From: Hector Rosario
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 12:47 AM
Subject: Change of Venue


June 20, 2000

President Clinton:

Here is a copy of the declaration I gave to the members of 
the press this morning. Your decision to resume bombing 
practices on our island of Vieques is a shame. That is how 
you respond to our plea for peace in Vieques. Tyranny is 
your way. However, we are still fighting and regardless of 
how powerful you might think your military is, our non-
violent struggle for peace in our homeland shall triumph.

From Puerto Rico,
Hector Rosario

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Declaration of Change of Venue


Saludos. I wish to take this opportunity to first of all 
thank the people who supported me physically at the park, 
spiritually through their prayers, and those who contacted 
me through e-mail and regular mail. Your support is 
wholeheartedly appreciated.

I have, through much deliberation and vision from my fast, 
determined that my efforts can best be served and utilized 
by a change of venue. On Monday we discovered the plans of 
the U.S. Navy to resume bombing practices on our island of 
Vieques, Puerto Rico this Wednesday, despite of all the 
opposition by millions of people around the world. After 
talking to Robert Rabin from the Coordinadora de Justicia y 
Paz and to Ismael Guadalupe, from the Comité Pro-Rescate y 
Desarrollo de Vieques, I came to the conclusion that it is 
better for me to end the fast today and fly immediately to 
Puerto Rico to join their actions in Vieques. I do this 
because the demand of my fast was to get a meeting with the 
President understanding that the military manuevers would 
not start until October. Under this change of scenario, we 
interpret the resuming of the bombings as Clinton's 
response to the plea of my people to meet with him. 
Therefore, I conclude my fast on this eighth day in dignity 
with much strength.

The United States government has once again shown its lack 
of integrity and its willingness to flagrantly violate 
basic human rights. Nevertheless, we must continue our work 
for peace and justice on earth.

I will be arriving in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, 
June 20. I will be in Vieques on Wednesday morning to be at 
the service of my people.

In the spirit of non-violence,


Hector Rosario
27 Sachem Village
West Lebanon, NH  03784
603-653-0027 (at home in New Hampshire)
202-270-2706 (cellphone)
787-798-4721 (Puerto Rico)