The fisherman’s war
The Vieques Island, which was used for military purposes, is now defined as a national Park. Currently there are only a few great resorts. Despite the quiet and calm present, in the past it was unquiet and people were fighting for their safety.
In the 1970s the most famous cultural enemy against the U.S. military on the island of Vieques was the Fisherman war. In the struggle against the U.S. Navy Viequense were non-partisan and grassroots fishermen, who had to fight for their independence. Living conditions on the island deteriorated, so fishing became a form of cultural resistance, as fishing was not only for sustenance, but also had cultural significance in relation to their roots. Maneuvers traditionally caused active protests of the local population who believed that they were causing serious damage to the environment and health of inhabitants of the island. When they began to blow up the house, the quality of life of Viequense began to decline. So they decided to unite and create groups that were called the Vieques Fisherman's Association and Viequenses United (Viequense Unidos) (SanJuan & Pedro, 2000). In these groups, local residents shared their complaints and problems. Viequenses Untied collapsed because of the Crusades, where for the sake of Vieques protested against the military. A feature of the Fisherman's Association was that it was not a political organization but economic. The fishermen first noticed the environmental destruction caused by the maneuvers. It was characterized by a significant decrease of fishing. In 1978 civilian fishermen tried to stop naval exercises, which have been received an international attention. The organizer of the Fishermen's Association was Ismail Guadalupe, the President was Carlos Zenon. They visited the homes of fishermen, where they discussed the facts that they did not like, and plan a symbolic “fish-in” or “sail-in” demonstration. The plan was to use their fishing boats to block the naval maneuvers. These actions were not unnoticed, as the photos were taken, on which were seen a few wooden boats that were in front of huge ships. The fishermen were able to block this maneuver, and start the fish-ins. But then began the arrests. Fisherman, whose name was Santiago Melendez, was detained for trespassing on Federal property, and in the courtroom in his defense he said that he was arrested because he just wanted to feed his family on his own land. Besides him were charged with several fishermen who were in prison, they were accused of foul play. The resistances of the fishermen, arrests and repressions have been lasting for 5 years. In 1983 it was signed a Memorandum of understanding, which was intended to reduce the bombing and the impact on the environment and to improve relations in the society. Then in Vieques it was one of the most instructive lessons, which residents have received from the fisherman during the long movement, the civil disobedience was the power of symbolism. Then everyone was given this topic the attention, even the media have compared this struggle with the “David and Goliath”, where a fisherman in a small boat resisted army, which was the largest in the world.
Fishermen, determined to resist to the Navy, made everybody understand them and that they could stand up for themselves, for them it was a way to express their cultural identity. They became the cultural property on the island, which represented the interests of ordinary people, but also proud in its cultural independence (McCaffrey & Katherine, 2002).
Today Vieques Island is the Caribbean’s largest national wildlife refuge. Despite its past, it is filled with confrontations of the two sides, now fishing is no danger. It has become a resort area where the fishing is in the first place. Many people come from different countries to catch fish because there is a large variety of it.
I think Vieques' fishermen are very courageous. They have fought for their nation and resisted the warships. All NATO countries had planned an intensive military maneuver along all of Vieques' coastline.The president of association Carlo Zenon said that they would protest. Forty fishing boats blocked the way to waters. They were carrying out a struggle with the sling shot of David against the Goliath of NATO. They managed not to recede and not to surrender, and because of this, the residents received hope, and more faith in fishermen, as defenders of their homeland.
Works Cited
McCaffrey, Katherine T. “Military Power and Popular Protest: The U.S. Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico.“ New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers University: 2002. Print.
SanJuan, Pedro A. “The Navy Doesn’t Need Vieques.” The New York Times.: 2 May. 2000. Print.
