Forum: General Assembly 4 Measures taken and international peace efforts on the issue of decolonization in Puerto Rico Student Officer: Dana Bazzari

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1 Forum: General Assembly 4 Issue: Measures taken and international peace efforts on the issue of decolonization in Puerto Rico Student Officer: Dana Bazzari Position: President Introduction During the founding on the United Nations in 1945, approximately a third of the world s population lived in colonized territories that depended on their powers for the country to function. This meant that around 750 million people were under a rule. While the political status of Puerto Rico remains undetermined, it is one of the many countries that were colonized. Christopher Columbus found Puerto Rico on his voyages, where he claimed in to Spain, in It was about 15 years later that the Spanish settlements began. 390 years later, at the ends of the Spanish-American war, Puerto Rico was surrendered to the United States of America. This meant that the US had full control over island affairs, and demanded more local control of the vicinity and islands. It was done through implementing the government, granting citizenship and taking control of political matters. The United States of America continues to officially have control of Puerto Rico, and it is a part of the United States of America. Many nationalists and independent movements oppose to this, and there have been efforts to decolonize and self-govern a free country. Whether it is countless street protests, the deteriorating economy, the lack of assistance during Hurricane Irma and more examples of why Puerto Rico should remain independent, the question of safety and peace arise. To separate from the United States of America would cause an immense amount of backlash. While this could be seen as a positive impact on Puerto Rico, the peace efforts could be dented in a negative way. The economic, political and social status of the country would be put at risk or jeopardized, or even the opposite. With a large amount of the population suffering from unemployment, poverty or living under a US dollar a day, to leave the United States would continue to cause an economic deficit. Alongside this, the Puerto Ricans US citizenship arises as a question of whether or not they obtain the right to keep it.

2 A large debate in the United Nations Special Committee for Decolonization has risen, with many counties in favor, alongside many consistent follow ups. Claimed to be an issue just as important as the Palestinian-Israeli occupation, the measures taken and international peace efforts on the issue of decolonization in Puerto Rico really determines the state of the historic country. Definition of Key Terms Colonization where a country settles in an area, claiming the land to be their own. Decolonization (of a country) withdraw from (a colony), leaving it independent. Unincorporated (of a company or other organization) not formed into a legal binding or corporation Obliterate to destroy and wipe out entirely. Commonwealth a country or community that is independent country or community, especially a democratic republic. Plaintiff a person who brings a case against another in a court of law. Compare with defendant. Autonomous (of a country or region) having self-government, at least to a significant degree: Trusteeship council

3 The United Nations Trusteeship Council, one of the principal organs of the United Nations that was established to ensure that trust territories are functioning in the best interests of their civilians, alongside maintaining international peace and security. Self-Determination the process by which a country determines its own statehood/ independence and forms its own allegiances and government Nationalist person who advocates political independence for a country Expedite an action or process happen sooner, speed up or be accomplished more quickly Referendum a general vote by the council on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision. Occupation the action, state, or period of occupying (taken over) or being occupied by military force. Statehood the status received if you are recognized as an independent nation. Subjugation the action of bringing someone or something under your control or domination. Plebiscite the direct vote of all the members of council on an important public question such as a change in the constitution. Non-binding

4 having no legal force to be joint together Key Issues The C-24/Special Committee on Decolonization Resolution The Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, more known as the Special Committee on decolonization or C-24, is an entity in the United Nations that is focused and adherent to the issue of decolonization. This was established in 1961 by the General Assembly. It serves the purpose of overseeing the fulfilment of the varying Declarations. On the 17th of June, 2007, 40 petitioner addressed the C-24/ Special Committee in plea to urge the international community to stop Puerto Rico s colonial relationship with the United States of America. A clear example of that subjugation is the implementation of Capital Punishment. Carol Sosa Santiago, a member of Coalicion Puertorriquena Contra la Pena de Muerte ( Puerto Rican Coalition Against the Death Penalty) claimed that Puerto Ricans were unable to make decisions in respect of the most basic right- the right to life. In defiance of already having obliterated the death penalty in 1929, the United States continued to apply it, she said, emphasizing that the text should recognize Puerto Rico as the only place where the death penalty continued to be applied after the people had rejected it. Juan Dalmau of the Puerto Rican Independence Party updated the Special Committee on current progress in Puerto Rico s relations with the United States, where he claimed that the November 2012 referendum was the most significant recent event. 78% of the people turned out. 54% of the voters voted on rejecting the continued commonwealth status, although regardless of the claimed full rejection of colonialism, the United States of America s Government sustained in defending colonialism. On the contrary, stating that the referendum had primarily changed the terms of the debate on Puerto Rico s political status, Pedro R. Pierluisi, Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and President of the New Progressive Party, pointed out that 61% of voters preferred statehood, alongside the position of his political party. The referendum had eliminated any legitimacy attached to Puerto Rico s current colonial status and people clearly preferred integration, he said.

