{"disclaimer":"Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.","url":"https://transcripts.un.org/fr/asset/k1a/k1ab0p6z0q?lang=en","llms":{"note":"Plain-text sibling of this page, compact for LLM context. For the full API guide (search, listing, URL grammar) see /llms.txt.","textUrl":"/fr/asset/k1a/k1ab0p6z0q.txt","guide":"/llms.txt"},"video":{"id":"k1a/k1ab0p6z0q","kaltura_id":"1_ab0p6z0q","title":"(8th plenary meeting) Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) - 2026 session","clean_title":"(8th plenary meeting) Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) - 2026 session","url":"https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1a/k1ab0p6z0q","date":"2026-06-22T00:00:00.000Z","scheduled_time":"2026-06-22T19:00:00.000Z","status":"finished","duration":"01:44:50","category":"General Assembly","body":"General Assembly","event_code":null,"event_type":null,"session_number":"8th plenary meeting","pv_symbol":null,"pv_part":null,"slug":"asset/k1a/k1ab0p6z0q"},"metadata":{"summary":"The Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples is also known as the Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24.","description":"(Continued) Special Committee decision of 16 June 2025 concerning Puerto Rico: hearing of petitioners\nThe C-24 annually reviews the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories to which the Declaration is applicable. It also hears statements from representatives of the Non-Self-Governing Territories at its annual sessions, dispatches visiting missions to Non-Self-Governing Territories and annually organizes regional seminars.","categories":["Meetings & Events","General Assembly","Subsidiary organs of the General Assembly","Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24)","2026 Session"],"geographic_subject":["PUERTO RICO"],"subject_topical":["DECOLONIZATION","INDEPENDENCE","NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES"],"corporate_name":["DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS - DPA"],"speaker_affiliation":[],"related_documents":[{"title":"Special Committee on Decolonization website","url":"https://www.un.org/dppa/decolonization/en/c24/about"},{"title":"Organization of Work","url":"https://docs.un.org/A/AC.109/2026/L.2/Rev.1"}]},"transcript":{"transcript_id":"assemblyai-universal-3-pro-66ed48a6-3a03-4125-92a6-d0714527ab92","language":"en","data":[{"statement_number":1,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Good afternoon.","start":2.585,"end":5.057,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Good","start":2.585,"end":2.825},{"text":"afternoon.","start":2.825,"end":5.057}]},{"text":"The 8th meeting of the 2026 session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples is called to order.","start":27.405,"end":45.609,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":27.405,"end":27.614},{"text":"8th","start":27.969,"end":28.308},{"text":"meeting","start":28.372,"end":28.905},{"text":"of","start":29.744,"end":29.889},{"text":"the","start":29.937,"end":30.163},{"text":"2026","start":30.163,"end":31.373},{"text":"session","start":31.373,"end":31.986},{"text":"of","start":32.808,"end":32.857},{"text":"the","start":32.889,"end":32.937},{"text":"Special","start":32.986,"end":33.518},{"text":"Committee","start":33.55,"end":34.002},{"text":"on","start":34.744,"end":34.808},{"text":"the","start":34.84,"end":34.921},{"text":"Situation","start":34.97,"end":35.646},{"text":"with","start":35.646,"end":35.775},{"text":"Regard","start":35.871,"end":36.29},{"text":"to","start":36.29,"end":36.451},{"text":"the","start":36.451,"end":36.596},{"text":"Implementation","start":36.612,"end":37.707},{"text":"of","start":38.383,"end":38.48},{"text":"the","start":38.528,"end":38.625},{"text":"Declaration","start":39.189,"end":39.913},{"text":"on","start":39.913,"end":40.058},{"text":"the","start":40.058,"end":40.155},{"text":"Granting","start":40.155,"end":40.606},{"text":"of","start":40.702,"end":40.751},{"text":"Independence","start":40.799,"end":41.604},{"text":"to","start":41.604,"end":41.733},{"text":"Colonial","start":41.749,"end":42.264},{"text":"Countries","start":42.329,"end":42.941},{"text":"and","start":43.52,"end":43.665},{"text":"Peoples","start":43.778,"end":44.31},{"text":"is","start":44.407,"end":44.553},{"text":"called","start":44.651,"end":44.992},{"text":"to","start":44.992,"end":45.105},{"text":"order.","start":45.3,"end":45.609}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":50.351,"end":50.855,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":50.351,"end":50.757},{"text":"you.","start":50.757,"end":50.855}]},{"text":"The committee will now continue its consideration of the agenda item entitled Special Committee Decision of June 16th, 2025 concerning Puerto Rico, Hearing of 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giving the floor to the remaining petitioners, I urge all petitioners to kindly limit their statements to no more than 3 minutes to enable the committee to hear all the petitioners on our list 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the end, once the 3 minutes is reached, the sound on the microphone will be cut off and it will no longer be possible to be 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order to facilitate the work of the