Last modified: 2004-07-31 by dov gutterman
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by Blas Delgado, 10 July 2000
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Called "La Isla Nena" (Little Girl Island) or
"Isabel Segunda" (Isabel II). Vieques was founded in
1843 by Francisco Sai'nz. It's about 21 miles long and about 5
miles across at its widest point (55 square miles). It was
annexed to Puerto Rico in 1854. Vieques derives its name from the
Taino Indian word for small island (bieques). Population: 8,062
Area: 135 Km2
On Vieques, beauty and history merge on a 25 by 4 mile island.
Arawak Indians once lived here and it was an infamous haven for
pirates during 17th century, before, during and after which
various European powers fought for control of Vieques. Punta
Mulas Lighthouse was built in 1896. This old lighthouse still
protects the port, boasts a beam that can be seen from as far as
16 miles. Isabel Segunda port, holds the distinction of being the
last fort built by the Spaniards in the New World. The island is
located between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, and is separated from
the southeast coast of Puerto Rico by approximately 8 miles of
sea, although if you are taking a ferry from Fajardo the distance
will be 18 miles. Since 1941 about 70% of Vieques has been under
the jurisdiction of the U.S. Navy, which is used as a training
area.
Jarig Bakker , 6 Febuary 2000
This is the new and official - and a more simplyfied version -
of the Vieques flag, which has appeared recently in TV due to the
notoriety of the case with the US Navy. Previously I
reported it as an alternate version, which appears in the
Lexjuris site, but - owing to this not been a quite reliable
source - I decided not to portrait it as the official flag. The Privious version was used last year at Vieques'
beaches at the beginning of the US Navy conflict probably due to
ignorance of the existence of the present one.
Blas Delgado, 10 July 2000
At <story.news.yahoo.com>
there is a photo titled as:
"Anti-U.S. Navy protestor Alberto DeJesus Mercado, who is
also known as 'Tito Kayak,' unfurls the Vieques flag that he
placed on top of the U.S. Navy practice bombing observation tower
in Vieques, Puerto Rico on Thursday, May 1, 2003. Hundreds of
protesters broke through a fence at the Vieques bombing range
Thursday, raising the Caribbean island's flag and destroying U.S
Navy vehicles as they celebrated the end to nearly 60 years of
U.S. bombing exercises. (AP Photo/ Tomas van Houtryve)"
It seems the back only has stripes, or maybe only this particular
copy?
Also noted that the shape of the CoA in the photo suggest that it
is the Privious Flag of Vieques.
Mark Sensen, 2 May 2003 and Dov Gutterman, 6
May 2003