5 Accusations of Offense by the United States to Puerto Ricans There has been a large amount of accusations against the Puerto Ricans by the United States of America. The claims of seditious conspiracies, possession of weapons and dealing of drugs are some of the issues that land some innocent Puerto Ricans into prison. A large amount of Puerto Rican organizations, political leaders, and civil leaders argued that some of the prisoners were being treated unjustly with disproportionately lengthy sentences. In August, 1999, President of the United States of America attempted to create a deal. He offered to release the prisoners on a condition; if they formally refuse to abide by any forms of violence. 11 out of the 15 Puerto Rican prisoners at the time accepted, and one of the prisoners agreed to be set free in five years. 3 years later, 2 more prisoners were released yet one of them, Antonio Camacho Negrón was arrested again by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Carlos Alberto Torres, one of the two remaining prisoners, was paroled in July López Rivera, the second of the two (whom is now 85 years old) was refused parole on 18 February He remained in a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States of America. It is a maximum security prison. The campaigning for his release grew and continued until on 17 January 2017, where his sentence was reduced by the orders of the President of the United States at the time, Barack Obama. It included a 120-day waiting period until his release, where he was released on 17 May He served two days less than 36 years out of the set 70 year sentence. López Rivera had now become amongst the longest-held political prisoners in the history of Puerto Rico and in the world. This campaign had so much media coverage and was extremely popularized, that towards the ending, several Nobel Peace Prize laureates and former Heads of State, including former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, and Pope Francis, expressed their support for his release. Not only these renowned individuals, but simple organizations and the general public in the United States of America and Puerto Rico offered their generous support through a 17-day hunger strike which took place till the day the order was issued by President Obama. The Movement of Non Aligned Countries (MNAC) and the Special Committee (SPC) contributed through expressing their support for his prompt release. The Backlash in the Response to Hurricane Irma by The United States Hurricane Irma was a natural disaster that lasted from August 31 till September 11. This category 5 hurricane hit Puerto Rico on September the 8th, destroying a large percentage of the island of Puerto Rico s electrical grid. Following this, another tragic hurricane, called Maria, hit a week later. Its winds took down the remainder of electrical

6 infrastructure the island had, leaving 80% with no electricity. It has become one of the most intense hurricanes recorded on the Atlantic basin.some of the effects were streets filled with rain, turning into rivers, uprooting of trees, the destruction of power lines and detachment of coastal communities. 5.6 million people were affected by this tragic strom. 3.5 million of Puerto Rican residents as well. The two back-to-back hurricanes demolished the poverty stricken U.S. territory. U.N. experts criticized Washington s absence of adequate emergency response. In a statement made by the United Nations, it is claimed that the lack of an effective response strategy has led to an alarming situation for the island s 3.5 million residents. Signatories on the Special Committee of Decolonization resolution also pointed out inconsistent claims between the government of the United States inactive response to the tragic event, and the absence of support provided to a alleged colony/territory. Leilani Farha, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the right to housing, wrote We can t fail to note the dissimilar urgency and priority given to the emergency response in Puerto Rico, compared to the US states affected by hurricanes in recent months, As the island is financially unstable, with more than half the population living below the poverty line, they had filed for bankruptcy in May. The recovery efforts post-storm have unfortunately, provided minimal relief, turned into the scandal revolving around claims that the US government had disregarded the pleas of help, showing an indifference toward the territory. Major Parties Involved and Their Views The United States of America Being the colonial in the situation, the United States of America plays a large role in the situation. In the US, there are mixed opinions on the situation; Puerto Ricans need to keep the present state of affairs and remain a Commonwealth, the conversion to a U.S. state and an indisputable need for freedom in Puerto Rico. The last opinion is based around national pride and a full autonomy is justified. NACLA The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) is an autonomous, charitable association established in 1966 that progresses in the direction of a world in which the countries and people of Latin America and the Caribbean are free from abuse and

