>
<sup><a name="_edn16"></a>16</sup>Aura N. Alfaro, “Fortuño names ex FBI
agent Pesquera Police chief,” <i>Puerto Rico Daily Sun</i>, March 30,
2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Fortuo-names-ex-FBI-agent-Pesquera-Police-chief" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Fortuo-names-ex-FBI-agent-Pesquera-Police-chief</a>
(reporting what the daily newspaper termed his “questionable actions”
and his history of close relationships with the Cuban right wing in
Miami).<br>
<sup><a name="_edn17"></a>17</sup>Alba Y. Muñiz Gracia, “Senado confirma
a Héctor Pesquera como Superintendente de la Policía de Puerto Rico,”
<i>El Nuevo Día</i>, April 10, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/senadoconfirmaahectorpesqueracomosuperintendentedelapoliciadepuertorico-1232366.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/senadoconfirmaahectorpesqueracomosuperintendentedelapoliciadepuertorico-1232366.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn18"></a>18</sup>Comisión de Derechos Civiles, Estado
Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, Informe Final sobre la investigación de
los sucesos ocurrido en el Municipio de Hormigueros el 23 de septiembre
del 2005 donde resultó muerto el ciudadano Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, October
13, 2011, <br>
<a href="http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/cdc/Documents/Informes%20Especiales/Informe.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/cdc/Documents/Informes%20Especiales/Informe.pdf</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn19"></a>19</sup>NotiCel/CyberNews, “‘Muerte ilegal’ la
de Filiberto Ojeda,” <i>Noticel</i>, February 2, 2012, <br>
<a href="http://www.noticel.com/noticia/117553/muerte-ilegal-la-de-filiberto-ojeda.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.noticel.com/noticia/117553/muerte-ilegal-la-de-filiberto-ojeda.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn20"></a>20</sup>Comisión de Derechos Civiles, Estado
Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, Informe Final sobre la investigación de
los sucesos ocurrido en el Municipio de Hormigueros el 23 de septiembre
del 2005 donde resultó muerto el ciudadano Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, October
13, 2011, <br>
<a href="http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/cdc/Documents/Informes%20Especiales/Informe.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www2.pr.gov/agencias/cdc/Documents/Informes%20Especiales/Informe.pdf</a>
, at p. 11 of Executive Summary.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn21"></a>21</sup>See, e.g., José A. Delgado, “FBI tenía
pistas de los asesinos de Carlos Muñiz Varela: Familiares y amigos del
fenecido líder estudiantil le recordarán hoy, a las 12:30 p.m., en un
acto en el cementerio de San Juan,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, April 30,
2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/fbiteniapistasdelosasesinosdecarlosmunizvarela-1246507.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/fbiteniapistasdelosasesinosdecarlosmunizvarela-1246507.html</a>
. Some call the FBI an accomplice to the murder of Muñiz Varela, as
recently declassified documents reveal that the FBI knew almost
immediately the identity of the right wing Cuban terrorists involved, but
refused to divulge the information so that the killers could be
prosecuted. See, “MINH tilda de ‘cómplice’ al FBI en muerte de Carlos
Muñiz Varela,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, June 4, 2012,
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/minhtildadecomplicealfbienmuertedecarlosmunizvarela-656073.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/minhtildadecomplicealfbienmuertedecarlosmunizvarela-656073.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn22"></a>22</sup>Rafael R. Díaz Torres, “Judicial
Branch’s independence is in jeopardy: Law professors claim there is a
constitutional crisis in Puerto Rico,” <i>Puerto Rico Daily Sun</i>,
February 10, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Jurists-Judicial-Branchs-independence-is-in-jeopardy" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Jurists-Judicial-Branchs-independence-is-in-jeopardy</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn23"></a>23</sup>Editorial, “Sumidos los jueces en la
indefensión,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, May 4, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/editorial-sumidoslosjuecesenlaindefension-1249365.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/editorial-sumidoslosjuecesenlaindefension-1249365.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn24"></a>24</sup>“Choque de ideología divide al Tribunal
Supremo de Puerto Rico,” February 4, 2012,