interpreters, please do send your statements to eStatements@UN.org before delivery, with a copy to the DPPA Decolonization Unit at 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I would like to remind all speakers strictly limit your statements to issues within the purview of the special committee's mandate pertaining to Puerto 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and guests are also reminded that the rules of procedure of the committee must be observed at all 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any display of banners or flags or disruptive behavior in the conference room is strictly strictly prohibited.","start":153.685,"end":161.905,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Accordingly,","start":153.685,"end":154.455},{"text":"any","start":155.674,"end":155.898},{"text":"display","start":155.931,"end":156.412},{"text":"of","start":156.412,"end":156.54},{"text":"banners","start":156.636,"end":157.021},{"text":"or","start":157.133,"end":157.213},{"text":"flags","start":157.213,"end":157.823},{"text":"or","start":157.871,"end":157.919},{"text":"disruptive","start":157.935,"end":158.625},{"text":"behavior","start":158.657,"end":159.138},{"text":"in","start":159.218,"end":159.266},{"text":"the","start":159.298,"end":159.459},{"text":"conference","start":159.459,"end":160.084},{"text":"room","start":160.084,"end":160.277},{"text":"is","start":160.485,"end":160.517},{"text":"strictly","start":160.517,"end":160.87},{"text":"strictly","start":160.71,"end":161.113},{"text":"prohibited.","start":161.227,"end":161.905}]},{"text":"Please do respect the decorum as this is a meeting of the United Nations.","start":162.826,"end":167.738,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Please","start":162.826,"end":163.295},{"text":"do","start":163.408,"end":163.553},{"text":"respect","start":163.553,"end":164.167},{"text":"the","start":164.199,"end":164.28},{"text":"decorum","start":164.361,"end":164.91},{"text":"as","start":165.492,"end":165.557},{"text":"this","start":165.654,"end":165.783},{"text":"is","start":165.912,"end":166.058},{"text":"a","start":166.058,"end":166.074},{"text":"meeting","start":166.106,"end":166.51},{"text":"of","start":166.575,"end":166.688},{"text":"the","start":166.72,"end":166.865},{"text":"United","start":166.865,"end":167.366},{"text":"Nations.","start":167.447,"end":167.738}]},{"text":"I thank you.","start":169.483,"end":170.162,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":169.483,"end":169.515},{"text":"thank","start":169.645,"end":170.033},{"text":"you.","start":170.033,"end":170.162}]},{"text":"The committee will now proceed to hear the remaining petitioners.","start":171.812,"end":176.003,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":171.812,"end":171.958},{"text":"committee","start":171.974,"end":172.362},{"text":"will","start":172.46,"end":172.573},{"text":"now","start":172.573,"end":172.832},{"text":"proceed","start":173.123,"end":173.932},{"text":"to","start":173.996,"end":174.174},{"text":"hear","start":174.174,"end":174.433},{"text":"the","start":174.579,"end":174.676},{"text":"remaining","start":174.676,"end":175.194},{"text":"petitioners.","start":175.388,"end":176.003}]},{"text":"In this regard, I now invite Mr. Enol Santiago to address the 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":280.419,"end":280.499},{"text":"colony","start":280.499,"end":280.838},{"text":"cannot","start":280.903,"end":281.129},{"text":"be","start":281.226,"end":281.388},{"text":"reformed.","start":281.388,"end":281.985}]},{"text":"No crisis can be resolved through submission, nor is negotiation possible between master and slave.","start":282.131,"end":293.285,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"They","start":344.418,"end":344.579},{"text":"want","start":344.579,"end":344.756},{"text":"a","start":344.756,"end":344.772},{"text":"Puerto","start":344.837,"end":345.16},{"text":"Rico","start":345.16,"end":345.418},{"text":"without","start":345.418,"end":345.675},{"text":"Puerto","start":345.788,"end":346.061},{"text":"Ricans.","start":346.125,"end":346.575}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico isn't a domestic matter of the Yankee Empire.","start":347.251,"end":350.434,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":347.251,"end":347.444},{"text":"Rico","start":347.492,"end":347.733},{"text":"isn't","start":347.733,"end":348.071},{"text":"a","start":348.071,"end":348.199},{"text":"domestic","start":348.296,"end":348.842},{"text":"matter","start":348.858,"end":349.26},{"text":"of","start":349.26,"end":349.389},{"text":"the","start":349.421,"end":349.566},{"text":"Yankee","start":349.566,"end":349.968},{"text":"Empire.","start":350.048,"end":350.434}]},{"text":"This international body has a duty to require the administering power to submit a report on the current social, political, and economic conditions of its colony, as well as on the steps that it has taken to enable Puerto Rico to attain its independence.","start":350.643,"end":366.535,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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I now invite Mr. Cesar Perez Lizano to address the