7 oppression. They are free to appreciate an association with the United States in light of shared regard, free from financial and political subordination. According to their website, their central goal is to give data and analysis on the region, and on its perplexing and changing association with the United States, as apparatuses for education and support - to cultivate knowledge past borders. Their advocacy on the matter has been very prevalent, whether it is through court cases, plebscites and resolution drafting. The United Nations Special Committee The Special Committee on the Situation as to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (otherwise called the Special Committee on decolonization or C-24), the United Nations substance only gave to the issue of decolonization, was set up in 1961 by the General Assembly with the motivation behind checking the execution of the Declaration. Every year, Special Committee audits the rundown of Territories to which the Declaration is pertinent and makes suggestions as to its usage. It likewise hears articulations from NSGTs agents, dispatches going to missions, and sorts out workshops on the political, social and monetary circumstance in the Territories. Further, the Special Committee every year makes proposals concerning the scattering of data to prepare general conclusion in help of the decolonization procedure, and watches the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories. They have been there for the drafting of resolutions in favor of Puerto Rico s independence, as the meetings are taken place in this committee. Development of Issue/Timeline Date Event Outcome 1438 Discovery of Puerto Rico Christopher Columbus claims Puerto Rico to be for Spain, colonizing it and giving is the language.

8 1898 Passover to the United States of America Under the Treaty of Paris at the end of the Spanish-American war, Puerto Rico was claimed to the US Jones Act US citizenship is given to all Puerto Ricans First Governor and partial self government US appointed Jesus T Pinero, and later allowed for self-governing, allowing Puerto Ricans to vote for their own governors October 1950 Commonwealth Bill President Truman of the United States of America signs the bill, shaping an opportunity for a Puerto Rican continuation. Many oppositions from Nationalists, meaning an apprise and violence. US-Based nationalists attempted to assassinate President Truman in Washington DC in November that year, November 2000 Female Governor Sila Calderon is the first female governor Halt of the Bombing Range In an island called Vieques lays a United States based bombing range, and President Bush agrees to halt the use by May, 2003

9 May 2003 Range Closed The Vieques bombing range is officially closed March 2006 Rejected on Voting Puerto Ricans do not have the vote to right in the presidential elections in the United States of America, US Supreme Court says, rejecting the appeal. May 2006 Budget Cuts of Schools and Agencies The shortfall leads to the closure of schools, alongside many agencies for the government. This caused outrage, and thousands took to the streets to express their opinions in protest. June 2007 Special Committee on Decolonization calls on US to expedite Puerto Ricos self-determination process All participants urged the committee to request the reopening of the question of Puerto Rico in all aspects for the General Assembly to consider. Throughout the session, it was said that the US used the relationship with Puerto Rico in order to dampen independence movements and abuse the environment. June 2008 A Plea for Self-Determination/ Decolonization The UN is called upon by Mr Acevado vila to support Puerto Rico s right to self-determination.

10 May 2009 San Juan Protests Tens of thousands of workers march through San Juan in protest at possible job layoffs after Governor Fortuno announced a major programme of public spending cuts in March. Former governor Anibal Acevedo Vila found not guilty on all counts in a corruption trial linked to allegations of raising and hiding thousands of dollars in illegal election campaign contributions. October 2009 Explosions Neighborhoods near San Juan were evacuated due to a major fire was triggered by an explosion at an oil refinery. The explosion was measured to be of a strength of a 2.8-magnitude earthquake. October 2010 Corruption Many Puerto Rican police offers were held against drug charges, following the biggest police graft probe in FBI history. June 2011 Presidential Visit President Barack Obama becomes the first President to visit Puerto Rico since John F. Kennedy s visit. November 2012 The Two Part Plebiscite 54% of the votes on the plebiscite had rejected the idea of continuing under the current territorial colonial status (also known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).

11 February-June 2017 The Revival The plebiscites, bills, legislations and more documents are brought to light from the past for reevaluation. September 2017 Hurricane Maria and Irma The worst natural disaster to ever occur in Puerto Rico hit the country, leaving more than 3 million people (American Citizens) without electricity Previous Attempts to Solve the Issue The November 6th 2012 Two-Part Plebiscite 54% of the votes on the plebiscite had rejected the idea of continuing under the current territorial colonial status (also known as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico). The house was given options out of 4 alleged constitutionally feasible solutions, and 61% of the house favored statehood.in 2014, the Congress in the United States of America approved a $2.5 billion transaction aimed to conduct government educational campaign in Puerto Rico s government. This was brought to light in order to make the future plebiscite connect to the results of November The Popular Democratic Party (also known as the Partido Popular Democrático or the PPD) took no action on such a plebiscite due to deep internal division on how present colonial status should evolve, some arguing enhanced commonwealth which is inconsistent with US constitution. Some argued for Free-Associated State for Puerto Rico. On Feb 3 rd 2017, Puerto Rico legislature approved a bill to hold plebiscite in June of 2017 for Immediate Decolonization of Puerto Rico with only two options; statehood or free associated state/independence. The Popular Democratic Party continually encouraged the inclusion of a Commonwealth option. This caused controversy as many people believed in rejecting such an option in past plebiscites. Protests on the Streets

