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14 August 2001
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Vieques Libre - http://www.viequeslibre.org Committee For the Rescue and Development
of Vieques New York, N.Y. --- The environmental leader Alberto De Jesús Mercado, better known as Tito Kayak, was allowed to make his second phone call from prison this afternoon, almost two weeks after being flown from Puerto Rico to Miami, then to Atlanta, and finally to New York, as he awaits the sentence reading for his non-violent demonstration atop the Statue of Liberty on November 5, 2000 demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Navy from Vieques. He managed to reach his attorney in Puerto Rico, Linda Backiel, who decided to fly immediately to New York after hearing the conditions in which Tito Kayak is being held. Tito denounced that soon after his arrival to New York last Wednesday, August 8, he was sent to "the hole," has only been allowed to shower three times, has been denied a towel and a toothbrush, has not been able to use the money in his account to buy paper and stamps, and has been forced to share his cell with roaches and fungi for allegedly writing a word on a wall. However, Tito said that the word was written in English and that he neither knows who wrote it nor what the word means. Yesterday Monday at 5:00pm was Tito's visiting hour, but the guard at the information desk sent a friend of Tito's back for not being on the visiting list yet. His spiritual counselor, the Rev. Dr. Luis Barrios, also awaits for the proper forms to be mailed to him to be allowed to see Tito. We denounce the subhuman conditions to which Tito Kayak is being subjected and demand that he be treated with respect and dignity. We encourage the press and the community at large to put pressure on the penal institution by contacting them at (212) 240-9656 or by fax at (212) 417-7673. We encourage all people in solidarity with the struggle in Vieques, Puerto Rico to show their support with Tito by going to a rally prior to his sentence reading at 9:00am on Monday, August 27 at the new Federal Court building at 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan. Contacts: Puerto Rico: Carmen Chazulle (787) 562-8552 |
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