committee.","start":391.231,"end":406.787,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Santiago.","start":391.231,"end":392.02},{"text":"I","start":394.679,"end":394.727},{"text":"now","start":394.856,"end":395.049},{"text":"invite","start":395.743,"end":396.52},{"text":"Mr.","start":396.877,"end":397.2},{"text":"Cesar","start":397.281,"end":398.026},{"text":"Perez","start":398.982,"end":399.597},{"text":"Lizano","start":401.654,"end":402.367},{"text":"to","start":403.592,"end":403.786},{"text":"address","start":405.206,"end":405.706},{"text":"the","start":406.093,"end":406.254},{"text":"committee.","start":406.254,"end":406.787}]},{"text":"Ambassador, you have the floor, please.","start":407.146,"end":408.451,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Ambassador,","start":407.146,"end":407.311},{"text":"you","start":407.328,"end":407.476},{"text":"have","start":407.476,"end":407.625},{"text":"the","start":407.642,"end":407.741},{"text":"floor,","start":407.741,"end":408.071},{"text":"please.","start":408.154,"end":408.451}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":4,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Our organization, Plan B Independence, directly appeals to President Donald Trump because today they have the historic opportunity to simultaneously resolve several problems: to bring an end to the colonial regime, reduce the economic costs related to the dependency, and once and for all stop the possibility of the annexation of Puerto Rico, which is an alternative which threatens to break down the internal cohesion of the United States.","start":413.082,"end":440.681,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Furthermore,","start":481.81,"end":482.381},{"text":"they","start":482.446,"end":482.544},{"text":"should","start":482.544,"end":482.723},{"text":"establish","start":482.723,"end":483.163},{"text":"a","start":483.212,"end":483.343},{"text":"framework","start":483.343,"end":483.93},{"text":"to","start":483.93,"end":484.223},{"text":"negotiate","start":484.843,"end":485.397},{"text":"bilateral","start":485.397,"end":485.87},{"text":"agreements","start":485.87,"end":486.278},{"text":"on","start":486.278,"end":486.327},{"text":"debt","start":486.376,"end":486.604},{"text":"nationality,","start":487.694,"end":488.385},{"text":"trade,","start":488.641,"end":489.043},{"text":"defense,","start":489.059,"end":489.701},{"text":"gradually","start":490.022,"end":490.439},{"text":"substituting","start":490.921,"end":491.659},{"text":"colonial","start":491.771,"end":492.189},{"text":"dependency","start":492.189,"end":492.879},{"text":"with","start":492.991,"end":493.296},{"text":"a","start":493.377,"end":493.537},{"text":"national","start":494.019,"end":494.436},{"text":"development","start":494.436,"end":494.918},{"text":"project.","start":494.982,"end":495.415}]},{"text":"The need for a measure of this nature comes from two realities that can no longer be overlooked.","start":496.121,"end":500.552,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":496.121,"end":496.218},{"text":"need","start":496.218,"end":496.571},{"text":"for","start":496.571,"end":496.763},{"text":"a","start":496.763,"end":496.779},{"text":"measure","start":496.779,"end":497.229},{"text":"of","start":497.229,"end":497.293},{"text":"this","start":497.325,"end":497.582},{"text":"nature","start":497.582,"end":498.048},{"text":"comes","start":498.048,"end":498.304},{"text":"from","start":498.336,"end":498.513},{"text":"two","start":498.529,"end":498.834},{"text":"realities","start":498.85,"end":499.38},{"text":"that","start":499.428,"end":499.556},{"text":"can","start":499.556,"end":499.701},{"text":"no","start":499.717,"end":499.749},{"text":"longer","start":499.813,"end":500.054},{"text":"be","start":500.054,"end":500.214},{"text":"overlooked.","start":500.214,"end":500.552}]},{"text":"Firstly, we are concerned that certain parts of the Democratic Party are using the future of Puerto Rico as a, an object for party political games.","start":500.616,"end":509.813,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Firstly,","start":500.616,"end":501.145},{"text":"we","start":501.418,"end":501.579},{"text":"are","start":501.579,"end":501.643},{"text":"concerned","start":501.643,"end":502.076},{"text":"that","start":502.076,"end":502.189},{"text":"certain","start":502.221,"end":502.606},{"text":"parts","start":502.606,"end":502.847},{"text":"of","start":502.847,"end":502.879},{"text":"the","start":502.879,"end":502.943},{"text":"Democratic","start":502.943,"end":503.505},{"text":"Party","start":503.505,"end":504.035},{"text":"are","start":504.051,"end":504.147},{"text":"using","start":504.147,"end":504.516},{"text":"the","start":504.532,"end":504.629},{"text":"future","start":504.629,"end":505.03},{"text":"of","start":505.03,"end":505.11},{"text":"Puerto","start":505.11,"end":505.447},{"text":"Rico","start":505.495,"end":505.929},{"text":"as","start":506.458,"end":506.603},{"text":"a,","start":506.779,"end":506.795},{"text":"an","start":507.598,"end":507.678},{"text":"object","start":507.759,"end":508.304},{"text":"for","start":508.304,"end":508.513},{"text":"party","start":508.641,"end":508.962},{"text":"political","start":508.962,"end":509.444},{"text":"games.","start":509.444,"end":509.813}]},{"text":"There is a possibility that they might attempt to force the annexation if they gain a legislative majority in the midterm elections and potentially the presidency.","start":510.23,"end":519.78,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. 