PUERTO RICO: Stop campus abuses - US liberties union

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has urged the US government to put a stop to police brutality against and censorship of student protesters at Puerto Rico's most prestigious university.

In a 12 March letter the civil rights organisation implored the US Department of Justice to wrap up its investigations and take strong action against the state-led violence at the University of Puerto Rico, as well as against scores of other human rights abuses suffered by the general public.

"At a time when our nation is riveted by the power of peaceful demonstrations and their importance to our democracy, the horrific abuses reported to be taking place in Puerto Rico have flown too far under the radar," said Anthony D Romero, executive director of ACLU, in a statement.

The letter lists a host of human rights violations at the hands of security forces, including "extreme" police atrocities against student protesters and suppression of free speech at the university.

The letter details the "merciless" beatings, torture and sexual harassment of students, who for months have protested against a newly imposed $800 annual tuition fee.

Also decried is a resolution passed in December by University of Puerto Rico Chancellor Ana Guadalupe, prohibiting any meetings or large gatherings on campus, which ACLU calls an anti-First Amendment policy.

Aside from the campus violence, other abuses listed in the letter include racially-motivated beatings of minority groups, police attacks on the homeless, and the de-certification of the Puerto Rico Bar Association.

"It is nothing short of shocking to think that these breathtaking incidents could occur unchecked in America, and any abuses must be stopped," said Romero.

Comment:
This is the most one sided article I have read on this subject. Not mentioned were the small number of students, their violent tactics - pulling the hair of the chancellor, breaking windows, throwing "bombas" in classrooms, not allowing classes to continue with students who don't want to strike, wearing masks to hide identity and so on. They are allowed to protest outside the gates, as they are causing much damage inside. The students voted to end the strike, but a minority of them continue calling for one day work stoppage - a strike is a strike. The students who cannot afford US$400 a semester tuition rise can get financial help from a special fund the government created and they would also have Pell grants which cover all the low tuition plus much more.

dpatriss

Comment:
One important fact is that more than 95% of the students in the university have already paid the $800 fee. If this increase was unreasonable, then the vast majority of the students wouldn't have been able to pay it. That is not the case. Furthermore, the government has a lot of scholarships for the students. Most don't even pay a cent to their education and most of these scholarships give the students around $2,500 more than the cost of tuition and credits for miscellaneous expenses the student might have.

The fact is that there is a big group of socialist students being funded by many socialist organisations around the world. Their intention is to create chaos and instability in the country and discredit anyone that gets in their way. The only thing the government has failed in is allowing these criminals to vandalise the university campus, destroy school property, prevent the students from entering their class rooms and force them out with smoke bombs and rocks.

Even the chancellor of the university was physically assaulted during the demonstrations and the car used to escort her had every window shattered. These protesters just protest to protest and the only bad thing w the system in PR is that this kind of behavior is applauded and allowed.

The only violence in this situation is from the protesters to anyone who opposes them. They are criminal violating the right of the more than 95% of students who payed the fees and would like to continue with their education. The violence is solely the students who are protesting. How do I know this? I am a student at the university and have seen it with my own eyes. I have been pushed, attacked, harassed just because I wanted to go to class. The only thing the administration has done wrong is in allowing this kind of behaviour. I'm sure Chavez is very proud of what his funding is doing to this island.

Alex Rivera