"We Have Reached A Point Of "To Be Or Not To Be" In Our Political Relations With The United States."
"Either we favor a real, permanent union with the United States through statehood, with all its benefits, obligations and responsibilities, or we favor a separate sovereignty from the United States, leading to being either the nation of Puerto Rico, totally sovereign and independent, or a nation with a free association pact with the United States, as was the case of the Pacific island republics. But what we must realize is that we can't "have the cake and eat it too." Guillermo Moscoso, The San Juan Star
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"[P]uerto Rico has the dubious distinction of having the only political party in the whole world which still supports inferiority for its own people. The PDP is a political anachronism, which created for itself an island of fantasy. No wonder they dread the moment of decision so much." Neftali Fuster, The San Juan Star
"Washington's hands are really tied as to what it can offer Puerto Rico other than statehood, independence, or commonwealth (perhaps a slightly improved commonwealth). A constitutional amendment -- or perhaps a special treaty of some kind -- could rectify all of that as far as a free association concept is concerned, but it's very difficult to do so." Ronald Walker, The San Juan Star
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, under Frank Murkowski's chairmanship, has improved the chances for congressional approval of a self determination bill for Puerto Rico.
The amended bill addresses key objections of critics of the House bill. Lawmakers are running out of reasons to delay taking a stand on this issue. They should approve the bill after they return from their summer recess. The Hartford Courant, Editorial, 8/7/98
On Dec. 13, Puerto Ricans will vote in an advisory referendum, choosing among four options: statehood; independence; independence while developing a new, treaty-based relationship with the U.S. or, finally, continuing the current commonwealth status.
Puerto Ricans obviously have earned the right to vote in a binding referendum on their future. U.S. soldiers from Puerto Rico have served and died, and that in itself ought to persuade the Senate to act.
If not, this straw vote will have to do, for now. Perhaps this time the outcome will send a clear, unequivocal signal to Washington. Sun-Sentinel, Editorial, 8/21/98
"Several states, beginning with Tennessee in 1796, chose a bold method of obtaining admission to the union. 'The 'Tennessee Plan' consists of the following steps: 1) Unsuccessfully petitioning Congress for admission; 2) Drafting a state constitution without prior congressional intervention; 3) Holding state elections for state officers, U.S. Senators and Representatives; 4) In some cases, sending the entire congressional delegation to Washington to demand statehood and claim their seats; 5) Finally, Congress, presented with a fait accompli, has little choice but to admit a new state through the passage of a simple act of admission." Osceola Sentinel, 7/31/98
Recent Commentary from Puerto Rico
Miriam Ramirez de Ferrer, Neftali Fuster, Guillermo Moscoso, Robert Becker
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US Council for Puerto Rico Statehood Formed;
Padilla Selected Chairman
"The US Council for Puerto Rico Statehood will educate US citizens about Puerto Rico, the many important contributions which Puerto Ricans have made to the United States in the past century, and the reasons why they should support statehood for Puerto Rico." Dr. Hernan Padilla (former Mayor of San Juan), Chairman, US Council for Puerto Rico Statehood
On Monday, Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero Barceló said in an interview with Efe News Agency that he hoped the Puerto Rico Supreme Court does not commit "a judicial barbarity" when it rules on the lawsuit, arguing that the top bench does not have jurisdiction on the matter. The San Juan Star, 8/18/98
– HERALD WHITE PAPERS –
The record before Congress is now clear that permanent union and irrevocable U.S. citizenship can not be obtained through commonwealth, even if it is reformed as proposed in the 1993 commonwealth definition. Since only statehood provides the constitutionally guaranteed status and citizenship included in the commonwealth definition, the real question arising from the 1993 referendum results is how those who voted for commonwealth with permanent union and irrevocable U.S. citizenship intend to achieve that result if not through statehood.
"We will be repeating the mistakes of 1952 if we do not inform the people of Puerto Rico that individual U.S. citizenship is protected under commonwealth for the individual to whom it is already granted against arbitrary loss, regulation or restriction, but that the conferral of U.S. citizenship in the future is discretionary and could be withdrawn."
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