[IPSM] Urgent Action: Please Support and Forward

[Roberto Borrero]

Taíno’ti Guaitiao (Greetings Relatives):

It is my hope that this message finds you in good
health and spirit. I am writing to respectfully
request your support of an urgent action concerning
the indigenous Taíno people of Borikén (Puerto Rico). 

Below you will find a sample letter that we hope you
can reproduce on your organizational letter head and
preferably fax or email to the honorable Governor of
Puerto Rico Aníbal Acevedo Vilá.  The letter and
attached press release announce the reclaiming of the
Caguana Taíno Ceremonial Center by the Borikén Taíno
People and the larger effort to bring public attention
to the continued violations of our basic human rights.

This action was deemed necessary as official requests
for meetings with Puerto Rican Government Officials to
discuss the situation of Taíno People in Borikén have
been continuously ignored. Please send a copy of your
faxed or emailed correspondence to Governor Acevedo
Vilá to our U.S. Regional Coordinating Office at
1(212)769-5329 or uctp_ny at yahoo.com . Please note
faxes are more effective than emails. 

In the spirit of our ancestors and our future
generations, we thank you in advance for your support,
prayers and solidarity. 

Oma’bahari (With Respect),
Roberto Múcaro Borrero,
President, UCTP
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office
http://www.uctp.org/

------------------------------------------------------------


Hon. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá 
Governor of Puerto Rico
PO Box 9020082
San Juan, PR 00909-0082
Tel: 1(787) 721-7000
Fax: 1(787) 725-4569
portal at ogp.gobierno.pr

Re: Supporting the Taíno Nation of Borikén (Puerto
Rico)

Dear Honorable Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá:

We are writing to support the members of the Taíno
Nation and People represented by the Caney Quinto
Mundo, United Confederation of Taíno People and the
Consejo General de Taínos Boricanos in their direct
action reclaiming the sacred Caguana Ceremonial Center
in Utuado, Borikén (Puerto Rico) and the rights of the
island’s indigenous peoples.

We are especially concerned with the call of the Taíno
People to end the destruction and desecration of
indigenous sanctuaries, archeological sites,
cemeteries, ancestral remains, sacred funerary and
ceremonial objects, sacred places and ceremonial
centers in Puerto Rico. With this in mind, we
respectfully urge you to issue an executive order to
fulfill the civil, constitutional, basic human and
international rights of the Taíno People of Borikén,
and their right to full participation in all issues
that concern and affect them.

We are aware that the United Nations Permanent Forum
on Indigenous Issues as well as the Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights have been notified of
these developments and in solidarity we also intend to
monitor this situation to insure that the human rights
of the Taíno community are not further violated. 

We thank you in advance for your serious attention to
this matter and we look to a positive resolution.  

Respectfully,

[Your Name, Title, Organization]


------------------------------------



25 July, 2005

For Immediate Release:

THE INDIGENOUS TAINO PEOPLE OF BORIKEN (PUERTO RICO)
RECLAIM THE ANICENT CAGUANA CEREMONIAL CENTER AS A
SACRED DECLARATION, ON JULY 25 2005, 
DAY OF THE PUERTO RICAN CONSTITUCION

Message from the Caney Quinto Mundo, the Consejo
General de Taínos Boricanos and the United
Confederation of Taíno People: 

“End the Destruction and Desecration of our
Sanctuaries and Sacred Places, Archeological Sites,
Coaibays (Cemeteries), Ancestral Remains, Sacred
Funerary and Ceremonial Objects, and Ceremonial
Centers Now!”

Encampment Established as Indigenous Taíno People of
Borikén (Puerto Rico) Reclaim Ancient Ceremonial
Grounds in Utuado and Call for:

•	An executive order by the First Executive of Puerto
Rico, the Hon. Anibal Acevedo Vila to fulfill the
constitutional, civil, human and international rights
of the Taíno People, 

•	Constitutional reform to recognize our inherent
rights as an Indigenous Nation,

•	The immediate return of ancestral remains and
funerary objects so that they can be reinterred in
their resting places within the womb of Mother Earth.

