Major props to Jorge Ramos and the producers of Univision’s AL PUNTO show, perhaps the best Spanish-language public affairs programming in the United States. After having US Rep. Luis Gutiérrez on the show a few weeks ago to discuss his very public and passionate criticism of the human rights crisis occurring in Puerto Rico under the leadership of Republican and pro-statehood Governor Luis Fortuño, the veteran Ramos interviewed Puerto Rican Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, a non-voting member of Congress and the island’s top political leader in Washington DC.
What follows is a video of the segment:
We have provided a brief summary synopsis (full transcript to follow tomorrow) of the exchange between Ramos and Pierluisi. In short, Pierluisi did a very ineffective job in addressing Ramos’ very pointed questions, and has only left more open questions regarding the crisis on the island. It seems to be politics as usual from Fortuño’s administration, where the strategy is to deflect the hard questions and try to put a positive spin that, according to Ramos, does not truly reflect the reality of the island right now.
Here are some highlights from the video:
- When asked about the very vivid violent images of Puerto Rican police repressing and abusing university students, Pierluisi deflects the question by reverting to other student protests, such as those in California and Britain. He admits that there were “isolated incidents” where Puerto Rican police “possibly” overstepped their bounds as officers. He refers to the “two constitutions” of the island, that of the United States and of Puerto Rico, that protect human right abuses.
- Ramos proceeds to call out Pierluisi’s description of “isolated events” by referring to the recent reports by the ACLU and the US government that suggest human rights violations in Puerto Rico have been raised since 2008. Pierluisi responds by referring to other cases in the United States and says that there could be a recommendation that these alleged violations in Puerto Rico would get addressed and acted upon.
- Pierluisi quickly brushes that criticism aside by moving on his spin message by saying: “But Puerto Rico can be an example of true democracy for the rest of the world. In Puerto Rico, civil rights are respected. We have exemplary elections every four years. And to compare Puerto Rico with totalitarian regimes is nonsense, an insult to the Puerto Rican people.”
- When Ramos shows Pierluisi the video of Gutiérrez attacking the Fortuño administration and then asks if democracy was under crisis in Puerto Rico, Pierluisi says: “That is completely false. It is really nonsense. In Puerto Rico we have exemplary elections. 80% of the electorate votes every four years. And we also have two Constitutions, two legal systems, a Puerto Rican human rights commission, and a federal commission that protect the rights of our people. And it is clear that in the latest protests from the students, there was aggression against the university’s chancellor. And when what the police does, where there is no other alternative, well, you call the police to intervene and I am the first to note that if I saw the use of excessive force, I will condemn it. One thing is to denounce any incident where there is excessive use of force, it is another thing to come out and paint Puerto Rico as if it were a dictatorship like the one we have seen in Egypt for the last thirty years.”
- Ramos then follows up by asking that if there is no atmosphere of repression on the island, why then did the head of the Puerto Rican Bar Association get jailed? Pierluisi claims that the incident was completely different from the student strikes and it is a federal case. He places political blame on the federal judge who was appointed by the President of the United States. At that point, Ramos stops him and asks, “If that is the case, why jail him? Why couldn’t you have a dialogue with him?” Pierluisi says that it is the federal judge who made the decision and not the Puerto Rican government. Ramos quickly counters that the law that jailed the lawyer was signed by Governor Fortuño.
- Ramos moves the conversation to the feeling of crisis and concern on the island and asked Pierluisi directly: “The Governor, during his political campaign, clearly said that he would not fire public employees. But at this moment 26,000 public employees have been fired. Didn’t he break his promise? Is there a feeling of concern on the island right now?”
- To this, Pierluisi responds: “In Puerto Rico, Governor Fortuño inherited a government that was completely bankrupt.” He then credited Fortuño for dramatically improving Puerto Rico’s financial rating, earning the praises of financial institutions that track this type of progress. Pierluisi says that Puerto Rico has a “promising future.” He also says that Puerto Rico is going through an “environment of change” and said that the actual number of public employees who were fired was exactly 12,505. He then notes that “other states” in the United States are actually now considering the same thing that Puerto Rico has already done.
- Ramos then says: “But the Governor did indeed break a promise because he did fire public employees.” He then calls out Pierluisi’s claim of a “promising future” for Puerto Rico by saying that the 2009 unemployment rate on the island was 13.3% but is has now increased to 15.9% in 2010. Ramos then asks directly: “That doesn’t sound promising.”