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Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"Annexation","start":519.94,"end":520.357},{"text":"is","start":520.357,"end":520.454},{"text":"not","start":520.47,"end":520.582},{"text":"a","start":520.582,"end":520.662},{"text":"decolonizing","start":520.662,"end":521.288},{"text":"solution,","start":521.336,"end":521.785},{"text":"would","start":521.802,"end":521.946},{"text":"only","start":521.946,"end":522.058},{"text":"serve","start":522.058,"end":522.347},{"text":"to,","start":522.347,"end":522.524},{"text":"to","start":523.727,"end":524.048},{"text":"deepen","start":524.192,"end":524.658},{"text":"internal","start":524.77,"end":525.171},{"text":"tensions","start":525.171,"end":525.653},{"text":"already","start":525.653,"end":525.893},{"text":"affecting","start":525.893,"end":526.23},{"text":"the","start":526.23,"end":526.279},{"text":"United","start":526.279,"end":526.616},{"text":"States.","start":526.616,"end":526.872}]},{"text":"Secondly, in Puerto Rico, we have an exceptional crisis and historical time.","start":526.937,"end":533.564,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Secondly,","start":526.937,"end":527.386},{"text":"in","start":527.418,"end":527.466},{"text":"Puerto","start":527.643,"end":528.156},{"text":"Rico,","start":528.22,"end":528.477},{"text":"we","start":528.541,"end":528.766},{"text":"have","start":528.766,"end":529.151},{"text":"an","start":529.263,"end":529.36},{"text":"exceptional","start":529.36,"end":530.242},{"text":"crisis","start":530.531,"end":531.141},{"text":"and","start":531.414,"end":531.606},{"text":"historical","start":531.606,"end":532.168},{"text":"time.","start":533.099,"end":533.564}]},{"text":"The colonial regime has exhausted any capacity to sustain itself.","start":533.676,"end":537.752,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":533.676,"end":533.917},{"text":"colonial","start":533.917,"end":534.462},{"text":"regime","start":534.462,"end":535.04},{"text":"has","start":535.04,"end":535.249},{"text":"exhausted","start":535.281,"end":535.81},{"text":"any","start":535.843,"end":536.051},{"text":"capacity","start":536.067,"end":536.613},{"text":"to","start":536.725,"end":536.966},{"text":"sustain","start":536.966,"end":537.415},{"text":"itself.","start":537.447,"end":537.752}]},{"text":"It's harming both Puerto Rico and the United States, and it is just fueling a corrupt political elite whose privileges depend specifically on the the continuity of the colony.","start":537.864,"end":547.527,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":592.642,"end":592.69},{"text":"a","start":592.787,"end":592.868},{"text":"physician,","start":592.868,"end":593.498},{"text":"I","start":593.595,"end":593.611},{"text":"have","start":593.611,"end":593.854},{"text":"an","start":593.854,"end":593.918},{"text":"ethical","start":594.015,"end":594.419},{"text":"responsibility","start":594.419,"end":595.195},{"text":"to","start":595.631,"end":595.712},{"text":"identify","start":595.712,"end":596.197},{"text":"the","start":596.197,"end":596.358},{"text":"conditions","start":596.358,"end":596.891},{"text":"that","start":596.988,"end":597.166},{"text":"place","start":597.166,"end":597.409},{"text":"populations","start":597.409,"end":598.103},{"text":"at","start":598.2,"end":598.297},{"text":"risk","start":598.297,"end":598.556},{"text":"of","start":598.556,"end":598.669},{"text":"disease,","start":598.701,"end":599.073},{"text":"disability,","start":599.186,"end":599.719},{"text":"and","start":599.832,"end":599.897},{"text":"preventable","start":599.913,"end":600.366},{"text":"death.","start":600.479,"end":600.608}]},{"text":"In Puerto Rico, many of those conditions are rooted in a colonial relationship that denies Puerto Ricans full sovereignty over the policies that govern their healthcare system, economy, infrastructure, and future.","start":601.292,"end":612.669,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":601.292,"end":601.324},{"text":"Puerto","start":601.372,"end":601.645},{"text":"Rico,","start":601.693,"end":602.158},{"text":"many","start":602.238,"end":602.43},{"text":"of","start":602.43,"end":602.51},{"text":"those","start":602.51,"end":602.702},{"text":"conditions","start":602.734,"end":603.263},{"text":"are","start":603.44,"end":603.536},{"text":"rooted","start":603.536,"end":603.92},{"text":"in","start":603.936,"end":604.016},{"text":"a","start":604.016,"end":604.032},{"text":"colonial","start":604.161,"end":604.513},{"text":"relationship","start":604.513,"end":605.234},{"text":"that","start":605.603,"end":605.699},{"text":"denies","start":605.699,"end":606.067},{"text":"Puerto","start":606.1,"end":606.356},{"text":"Ricans","start":606.42,"end":606.789},{"text":"full","start":606.965,"end":607.093},{"text":"sovereignty","start":607.141,"end":607.75},{"text":"over","start":608.247,"end":608.343},{"text":"the","start":608.343,"end":608.487},{"text":"policies","start":608.487,"end":608.952},{"text":"that","start":608.984,"end":609.144},{"text":"govern","start":609.144,"end":609.465},{"text":"their","start":609.465,"end":609.609},{"text":"healthcare","start":609.609,"end":609.961},{"text":"system,","start":609.961,"end":610.506},{"text":"economy,","start":610.65,"end":611.115},{"text":"infrastructure,","start":611.468,"end":612.157},{"text":"and","start":612.189,"end":612.253},{"text":"future.","start":612.333,"end":612.669}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico's