This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.
On December 13 a plebiscite was held in Puerto Rico which gave Puerto
Ricans a choice between the status quo or a new slant on its status as a
colony of the U.$. The big winner:  "none of the above." Puerto Ricans
were given a choice of four options:  current territorial status under
the U.$., "free association" under a treaty with the u.s. government,
independence, statehood, and none of the above.

With about 75% of the eligible population voting, over 50% voted for
none of the above. The second victor was statehood with 46.5%. The "none
of the above" vote was supported by the Popular Democratic Party (PDP)
which opposes statehood but supports the status quo and did not like the
definition of commonwealth used on the ballot.(1) Based on results of
recent similar votes, it is likely that most of the people who voted for
"none of the above" support the current colonial relationship with the
u.s.

As the 100 year anniversary of the U.$. invasion of Puerto Rico draws to
a close, there is significant support for some kind of colonial
relationship between Puerto Rico and the u.s., whether in the current
form or as a state. Puerto Ricans who earn an average per capita income
of $8,000 are significantly poorer than Amerikans with the average U.S.
income at $25,660.(2) But the country has benefited from its neocolonial
relationship with u.s. imperialism. U.$. citizenship makes Puerto Ricans
eligible for welfare and Puerto Rico enjoys far more wealth than most
u.s. neo-colonies. Because of its proximity to the u.s. as well as its
unusual status which allows for u.s. citizenship, the U.$. has put
enough money into the country to buy off a segment of the population.

In response to the vote President Clinton said he said he remains
"committed to implementing a majority choice for Puerto Rico's future
status."(3) Of course the U.$. is not willing to remove u.s. political,
military and corporate control of the island and then let the people
really have a free choice. Since the Puerto Rican people have never had
the opportunity to develop a self-sufficient economy, their livelihood
is dependent on the many foreign (mostly Amerikan) corporations that set
up shop for the cheap labor and good tax deals.

As an amerikan colony, Puerto Rico has provided the u.s. a very
strategic military base, a source of cheap labor for manufacturing
plants, and a vacation resort close to home. U.$ corporations control
90% of the Puerto Rican economy.

The PDP opposition to the way the commonwealth status was phrased is
ironic:  the PDP claimed that the definition was a "colonial" one. But
the definition on the ballot was an accurate description of the current
status. The PDP wanted to add a few benefits to the status which the
U.$. has already rejected. Included is the provision that Puerto Ricans
acquire the ability to make treaties with other nations and veto federal
laws.(3) In reality the PDP supports the status quo, with or without
these enhancements. Their push for "none of the above" seems like more
of a political maneuver than a real attempt to gain more autonomy and
move away from a colonial relationship with the u.s.

As a "Freely associated state" or commonwealth, the Puerto Rican people
have u.s. citizenship but if they live in Puerto Rico they can not vote
on u.s. ballots. Puerto Rican's can and are expected to fight in u.s.
wars, and Puerto Ricans sustain combat causalities in u.s. wars in
numbers far exceeding their proportion in the population.

Rosello' acknowledged that the "none of the above" option was being used
as a protest vote by many who oppose his administration, the
privatization of the island's telephone company as well as his position
on statehood.(3) The plebiscite was called for by Puerto Rican governor
Pedro Rossello' in an attempt to pressure the u.s. congress to admit
Puerto Rico as a state.

MIM supports the Puerto Rican peoples right to self determination. And
for true self-determination the u.s. must first end its imperialist
domination of the island. Join MIM and support the Puerto Rican national
liberation struggle.

Notes:
1. Washington Post, 14 December 1998, Page A02.
2. Reuters, 13 December 1998.
3. Washington Post, 15 December 1998, p.A10.