- After a pause by Pierluisi, the Resident Commissioner says: “Well, if we talk about the promise, it is very different to talk about a promise when one, well, the Governor made a promise, he makes a promise, under a premise. When he gets into the government, he finds out that there is no money to even pay for the first salary of public employees. The promise was impossible to keep because the government didn’t have any money.”
- Ramos counters: “Then he shouldn’t have made the promise. If a politician couldn’t fulfill the promise, then why did he day it?”
- Pierluisi then says: “When he made the promise, he didn’t know about the enormous fiscal crisis that he found once he arrived at La Fortaleza (the Governor’s residence), once he arrived to govern. And as to the future, for more than five years Puerto Rico has been in recession, but now we are finding out how the economy is starting to have a recovery.” Pierluisi says that the work was not easy and that Governor Fortuño was the first Puerto Rican governor since the Great Depression to have faced such a crisis.
- Pierluisi closes with the following: “So we will be having elections next year and once again our people will demonstrate that we do know about democracy and we do know how to choose our governor.”
I am astonished that the mainstream media continues to ignore this story, Julio. Thanks for your reporting.
I think W lives and his name is Pierluisi.
Wow talking about taking him off of his game. His an embarrasment and should have been prepared to answer these tough questions that in my opinion can’t be defended. Thanks for posting the video Julio.
It was telling, Lucy. I am still speechless. I won’t be surprised if Fortuño appears on the show now that Pierluisi did such a bad job.
The students in PR got what they deserved. They attacked the police, and the police retaliated. They even physically attacked the university’s rector. UPR has one of the lowest tuitions in all of the US, and all these lazy bums are complaining is because now they will have to pay a little more per year (something like $800) which means they will not have any money left over from their federal Pell grant checks to party. Most of these so-called students are communist activists who have interrupted the UPRs classes and made many students who just want to study, lose their academic year. I wish the police had cracked a few more heads…
Wow, Big Mike, thanks for the comment. Very respectful. Can you prove that the students are indeed communists? It is amazing that we even toss that word around since communism, last time I checked, is so irrelevant. Puerto Rico has a chance of becoming Communist as much as the United States will have a chance of becoming Communist. It will never happen. This is a democracy and police abuse is a serious human rights issue, just like it is on the chancellor. Where is the outrage about the police who committed these abuses? Pierluisi said he would personally condemn but there has been no condemnation at all, but within an hour of the attack on the chancellor, Gov. Fortuño had already issued a statement about it.
Keep drinking the pro-statehood Republican Fortuño Kool-Aid. I prefer to not drink it.
Great posting, Julio! A comment on the point that Gov. Fortuño didn’t know about the fiscal crisis that the PR government was suffering during the last administration. One fact that Pierluisi forgets to mention is that the PNP controlled both legislative chambers, and approved the annual fiscal budgets each year during 2005-2009. So the fiscal bankruptcy that he vehemently points out (the worsening of the credit, plus the government shutdown), was known by the PNP leaders, including Gov. Fortuño. Another fact not mentioned by our beloved Resident Commissioner is that during the election campaign, Gov. Fortuño repeatedly said that the only employee that he would fire was the past Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila (the opposition did mentioned that Fortuño government program required around 30,000 public employees to be laid-off). Every PR politician uses the same tactic: they bet on the loss of memory of recent events from the common people. Let’s try not to forget all the promises broken from Gov. Fortuño and his teamate Pierluisi. Let’s not forget!
This is brilliant. Just brilliant. Spread the word. Expose the arrogance of Pedrito and Luisito.
The students are not thinking…HELLOOOOOOOOOOOO???!!!
The UPR is the most inexpensive Higher Educational institution in the US and territories. Tuition, books and credits do not exceed $1,000 per year. Most of them receive $5,000 in Pell Grants for the year, so they can shell out an additional $800. An additional $1,000 they spend in housing and food. So what are these students thinking? Is it the next iPod, iPad or laptop, or the $150 pair of sneakers? I know there are some exceptions, but truth is it that the majority are there thanks to the help of FEDERAL AID…so, who are the students kiddin’? And no, I’m not affiliated with any political party, this is an expression based on analysis…or as we say “mastica’o” common sense.
That’s why I decided to go to a private institution to get my degree in a peaceful way…I don’t want to fall behind because of this stupidity….and it is a stupidity. Wake up UPR Students, time to smell the Puerto Rican coffee and GROW UP!!!!!
Thanks for the comment, Dede. How would you answer the the alleged human rights violations by the police?