history includes profound bioethical violations.","start":613.022,"end":617.124,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":613.022,"end":613.887},{"text":"Rico's","start":613.887,"end":614.256},{"text":"history","start":614.256,"end":614.64},{"text":"includes","start":614.833,"end":615.281},{"text":"profound","start":615.313,"end":615.794},{"text":"bioethical","start":615.794,"end":616.515},{"text":"violations.","start":616.515,"end":617.124}]},{"text":"Puerto Ricans were subjected to unethical medical experimentation, such as the work of Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, mass sterilization, and testing of super therapeutic contraceptives.","start":617.316,"end":627.139,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":617.316,"end":617.957},{"text":"Ricans","start":617.957,"end":618.326},{"text":"were","start":618.358,"end":618.502},{"text":"subjected","start":618.502,"end":619.063},{"text":"to","start":619.063,"end":619.207},{"text":"unethical","start":619.303,"end":619.832},{"text":"medical","start":619.88,"end":620.201},{"text":"experimentation,","start":620.201,"end":621.034},{"text":"such","start":621.483,"end":621.659},{"text":"as","start":621.707,"end":621.819},{"text":"the","start":621.867,"end":621.947},{"text":"work","start":621.963,"end":622.14},{"text":"of","start":622.188,"end":622.252},{"text":"Dr.","start":622.284,"end":622.54},{"text":"Cornelius","start":622.604,"end":622.957},{"text":"Rhoads,","start":623.069,"end":623.454},{"text":"mass","start":623.806,"end":623.966},{"text":"sterilization,","start":623.966,"end":624.816},{"text":"and","start":624.928,"end":624.992},{"text":"testing","start":625.072,"end":625.377},{"text":"of","start":625.425,"end":625.473},{"text":"super","start":625.489,"end":625.873},{"text":"therapeutic","start":625.873,"end":626.45},{"text":"contraceptives.","start":626.45,"end":627.139}]},{"text":"Often without informed consent.","start":627.958,"end":629.371,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Often","start":627.958,"end":628.263},{"text":"without","start":628.279,"end":628.616},{"text":"informed","start":628.616,"end":628.985},{"text":"consent.","start":629.002,"end":629.371}]},{"text":"Today, the consequences of colonial governance continue to shape public health.","start":630.318,"end":634.766,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Today,","start":630.318,"end":630.575},{"text":"the","start":631.025,"end":631.105},{"text":"consequences","start":631.105,"end":631.876},{"text":"of","start":631.988,"end":632.116},{"text":"colonial","start":632.133,"end":632.534},{"text":"governance","start":632.534,"end":633.096},{"text":"continue","start":633.417,"end":633.754},{"text":"to","start":633.754,"end":633.963},{"text":"shape","start":633.979,"end":634.172},{"text":"public","start":634.236,"end":634.557},{"text":"health.","start":634.557,"end":634.766}]},{"text":"The federally imposed Fiscal Oversight and Management Board has overseen austerity measures that have weakened essential public services.","start":635.44,"end":643.035,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":635.44,"end":635.585},{"text":"federally","start":635.585,"end":636.002},{"text":"imposed","start":636.018,"end":636.612},{"text":"Fiscal","start":636.709,"end":637.094},{"text":"Oversight","start":637.126,"end":637.56},{"text":"and","start":637.608,"end":637.672},{"text":"Management","start":637.688,"end":638.202},{"text":"Board","start":638.25,"end":638.539},{"text":"has","start":638.876,"end":639.021},{"text":"overseen","start":639.133,"end":639.663},{"text":"austerity","start":639.759,"end":640.193},{"text":"measures","start":640.193,"end":640.626},{"text":"that","start":640.899,"end":641.044},{"text":"have","start":641.044,"end":641.237},{"text":"weakened","start":641.285,"end":641.67},{"text":"essential","start":641.718,"end":642.216},{"text":"public","start":642.264,"end":642.585},{"text":"services.","start":642.585,"end":643.035}]},{"text":"The deterioration of water infrastructure, the privatization of electrical services, and cuts to public education have worsened social determinants of health.","start":643.693,"end":652.508,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":643.693,"end":643.758},{"text":"deterioration","start":643.79,"end":644.641},{"text":"of","start":644.753,"end":644.881},{"text":"water","start":644.914,"end":645.219},{"text":"infrastructure,","start":645.235,"end":645.877},{"text":"the","start":646.278,"end":646.359},{"text":"privatization","start":646.359,"end":647.194},{"text":"of","start":647.306,"end":647.354},{"text":"electrical","start":647.386,"end":647.804},{"text":"services,","start":647.804,"end":648.334},{"text":"and","start":648.767,"end":648.831},{"text":"cuts","start":648.912,"end":649.185},{"text":"to","start":649.249,"end":649.329},{"text":"public","start":649.329,"end":649.65},{"text":"education","start":649.65,"end":650.18},{"text":"have","start":650.614,"end":650.838},{"text":"worsened","start":650.838,"end":651.304},{"text":"social","start":651.352,"end":651.706},{"text":"determinants","start":651.722,"end":652.155},{"text":"of","start":652.155,"end":652.284},{"text":"health.","start":652.284,"end":652.508}]},{"text":"Inadequate