FOR NEARLY A CENTURY, PUERTO RICO’S POLI-tics have revolved around the search for dignity in itsrelationship with the United States. The Bush Administra-tion’s intention to hold a plebiscite on the island’s politicalstatus in 1991, has raised hopes that this issue could beresolved once and for all. But even should there be a goodfaith effort to respect the will of the Puerto Rican people-andalready there are indications to the contrary-the plebisciteis unlikely to settle anything. Bush, who has long advocated statehood for Puerto Rico, Bush, who has long advocated statehood for Puerto Rico, apparently does not want the United States to enter the U.N.’ s apparently does not want the United States to enter the U.N.’s “decade of the end of colonialism’ ‘-the l990s-bearing “decade of the end of colonialism’–the 1990s-bearing thethe stigma of possessing the world’s largest colony after stigma of possessing the world’s largest colony after HongHong Kong. He may also be concerned about the colony’s Kong. He may also be concerned about the colony’s cost to U.S. taxpayers; $5 to $6.5 billion annually (compa- cost to U.S. taxpayers: $5 to $6.5 billion annually (comparable in size to the supposed Soviet subsidies to Cuba). Much rable in size to the supposed Soviet subsidies to Cuba). Much of this money goes to support social welfare; Puerto Rico is of this money goes to support social welfare; Puerto Rico is twice as poor as Mississippi, the poorest of the 50 states. twice as poor as Mississippi, the poorest of the 50 states. Neither Bush nor the Puerto Rican people have the Neither Bush nor the Puerto Rican people have the “authority” to determine the island’s future, even through “authority” to determine the island’s future, even through plebiscite.plebiscite. It is Congress that retains sovereignty over colo- It is Congress that retains sovereignty over colonialnial possessions; Congress that will define the options and possessions; Congress that will define the options and decide whether a vote will be held; Congress that reserves the decide whether a vote will be held; Congress that reserves the right not to abide by a plebiscite’s results. right not to abide by a plebiscite’s results. DURING JUNE, THREE OF THE ISLAND’S MAJOR Dpolitical figures were summoned to Washington to (URING JUNE, THREE OF THE ISLAND’S MAJOR)political figures were summoned to Washington to give their definitions of the options to be considered: inde- give their definitions of the options to be considered: independence, statehood, and a continuation of “commonwealth” pendence, statehood, and a continuation of “commonwealth” status in an “enhanced” form. The Senate Committee on En- status in an “enhanced” form. The Senate Committee on Energyergy and Natural Resources (a revealing depository for the and Natural Resources (a revealing depository for the authorityauthority of colonial administration) then rendered its pro- of colonial administration) then rendered its proposal, to be amended and approved by the entire Congress posal, to be amended and approved by the entire Congress before abefore a plebiscite can be realized. plebiscite can be realized. InIn defining independence, Ruben BerrIos of the social defining independence, Rub6n Berrios of the social democraticdemocratic Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)-whose Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP)-whose posture enjoysposture enjoys the support of the leftist Puerto Rican Social- the support of the leftist Puerto Rican Socialist Party (PSP) and other independentista forces-proposed ist Party (PSP) and other independentistaforces-proposed a lengthy transition period characterized by dual citizenship, a lengthy transition period characterized by dual citizenship, one-way, duty-free access to the U.S. market, tax benefits for one-way, duty-free access to the U.S. market, tax benefits for U.S.U.S. corporations, federal subsidies for social programs, and corporations, federal subsidies for social programs, and dual currency. BerrIos also called for a defense treaty by dual currency. Berrios also called for a defense treaty by which Puerto Rico would become a nuclear-free zone and which Puerto Rico would become a nuclear-free zone and banban all foreign military forces except those of the United all foreign military forces except those of the United States, whose bases currently cover 12% of the island. States, whose bases currently cover 12% of the island. FormerFormer governor Cabs Romero Barcelo of the New governor Carlos Romero Barcel6 of the New Progressive Party (PNP), presented two key proposals on Progressive Party (PNP), presented two key proposals on behalf of statehood:behalf of statehood: that Puerto Rico be allowed to have two that Puerto Rico be allowed to have two official languages, Spanish and English, and that a lengthy official languages, Spanish and English, and that a lengthy transitiontransition period be established before residents of Puerto period be established before residents of Puerto Rico becomeRico become subject to federal taxation. subject to federal taxation. The case for the commonwealth was made by Gov. Rafael The case for the commonwealth was made by Gov. Rafael Hemandez Colon of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), Hernindez Col6n of the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), whose “enhancements” included local control over air whose “enhancements” included local control over air traveltravel and shipping, the right to be exempt from federal and shipping, the right to be exempt from federal environmental laws, and optional use of Spanish in local environmental laws, and optional use of Spanish in local federal courts. (One offederal courts. (One of the more ludicrous colonial scenes is the more ludicrous colonial scenes is the courtroom,the courtroom, where all proceedings are in English.) where all proceedings are in English.) TheThe Committee rejected virtually all of these proposals. Committee rejected virtually all of these proposals. Ignoring the decolonization experience of Europe’s Ignoring the decolonization