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<span class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8"><h3 role="heading" class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-h3 gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-3l gmail-c2-34 gmail-c2-33 gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-3m gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3n gmail-c2-3o gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3p gmail-c2-3q gmail-c2-3r gmail-c2-3s"><font size="1"><span style="font-weight:normal"><a href="https://elfrentepr.org/blog/f/un-calls-on-the-us-to-promote-puerto-rico%E2%80%99s-independence">https://elfrentepr.org/blog/f/un-calls-on-the-us-to-promote-puerto-rico%E2%80%99s-independence</a></span></font></h3><h3 role="heading" class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-h3 gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-3l gmail-c2-34 gmail-c2-33 gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-3m gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3n gmail-c2-3o gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3p gmail-c2-3q gmail-c2-3r gmail-c2-3s"><font size="4">UN Calls on the US to Promote Puerto Rico’s Independence</font></h3><div class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-div gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-3t gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8"><span class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-2j gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3u gmail-c2-3v gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3w gmail-c2-3x gmail-c2-3y gmail-c2-3z">June 21, 2021</span><span class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-2j gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-40 gmail-c2-41 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3u gmail-c2-3v gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3w gmail-c2-3x gmail-c2-3y gmail-c2-3z"><br></span></div><div class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-div gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-3t gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8"><br><span class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-2j gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-40 gmail-c2-41 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3u gmail-c2-3v gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3w gmail-c2-3x gmail-c2-3y gmail-c2-3z"></span><span class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-2j gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3u gmail-c2-3v gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-3w gmail-c2-3x gmail-c2-3y gmail-c2-3z"></span></div><div class="gmail-x-el gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-2j gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-42 gmail-c2-43 gmail-c2-44 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-45 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-2m gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8 gmail-x-rt"><p style="margin:0px"><span>The
Special Committee on Decolonization approved today a draft resolution
calling upon the United States to assume its responsibility to promote a
process to enable the people of Puerto Rico to fully exercise their
right to self-determination and independence.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>Approving
the draft resolution “Special Committee decision of 5 August 2020
concerning Puerto Rico” (document A/AC.109/2021/L.7) without a vote, it
requested that the General Assembly call again upon the Government of
the United States to address the Puerto Rican people’s urgent economic
and social needs, which have been aggravated by hurricanes, earthquakes
and the coronavirus pandemic.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>By
other terms of that text, the Assembly would note with concern that the
already weakened area in which the prevailing political and economic
subordination of Puerto Rico operates is reduced further by virtue of
the decision by the United States Congress, under the Puerto Rico
Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, known as PROMESA,
which created the Financial Oversight and Management Board.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>During
the morning meeting on the question of Puerto Rico, delegates called
attention to recent developments and the growing demand for
independence.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">Please follow this </strong><a class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-a gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-6b gmail-c2-1w gmail-c2-1x gmail-c2-6c gmail-c2-j gmail-c2-6d gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-3j gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-29 gmail-c2-3k" href="https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/gacol3346.doc.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">link</strong></a><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68"> to read the summaries of all petitioners.</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>Below are summaries of the presentations made by members of El Frente:</span></p><div><img src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/a27d2b16-a6d8-4bfa-8e1b-738a22aa971e/IMG_6577.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280" class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-img gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-6e gmail-c2-19 gmail-c2-2t gmail-c2-2u gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-s gmail-c2-56 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8" alt="Manuel Rivera, Puertorriqueños Unidos En Acción" title="Manuel Rivera, Puertorriqueños Unidos En Acción" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="451" height="208">Manuel Rivera, Puertorriqueños Unidos En Acción</div><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">Manuel Rivera, speaking for Puertorriqueños Unidos En Acción</strong>,
cautioned against thinking that the election of a Democratic President
