Rally Seeks End to Navy Bombings

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico —  Dozens of protesters plan to march through a small U.S. Navy base on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques today to urge an end to training missions on the bombing range there.

More than 60 people have set up a temporary camp on a remote beach behind the base within the Navy’s restricted area, said Nilda Medina, a spokeswoman for the protesters. Some activists were arrested in the same area during a 1979 anti-Navy protest.

The protesters plan to leave their camp early this morning and walk more than a mile through Camp Garcia and walk out the front gates, which have been locked for months to keep out activists. Activists angered by the death of a civilian guard killed by an errant bomb in April 1999 have camped on various areas of the bombing range for a year to block exercises.

Medina said that Navy officials with whom the protesters spoke Saturday “were very amiable and said they would have no problems” with the march. Navy spokesman Lt. Jeff Gordon on Friday declined to comment on the planned march.

President Clinton and Puerto Rican Gov. Pedro Rossello agreed in January to allow the Navy to resume exercises for at least three more years using practice bombs that will not explode. Under the agreement, Vieques’ residents will decide in a referendum likely to take place next year whether the Navy can resume live fire training or must abandon the island.