Conference condemn U.S. for past, present imperialism

Friday, October 30, 1998

Conference condemn U.S. for past, present imperialism

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.

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