The Perilous Plight of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has a long standing relationship with the United States, a relationship that's comparable to a native American half brother that a family refuses to show to neighbors and friends. It denies his existence and refuses to acknowledge his calls for attention. But it provides support even if it uses the island as a testing ground for the Military's bombs. Thankfully, George Bush put an end to this practice in May 2003, after large scale protests. What Puerto Rico is now is an American creation, a Commonwealth that mirrors the face of American colonialism since the 19th century, where its proximity to the mainland is its most fortunate fate for it has forced benevolence out of its sovereign master.

The island is an "unincorporated territory" of the US, belonging to, but not part of, America. It is like a yard dog that lives within the property but not part of the household. It has a Commonwealth constitution and a bicameral legislature. A Governor is elected to head the executive branch, representing its Head of State, the President of the United States. Its Republican form of government is subject to US jurisdiction and sovereignty. Recently, its elected Governor, Anibal Acevedo Vila went into saber rattling, calling on the UN to back his people's right to self-determination; accusing President Bush of denying their democratic right to choose their own course - independence.

The UN panel voted to support the motion. After 110 years as a US owned island, and its first elected governor (sworn in January 2005) under the adopted constitution that was ratified 56 years ago, Vila's demand for independence is as surprising as hearing a mouse that roars. The Harvard educated Governor must have learned a few tricks in international politics. By turning his back on his own party's (Popular Democratic Party) position of support for the Commonwealth, he calls attention to an issue he may believe will get international support like Tibet, as well as secure the backing of the Nationalists (Puerto Rico Independence Party) who have resorted to violence in the past, including the attempted assassination of President Truman in 1950, and the shooting rampage at the US Congress that injured 5 lawmakers in 1954. Support from Venezuela and/or Cuba could also be one of his expectations.

This could merely be squid tactics meant to cover his tracks. Last March 27, the FBI charged him with 19 counts of campaign finance corruption and conspiracy to violate federal election laws. Several of his key cabinet members have previously been interviewed by the FBI or called to testify before a federal Grand Jury. Acevedo Vila has denied all the charges against him, perhaps for public consumption, and is now seeking to use the independence demand as a defense against what he is expected to accuse the US of : political harassment.

Governor Acevedo Vila must be desperate and feels cornered by the FBI's indictment. He is using the fate of the island's people to save himself while endangering its existence in the process. Federal funding would end, industries may relocate, tourism - one of its largest earners - could grind to a halt; all because of his greed. The Puerto Ricans may also lose their American citizenship granted since 1917 because of this gamble. Clearly, Governor Vila is acting like King Richard, demanding a horse in exchange for his Kingdom. By riding on the future of his people, he expects to escape the siege of the federal government.

The poor people of Puerto Rico will not find solace in independence, they are not prepared for it. A prevailing psyche of subordination to Uncle Sam as the great benefactor persists and a mindset of being closet brothers is widely accepted. For as long as this orientation remains, Puerto Ricans are doomed to being second class inhabitants of American owned territories. With leaders such as Governor Acevedo Vila, their future is in peril.

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