Puerto Rico Launches Campaign for Independence | News | teleSUR

The Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) has launched an international campaign to promote the country's independence from the United States, kicking off the process of decolonization.

Secretary-General of the PIP, Juan Dalmau, said the decision was taken after PIP President Ruben Berrios was given the floor to speak at a recent summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Costa Rica. When given the floor, Berrios took the opportunity to push for a Puerto Rican independence movement, which the bloc largely supported.

“This is a new international campaign to pressure the United States to respond to the claim of decolonization of Puerto Rican people,” Dalmau said during a press conference Monday. “What recently happened in CELAC marks the beginning of the end of colonialism in Puerto Rico.”

Though Puerto Rico is not part of CELAC, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega offered his speaking time to the independence leader. Berrios was designated a special adviser on international affairs to the government of Nicaragua, a partnership that is seen as important for the country's independence movement.

Puerto Rico has a long history of colonialism, first being under Spain’s contro,l and then the United States since 1898. A wide variety of groups,social  movements and political parties have unsuccessfully fought for independence over the years. 







Latin American and Caribbean leaders gave their support to the Puerto Rican Independence Party at a recent summit in Costa Rica.

Puerto Rico Launches Campaign for Independence