First Published: The Call, Vol. 2, No. 7, April 1974.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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Five people, including two members of the Puerto Rican Socialist Patty (PSP) and three innocent bystanders were injured March 16 when a car filled with right-wing terrorists passed by the offices of Claridad newspaper and the Impresora Nacional (where Claridad is printed) in a suburb of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, and opened fire.
The incidents began at about 10 p.m. when the attackers tried to plant an explosive device at the Impresora Nacional. The attempt was frustrated by the presence of PSP members who were on guard surrounding the printing plant.
An hour later, the attackers returned and shot and wounded Manuel J. Gonzalez and Domingo Vega, who had gone to the printing plant after learning of the first incident. Gonzalez was hit in the shoulder and Vega suffered perforation of the urethra. Vega underwent emergency operation, and remained in critical condition.
In the attack on the newspaper offices, three men from the neighborhood where Claridad has its offices were hit in different parts of the body and taken to the Medical Center in serious condition. Witnesses said that four police patrol cars were stationed in a gasoline station across from the Impresora Nacional during the attack but did nothing. Cases of M-16 bullets were found outside both the Impresora Nacional and the Claridad offices. M-16 rifles are only carried by the National Guard and the Island Police.
An investigation by the Puerto Rican Socialist Party has revealed that one of the armed terrorists, wounded at the Impresora Nacional, and now hospitalized, is an employee of the San Juan City Administration.
The terrorist, Jose Felipe Diaz Ortiz, is a known agent of the CIA and as a former member of the ROTC at the University of Puerto Rico, led various repressive actions against university students there.
According to Digna Sanchez, PSP Press Secretary, “this is just one more in a whole series of violent incidents instigated by the Puerto Rican and U.S. Governments to destroy the PSP and the whole independence movement, there have been more than two hundred of these during recent years.”
She pointed out that in New York City, both the police and the newspapers have recently attempted to defame the party.
Sanchez noted that a few weeks ago, the Spanish-language newspaper El Diaro-La Prensa published a front page headline, attempting to link the PSP to the Hearst kidnapping. In addition, she said, the New York Police Department recently arrested the Puerto Rican Socialist Party militant, Ismael Barreto, and insinuated that he had been attempting to assassinate Hortensia Bussi de Allende. Barreto formed part of the welcoming committee for Mrs. Allende during her recent visit to the United Nations
“During Barreto’s arrest,” said Sanchez, “it also came to light that CIC, the secret police of Puerto Rico, were part of the police force who attested the PSP militant.”
In New York, a demonstration was held on March 19 in front of the Sperry Rand building to protest the latest wave of repression unleashed against the growing independence movement on the island. Over 200 people carried signs and chanted militantly “U.S. Out of Puerto Rico Now”, “Stop Political Repression Now”, and “Muerte Imperialismo”, as they picketed the building. Andres Torres and Juan Ortero of the PSP spoke and pointed out that the struggle of the Puerto Rican people will never cease no matter how severe the repression until Puerto Rico gains its independence.
In Chicago, another demonstration was staged March 20 outside the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico offices. Other demonstrations were planned for Boston, Camden, Hartford and Cleveland.