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Puerto Rican Nationalist Shot and Killed By FBI

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posted on Sep, 25 2005 @ 07:00 PM
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Filiberto Ojeda Rios was killed in a shootout with the FBI on Friday at a farmhouse in the western Puerto Rican town of Hormigueros. An agent was shot and wounded in the incident. Rios has been on the run for 15 years after he freed himself from a monitoring device and went into hiding while awaiting trial for an armored car robbery in 1983. The U.S. government considered it an act of domestic terrorism because much of the stolen $7 million was used to fund the Puerto Rican Nationalist group, Macheteros.
 



hosted.ap.org
A Puerto Rican nationalist wanted in a 1983 robbery of an armored truck in Connecticut was shot and killed by FBI agents in a shootout, ending the fugitive's 15 years on the run, the bureau said Saturday.

Filiberto Ojeda Rios, 72, fired on the agents Friday from a farmhouse in the western Puerto Rican town of Hormigueros, wounding an agent, said Luis Fraticelli, the special agent in charge of the FBI for the U.S. island territory.
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The armored car robbery of 22 years ago is considered an act of domestic terrorism because the money was used to fund activities by the Puerto Rican nationalist Macheteros, or Cane Cutters. Only about $80,000 of the $7 million has been recovered.

Ojeda Rios had been on the run since 1990 when he cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet and went into hiding while awaiting trial for the robbery of $7.2 million of the Wells Fargo depot in West Hartford, Conn.
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The United States seized Puerto Rico in the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens but cannot vote for U.S. president, have no voting representation in the U.S. Congress and pay no federal taxes.

Most Puerto Ricans are split between those who support making the island a U.S. state and those who favor keeping its status as a U.S. commonwealth. A small but vocal minority supports independence.


Please visit the link provided for the complete story.


The Macheteros seem to be an agressive political group fighting for independance from the United States. While this shootout arose from the attempts to arrest this man for a robbery, I honestly feel the goal was to squash a member of a force who the government feels as a threat to stability in the region.

The group claims the United States occupies Puerto Rican lands illegally and has focused their attacks primarily on American military installations and personell in the region as well as police officers.

It seems most Puerto Ricans do not mind being under American occupation, whether they know it or not. There are many benefits of which one is not having to pay any federal taxes. However being unable to vote for the ruling powers national leader and having no representation in congress seems a bit unfair. Not paying any federal taxes may sound nice, but it also means they will recieve a very minimum income for social and community services.

While most people would think of terrorists as those who attack innocent civilians to strike fear and send a message, the labeling of terrorists on these individuals and group are more based on attacks against an occupying power and militarily. They sound more like resistance fighters than terrorists.

Perhaps true American patriots who decide to take action in their own hands when this government becomes totally and openly corrupt will recieve the same label soon enough.

Of course on the subject of the man and his charge of robbing an armored truck, it seems justice may have been served for that crime.

Related News Links:
www.tkb.org

[edit on 2-10-2005 by DJDOHBOY]



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 10:20 AM
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I would like to hear from any Native or Native born Puerto Ricans on this board on the issue of an independant P.R. Do you all feel that the territory is fine the way it is and enjoys great benefits under American rule; or could the island improve itself were it independant?



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 11:07 AM
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I would like to hear from any Native or Native born Puerto Ricans on this board on the issue of an independant P.R. Do you all feel that the territory is fine the way it is and enjoys great benefits under American rule; or could the island improve itself were it independant?


Using Cuba and the Philippines as examples; I would say giving PR independence would be a move in the wrong direction. We all know which road Cuba took and the Philippines is not that far behind. We should have retained control of both all along, playing the good guy only led to trouble.



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 12:24 PM
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Well the are some fine examples. However, if you feel we should continue to keep it as our territory shouldnt they be able to have representation in congress or the ability to vote for the leader whos policies will directly affect the island.


Puerto Ricans now have most of the benefits of American citizenship, including federal welfare aid but Puerto Ricans are unable to vote in United States presidential elections despite being subject to service in the armed forces.
So puerto rican citizens were unable to vote for bush but many may have had to go to war in Iraq regardless.

Correct me if Im wrong, but wouldnt this be the equivelant of anyone in a state not being allowed to vote for the president or have representation in congress yet being controlled by a power who was ellected by others?



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 01:07 PM
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The idea that you are trying to raise by stating that someone could go to war without having voted for the President is inapt. As it turns out, you can join up with the Army at least as early as 17 (which is, of course, a year younger than the voting age).

Are we now depriving those "normal" citizens some basic right? No. They don't have the right to vote until 18.

The PRs don't have the right at all. So, the answer is simple. If they don't want to go to war for a President they didn't vote for, don't join the military.



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 01:21 PM
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They do have representatives in congress just not full voting powers with the exception of the committees they are on, in that case they can vote on committee business.


A Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico (elected for a 4-year term) and Delegates from American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands complete the composition of the Congress of the United States. Delegates are elected for a term of 2 years. The Resident Commissioner and Delegates may take part in the floor discussions but have no vote in the full House or in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union. They do, however, vote in the committees to which they are assigned.

usgovinfo.about.com...



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 01:46 PM
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Give Puerto Rico back to the Puerto Ricans and make sure they don't get any foreign aid, then we'll see just how long the island can survive on its own.



posted on Sep, 26 2005 @ 02:26 PM
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I am still not hearing from any Puerto Ricans here. Do we lack these citizens in our online community?

Anyways asides from this puerto rican rights issue. How would this guy have been tried had he been caught alive. Most likely he would have faced terrorism charges as well as armed robbery right? Would they send him right next door to Cuba as well to join the Islamic enemy combatants being held at Guantanamo bay?



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