experience of Europe’s empires-and the U.S. experience in the Philippines-it rec- empires-and the U.S. experience in the Philippines-it recommended a simplistic formula: Puerto Rico will either ommended a simplistic formula: Puerto Rico will either become an independent nation like any other, a state like any become an independent nation like any other, a state like any other, or the status quo will be preserved. The Committee is other, or the status quo will be preserved. The Committee is notnot interested in decolonization; in fact, like most U.S. interested in decolonization; in fact, like most U.S. politicians its members don’t even know what a colony is. politicians its members don’t even know what a colony is. T HE POLLS SHOW STATEHOOD AND COMMON- T wealth running neck and neck. Independence trails a (HE POLLS SHOW STATEHOOD AND COMMON-)wealth running neck and neck. Independence trails a distant third, not surprising in light of the consistent repres- distant third, not surprising in light of the consistent repression of independentistas: the killings and persecution of the sion of independentistas:the killings and persecution of the 1950s, FBI interference in the 1967 plebiscite, the police 1950s, FBI interference in the 1967 plebiscite, the police murder of two young activists in 1978, the maintenance of murder of two young activists in 1978, the maintenance of dossiersdossiers on 70,000 citizens revealed last year, the ongoing on 70,000 citizens revealed last year, the ongoing kangarookangaroo trials. An unrelenting ideological campaign de- trials. An unrelenting ideological campaign depicts the island as bereft of natural and human resources, and picts the island as bereft of natural and human resources, and equates independence with the worst of Latin American equates independence with the worst of Latin American fascism. In the 1988 gubernatorial elections, PIP received fascism. In the 1988 gubernatorial elections, PIP received only 5% of the vote; PSP has yet to secure a spot on the ballot. only 5% of the vote; PSP has yet to secure a spot on the ballot. The statehood movement has grown phenomenally over The statehood movement has grown phenomenally over the past thirty years. In 1952 the Republican Statehood Party the past thirty years. In 1952 the Republican Statehood Party (a PNP predecessor) received only 13% of the vote; in 1967, (a PNP predecessor) received only 13% of the vote; in 1967, despitedespite a partial boycott, it won 40%; in 1976, PNP got 48%, a partial boycott, it won 40%; in 1976, PNP got 48%, a level of support which it has since maintained. Some a level of support which it has since maintained. Some analysts believe commonwealth status paved the road for analysts believe commonwealth status paved the road for statehood by vastly increasing the island’s involvement in statehood by vastly increasing the island’s involvement in Washington politics and deepening Puerto Rico’s depend- Washington politics and deepening Puerto Rico’s dependence on the Unitedence on the United States. As independence appears ever less States. As independence appears ever less viable to many, statehood seems to offer Puerto Ricans a viable to many, statehood seems to offer Puerto Ricans a realistic means for achieving some control over their destiny. realistic means for achieving some control over their destiny. OF COURSE, THE OPINION OF THE COLONIZED Oexerts only marginal influence on those who steer the (F COURSE, THE OPINION OF THE COLONIZED)exerts only marginal influence on those who steer the course of the Empire. The Bush Administration favors state- course of the Empire. The Bush Administration favors statehoodhood for fiscal and public relations reasons. Many Demo- for fiscal and public relations reasons. Many Democrats embrace it because it would virtually guarantee their crats embrace it because it would virtually guarantee their party seven more representatives and two more senators. party seven more representatives and two more senators. OppositionOpposition to statehood comes from conservatives who to statehood comes from conservatives who would like to keep the island’s 3.5 million brown-skinned would like to keep the island’s 3.5 million brown-skinned people disenfranchised, fearing they might be prone to “left- people disenfranchised, fearing they might be prone to “left-wing” politics. wing” politics. Ruben BerrIos believes the proposed plebiscite is actually Ruben Berrios believes the proposed plebiscite is actually a ploy to stem the inevitable growth of the statehood move- a ploy to stem the inevitable growth of the statehood movement on the island. As currently defined by Congress the ment on the island. As currently defined by Congress the option would mean little more than exchanging significant option would mean little more than exchanging significant subsidies for a few seats in Congress and the right to pay subsidies for a few seats in Congress and the right to pay taxes.taxes. Holding such a plebiscite now, Berrios maintains, Holding such a plebiscite now, Berrfos maintains, would allow Congress “to say no to the little brown boy would allow Congress “to say no to the little brown boy before he knocks on the door and they’re asked to make good before he knocks on the door and they’re asked to make good on the promise of adopting him into the family.” on the promise of adopting him into the family.” Whatever Washington’s motivations may be, the process Whatever Washington’s motivations may be, the process has already provided the independence movement with a has already provided the independence movement with a forum and a new respectability. Barring the emergence of forum and a new respectability. Barring the emergence of some unforeseen movement on the island, however, Puerto some unforeseen movement on the island, however, Puerto Rico will remain a colony as long as the United States wishes. Rico will remain a colony as long as the United States wishes. And in Congress there is no consensus for change. And in Congress there is no consensus for change.
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