Puerto Rico's Case For Independence Due For UN Debate

The Committee of Puerto Rico in the United Nations will argue for the independence of Puerto Rico in the upcoming session of the United Nations Decolonization Committee, according to Prensa Latina.

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The Committee of Puerto Rico in the United Nations Representative Aurora Muriente said the island, officially a 'territory' of the United States, has suffered "years of colonial domination."

"My country has just gone through the onslaught of two hurricanes: one of them was category five and caused catastrophic damage, and the other is the Financial Supervision Board imposed by U.S. Congress to exercise control," Muriente said.

She emphasized that Puerto Rico has an "unpayable external debt" as a result of its colonial rule, and suffers bankruptcy under the Promise Law.

Muriente's organization will argue that the dire situation of Puerto Rico makes it urgent that its case be analyzed and debated in the United Nations, so there is greater international backing for its independence. The ultimate goal is that the issue be brought forward as a case in the United Nations General Assembly.

"Now this international claim is even more important because after the hurricane there is even more evidence of (Puerto Rico's) colonial character," Muriente argued.

The last time Puerto Rico's status was discussed in the General Assembly was in 1953, when the United States argued that the status of 'associated free state' was part of a 'decolonizing process,' although anti-colonial movements denounced this as a farce.

Muriente and her organization say this needs to be debated again in order to establish that the so-called 'decolonization' of 1953 was illegitimate: "Puerto Rico deserves to be treated as another state and deserves to be recognized as a nation, and therefore that its independence be endorsed."