healthcare reimbursement and chronic underinvestment have driven thousands of healthcare professionals from the archipelago, limiting access to care.","start":653.183,"end":661.542,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"Inadequate","start":653.183,"end":653.712},{"text":"healthcare","start":653.808,"end":654.225},{"text":"reimbursement","start":654.225,"end":654.899},{"text":"and","start":654.948,"end":655.124},{"text":"chronic","start":655.172,"end":655.525},{"text":"underinvestment","start":655.589,"end":656.311},{"text":"have","start":656.632,"end":656.793},{"text":"driven","start":656.793,"end":657.05},{"text":"thousands","start":657.194,"end":657.723},{"text":"of","start":657.836,"end":657.964},{"text":"healthcare","start":657.98,"end":658.381},{"text":"professionals","start":658.381,"end":659.007},{"text":"from","start":659.28,"end":659.505},{"text":"the","start":659.505,"end":659.601},{"text":"archipelago,","start":659.601,"end":660.162},{"text":"limiting","start":660.483,"end":660.756},{"text":"access","start":660.884,"end":661.221},{"text":"to","start":661.286,"end":661.366},{"text":"care.","start":661.366,"end":661.542}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico remains vulnerable to public health emergencies.","start":661.992,"end":665.586,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":661.992,"end":662.617},{"text":"Rico","start":662.649,"end":663.115},{"text":"remains","start":663.131,"end":663.5},{"text":"vulnerable","start":663.612,"end":664.045},{"text":"to","start":664.318,"end":664.382},{"text":"public","start":664.415,"end":664.735},{"text":"health","start":664.735,"end":664.976},{"text":"emergencies.","start":664.976,"end":665.586}]},{"text":"The devastation of Hurricane María exposed the deadly consequences of weakened infrastructure and political powerlessness.","start":666.019,"end":672.486,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":666.019,"end":666.099},{"text":"devastation","start":666.115,"end":666.789},{"text":"of","start":666.918,"end":666.998},{"text":"Hurricane","start":666.998,"end":667.351},{"text":"María","start":667.351,"end":667.8},{"text":"exposed","start":667.8,"end":668.314},{"text":"the","start":668.346,"end":668.426},{"text":"deadly","start":668.506,"end":668.763},{"text":"consequences","start":668.827,"end":669.597},{"text":"of","start":670.031,"end":670.191},{"text":"weakened","start":670.191,"end":670.576},{"text":"infrastructure","start":670.592,"end":671.218},{"text":"and","start":671.298,"end":671.394},{"text":"political","start":671.394,"end":671.844},{"text":"powerlessness.","start":671.876,"end":672.486}]},{"text":"The lack of reliable access to clean potable water continues to increase risk associated with dengue, chikungunya, and Zika.","start":673.079,"end":680.701,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":673.079,"end":673.224},{"text":"lack","start":673.224,"end":673.561},{"text":"of","start":673.625,"end":673.705},{"text":"reliable","start":673.705,"end":674.668},{"text":"access","start":674.748,"end":675.117},{"text":"to","start":675.229,"end":675.39},{"text":"clean","start":675.63,"end":675.919},{"text":"potable","start":676.032,"end":676.401},{"text":"water","start":676.449,"end":676.754},{"text":"continues","start":677.075,"end":677.54},{"text":"to","start":677.556,"end":677.62},{"text":"increase","start":677.716,"end":678.118},{"text":"risk","start":678.118,"end":678.39},{"text":"associated","start":678.455,"end":678.952},{"text":"with","start":678.952,"end":679.161},{"text":"dengue,","start":679.177,"end":679.433},{"text":"chikungunya,","start":679.642,"end":680.236},{"text":"and","start":680.3,"end":680.364},{"text":"Zika.","start":680.38,"end":680.701}]},{"text":"In a tropical environment already burdened by climate-related challenges such as the impending Project Escencia.","start":681.102,"end":686.64,"topics":[{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":681.102,"end":681.134},{"text":"a","start":681.198,"end":681.263},{"text":"tropical","start":681.263,"end":681.664},{"text":"environment","start":681.664,"end":682.194},{"text":"already","start":682.37,"end":682.675},{"text":"burdened","start":682.707,"end":683.028},{"text":"by","start":683.028,"end":683.189},{"text":"climate-related","start":683.189,"end":683.895},{"text":"challenges","start":683.895,"end":684.441},{"text":"such","start":684.714,"end":684.923},{"text":"as","start":684.955,"end":685.083},{"text":"the","start":685.099,"end":685.195},{"text":"impending","start":685.195,"end":685.645},{"text":"Project","start":685.677,"end":686.062},{"text":"Escencia.","start":686.078,"end":686.64}]},{"text":"The municipality of Vieques remains a stark example of environmental injustice.","start":687.346,"end":692.13,"topics":[{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."