Tag: Puerto Rico

Podcast: free Puerto Rico, free Russia

#FreeRussiaIn Episode 180 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg compares two demonstrations outside the UN on the same day—one in support of Puerto Rican independence, timed for the meeting of the Special Committee on Decolonization, and one in support of Russian anti-war dissidents, LGBTQ people and indigenous peoples, now all facing harsh repression. The police state tactics seen in Putin's consolidating dictatorship mirror many of those US colonialism has used in Puerto Rico. And Russia's indigenous peoples have been denied self-determination as surely as the Puerto Ricans. Yet the presence of "tankies"—pseudo-leftists in the camp of Russian imperialism—at the independentista rally illustrates how those who support freedom in Puerto Rico and in Russia have been pitted against each other. Yet another example of how a global divide-and-rule racket is the essence of the state system. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon. (Photo: CounterVortex)

House passes bill to determine Puerto Rico status

Puerto RicoThe US House of Representatives passed the Puerto Rico Status Act, which would allow the island to hold its first binding vote on whether to become the 51st state, an independent country, or a sovereign government in "free association" with the United States. Although unlikely to pass the Senate before the current Congressional session ends, it is still precedent-setting. Puerto Rico has held six plebiscites on statehood, most recently in 2020, when 52% of voters endorsed the idea. But none of the plebiscites has been binding, and turn-out has often been low, amid boycotts by supporters of the status quo or independence. The proposed binding referendum would be the first time that Puerto Rico's current status as a US commonwealth is not included as an option, a blow to the main opposition Popular Democratic Party, which upholds the status quo. (Image: Nicolas Raymond via Flickr)

Planet Watch
Chile protester

Podcast: world revolution in 2020?

SyriaUN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that repression of freedom of expression across the Middle East has deepened significantly since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran commenced at the end of February. In Iran, approximately 2,345 people have been arrested on charges related to national security. Many of these, as well as more arbitrarily arrested during the January protests, are being held in harsh conditions and incommunicado detention. The state has also cut internet access to prevent external sharing of information. Three protestors were publicly hanged in March after being convicted of "waging war against God" based on "confessions" obtained under torture. Many more are at imminent risk of execution. But hundreds of arbitrary arrests for online anti-war dissent have also taken place in the Gulf states that Iran has been targeting with missile strikes, with Türk warning of a "sharp securitization of civic space across the region." (Image: Pixabay)

The Caribbean

Puerto Rico: climate change to regime change

DHSDonald Trump's draconian immigration policies are to get a massive injection of cash thanks to the omnibus budget bill that the president signed into law on July 4. The bill includes over $170 billion in funding for new detention centers, deportation operations, border wall construction, and other anti-immigration initiatives. While this outlay is to be spread out over five years, critics point out that it surpasses the annual military budgets of any country on Earth except for the US and China. The bill, which narrowly passed in the House with no Democratic support, represents a massive shift of funds from basic social programs such as Medicare to Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose budget will now overshadow that of the FBI. The ICE detention budget is to now outstrip that of the federal Bureau of Prisons, aiming at capacity to hold over 100,000 detainees. (Image: Department of Homeland Security via Florida Phoenix)

North Africa

Tunisian Jews scapegoated in anti-austerity revolt?

KordofanAt least 30 people were killed and dozens injured in armed clashes between members of the Hamar and Misseriya pastoralist groups in Sudan's West Kordofan state. ​​​​A Hamar militia that had been organized to protect against cattle rustlers was apparently ambushed by Misseriya gunmen in the locality of Abu Zabad, setting off the violence. Hamar leaders charge that state authorities and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are protecting Misseriya bands that raid their lands with impunity. In Khartoum, the pro-democracy Resistance Committee is meanwhile calling for continued protests despite the new pact for a transition to civilian rule, saying that any deal must include provisions for transitional justice and reform of the security forces. (Photo: Tim Freccia/Enough Project via Dabanga)

The Caribbean

Puerto Ricans to become climate refugees?

Puerto RicoHurricane Maria's destruction on Puerto Rico could spawn one of the largest mass migrations in US history. Some 97% of the island's residents are still without power, and half do not have running water. Thousands now awaiting flights from San Juan's airport might be permanently displaced and become the planet's newest "climate refugees."

Oceania

Korea nuclear crisis spurs Guam independence bid

GuamAmid all the hype over North Korea's threats to fire a nuclear missile at Guam, just a few media accounts have made note of how Guamians themselves are reacting. Guam is usually seen in the US only as a strategic Pentagon outpost. But with a referendum on independence in the offing, growing sentiment on the island holds that the only thing Guamians are getting out of their current US territorial status is being made a nuclear target.

New York City
Lopez Rivera

Oscar López Rivera, terrorism and semantics

The controversy over liberated political prisoner Oscar López Rivera's participation in New York's Puerto Rican Day Parade opens a window on the political uses of the term "terrorist."