The debt crisis
that the island facing has pushed legislators to
give up the current political status and become a 51st state of the
union.
The Boricua Popular
Army, better known as EPB-Macheteros, Sunday criticized a
move by lawmakers two days ago urging their U.S.
counterparts to make Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union in a bid to save
the island from default.
In a
statement released by local news agency INS, the clandestine group also
formally refused to talk with the governing Popular Democratic Party and New
Progressive Party holding them responsible for the social and political crisis.
The group also condemned
the calls for “a vague and weird unity” made by independentist and leftist
sectors of the territory, arguing they also included sectors allied with
“colonialism” that advocate for a Free Associated State – established since
1952 by Washington.
“In this moment, which
could be decisive for our history, we don't see the protests, nor the struggle
that an organized independence movement should be building and coordinating,”
the group added in the press release.
The EPB found
“obvious that the first purpose of the colony – preparing this people for
submission, exploitation and potential annexation – seemed to have made its
time 118 years after the U.S. invasion and four centuries of Spanish
domination."
Puerto Rican Statehood
Movement seeks a full integration to the United States and has been defended
mainly by the PNP.
In the latest status
plebiscite held Nov. 6, 2012, over 60 percent Puerto Ricans supported
the idea of making Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union, rejecting the
independence or the sovereignty in free association with the United States.
Washington acknowledged the result then, saying it would be up to the Puerto
Rican Congress to rule on the matter.
INTERVIEW: Boron:
Puerto Rico Will Find Many Friends If It Breaks with Colonial Condition
But since Puerto
Rico was hit by a strong economic crisis last year, which included
a US$72 billion public debt, the idea of statehood found more advocates
than ever.
“Each year Puerto Rico
loses out on billions of dollars in federal spending and tax credits that
Congress sends to the states," explained Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s
resident commissioner to the island's Congress last year in a letter to
the New Yorker.
To compensate for the
shortfall in federal funding, Puerto Rico’s government has borrowed heavily in
the bond market, leading to excessive debt.
On Friday, the Puerto
Rican President of the state bank urged U.S. legislators to allocate to the
island the financial powers required to restructure the debt, similarly to the
other states of the union, in order to solve the “economic and human crisis.”
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originally published by teleSUR at the following address:
"http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Rican-Independence-Group-Rejects-Referendum-on-Statehood-20160207-0037.html".
If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the
original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
Puerto Rican Independence Group Rejects Referendum on Statehood A protester holding a Puerto Rico's flag takes part in a march in San Juan | Photo: Reuters Previous Next Published 7 February 2016 (8 hours 34 minutes ago) 0 Comments 5 We Recommend The debt crisis that the island facing has pushed legislators to give up the current political status and become a 51st state of the union. The Boricua Popular Army, better known as EPB-Macheteros, Sunday criticized a move by lawmakers two days ago urging their U.S. counterparts to make Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union in a bid to save the island from default. In a statement released by local news agency INS, the clandestine group also formally refused to talk with the governing Popular Democratic Party and New Progressive Party holding them responsible for the social and political crisis. The group also condemned the calls for “a vague and weird unity” made by independentist and leftist sectors of the territory, arguing they also included sectors allied with “colonialism” that advocate for a Free Associated State – established since 1952 by Washington. “In this moment, which could be decisive for our history, we don't see the protests, nor the struggle that an organized independence movement should be building and coordinating,” the group added in the press release. The EPB found “obvious that the first purpose of the colony – preparing this people for submission, exploitation and potential annexation – seemed to have made its time 118 years after the U.S. invasion and four centuries of Spanish domination." Puerto Rican Statehood Movement seeks a full integration to the United States and has been defended mainly by the PNP. In the latest status plebiscite held Nov. 6, 2012, over 60 percent Puerto Ricans supported the idea of making Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union, rejecting the independence or the sovereignty in free association with the United States. Washington acknowledged the result then, saying it would be up to the Puerto Rican Congress to rule on the matter. INTERVIEW: Boron: Puerto Rico Will Find Many Friends If It Breaks with Colonial Condition But since Puerto Rico was hit by a strong economic crisis last year, which included a US$72 billion public debt, the idea of statehood found more advocates than ever. “Each year Puerto Rico loses out on billions of dollars in federal spending and tax credits that Congress sends to the states," explained Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner to the island's Congress last year in a letter to the New Yorker. To compensate for the shortfall in federal funding, Puerto Rico’s government has borrowed heavily in the bond market, leading to excessive debt. On Friday, the Puerto Rican President of the state bank urged U.S. legislators to allocate to the island the financial powers required to restructure the debt, similarly to the other states of the union, in order to solve the “economic and human crisis.” This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address:
"http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Rican-Independence-Group-Rejects-Referendum-on-Statehood-20160207-0037.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/englishPuerto Rican Independence Group Rejects Referendum on Statehood A protester holding a Puerto Rico's flag takes part in a march in San Juan | Photo: Reuters Previous Next Published 7 February 2016 (8 hours 34 minutes ago) 0 Comments 5 We Recommend The debt crisis that the island facing has pushed legislators to give up the current political status and become a 51st state of the union. The Boricua Popular Army, better known as EPB-Macheteros, Sunday criticized a move by lawmakers two days ago urging their U.S. counterparts to make Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union in a bid to save the island from default. In a statement released by local news agency INS, the clandestine group also formally refused to talk with the governing Popular Democratic Party and New Progressive Party holding them responsible for the social and political crisis. The group also condemned the calls for “a vague and weird unity” made by independentist and leftist sectors of the territory, arguing they also included sectors allied with “colonialism” that advocate for a Free Associated State – established since 1952 by Washington. “In this moment, which could be decisive for our history, we don't see the protests, nor the struggle that an organized independence movement should be building and coordinating,” the group added in the press release. The EPB found “obvious that the first purpose of the colony – preparing this people for submission, exploitation and potential annexation – seemed to have made its time 118 years after the U.S. invasion and four centuries of Spanish domination." Puerto Rican Statehood Movement seeks a full integration to the United States and has been defended mainly by the PNP. In the latest status plebiscite held Nov. 6, 2012, over 60 percent Puerto Ricans supported the idea of making Puerto Rico the 51st state of the Union, rejecting the independence or the sovereignty in free association with the United States. Washington acknowledged the result then, saying it would be up to the Puerto Rican Congress to rule on the matter. INTERVIEW: Boron: Puerto Rico Will Find Many Friends If It Breaks with Colonial Condition But since Puerto Rico was hit by a strong economic crisis last year, which included a US$72 billion public debt, the idea of statehood found more advocates than ever. “Each year Puerto Rico loses out on billions of dollars in federal spending and tax credits that Congress sends to the states," explained Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner to the island's Congress last year in a letter to the New Yorker. To compensate for the shortfall in federal funding, Puerto Rico’s government has borrowed heavily in the bond market, leading to excessive debt. On Friday, the Puerto Rican President of the state bank urged U.S. legislators to allocate to the island the financial powers required to restructure the debt, similarly to the other states of the union, in order to solve the “economic and human crisis.” This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Puerto-Rican-Independence-Group-Rejects-Referendum-on-Statehood-20160207-0037.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english