},{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":687.346,"end":687.427},{"text":"municipality","start":687.427,"end":688.133},{"text":"of","start":688.165,"end":688.245},{"text":"Vieques","start":688.245,"end":688.855},{"text":"remains","start":689.208,"end":689.53},{"text":"a","start":689.61,"end":689.626},{"text":"stark","start":689.626,"end":690.107},{"text":"example","start":690.188,"end":690.798},{"text":"of","start":690.878,"end":690.974},{"text":"environmental","start":690.974,"end":691.52},{"text":"injustice.","start":691.6,"end":692.13}]},{"text":"After decades of military bombing, residents continue to experience disproportionate rates of cancer and chronic disease while lacking adequate access to a hospital.","start":692.804,"end":701.569,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"After","start":692.804,"end":692.981},{"text":"decades","start":693.061,"end":693.462},{"text":"of","start":693.462,"end":693.51},{"text":"military","start":693.527,"end":693.96},{"text":"bombing,","start":694.024,"end":694.313},{"text":"residents","start":694.65,"end":695.148},{"text":"continue","start":695.228,"end":695.629},{"text":"to","start":695.629,"end":695.774},{"text":"experience","start":695.79,"end":696.416},{"text":"disproportionate","start":696.657,"end":697.411},{"text":"rates","start":697.475,"end":697.716},{"text":"of","start":697.716,"end":697.796},{"text":"cancer","start":697.812,"end":698.406},{"text":"and","start":698.422,"end":698.487},{"text":"chronic","start":698.519,"end":698.84},{"text":"disease","start":698.84,"end":699.289},{"text":"while","start":699.626,"end":699.787},{"text":"lacking","start":699.787,"end":700.092},{"text":"adequate","start":700.204,"end":700.589},{"text":"access","start":700.589,"end":700.927},{"text":"to","start":700.927,"end":701.023},{"text":"a","start":701.023,"end":701.055},{"text":"hospital.","start":701.071,"end":701.569}]},{"text":"The closure of hospitals, dialysis centers, and HIV clinics across Puerto Rico has further deepened health disparities.","start":702.195,"end":708.519,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":702.195,"end":702.259},{"text":"closure","start":702.291,"end":702.676},{"text":"of","start":702.676,"end":702.757},{"text":"hospitals,","start":702.757,"end":703.302},{"text":"dialysis","start":703.35,"end":703.832},{"text":"centers,","start":703.88,"end":704.265},{"text":"and","start":704.378,"end":704.442},{"text":"HIV","start":704.603,"end":704.94},{"text":"clinics","start":705.02,"end":705.485},{"text":"across","start":705.742,"end":706.127},{"text":"Puerto","start":706.127,"end":706.449},{"text":"Rico","start":706.465,"end":706.786},{"text":"has","start":706.85,"end":706.962},{"text":"further","start":707.026,"end":707.347},{"text":"deepened","start":707.347,"end":707.749},{"text":"health","start":707.749,"end":707.957},{"text":"disparities.","start":707.973,"end":708.519}]},{"text":"As physicians, we are taught to address the root causes of disease rather than merely treat symptoms.","start":709.177,"end":714.331,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"As","start":709.177,"end":709.242},{"text":"physicians,","start":709.338,"end":709.884},{"text":"we","start":710.06,"end":710.141},{"text":"are","start":710.141,"end":710.301},{"text":"taught","start":710.301,"end":710.558},{"text":"to","start":710.558,"end":710.687},{"text":"address","start":710.703,"end":710.992},{"text":"the","start":711.12,"end":711.265},{"text":"root","start":711.265,"end":711.393},{"text":"causes","start":711.441,"end":711.81},{"text":"of","start":711.843,"end":711.955},{"text":"disease","start":711.987,"end":712.372},{"text":"rather","start":712.726,"end":712.966},{"text":"than","start":712.966,"end":713.095},{"text":"merely","start":713.127,"end":713.416},{"text":"treat","start":713.448,"end":713.753},{"text":"symptoms.","start":713.753,"end":714.331}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico's public health crisis cannot be separated from its colonial condition.","start":714.797,"end":718.553,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":714.797,"end":715.053},{"text":"Rico's","start":715.053,"end":715.439},{"text":"public","start":715.455,"end":715.76},{"text":"health","start":715.76,"end":715.952},{"text":"crisis","start":716.001,"end":716.482},{"text":"cannot","start":716.482,"end":716.691},{"text":"be","start":716.739,"end":716.819},{"text":"separated","start":716.819,"end":717.333},{"text":"from","start":717.381,"end":717.51},{"text":"its","start":717.558,"end":717.702},{"text":"colonial","start":717.702,"end":718.184},{"text":"condition.","start":718.184,"end":718.553}]},{"text":"Healthcare access, environmental health, disaster preparedness, and economic stability are all influenced by the archipelago's inability to exercise full self-determination.","start":719.292,"end":728.989,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"Healthcare","start":719.292,"end":719.693},{"text":"access,","start":719.773,"end":720.271},{"text":"environmental","start":720.351,"end":720.929},{"text":"health,","start":720.929,"end":721.202},{"text":"disaster","start":721.556,"end":722.021},{"text":"preparedness,","start":722.021,"end":722.551},{"text":"and","start":722.679,"end":722.744},{"text":"economic","start":722.84,"end":723.322},{"text":"stability","start":723.322,"end":723.771},{"text":"are","start":724.188,"end":724.237},{"text":"all","start":724.429,"end":724.542},{"text":"influenced","start":724.542,"end":725.088},{"text":"by","start":725.088,"end":725.248},{"text":"the","start":725.248,"end":725.328},{"text":"archipelago's","start":725.409,"end":726.051},{"text":"inability","start":726.051,"end":726.581},{"text":"to","start":726.597,"end":726.741},{"text":"exercise","start":726.773,"end":727.223},{"text":"full","start":727.656,"end":727.849},{"text":"self-determination.","start":727.993,"end":728.989}]},{"text":"For