Conference condemn U.S. for past, present imperialism

Published: Friday, October 30, 1998

Friday, October 30, 1998

SPEAKERS: Activist groups

disapprove of 'occupation' of Puerto Rico, Philippine Islands

By Andy Shah

Daily Bruin Contributor

After spending more than one-third of his life as a political prisoner in a U.S. penitentiary, Rafael Cancel Miranda is still fighting against the American presence in Puerto Rico.

Cancel Miranda, who was one of four Puerto Rican activists arrested in 1954 for shooting five Congressmen in the Capitol building, was one of three activists who spoke at UCLA on Wednesday and Thursday, as part of a conference called "Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines: 100 Years of Resistance to U.S. Imperialism."

"We are not free yet," Cancel Miranda said. "You are not free yet."

The event, coordinated by the Los Angeles Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba, also featured Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano from the Philippines, and Fernando Remírez de Estenoz, Mariela Ramírez and Sergio Martínez, from Cuba.

The Undergraduate Students Association Council (USAC) and various student and community groups sponsored the event.

"What's happening in other countries affects all of us, from the food we eat to where our tax money goes," said USAC president Stacy Lee. "We have to increase our understanding of international issues."

The three main guests - Cancel Miranda, "Ka Paeng" Mariano and Remírez de Estenoz - spoke at forums and workshops about their efforts to combat U.S. troops being stationed in their countries.

"When the U.S. invaded Puerto Rico in 1898, thousands of Puerto Rican youths protested in the streets," said Cancel Miranda, who was the longest-jailed political prisoner in the Americas.

Cancel Miranda, who was released from prison in 1979, said the fight for Puerto Rican independence impacts other countries as well.

"When (imperialists) threaten Puerto Rico or Cuba, they threaten your country as well," he said.

Cancel Miranda claims U.S. troops were responsible for violence against innocent people.

"I am the son of a survivor of a massacre. My parents saw 21 people die and 200 get injured," he said. "But what's more worse than physical massacre is massacre of the mind, when human beings become scared to be free."

Cancel Miranda, who is still fighting for Puerto Rican independence and for the freedom of other jailed activists, stressed international solidarity.

"We are all the same. It doesn't matter where you are," Cancel Miranda said. "By fighting for our freedom, you're fighting for your own freedom."

"Ka Paeng" Mariano, a Pilipino farmer, has been a vanguard in the movement against the American military presence in the Philippines.

"During the 300 years the Philippines were colonized by the Spanish, there were more than 300 revolts involving mainly peasants and women," said "Ka Paeng" Mariano, the national chairperson of Bayan, an alliance involved in freedom and democracy movements in the Philippines.

"Then the U.S. imperialists came and took credit for liberating us from Spanish colonialism," "Ka Paeng" Mariano said. "But the Philippines are still suffering as a colony under the U.S."

"Ka Paeng" Mariano explained that the new president of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada, is willing to sign the Visiting Forces Agreement, which would "turn the whole archipelago into a U.S. military base."

"Because Estrada is willing to sign this agreement, it shows that he is subservient to the interests of the U.S.," "Ka Paeng" Mariano said.

He explained that many Pilipino citizens saw the military influx as a sign of imperialism.

Remírez de Estenoz, formerly Cuba's United Nations ambassador, said the U.S. embargo on Cuba, enacted in 1962, has had harsh effects on the country's economy.

"Cuba is poor under this blockade," Remírez de Estenoz said. "The U.S. threatens to sue companies who do business with us."

Remírez de Estenoz said that the downfall of the Soviet Union also contributed to the bleak economic situation, since the Soviet Union was Cuba's main trading partner.

"But we never wanted to foster any tension with the U.S.," he said.

Remírez de Estenoz said that the U.S. fostered tension with Cuba because of the island's Communist government.

"But who's the enemy?" Remírez de Estenoz asked. "The Cuban people? The economic situation is very negative for them because of the embargo."

Mariela Ramírez, a member of the Federation of Cuban Women, said that U.S. military bases on the island have had severe effects on Cubans.

Mariela Ramírez alleged that "there have been instances of biological and chemical warfare, and it hurt many people, including women and children."

Remírez de Estenoz said Cubans plan to continue to combat the U.S. presence in Cuba.

"The only condition we have is that we want the U.S. to have absolute respect for our rights, dignity, independence and freedom," Remírez de Estenoz said.

Members of student groups said they sponsored the event to show support for movements in those countries.

"Even though these movements are happening in the Philippines, they are still connected to our experiences here," said Katherine Carrido, vice president of Samahang Pilipino.

The speakers will speak again today at Occidental College.MANDY SIU

Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano speaks at the Viewpoint Lounge on Thursday.

Comments, feedback, problems?