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It Is Clear That We Cannot Continue
With The Status Quo. A Decision Is Going To Have To Be Made Soon As To What
The Permanent Political Status Of Puerto Rico Will Be.
"The Sense of the Senate Resolution
proclaims that the ultimate decision as to the political future of Puerto
Rico will be made by this Congress. But by giving the degree of recognition
to the Puerto Rican called plebiscite on the 13th of December, that this
Sense of the Senate Resolution will do, will give additional standing, additional
confidence to the people of Puerto Rico that their vote on that day will
have an important impact here, as we decide what next steps to take relative
to the political future of Puerto Rico. Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) |
"In our view, Puerto Rico's economic
future is solidly bound with its political status. The nearly 4 million
American citizens of Puerto Rico need and deserve political empowerment
in order to attain economic empowerment. The Hispanic-Americans of Puerto
Rico cannot realize their full economic potential until a self-determination
process is accomplished." David Fernandez, Vice Chairman of the
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP)--With festive
marches and TV ads, political parties kicked off their campaigns Sunday
for a December plebiscite over Puerto Rico's relationship with the U.S.
Hundreds of people who want Puerto Rico to become a U.S. state waved American
flags as they weaved through northern Arecibo on a "Caravan for Equality."
Dow Jones, 9/13/98
On Dec. 13, Puerto Ricans will vote
in an advisory referendum. Gov. Pedro Rossello hopes the referendum will
clear the air, finally, and let everyone know that Puerto Rico wants to
be the 51st state in the U.S.
Previous advisory referendums in Puerto Rico have produced
uncertain results. Perhaps this time the outcome will send a clear, unequivocal
signal to Washington. Sun-Sentinel, Editorial, 9/13/98
"This measure intends to formalize
the procedure through which the People of Puerto Rico shall express its
will on the reaches of United States sovereignty over Puerto Rico and its
political status."
Statehood, Independence, Commonwealth, Free Association,
Definitions Consistent with U.S. Constitution, Congressional Findings and
International Law.
"Ron Walker asserts that free
associated state status is not possible under the U.S. Constitution (STAR,
August 16). To the contrary, in U.S. Public Law 99-239 and several subsequent
federal statutes, the U.S. Congress has recognized free association as entirely
compatible with the U.S. Constitution. Whether it is the right status solution
for Puerto Rico is a decision only the voters can make once they have accurate
and complete information." Herbert W. Brown III, Esq., President, Citizens
Educational Foundation |
"...Once again I call upon the
Congress to give the 4 million people of Puerto Rico the right to choose
their own status. It is important... In December the Puerto Rican people
go to the polls. The Republican leaders of the Senate say, they will "consider"
the results of the referendum. I say I will respect the results of the referendum."
–Pres. Clinton
"It is a plain democratic principle.
If you are part of a society, you should participate fully. It is untenable
that Puerto Rico should remain in the political system without the power
to participate which that system gives its people." Pedro Rossello
– 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."
Recent Commentary from Puerto
Rico
Miriam Ramirez de Ferrer, Neftali Fuster, Guillermo Moscoso,
Robert Becker
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