Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was invaded by the US in 1898 after winning
independence from Spain. An independence movement has thrived ever since
that has reasserted a right to self-determination and an end to US
colonialism. Includes extensive material on Puerto Rican
Independentistas, political prisoners, prisoners of war* and land rights as well as
struggles in the diaspora.
This collection contains sub-collections focused on political parties and organizations committed to the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, groups and organizations founded to support political prisoners and prisoners of war and general information.
*Prisoners of War:
On October 12, 1970, UN resolution 2621 approved by the General Assembly, declared colonialism an international crime. Said resolution reaffirmed the right of any intervened, colonized nation to utilize whatever form of struggle is necessary to obtain its independence. Armed struggle, military resistance and whatever form of struggle that leads to the independence of nations that are colonized, invaded and occupied by foreign military troops, is recognized as a right by the UN. Puerto Rico, by virtue of being a colonial state is supported by International Law.
International Law is also very specific in reference to prisoners of war. According to the Geneva Convention, combatants who have declared themselves prisoners of war must be recognized as such. Those Puerto Ricans arrested were armed and accused of belonging to the Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Libertion. The nature of the arrest and the US government's own indictment only serves to reaffirm that the eleven were combatants in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence at the time of their arrests. According to the Geneva Treaty, ratified by the UN in 1949, captured soldiers are prisoners of war. It is thus the argument of the eleven that they are prisoners of war.
This collection contains sub-collections focused on political parties and organizations committed to the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, groups and organizations founded to support political prisoners and prisoners of war and general information.
*Prisoners of War:
On October 12, 1970, UN resolution 2621 approved by the General Assembly, declared colonialism an international crime. Said resolution reaffirmed the right of any intervened, colonized nation to utilize whatever form of struggle is necessary to obtain its independence. Armed struggle, military resistance and whatever form of struggle that leads to the independence of nations that are colonized, invaded and occupied by foreign military troops, is recognized as a right by the UN. Puerto Rico, by virtue of being a colonial state is supported by International Law.
International Law is also very specific in reference to prisoners of war. According to the Geneva Convention, combatants who have declared themselves prisoners of war must be recognized as such. Those Puerto Ricans arrested were armed and accused of belonging to the Armed Forces of Puerto Rican National Libertion. The nature of the arrest and the US government's own indictment only serves to reaffirm that the eleven were combatants in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence at the time of their arrests. According to the Geneva Treaty, ratified by the UN in 1949, captured soldiers are prisoners of war. It is thus the argument of the eleven that they are prisoners of war.
Documents
The Legal Context of the Campaign for the Release of the Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War
Publisher: People's Law OfficeYear: 1995Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Report delivered at the International Seminar for Liberation of Puerto Rican political Prisoners and Prisoners of War
Appeal from Notice of Action to the National Appeals Board
Appeal to the United States Parole Commission, United States Department of Justice Regarding unjust denial of parole to Carlos Alberto Torres
Alejandrina Torres: A Profile of a Puerto Rican Prisoner of War
Publisher: Free Puerto Rico CommitteeYear: 1987Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Biography and account of inhumane treatment at the hands of the US prison system.
Statement of the 10 Puerto Rican Prisoners of War
Publisher: The 10 Puerto Rican Prisoners of WarYear: 1981Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Statement of concern for the disappearance of Alfredo Mendez.
Statement of the Case
Publisher: International Legal Counsel for Petitioners and the National Committee to Support Puerto Rican Prisoners of WarYear: 1980Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Statement of the case for release and treatment of the Flan 11 as Political Prisoners. Includes historical context
Desde Las Rejas: Statements by the Eleven Puerto Rican Prisoners of War In the Concentration Camp of Cook County
Publisher: FALNDate: 4/28/1980Volume Number: April 28Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Statements and Declarations by the FALN 11.
In Defense of Armed Struggle
Publisher: The Coordinating Committee of the Nationalist Part of Puerto Rico in the United StatesYear: 1975Format: MonographCollection: Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion Nacional (FALN)
Discussion of U.S. imperialism in light of the FALN bombing of 1975.
Puerto Rico Our People's History
Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
A monograph that gives a short history of the Puerto Rican people beginning with the Spanish conquest and ending with the current social ills caused by oppression. Slight damage to the back cover.
Puerto Rico A Colony of the United States
Publisher: New England Free PressYear: 1969Format: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Describes the role of colonization in Puerto Rico's history focusing on the contributions of Nationalist leaders and the consequences of their imprisonment.
Book I: Journey to Identity the Historical Evolution of Puerto Rico
Publisher: Puerto Rico: Showcase of Oppression, Centro Social Juan XXIII & Latin America Publications ServiceFormat: MonographCollection: Puerto Rico: A History of the People
Commentary on a collection of quotes from 1526-1937 about the identity experiences of the inhabitants of the island as it was affected by outside influence.
