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Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Clinton: Status Could Be Solved In A YearDivided Puerto Rico Marks 48 Years As ‘Commonwealth’Calderon: U.S. Shouldn't Pay For Island Bases, Presidential Vote Not A PDP PrioritySome PIP Members Released, Others Must Pay FineTrinidad Wins Third-Round TKOClinton: Status Could Be Solved In A Year July 26, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - In a congratulatory letter sent to Gov. Pedro Rossello and read Tuesday during official Commonwealth Constitution Day commemorative acts, President Bill Clinton said he expects Puerto Rico to solve its status problem by July 25 next year. The letter, dated July 13, stresses Clinton's commitment to clarify the status options to be presented to Puerto Ricans. He added that he was satisfied that those who are vying to succeed him as president have made a commitment to continue the process. "I expect that when Puerto Ricans next celebrate the historical moment that July 25 represents, they do so having had the fundamental question about the island fully answered," the president said. Divided Puerto Rico Marks 48 Years As ‘Commonwealth’ July 25, 2000 BARCELONETA, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Thousands converged on this coastal town to celebrate 48 years since Puerto Rico was declared a U.S. ``commonwealth'' on Wednesday -- a date also marking 102 years since invading U.S. troops wrested the Caribbean island from Spain. The commemoration comes at a time of growing foment over Puerto Rico's unusual ties to the United States -- a debate marked by growing nationalism among these Spanish speakers and a bitter dispute with the U.S. Navy over its bombing range on outlying Vieques Island. As revelers waved Puerto Rican and U.S. flags, opposition gubernatorial candidate Sila Calderon pledged that if victorious in November she would repel any move to make Puerto Rico the 51st U.S. state. In San Juan, pro-statehood Gov. Pedro Rossello held a more modest ceremony emphasizing the creation of the Puerto Rican constitution as part of the 1952 deal with the United States establishing commonwealth. A series of nonbinding referendums on upgrading the ties to full statehood -- the last in 1998 -- have proven inconclusive and deeply divisive. A small minority of Puerto Ricans supports full independence. Calderon: U.S. Shouldn't Pay For Island Bases, Presidential Vote Not A PDP Priority July 24, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - San Juan Mayor and Popular Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate Sila Calderon said Monday that the U.S. Navy shouldn't have to pay for their military facilities on the island because it goes against the common defense between the U.S. and Puerto Rico under the Commonwealth. "I don't think [charging for the bases] fits into our relationship with the U.S. We are a Commonwealth, we have a common defense that we share with all the other states [in the nation]," Calderon said. Calderon noted that the deployment of Puerto Rican soldiers to war "is the price we should pay for defending our principles of freedom and democracy." On another note, the PDP gubernatorial candidate also said the presidential vote is not a priority for commonwealth supporters and, although not ruling out any possibility, Calderon stated that the issue is not on her party's list of priorities. Casellas Sentences 11 PIP Activists To Time Served By Proviana Colon Diaz of PuertoRicoWOW News Service July 24, 2000 SAN JUAN — Twenty Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) activists were released from prison Monday after two U.S. District Court Judges sentenced them to time served on one count of trespassing U.S. Navy land in Vieques. No fines were levied but the restriction that they not return to Navy property was imposed. In the morning, U.S. District Court Judge Salvador Casellas sentenced 11 activists to time served and released them, while in the afternoon U.S. District Court Judge Jose A. Fuste did likewise with an additional nine PIP activists. The 20 activists are part of a 134-member group of PIP officials charged with trespassing on federal land June 27. There are 84 activists currently in prison awaiting trial. Casellas' ruling coincided with Friday's ruling by Fuste, who was the first to sentence a dozen PIP members to time served with no fines. It departs, however, from the rulings by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Hector Laffitte and U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Dominguez, who imposed fines of up to $1,000. Those sentenced by Dominguez on Friday also are subject to a one-year supervised release and to serve 96 hours of community service in areas related to the environment. In an unusual criticism to a colleague, Fuste on Monday said it was unnecessary to impose community service or supervised release conditions on the "independentistas." "I don't think [that's] a remedy in this case," Fuste said as reported by The Associated Press. Trinidad Pounds Thiam Into Third-Round TKO July 23, 2000 MIAMI (AP) -- Felix Trinidad Trinidad pounded mandatory contender Mamadou Thiam into submission Saturday night with a third-round TKO, successfully defending his WBA super welterweight title. Trinidad reportedly earned $2.5 million, while Thiam made $200,000. The full upper bowl of the [Miami] arena was filled with fans waving Puerto Rican flags and produced a deafening roar when the island's hero was introduced. Trinidad's team then unfurled a flag on stage as he strolled into the ring led by trainer and father Felix Sr.
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