of the United States will advance the decolonization process. Recalling
that both Democrats and Republicans have treated Puerto Rico like a
private <em class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-69">hacienda</em>
for many years, he emphasized that serious discussions on the issue
will only begin when the United States delegation to the United Nations
participates in the Special Committee’s work and when colonialism is
eradicated around the world.</span></p><div><img src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/a27d2b16-a6d8-4bfa-8e1b-738a22aa971e/IMG_6575.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280" class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-img gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-6e gmail-c2-19 gmail-c2-2t gmail-c2-2u gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-s gmail-c2-56 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8" alt="John Melendez Rivera, Frente Independentista Boricua" title="John Melendez Rivera, Frente Independentista Boricua" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="451" height="208">John Melendez Rivera, Frente Independentista Boricua</div><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">John Melendez Rivera, speaking for the Frente Independentista Boricua</strong>,
which represents the Puerto Rican diaspora, noted that the colonizers
control the economy, media and education systems, while the Territory is
subjected to ethnic cleansing and genocide amid an influx of
outsiders. He called upon the United States to stop violating
international law, engage in a decolonization process and transfer all
sovereign powers to the Puerto Rican people. </span></p><div><img src="https://img1.wsimg.com/isteam/ip/a27d2b16-a6d8-4bfa-8e1b-738a22aa971e/IMG_6581.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:1280" class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-img gmail-c2-1 gmail-c2-2 gmail-c2-6e gmail-c2-19 gmail-c2-2t gmail-c2-2u gmail-c2-2k gmail-c2-2l gmail-c2-s gmail-c2-56 gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-4 gmail-c2-5 gmail-c2-6 gmail-c2-7 gmail-c2-8" alt="JUAN DALMAU, Puerto Rican Independence Party" title="JUAN DALMAU, Puerto Rican Independence Party" style="margin-right: 25px;" width="451" height="208">JUAN DALMAU, Puerto Rican Independence Party</div><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">JUAN DALMAU, representing the </strong><u class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-6b"><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">Puerto Rican Independence Party</strong></u><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">,</strong>
said the colonial experience of the United States in Puerto Rico has
failed, adding that it was never viable, and its harmful consequences
can be seen today. The actions of the Fiscal Control Board have further
impoverished Puerto Rico as multimillionaires from the United States
buy up properties and displace entire communities, he noted. However,
there are winds of change in Puerto Rico, he said, pointing to growing
support for his party and appealing for greater international support
going forward. </span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">MICHAEL VIEIRA, speaking for </strong><u class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-6b"><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">El Grito</strong></u><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">, </strong>delivered
his statement as a poem, saying that deception, lies, exploitation and
subjugation are the cornerstones of the relationship between the United
States and Puerto Rico. It is time for accountability and the truth, he
said, pointing out that “snakes are making deals” and lining their
pockets while schools, hospitals, water supply and electrical grid are
privatized. What if a colonizer came into your house, beat you, then
put a pacifier into your mouth to silence you, he wondered, stressing
that “Puerto Rico <em class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-69">libre</em>” is the path that must be taken.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">GERARDO LUGO SEGARRA, speaking for the </strong><u class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-6b"><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico, Movimiento Libertador</strong></u><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">,</strong>
said the laws imposed by the imperial Government on Puerto Rico are
aimed at preserving its own interests, adding that elections and
referendums in the Territory have only guaranteed the perpetuation of
colonization. While Puerto Rico deals with growing poverty, COVID-19,
earthquakes and hurricanes, thousands of foreigners are coming from
outside to establish businesses which do not benefit its people, he
noted, emphasizing that the international community must find a solution
to that situation.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span><strong class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-28 gmail-c2-68">Action</strong></span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>The representative of <u class="gmail-x-el gmail-x-el-span gmail-c2-1t gmail-c2-1u gmail-c2-3 gmail-c2-67 gmail-c2-2b gmail-c2-21 gmail-c2-68 gmail-c2-6b">Cuba</u>,
also speaking on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Nicaragua,
Venezuela, Syria and the Russian Federation, introduced the draft
resolution “Special Committee decision of 5 August 2020 concerning
Puerto Rico” (document A/AC.109/2021/L.7). Urging the international
community to act promptly towards decolonization, he said the draft
reaffirms the Territory’s inalienable right to self-determination. Its
current status prevents its people from addressing their needs and
defining their future, he added. The text also addresses the question
of the fiscal board established by the United States and takes note of
the decision by that country’s Supreme Court that Congress has the final
word on Puerto Rico’s independence.</span></p><p style="margin:0px"><span>The Special Committee then approved the draft resolution without a vote.</span></p></div></span>
</div>