<a href="http://www.puertoricoexpresa.com/2012/02/choque-de-ideologia-divide-al-tribunal-supremo-de-puerto-rico/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.puertoricoexpresa.com/2012/02/choque-de-ideologia-divide-al-tribunal-supremo-de-puerto-rico/</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn25"></a>25</sup>CB Online Staff, “Top court clears way
for electronic vote count,”<i>Caribbean Business News</i>, May 1, 2012,
<a href="http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=71088&ct_id=1" eudora="autourl">
http://www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com/news03.php?nt_id=71088&ct_id=1</a>
. The Republican Party primary is similarly under investigation for the
artificially inflated number of voters, alteration of voting lists,
falsification of signatures, and possible alteration of votes. Israel
Rodríguez Sánchez, “Héctor Conty investiga la primaria republicana en
Puerto Rico: Atiende Conty las posibles irregularidades,” <i>El Nuevo
Día</i>, May 19, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/hectorcontyinvestigalaprimariarepublicanaenpuertorico-1260150.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/hectorcontyinvestigalaprimariarepublicanaenpuertorico-1260150.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn26"></a>26</sup>Susanne Ramírez de Arellano, “Puerto
Rico's Growing Voter Fraud Scandal,<i>”Fox News Latino</i>, April 23,
2012,
<a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/04/23/puerto-rico-growing-voter-fraud-scandal/" eudora="autourl">
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/04/23/puerto-rico-growing-voter-fraud-scandal/</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn27"></a>27</sup>Antonio R. Gómez, “Desempleo por las
nubes en la Isla: Los municipios de la zona sur y de la montaña son los
más perjudicados,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, January 16, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/desempleoporlasnubesenlaisla-602598.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/desempleoporlasnubesenlaisla-602598.html</a>.
<br>
<sup><a name="_edn28"></a>28</sup>Id.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn29"></a>29</sup>Betsi Fores, “Labor force participation
rate lowest in 30 years, despite lower unemployment,” <i>Daily
Caller</i>, May 7, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/07/labor-force-participation-rate-lowest-in-30-years-despite-lower-unemployment/#ixzz1uoSV20Z4" eudora="autourl">
http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/07/labor-force-participation-rate-lowest-in-30-years-despite-lower-unemployment/#ixzz1uoSV20Z4</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn30"></a>30</sup>“PR labor participation rate falls
again,” <i>Caribbean Business</i>, April 23, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.caribbeanbusiness.pr/news03.php?nt_id=70778&ct_id=1" eudora="autourl">
http://www.caribbeanbusiness.pr/news03.php?nt_id=70778&ct_id=1</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn31"></a>31</sup>Betsi Fores, “Labor force participation
rate lowest in 30 years, despite lower unemployment,” <i>Daily
Caller</i>, May 7, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/07/labor-force-participation-rate-lowest-in-30-years-despite-lower-unemployment/#ixzz1uoSV20Z4" eudora="autourl">
http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/07/labor-force-participation-rate-lowest-in-30-years-despite-lower-unemployment/#ixzz1uoSV20Z4</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn32"></a>32</sup>Gerardo Cordero, “Afloran las familias
deambulantes: Surgen cada vez con más frecuencia grupos familiares que
pernoctan en las calles y preocupa la falta de hogares de emergencia para
ubicarlos,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, April 29, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/afloranlasfamiliasdeambulantes-1246116.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/afloranlasfamiliasdeambulantes-1246116.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn33"></a>33</sup>Patricia Vargas Casiano, “Artistas que
cambian de profesión: La falta de trabajo en el ambiente artístico los
lleva a buscar otra manera de ganarse la vida,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>,
April 29, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/artistasquecambiandeprofesion-1245926.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/artistasquecambiandeprofesion-1245926.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn34"></a>34</sup>“Moody’s Warns of Bank Downgrades in
Puerto Rico (STD, BBVA, BPOP),” <i>24/7 Wall St. Wire</i>, April 11,
2012,
<a href="http://247wallst.com/2012/04/11/moodys-warns-of-bank-downgrades-in-puerto-rico-std-bbva-bpop/" eudora="autourl">
http://247wallst.com/2012/04/11/moodys-warns-of-bank-downgrades-in-puerto-rico-std-bbva-bpop/</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn35"></a>35</sup>Dalina Castellanos, “Fight against
