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Serrano
Sends FBI
Files With New FUPI Documents
PRESS
RELEASE
Washington,
D.C., July 28 -- Congressman José E. Serrano (D-NY) today sent copies
of FBI files related to the persecution of leaders of the independence
movement to the Senate Investigative Committee in Puerto Rico, including
newly released information about the Federation of University Students
for Independence.
The
eight boxes of files detail the FBI’s persecution of leaders of the
independence movement and include information about Luis Muñoz Marín,
Pedro Albizu Campos, and COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence
program, designed by the United States Government to uncover
organizations or individuals who were considered threats to national
security. COINTELPRO was not isolated to Puerto Rico. It affected people
of different political ideologies across this country. The independence
movement was targeted as one of those groups. Former independence leader
Pedro Albizu Campos died shortly after his release from Federal prison,
and commonwealth supporter Luis Muñoz Marín was the first elected
governor of Puerto Rico who was born on the island.
Of
those eight boxes, four contain new information about the Federation of
University Students (FUPI).
“Delivering
these documents will start the process in Puerto Rico of investigating
this issue,” Serrano said. “It is part of a lengthy and important
process that will allow Puerto Ricans and people all over the country
and the world to learn more about this ugly chapter in our history.”
In
Puerto Rico, the Senate passed a resolution March 14 calling for a probe
into the federal government’s role in the creation of political
dossiers on members of the Independence Party. The Puerto Rican
government also has established a fund to compensate people targeted by
this operation.
Serrano
raised the issue of the FBI files on March 16 during the FBI's budget
hearing before the Commerce, Justice, State, Judiciary and Related
Agencies Subcommittee of the House
Appropriations Committee, which funds the FBI, among other federal
agencies. Serrano is ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee.
Serrano
is sending the FBI files to Puerto Rico Senator Kenneth McClintock,
President of the Commission on Government and Federal Affairs, which is
overseeing the investigation, Senator Manuel Rodríguez Orellana, of the
Puerto Rico Independence Party, and Eduardo Bhatia, of the Democratic
Popular Party.
“It
is only fitting that these documents be delivered to Puerto Rico where
many of these activities took place, where it has been known that the
FBI targeted professors, university students, and so many others,”
Serrano said.
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CONTACT: Rosalinda DeJesus
July 28,
2000
(202) 225-4363
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