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FBI Killing of Puerto Rican Independence Leader Sparks Outpouring of Anti-US Sentiment
We continue our look at the FBI killing of Puerto Rican independence leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios. His killing has sparked an outpouring of anti-U.S. sentiment in Puerto Rico and fears that the Bush administration will launch a new crackdown on the Puerto Rican independence movement. We go to Puerto Rico to speak with a spokesperson for the Puerto Rican Socialist Front and an independent political analyst.
We continue our look at the FBI killing of Puerto Rican independence leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios. Nearly a week has passed since FBI agents surrounded his house, resulting in a shootout that left Ojeda Rios dead and an FBI agent wounded.
His killing has sparked an outpouring of anti-U.S. sentiment in Puerto Rico and fears that the Bush administration will launch a new crackdown on the Puerto Rican independence movement.
Earlier this week tens of thousands attended his funeral making it one of the largest funerals in Puerto Rican history.
Puerto Ricans of all political stripes have questioned the FBI's actions, especially because the shooting took place on Sept. 23 - the anniversary of an 1868 uprising against Spanish rule.
The FBI considered Ojeda Rios a fugitive from justice and the head of a domestic terrorist group - the militant Puerto Rican independence group Los Macheteros. But in Puerto Rico he has long been viewed as a leader of the independence movement. Now many see him as a martyr who was killed at the hands of U.S. agents.
Puerto Rican officials and Amnesty International are calling for an independent probe into his death. Amnesty said that the killing should be considered an extra-judicial execution if the FBI deliberately killed Ojeda Ríos or deliberately left him to die, when they could have arrested him.
Although FBI agents shot him Friday afternoon at his home they waited 20 hours before entering the house. Autopsy reports show that he bled to death from a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
* Jorge Farinacci, spokesperson for the Puerto Rican Socialist Front, and friend of Filiberto Ojeda.
* Juan-Manuel Garcia-Passalacqua , a Harvard-eductaed attorney and independent political analyst in Puerto Rico. He hosts one of the islands most popular radio programs on Noti Uno.
LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/29/1348227
His killing has sparked an outpouring of anti-U.S. sentiment in Puerto Rico and fears that the Bush administration will launch a new crackdown on the Puerto Rican independence movement.
Earlier this week tens of thousands attended his funeral making it one of the largest funerals in Puerto Rican history.
Puerto Ricans of all political stripes have questioned the FBI's actions, especially because the shooting took place on Sept. 23 - the anniversary of an 1868 uprising against Spanish rule.
The FBI considered Ojeda Rios a fugitive from justice and the head of a domestic terrorist group - the militant Puerto Rican independence group Los Macheteros. But in Puerto Rico he has long been viewed as a leader of the independence movement. Now many see him as a martyr who was killed at the hands of U.S. agents.
Puerto Rican officials and Amnesty International are calling for an independent probe into his death. Amnesty said that the killing should be considered an extra-judicial execution if the FBI deliberately killed Ojeda Ríos or deliberately left him to die, when they could have arrested him.
Although FBI agents shot him Friday afternoon at his home they waited 20 hours before entering the house. Autopsy reports show that he bled to death from a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
* Jorge Farinacci, spokesperson for the Puerto Rican Socialist Front, and friend of Filiberto Ojeda.
* Juan-Manuel Garcia-Passalacqua , a Harvard-eductaed attorney and independent political analyst in Puerto Rico. He hosts one of the islands most popular radio programs on Noti Uno.
LISTEN ONLINE
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/09/29/1348227
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he got shot, then decided to die instead of giving up? smart move.
The shot went through his right lung, he fell and died (probably less than an hour later) in the same spot. There was no blood anywhere else in the house. The blood went beneath the front door and into the porch, and still nobody went in to see if he was still alive. Huh?
Just like he did to the armored car guys? Cool!
I'm a Puerto Rican Nationalist, and needless to say I condemn the slaughter that took place on september 23 in the town of Hormigueros. Filiberto Ojeda and his group, PRTP-EPB aka Macheteros were responsable for the robberies of armored trucks, as well as 6 deaths. Anyone who takes the time to talk bullshit about him should take the same amount of time reading about our history.
But who holds the FBI or the US government responsible for all the massacres that they have perpetrated here?
Noone. The actions of the Macheteros were not terrorism, it was payback.
Payback for the 17 Nationalists massacred in Ponce, including a 7 year old girl by orders of Blanton Winship.. the US-imposed governor of that time.
Payback for the 4 Nationalists murdered in Rio Piedras.