La unica violacion de derechos humanos en PR es por parte de una cantidad de manifestantes que destruyen la propiedad publica, crea caos dentro de las aulas de clases, impide que estudiantes acudan a tomar clases y examenes, vandalizan vehiculos, equipos y propiedad de la UPR, invaden oficinas administrativas para ordenar la salida de los empleados bajo l alegato de que son rompehuelgas, incendian oficinas administrativas, atacan a profesores y estudiantes dentros de los salones de clases, y mil otros delitos contra el buen orden y la ley que debe imperar en un pais de ley y orden…
Hablas como un dictador, Wilfredo. Orden y seguridad. Gracias por el comentario. No justifico la violencia de los estudiantes ni de la policía.
Me apena grandemente la falta de preparacion periodistica de Jorge Ramos en esta entrevista, utiliza datos incorrectos, estadisticas exageradas, y falta a la verdad cuando insiste que en PR hay una ‘crisis de derechos humanos’
Si observan el siguiente video sobre lo que han ocasionado los estudiantes y los grupos que los apoyan, la violacion de derechos humanos es de parte de ellos a un pueblo amante de la paz, de los derechos civiles, y de ejercer su prerrogativas de manera democratica.
Hay otros videos mas recientes de la violencia estudiantil dentro del recinto universitario, cosa que no ocurre en los otros 10 recintos de la UPR en el resto del pais. La ira demostrada por estos manifestantes no ha encontrado SOLIDARIDAD en sus pares en los otros recintos. Lo que se observa aqui no es deseo de mantener libre expresion, sino todo lo contrario, destruir desde adentro todo el sistema. El vandalismo, la destruccion de la propiedad de la UPR, la violacion de derechos fundamentales a la seguridad, a la vida y a la educacion publica, no es lo que se observa en estas manifestaciones. Si la policia es requerida para detener estos lamentables incidentes, ellos reclaman la violacion de sus derechos, señor Ramos, juzque por usted mismo…
Wilfredo, si conoces mi blog, ya puse este video en mi blog hace rato. Gracias por tu propaganda.
No hay peor sigo que el que no quiere ver, la realidad es que estos manifestantes no tienen control de sus actos, estan politacamente motivados por fuerzas externas no relacionadas con la resolucion de los costos y las ayudas ofrecidas por el gobierno para satisfacer una cuota provisional, estos actos violentos por parte de estos ‘grupos’ ya perdieron la legitimidad ante el pueblo, asi de sencillo….
¿Podrás decir qué fuerzas “externas” están dirigiendo estas manifestaciones? Tengo familia en la UPi ahora mismo y dudo que Fidel y Hugo le estén enviando órdenes.
Julio tienes una gran confusión cuando dices que hablo como dictador, en una democracia tan rica como la puertorriqueña no hay espacio para ser ni expresarse como un ‘dictador’ para hacer eso posible me atribuyes características que no poseo entre estas: (1) La dictadura es la forma de gobierno que se concentra en las manos, o de una sola persona (denominada dictador) o de un grupo de personas afines a una ideología o movimiento, los cuales poseen el poder absoluto, controlando éste los tres poderes del estado: el legislativo, el ejecutivo y el judicial. (2) Las dictaduras se caracterizan por ostentar poderes extraordinarios, a menudo no constitucionales, o de facto, generando por lo general regímenes déspotas y tiránicos, a menudo violentos. (3) Un dictador gobierna sin constituir un gobierno democráticamente electo y que además sostiene posiciones de mano dura contra la población y la disidencia, (4) Una dictadura es un gobierno unipersonal que ejerce inconstitucionalmente el poder, acumulando las funciones ejecutivas y legislativas e interfiriendo en las funciones judiciales, nombrando y removiendo libremente a los jueces y magistrados.
En PR no hay ni habrá en el futuro inmediato una dictadura, calificar de dictadura mis expresiones libres y razonables, o las actuaciones del gobierno de turno, es faltarle a la verdad histórica de este pueblo. Es negar que las fuerzas revolucionarias de los protestantes cumplen con un fin legitimo, democrático y de justicia social a costa de subvertir el orden constitucional.
Wilfredo, gracias por su respuesta pero cuando hablar de socialismo y utilizas propaganda que decribe a los estudiantes como comunistas y terroristas, no puede estar de acuerdo contigo. Por supuesto, en un democracia tienes el derecho de expresarte libremente y te defenderé aunque no comparto tu punto de vista. Gracias por el comentario.
Me apena tu ignorancia sobre el tema, pero aparentemente eres un propagandista del dictador Fortuno.
¡Bingo, Victor!