death penalty gains momentum in states: Connecticut will be the fifth in
five years to do away with it. The high cost to taxpayers is increasingly
a factor,”<i> Los Angeles Times</i>, April 14, 2012, <br>
<a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-death-penalty-20120415,0,4532410.story" eudora="autourl">
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-na-death-penalty-20120415,0,4532410.story</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn36"></a>36</sup>Benjamín Torres Gotay, “Pena de muerte
a la pena de muerte: La fiscalía federal insiste en aplicar aquí la pena
capital, <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, April 15, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/penademuertealapenademuerte-1236154.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/penademuertealapenademuerte-1236154.html</a>;
Edgardo Román, “Listado de Casos de Elegibles Pena de Muerte Corte de
Distrito Federal Distrito De Puerto Rico Pendientes de Adjudicación al 31
de Mayo de 2012,” revealing two certified cases and 14 cases pending
certification. <br>
<sup><a name="_edn37"></a>37</sup>Editorial, “Rotundo No a la Pena
Capital,” <i>El Nuevo </i>Día, April 17, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/editorial-rotundonoalapenacapital-1237448.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/editorial-rotundonoalapenacapital-1237448.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn38"></a>38</sup>José A. Delgado, “Gutiérrez cuestiona
por qué autoridades federales siguen evaluando el Gasoducto: Ante las
dudas sobre el proyecto, cree que el plan del gobierno de Fortuño debería
detenerse,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, February 15, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/gutierrezcuestionaporqueautoridadesfederalessiguenevaluandoelgasoducto-1191329.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/gutierrezcuestionaporqueautoridadesfederalessiguenevaluandoelgasoducto-1191329.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn39"></a>39</sup>María Miranda, “Study: Vía Verde
endangers lives in 11 municipalities,”<i> Puerto Rico Daily Sun</i>,
April 25, 2012,
<a href="http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Study-Va-Verde-endangers-lives-in-11-municipalities" eudora="autourl">
http://www.prdailysun.com/news/Study-Va-Verde-endangers-lives-in-11-municipalities</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn40"></a>40</sup>Lizette Alvarez, “Puerto Rico’s Plan
for Natural Gas Pipeline Has Many Critics,” <i>New York Times</i>,
October 21, 2011,
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/us/puerto-ricos-plan-for-gas-pipeline-has-many-critics.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/us/puerto-ricos-plan-for-gas-pipeline-has-many-critics.html</a>
. <br>
<sup><a name="_edn41"></a>41</sup>Keila López Alicea, “Truenan contra el
incinerador de Arecibo: Experto en química asegura que los desperdicios
no deben quemarse, sino reusarse y reciclarse, <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, <br>
January 20, 2012,
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/truenancontraelincineradordearecibo-1169848.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/truenancontraelincineradordearecibo-1169848.html</a>
; CyberNews, “Familias de Barceloneta demandan por propuesta incineradora
de basura,” <i>Telemundo</i>, January 18, 2012,
<a href="http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/puerto-rico/Familias-de-Barceloneta-demandan-por-propuesta-incineradora-de-basura-137560633.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.telemundopr.com/telenoticias/puerto-rico/Familias-de-Barceloneta-demandan-por-propuesta-incineradora-de-basura-137560633.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn42"></a>42</sup>“Convocan a protestar por proyecto de
molinos de viento en Santa Isabel,” <i>Primera Hora</i>, October 20,
2011,
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/convocanaprotestarporproyectodemolinosdevientoensantaisabel-569327.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/convocanaprotestarporproyectodemolinosdevientoensantaisabel-569327.html</a>
; Michelle Estrada Torres, “Continúa el martes la vista contra los
arrestados por protestar molinos de Santa Isabel,” <i>Primera Hora</i>,
February 4, 2012,
<a href="http://www.primerahora.com/continuaelmarteslavistacontralosarrestadosporprotestarmolinosdesantaisabel-610337.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.primerahora.com/continuaelmarteslavistacontralosarrestadosporprotestarmolinosdesantaisabel-610337.html</a>
. <br>
<sup><a name="_edn43"></a>43</sup>“Desmienten alegaciones del DRNA sobre
Corredor del Noreste,” <i>NotiUno</i>, May 23, 2012,
<a href="http://www.notiuno.com/2012/05/desmienten-alegaciones-del-drna-sobre-corredor-del-noreste/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.notiuno.com/2012/05/desmienten-alegaciones-del-drna-sobre-corredor-del-noreste/</a>