Payback for the outlawing of our flag, and national anthem;
and then changing those 2 in 1952 to conform to the intrests of the empire.
Payback for the brutal crushing of the Nationalist insurrection in 1950, where american bombs rained down on the town of Jayuya destroying 80% of it.
Payback for all the experiments with chemical weapons that the US has performed on our rainforest El Yunque.
Payback for the 2 young Nationalists tortured, murdered and then pissed on in 1978 as part of COINTELPRO.
Payback for 107 fucking years of american colonial rule.
The FBI fired the first shot. They ended up shooting over 100 rounds, to which Filiberto responded with just about 10 shots with a 9 milimeter. All this happened on the conmemoration of the Lares Revolt against Spain which ocurred in 1868. An event which was being celebrated that day.
This is an act of war on the Nationalist movement.
Our voices will be fucking heard.
U$A OUT OF PUERTO RICO!
Death to the FBI!
Death to American Imperialism!
¡Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre!
But who holds the FBI or the US government responsible for all the massacres that they have perpetrated here?
Noone. The actions of the Macheteros were not terrorism, it was payback.
Payback for the 17 Nationalists massacred in Ponce, including a 7 year old girl by orders of Blanton Winship.. the US-imposed governor of that time.
Payback for the 4 Nationalists murdered in Rio Piedras.
Payback for the outlawing of our flag, and national anthem;
and then changing those 2 in 1952 to conform to the intrests of the empire.
Payback for the brutal crushing of the Nationalist insurrection in 1950, where american bombs rained down on the town of Jayuya destroying 80% of it.
Payback for all the experiments with chemical weapons that the US has performed on our rainforest El Yunque.
Payback for the 2 young Nationalists tortured, murdered and then pissed on in 1978 as part of COINTELPRO.
Payback for 107 fucking years of american colonial rule.
The FBI fired the first shot. They ended up shooting over 100 rounds, to which Filiberto responded with just about 10 shots with a 9 milimeter. All this happened on the conmemoration of the Lares Revolt against Spain which ocurred in 1868. An event which was being celebrated that day.
This is an act of war on the Nationalist movement.
Our voices will be fucking heard.
U$A OUT OF PUERTO RICO!
Death to the FBI!
Death to American Imperialism!
¡Que Viva Puerto Rico Libre!
I'm all for you having independance. One less wanna be third world country to deal with. I'm for deporting all the boricuas from NYC as are the French tourists caught up in your parade.
Fuck you too buddy, we can do without you
Fuck you too buddy, we can do without you
Independence* by the way, not independAnce.... Idiot.
And I'm fucking proud to be what american pigs like you call 'third world countries'.
And I'm fucking proud to be what american pigs like you call 'third world countries'.
Then why do most of you live in NYC?
I have never lived in the United States, and I never will. As for the boricuas living in NYC, that's their problem. Not mine.
Whether you like it or not, we are here to stay. We love America and we are proud of our Puerto Rican heritage at the same time. Should prisoners of war have more protection under the Geneva Conventions than American citizens should? Why the abuse? We are exercising our right to freedom of speech and you get belligerent right away. More than likely, you’re not a descendent of an early American Revolutionist or settler, but a product of the melting pot. Obviously, you were raised to be ashamed of your ancestry’s customs and heritage; don’t hate us for embracing ours.
Knowing who you are and where you come from is important. Blaming others for your problems, being angry that you can't have your way and feeling the need for violence in your tantrum, that I have a problem with. Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, The virgin Islands are all seperate from the mainland too. Why is Puerto Rico the only population that feels the need to shoot people over it? I know there has been a vote on statehood/nationhood several times. I just get tired of the excuses. i have no real feelings for the dead guy. he was involved in the death of others and it just caught up to him. He was no hero.
I'm quoting you:
"Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, The virgin Islands are all seperate from the mainland too. Why is Puerto Rico the only population that feels the need to shoot people over it?"
EXACTLY! Why are we the only ones that have to shoot people over it? Analyze that. Shithead.
About the statehood/independence referendums, they are a bluff. And besides, we as Nationalists here do not believe in colonial elections.
FUEGO A LOS YANKEES!
"Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, The virgin Islands are all seperate from the mainland too. Why is Puerto Rico the only population that feels the need to shoot people over it?"
EXACTLY! Why are we the only ones that have to shoot people over it? Analyze that. Shithead.
About the statehood/independence referendums, they are a bluff. And besides, we as Nationalists here do not believe in colonial elections.
FUEGO A LOS YANKEES!
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