Some people obviously do not know that 12,000 were unable to register because of the fee increase. $800 is 50 per cent increase in tuition. Puerto Rico’s median income is lower than Mississippi, and according to the University’s own Financial Aid Office, it costs $15,000 to be a students (after all students eat, pay for transportation, wear clothes etc.) By the way, the UPR is the elite institution of Latin America, it is a Research 1 Institution according to the Carnegie rankings. It produces 95 % of the island’s research and development. These are smart students which is why will not hoodwinkled by the dictator Fortuno.
$1,000 in rent and food? Where do you live?
Victor, keep em coming.
It is evident that Pierluisi was not ready for this interview and performed in a very unprofessional manner (se ve bastante tonto)… the way Jorge Ramos approached the situation was unprofessional as well and too biased. But it is absolutely ridiculous to compare Puerto Rico to the authoritarian regime of Egypt. This is not the first time I hear this and it still makes me roll my eyes. I am an UPR alumni, I disagree with the $800, mostly because it’s unfair that the students have to pay for the bad budget administration.
I disagree with all the violent acts, from students and administration. But Puerto Rico does not live under an authoritarian regime, what we have is a “country” ruled by colors in which all we know how to do is point fingers at each other and not work TOGETHER for a better future, in this case no matter where you look at, you will see isolated incidents similar to those in totalitarian/authoritarian regimes, but it does not mean that we live in that environment… If we did… oh my god, this would be a 10 pages posting so I will abstain to give my opinion.
It’s time that we stop that attitude and join the good causes. I am sure that if this strike had more support from the Puerto Rican people, the story would’ve been different. I am also sure that if the socialist group gets out of the picture people would support this strike even more. Because no matter how much you want to ignore it, there is a group in the university that claim to be “The” Socialists and liberators of the island (the university if full of them, just count the che guevera’s t-shirts and such) and we all know that most Puerto Ricans are 100 steps to the right from that … and socialism… really? Not even extreme leftist Lula followed it, he instead centralized and lifted up Brazil. I am just saying that Puerto Rican people (no matter why the reason behind it is but what matter is that it IS) find socialist students as a joke and will never support them. But they are the ones “speaking” for the students and you cannot deny that because there is youtube evidence (!?).
I like your posting but it’s very biased, you should expose both points, no matter how ridiculous the other side might be. Like yeah, Fortuño is our version of Sarah Palin, but it true that he inherited a messed up budget , but they all do (interestingly) and no one likes to take responsibility. What matter here is -we as a “pueblo”- and what we care about and why we focus in blaming and not acting. If you want a free Puerto Rico, work for economic independence first and then think about political status. If you want the human rights of the students to be respected go struggle on their side and when Fortuño sees that there is an electoral majority supporting the students I bet that he would consider a conversation, because at the end, it’s all politics and no one cares about what really matters. Until we learn to work together there will be no better future for the island. Sorry I used your blog to get this out, but I am tired of the blame, I want to see some action.
Thanks for the comment. Just so you know, I have contacted both La Fotaleza and Pierluisi twice for comment and they have not responded to me. More than happy to show the other side, if they allow me.
I love your passion.
What is interesting to me is why would Pierluisi go one on one with Ramos (which was brilliant, thx!), but not get back to you, Julio, with a statement. It could be an opportunity for them to clarify, fix, or maybe, take responsibility for their part in this mess. Instead, Fortuno and Pierluisi choose to not address the students and the people of PR. They even cannot come up with some sort of constructive dialogue…which last time I checked is part of their job.
Agreed. They ignore the criticism and valid questions. Bad move.
I agree with the necessity of raising the tuition at the UPR. It simply cannot improve its education standard with the current revenue stream. A Pell Grant will still be enough to cover education expenses, and then some. This is fact, nit fiction. However, this is not the same as saying there hasn’t been mismanagement of funds at the university, which is likely considering the widespread corruption and idiocy that has plagued the Puerto Rican government for decades. I believe the UPR needs more revenue AND better management to continue being a source of pride as Puerto Rico’s flagship university.
On another note, I find it extremely sad that most Puerto Rican’s fail to easily counter Pierluisi’s claims of PR having an exemplary democracy by using the following point:
On July 10, 2005, there was a referendum requesting a change from a bicameral legislature to a unicameral one. Voters overwhelmingly voted for the change to a unicameral system, with 83.7% of voters opting for the change. 83.7%!! That is more than 4 out of every five voters. What did the Legislature do afterwards??…. Nothing.
Amazing.