Guadalupe, speaking in a phone interview from Vieques, was referring to the January 31 announcement by the pro-statehood governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rosselló, that he had agreed to a deal with the Clinton administration to allow the U.S. Navy to resume bombing practice in March on that Puerto Rican island.

A protest has been called in San Juan for February 21 demanding the U.S. Navy leave the island. Organizers are appealing to unions, students, religious groups, and others to join the action.

In the United States, a demonstration supporting the fight against the U.S. Navy will take place February 16 in Washington, D.C.

Since April of last year, when David Sanes, a civilian security guard working for the Navy, was killed by an "off-course" bomb from a U.S. warplane, there has been an unprecedented outpouring of protests throughout Puerto Rico demanding the Pentagon cease its 60 years of using Vieques for bombing practice.

Under this mass pressure, colonial politicians such as Rosselló and leaders of the pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party (PPD) have up to now joined the bandwagon, posing as part of a "consensus" against the U.S. Navy.  
 

Navy's referendum offers fake choice

The deal accepted by Rosselló calls for a referendum by the residents of Vieques with only two voting options: either letting the Navy stay for three years or using Vieques indefinitely. The choice of the Navy leaving now—the central demand of the protests of the past 10 months—would not be on the ballot.

In a concession to these protests, the U.S. Navy would have restrictions on its use of the bombing range in eastern Vieques. Nonexplosive cement-filled bombs would be used in place of explosive ordnance. The Navy would use the facility for 90 days per year and would have to enhance safety procedures and noise abatement.  
 

'We are not for sale'

To buy support for the plan, it includes an offer of $40 million to be spent on projects in Vieques such as ferry docks, road building, and help to fishermen. The price for permanent use of the facility with live ammunition would an additional $50 million, according to the U.S. plan. That money, however, would only materialize if it was approved by the U.S. Congress.

"We are not for sale," said Guadalupe in response to the monetary offer.

The Vieques leader called the proposed vote "a military referendum—proposed by the U.S. Navy, with the options chosen by the U.S. Navy, all of which would authorize bombing by the U.S. Navy. We oppose all bombing, whether it's with live or inert bombs."

He added that the proposed three-year period of bombing would allow the U.S. government to seek a way to renege on the deal.

As part of the agreement with Clinton, Rosselló pledged that the Puerto Rican police will help remove camps of people protesting the U.S. Navy that have been set up in the firing ranges.

Meanwhile, Aníbal Acevedo, vice-president of the PPD, which favors the current colonial status of Puerto Rico, backtracked on the party's previous support to the civil disobedience camps on Vieques. Now that Gov. Rosselló struck a deal with Washington, it's impossible to achieve the protesters' goal, he asserted.

Guadalupe, however, stated, "The protest camps will continue. In fact, right now they are filling up with more people who are joining us."

Leaders of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP), who organize one of the main camps, also vowed to remain in defiance of the U.S. and colonial governments.  
 
 
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