“Because we exist and we have the right
self-definition, respect and dignity as an indigenous
Taíno Boricua Nation, we affirm our collective rights,
knowledge, culture, traditions, customs and ancestral
spirituality. As our practices and beliefs simply are
not taken into consideration and regarded as
nonexistent, it is necessary to establish policies and
guarantees to protect the inherent rights of the
Indigenous Taíno People of Borikén (Puerto Rico).”

THE TAINO PEOPLE LIVE!



For Information Contact:

Naniki Reyes Ocasio, Founder 
Caney 5to Mundo (Fifth World Learning Center)
HC-01 Bx. 5761
Ciales, Borikén (P.R.) 00638-9624
(787) 847- 5039 
E-mail- caney at prtc.net

Elba (Anaca) Lugo, President 
Consejo General de Tainos Boricanos (General Council
of Boriken Tainos)
HC-61 Bz. 5075
Trujillo Alto, Borikén (Puerto Rico) 00976
(787) 568-1547 or (787) 760-5078 
E-mail: anacaotoao at hotmail.com  

Roberto Múcaro Borrero, President and Chairman
United Confederation of Taíno People
U.S. Regional Coordinating Office 
New York, NY USA
http://www.uctp.org/ 
(212) 604-4186 
E-mail: uctp_ny at yahoo.com 

-----------------------------------

25 Julio 2005

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA

EN UN DIA TAN GLORIOSO PARA NUESTRO PUEBLO 
LOS INDIOS TAÍNOS RETOMAR SU CENTRO CEREMONIAL
INDIGENA DE CAGUANA COMO RECLAMO SAGRADO EL DIA 25 DE
JULIO DIA DE LA CONSTITUCION PUERTORRIQUEÑO.   

Mensaje del Caney 5to Mundo, Confederación de Unida
del Pueblo Taíno, y el Consejo General de Tainos
Boricanos:

Detengan la destrucción y profanación de nuestros
Santuarios, Yacimientos, Coaibays (Cementerios)
Osamentas y Restos Ancestrales, Objetos Fúnebres,
Ceremoniales, Lugares Sagrados y Centros Ceremoniales 
 ¡Ahora

CAMPAMENTO ESTABLECIDO EN UTUADO, PUERTO RICO Y EL
PUEBLO TAÍNO DE BORIKÉN EXIGE:

● La presencia del Primer Ejecutivo de Puerto
Rico, el Hon. Aníbal Acevedo Vila para el
pronunciamiento de una orden ejecutiva para hacer
cumplir los derechos del Pueblo Taíno Indigena de
Borikén

● Una reforma constitucional para reconocer
nuestros derechos inherentes como Nación Indígena

● La devolución inmediata de las Osamentas,
Restos Objetos Fúnebres Ancestrales para su retorno a
la Madre Tierra.

“Porque existimos y tenemos el derecho de auto
definición, respeto y dignidad como Nación Indígena
Taino Boricua y ejercer nuestros derechos colectivos,
enseñanzas, cultura, tradiciones, costumbres y
espiritualidad ancestral, ya que nuestras prácticas y
creencias simplemente no se toman en consideración,
dándolas por inexistentes, es necesario establecer
políticas de protección y garantía de los derechos
inherentes del pueblo Indígena Taíno de Borikén
(Puerto Rico).” 

¡EL TAÍNO VIVE!


Para más información: 

Naniki Reyes Ocasio, Fundadora
Caney 5to Mundo, Centro de Aprendizaje
HC-01 Bx. 5761
Ciales, P.R. 00638-9624
(787) 847-5039 
E-mail: caney at prtc.net

Elba (Anaca) Lugo, Directora
Consejo General de Tainos Boncanos
HC-61 Bz. 5075
Trujillo Alto, Bonkén (Puerto Rico) 00976
(787) 568-1547 or (787) 760-5078 
E-mail: anacaotoao at hotmail.com  

Roberto (Múcaro) Borrero, Presidente 
Confederación de Unida del Pueblo Taíno 
Oficina de Coordinación Regional  
New York NY USA
(212) 604-4186 
http://www.uctp.org/ 
E-mail: uctp_ny at yahoo.com 



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