; “Coalición Pro Corredor Ecológico del Noreste desmiente al Secretario
del DRNA,” May 23, 2012,
<a href="http://biodiversidadpr.wordpress.com/" eudora="autourl">
http://biodiversidadpr.wordpress.com/</a>.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn44"></a>44</sup>Terry Baynes, “U.S. court dismisses
Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing,” <i>Reuters</i>, February 14,
2012,
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/us-puertorico-lawsuit-vieques-idUSTRE81E07Y20120215" eudora="autourl">
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/us-puertorico-lawsuit-vieques-idUSTRE81E07Y20120215</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn45"></a>45</sup>José A. Delgado, “Tardará por lo menos
otra década la limpieza de Vieques; En Culebra, puede durar otros 40
años,” <i>El Nuevo Día</i>, May 6, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.elnuevodia.com/tardaraporlomenosotradecadalalimpiezadevieques-1251192.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.elnuevodia.com/tardaraporlomenosotradecadalalimpiezadevieques-1251192.html</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn46"></a>46</sup>See, e.g., Reuters, “Mandela Expects to
Be Released Soon, His Wife Says,”<i> New York Times</i>, January 9, 1990,
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/09/world/mandela-expects-to-be-released-soon-his-wife-says.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/09/world/mandela-expects-to-be-released-soon-his-wife-says.html</a>
(long-imprisoned).<br>
<sup><a name="_edn47"></a>47</sup>Mark C. Toner, Deputy Spokesperson,
Office of the Spokesperson, Message on the Twenty-Third Anniversary of
Tiananmen Square, Press Statement, June 3, 2012,
<a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/06/191692.htm" eudora="autourl">
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/06/191692.htm</a>. A Chinese
government spokesman said the U.S. State Department call was “a gross
intervention in China's internal affairs and a groundless accusation
against the Chinese government.” “China Rejects US Call to Release
Tiananmen Prisoners,” <i>VOA News</i>, June 4, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/06/04/china-rejects-us-call-to-release-tiananmen-prisoners-2/" eudora="autourl">
http://blogs.voanews.com/breaking-news/2012/06/04/china-rejects-us-call-to-release-tiananmen-prisoners-2/</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn48"></a>48</sup>“Release of Political Prisoners in
Belarus,” Press Statement, Mark C. Toner, Deputy Spokesperson, Office of
the Spokesperson, April 16, 2012,
<a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/04/187953.htm" eudora="autourl">
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/04/187953.htm</a>.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn49"></a>49</sup>“President Barack Obama, Release Of
Burmese Political Prisoners,” January 13, 2012,<br>
<a href="http://www.humanrights.gov/2012/01/13/release-of-burmese-political-prisoners-statement-by-president-obama/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.humanrights.gov/2012/01/13/release-of-burmese-political-prisoners-statement-by-president-obama/</a>
.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn50"></a>50</sup>Cuban Prisoner Release Announcement,
Press Statement, Mark C. Toner, Acting Spokesperson, Office of the
Spokesperson, December 24, 2011,
<a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/12/179693.htm" eudora="autourl">
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/12/179693.htm</a>; “US regrets
Cuba's decision not to release Alan Gross,” <i>BBC</i>, December 24,
2011,
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16327408" eudora="autourl">
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16327408</a>.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn51"></a>51</sup>“US State Dept. urges GoSL to charge or
release prisoners still in custody,” <i>Transcurrents</i>, September 2,
2011,
<a href="http://transcurrents.com/news-views/archives/3673" eudora="autourl">
http://transcurrents.com/news-views/archives/3673</a>.<br>
<sup><a name="_edn52"></a>52</sup>Associated Press, “Clinton meets Suu
Kyi, urges Myanmar to expand reforms; US secretary of state: 'We believe
that any political prisoner anywhere should be released',” <i>MSNBC</i>,
December 1, 2011, <br>
<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45504481/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/clinton-meets-suu-kyi-urges-myanmar-expand-reforms/#.T6IMd-gePWo" eudora="autourl">
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45504481/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/clinton-meets-suu-kyi-urges-myanmar-expand-reforms/#.T6IMd-gePWo</a>
.<br><br>
<br><br>
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