12 A form of peaceful protests the Puerto Ricans had were to take the streets of the capital to protest strongly against the tenacious economic crisis that has been hitting the working class of the population very hardly. While they might not have been the most successful, this form is raising the majority populations concerns as the deteriorating economy links hand in hand to the islands political state. The Special Committee Resolution Special Committee of Decolonization has approved multiple draft resolutions that called upon the United States government to conjecture responsibility for advancing the process that will eventually allow the Puerto Rican people the right to fully exercise independence and self-determination.alongside this, it called on the United States to allow Puerto Rico s people to take decisions in sovereign matter. This means that the addressal of urgent social and economic matter, such as insolvency, poverty, marginalization, and unemployment, to be pressed on. The Special Committee of Decolonization urged the United States to fully complete the return of occupied land, alongside the installation located in Ceiba and Vieques Island. As well, to quicken the process of covering costs of disinfecting and cleaning up areas that were used previously for the United States military exercises. This is in protest against the disregard of the health of the Puerto Rican environment and inhabitants. Other Key Attempts: June 2014; endorsed draft determination for Puerto Rico to be given the privilege to decide its political status. Numerous solicitors contended Puerto Rico ought to be viewed as a sovereign country and that their kin ought to be given the chance to wind up plainly a free country if such is wanted. U.N. Uncommon Committee on Decolonization endorsed a draft determination through an accord, requesting the U.S. regard basic human privileges of Puerto Ricans and to 'bear its duty' to give the nation the privilege to self-assurance and political portrayal toward the finish of the hearing. 34th UN determination from the Committee on Puerto Rico's political status over the most recent three decades.

13 Issues have been raised at Special Committee gatherings as of late on US military nearness in Puerto Rico, applying capital punishment to those sentenced on government charges in Puerto Rico, and detainment of expert autonomy Puerto Ricans in the US. Oscar Lopez Rivera's sentences was driven by request of President Obama, serving two days under 36 years as opposed to a 70 year long sentence. Said to be among longest held political detainees in Puerto Rico's history. Strong agreement among Puerto Rico's kin who were supportive of the arrival of the individuals who are detained in cases that related to the battle for freedom. Nov fifth 2014; fourteenth GA of Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas and twelfth yearly gathering of Network of Women Parliamentarians of the Americans embraced determination requesting that US President demonstrate leniency and discharge Mr. Lopez Rivera. US has evacuated more than 16.5 million pounds of weapons in a natural tidy up which is relied upon to keep running in any event through to 2025, as indicated by late reports by the press. However, Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons thought of it as disturbing that 5% of contaminants were expelled in 10 years. 2014; Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico reported that US Congress appropriated a sum of $17 million for Vieques' cleanup and $1.4 million for Culebra's cleanup. Possible Solutions The official control that the United States of America s government have on the state of Puerto Rico could be of advantage to the beginning of decolonizing the state. This could be done through means of economic and social support, impacts and influences of governmental progression and methods to be implemented in organising government suitable for temporary build. Furthermore, this tactic could support the state as a temporary attempt to support the nation in order to not reach catastrophic needs. Natural Disaster Preparation Firstly, measures such as survival needs in order to recover from the natural disasters that have occured in the past few years is vital for the building of a state as its own individual. The protection of the people s health and the establishment of social and

14 economic stability within the population would help in efficient and successful decolonization. A Revised Resolution The continuation of the Special Committee on Decolonization previous resolutions would be needed to take place, where a global meeting could discuss further amendments that can aid in a peaceful way of decolonization. Taking Baby Steps The establishment of a temporary government decided by the United States of America would be a voluntary attempt in securing a government for Puerto Rico that would be in communication and control of the more stable nation. This could be done through giving full independence to a city/island and continuing this through a period of a couple of years. Peacekeepers from the UN, the Puerto Rican army and other protective services must be on standby in order to maintain the peace through the decolonizing period. Bibliography SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION CALLS ON UNITED STATES TO EXPEDITE PUERTO RICO'S SELF-DETERMINATION PROCESS Meetings Coverage and Press Releases. United Nations, United Nations, Timeline: Puerto Rico. BBC News, BBC, 11 Jan. 2012, US News. -austerity-measures. Hurricane Irma - CNN CNN. (2018).

15 The United Nations and Decolonization. United Nations, United Nations, Contributor, José M. Saldaña Opinion. A Plebiscite for the Immediate Decolonization of Puerto Rico. TheHill, 10 Feb. 2017, olonization-of-puerto-rico. UN Extroaordinary council on Decolonizations Receives a Draft on Determining Puerto Ricos Status aft-determination+on-puerto-rico-status/+. All definitions obtained from dictionary.com