Navy comes under fire for Vieques policy

Wednesday, April 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Opponents of a U.S. Navy presence on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques today urged President Clinton to reverse a ruling that would allow the Navy to stay there until May 2003 unless Vieques residents decide otherwise in a referendum.

The appeal was made at a press conference that was part of a nationwide "National Day of Solidarity with the People of Vieques, Puerto Rico."

It was a year ago today that a civilian security guard, David Sanes Rodriguez, died when a U.S. Marine Corps jet dropped two bombs off target on the island. Four others were injured.

The media event included a series of speakers who denounced the live fire and bombing practices that have been conducted on Vieques by the Navy for more than 60 years.

"Can you imagine this happening in the Florida Keys?" asked Juan Figueroa, who heads a legal education group.

He also accused the Navy of racist motives.

"It is not a coincidence that the majority of the (Vieques)population is black Puerto Rican," he said.

In response to criticism that the Navy's activities were having a ruinous effect on the island's environment, the Navy issued a statement Tuesday that it is "firmly committed to the environment" and will continue to work to ensure that "all applicable environmental standards" are complied with.

Activists were planning a rally near the White House in their campaign against the Navy presence.

In late March, the House backed Clinton's plan to provide $40 million for economic, health and environmental aid to people who live near the Navy's firing range on Vieques.

After Sanes' death, protesters moved onto the bombing range, forcing the Navy to suspend its exercises. Navy officials say training there is essential.

Under a January agreement between Clinton and Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Rossello, the $40 million in aid would be provided and exercises at Vieques would resume, though only with inert bombs.

In addition, there would be a referendum -- probably next year --in which local residents could choose between the resumption of training with live bombs and exercises with dummy bombs until a Navy withdrawal in May 2003.