Posted on 07/26/2006 7:00:43 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
DORADO — The Puerto Rican Constitution protects the [freedoms] of speech and assembly. However, some of the thousands who celebrated it in Dorado did not seem to understand this precept as they threw bottles and eggs at a small group of pro-independence theater artists who were criticizing the use of public funds for this official observance and several members of the Statehood Youth who also protested in a building adjacent to the public square.
The youth, who demanded "statehood now", as well as the six members of the "Papel Machete" theater troupe, had to be removed from the activity under police protection.
At the 54th anniversary of the establishment of the Commonwealth, Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá went after the two main leaders of the New Progressive Party (PNP), its Chairman Pedro Rosselló and Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño, who seek to derail the present system of government.
"Just as, eight years ago, the Young Bill was dead, today I declare as dying the other attempt to destroy the Commonwealth and impose statehood on us: The Fortuño-Rosselló Status Bill," the Governor said.
"The present Congress has only 23 days of work left and the only thing that has happened up to now is a colorless hearing with no major consequences. Maybe after flapping [its wings] a little more, like with some public hearing with no real consequences, the Fortuño-Rosselló Bill will die a slow but sure death just as the Young Bill did," Acevedo pointed out.
Acevedo [also] stated that, in the discussion of the status, "the old tricks and the anti-democratic processes have to be left behind."
Neither has the American Congress addressed a congressional bill promoted by the Governor that seeks to hold a Constitutional Assembly on Status in the island.
The Governor also criticized that the PNP leaders have not wanted to abide by the 2004 election results.
"It was our Commonwealth Constitution that stopped those who, after being defeated in the ballot boxes, tried to take away the validly cast votes of thousands of Puerto Ricans. Our Constitution stopped them, and dignity triumphed," he said.
And, in another direct attack on Rosselló, the Governor maintained: "It is our Constitution that, for 18 months, has stopped those who, having been defeated in the ballot boxes, try to take the Puerto Rico Senate by storm as if it were a political party's loot and not a democratically-elected body."
The Governor's statements earned the applause of those present, who did not reach the 20,000 attendees Dorado Mayor Carlos López, who organized the activity, hoped for.
Many of the activity participants carried a two-sided flag with the one-star [Puerto Rican] on one side and the American on the other.
Six members of the Puerto Rico gymnastics team who won in the Central American Games in Cartagena, Colombia were on the stand.
The rest of the agency heads and invited politicians who were on the stand protected themselves from the hot sun with red umbrellas, which displayed the distinctive color of the governing Popular Democratic Party.
ping
Sounds like my kind of party.
On a side note, I wish I could corner the market on those stupid Puerto Rican flags. I'd be a bazillionaire.
Everything here turns into a party.
And please don't call our flag stoopid.
LOL.
Lets make PR a state.
And lets annex Cuba too when Fidel dies.
We will be an assest to the Union.
Plus all the rum and cigars!
And nice looking babes!
I'm all for it!
Maybe then it will stop being a shelter from US income taxes.
"Mama mia, that's a spicy meatball!"
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