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Communist Party, USA Statement on the killing of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos
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Archive
National Meetings
National Committee
National Committee Meeting, October 15-16, 2005
The Communist Party, USA joins the people of Puerto Rico in condemning the FBI killing of independence leader Filiberto Ojeda Ríos and the arrest orders for other fighters for independence.
We are outraged that the FBI let Ojeda Ríos bleed to death. We are outraged that Ojeda's request to be permitted to surrender to a well-know journalist was denied. It is apparent from all credible sources that the FBI killed Ojeda Ríos unjustly.
Ojeda Ríos was justified in his belief that the FBI was out to kill him after having eluded them from 15 years and in light of having been found not guilty in a previous shoot-out with the FBI. Justly so, other independence fighters are also fearful that they may be on an FBI hit-list.
The FBI raid on Ojeda's home and their lack of consultation with the Puerto Rican authorities both point to the fact that Puerto Rico is a colony of the U.S. with no control over its destiny. Adding insult to injury, the raid and killing of Ojeda was on the anniversary of El Grito de Lares, the rebellion against Spanish colonialism. Hours before the start of the raid, the commemoration Lares had heard a taped message from Ojeda Ríos calling for the unity of all the patriotic forces—a unity which is being expressed in the aftermath of his death.
Puerto Ricans from all political persuasions have condemn the killing. They have condemned the FBI acting on Puerto Rican soil with impunity. Leaders from different sectors of Puerto Rican society—religious, trade union, and others—have condemned the killing. The Puerto Rican colonial legislature and government are investigating the killing.
No reform under US domination of Puerto Rico can truly curb the actions of the FBI and other federal agencies in Puerto Rico as well as the U.S. Armed Forces. There is only one solution and that is the transfer of all sovereignty, all political powers to the Puerto Rican nation —independence for Puerto Rico.
Adopted by the CPUSA National Committee, October 16, 2005
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