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Puerto Rico's Self-Determination
Process
"Did you know that nearly four million U.S. citizens who live in Puerto Rico are not allowed to vote?" That's right. Puerto Rico has a population of 3.8 million U.S. citizens (larger than 24 States and the District of Colombia), yet these citizens cannot vote for the President, or for Senators, or for voting Representatives in the House! WHY? "Why does Puerto Rico need a process of decolonization?" As a "territory" of the United States, Puerto Rico is subject to federal sovereignty, but denied voting representation at the federal level. It is not a state, but it is not an independent country either. Therefore, it lacks the equality, empowerment, and sovereignty it would gain as a state or as an independent country. "What are the possible solutions to Puerto Rico's status dilemma?" Both U.S. and international law recognize three status options as valid decolonization alternatives:
Independence: Full and separate sovereignty. Free Association: Separate sovereignty and independence, with a treaty where Puerto Rico would delegate certain powers to the U.S. (such as responsibility over defense matters). Each nation, however, would retain its own nationality and citizenship. Contrary to these three status options, Puerto Rico's current
status- territorial commonwealth - does not fulfill the requirements
of decolonization. Under the status quo, 3.8 million U.S. citizens
are denied the basic right of democratic representation.
"What does Congress have to do with Puerto Rico's decolonization?" Under constitutional and international law, Congress has both the power and the responsibility to work with Puerto Rico to define the options for a process of decolonization. Until now, Puerto Rico's status plebiscites have been local affairs, with unclear and controversial definitions of the options. Congress must fulfill its responsibilities by providing a fair and effective decolonization process for Puerto Rico. "Where can I go to find more information about this issue?" http://www.pnp.org |
Write a letter to your elected officials in the Action Center
>> Tell President Bush that his work in Puerto Rico is NOT OVER >> TELL CONGRESS: Not all Americans citizens are created equal  |
Absolutely not. (Although this is a very common misconception.)
Not one political party in Puerto Rico supports the status quo.
Even the party that advocates commonwealth status seeks an "enhanced"
version of it; one that is radically different from Puerto Rico's
current, non-sovereign, colonial status. Indeed, ever since the
first referendum on status (1967), the people have been asking for
a change to the status quo. 
