Agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) interviewed a number of Puerto Rican independence activists in a coordinated operation on April 16 at their homes in San Juan, Yauco, Penuelas, Bayamon and Guaynabo. The activists included Tania Delgado, Miguel Sanchez and Miguel Viqueira. The agents "tried to interview Miguel Viqueira and Tania Delgado on their activities as independence supporters" and asked if they knew about actions by the rebel Popular Boricua Army (EPB)-Macheteros, according to attorney Alvin Couto.

Agents also visited an alleged former Machetero leader, identified in different sources as "José Castillo" or "Papo Castillo." They told Castillo that they were aware of a plot to kill him and were legally required to inform him. Couto dismissed this as an "invention of the federal agents. No patriotic organization is going to make an attempt on the lives of others. This follows a policy of trying to create gossip and rumors to create anxiety and uncertainly" among pro-independence groups, he said.

FBI spokesperson Harry Rodriguez acknowledged that agents had visited people because they "might have information about investigations that are under way." Reports that the activists had been treated with "hostility" were a matter of "perception," Rodriguez said. (Note by El Nuevo Dia staffer Pedro Bosque Perez, April 17, posted on Univision forum; El Diario-La Prensa, April 17 from correspondent, print version only)

From Weekly News Update on the Americas, April 20

See our last post on the struggle in Puerto Rico.