this reason, Puerto Rico— Puerto Rican independence is not solely a political aspiration, It is a public health imperative.","start":729.727,"end":736.615,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"For","start":729.727,"end":729.824},{"text":"this","start":729.824,"end":729.952},{"text":"reason,","start":730.064,"end":730.562},{"text":"Puerto","start":730.691,"end":731.108},{"text":"Rico—","start":731.108,"end":731.429},{"text":"Puerto","start":731.67,"end":731.991},{"text":"Rican","start":731.991,"end":732.248},{"text":"independence","start":732.312,"end":732.906},{"text":"is","start":733.195,"end":733.243},{"text":"not","start":733.34,"end":733.452},{"text":"solely","start":733.452,"end":733.805},{"text":"a","start":733.837,"end":733.918},{"text":"political","start":733.918,"end":734.303},{"text":"aspiration,","start":734.303,"end":734.849},{"text":"It","start":735.122,"end":735.202},{"text":"is","start":735.202,"end":735.33},{"text":"a","start":735.346,"end":735.443},{"text":"public","start":735.443,"end":735.78},{"text":"health","start":735.828,"end":736.053},{"text":"imperative.","start":736.085,"end":736.615}]},{"text":"The right to health is inseparable from the right to self-determination.","start":737.209,"end":740.228,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":737.209,"end":737.353},{"text":"right","start":737.353,"end":737.53},{"text":"to","start":737.53,"end":737.659},{"text":"health","start":737.691,"end":737.948},{"text":"is","start":738.012,"end":738.156},{"text":"inseparable","start":738.156,"end":738.702},{"text":"from","start":738.734,"end":738.895},{"text":"the","start":738.895,"end":739.039},{"text":"right","start":739.055,"end":739.232},{"text":"to","start":739.28,"end":739.345},{"text":"self-determination.","start":739.377,"end":740.228}]},{"text":"A sovereign Puerto Rico would possess the authority to design healthcare, environmental, and economic policies responsive to the needs of its people rather than the priorities of external political institutions.","start":740.806,"end":751.837,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"I","start":763.124,"end":763.173},{"text":"respectfully","start":763.205,"end":763.751},{"text":"urge","start":763.927,"end":764.04},{"text":"this","start":764.184,"end":764.345},{"text":"committee","start":764.345,"end":764.714},{"text":"to","start":764.987,"end":765.083},{"text":"recognize","start":765.131,"end":765.597},{"text":"that","start":765.629,"end":765.774},{"text":"decolonization","start":765.774,"end":766.56},{"text":"through","start":766.673,"end":766.817},{"text":"sovereign","start":766.817,"end":767.235},{"text":"independence","start":767.235,"end":767.941},{"text":"is","start":768.198,"end":768.343},{"text":"not","start":768.343,"end":768.503},{"text":"only","start":768.584,"end":768.728},{"text":"a","start":768.905,"end":768.921},{"text":"matter","start":768.937,"end":769.435},{"text":"of","start":769.467,"end":769.531},{"text":"political","start":769.563,"end":769.964},{"text":"rights,","start":769.964,"end":770.27},{"text":"but","start":770.446,"end":770.51},{"text":"also","start":770.51,"end":770.735},{"text":"a","start":770.767,"end":770.864},{"text":"matter","start":770.864,"end":771.233},{"text":"of","start":771.265,"end":771.377},{"text":"public","start":771.41,"end":771.731},{"text":"health,","start":771.795,"end":772.1},{"text":"human","start":772.437,"end":772.742},{"text":"dignity,","start":772.774,"end":773.144},{"text":"and","start":773.577,"end":773.641},{"text":"bioethical","start":773.657,"end":774.3},{"text":"justice","start":774.364,"end":774.894},{"text":"to","start":775.006,"end":775.151},{"text":"secure","start":775.167,"end":775.504},{"text":"the","start":775.504,"end":775.584},{"text":"conditions","start":775.584,"end":776.082},{"text":"necessary","start":776.146,"end":776.596},{"text":"for","start":776.853,"end":777.029},{"text":"health,","start":777.029,"end":777.399},{"text":"survival,","start":777.447,"end":777.961},{"text":"and","start":778.057,"end":778.137},{"text":"a","start":778.137,"end":778.218},{"text":"just","start":778.218,"end":778.474},{"text":"future.","start":778.474,"end":778.78}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":778.956,"end":779.293,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":778.956,"end":779.197},{"text":"you.","start":779.197,"end":779.293}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Melindy Guzman","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Physician"}},{"statement_number":7,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Ms. Guzman.","start":780.642,"end":781.911,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":780.642,"end":780.69},{"text":"thank","start":780.787,"end":781.06},{"text":"Ms.","start":781.06,"end":781.349},{"text":"Guzman.","start":781.429,"end":781.911}]},{"text":"I now invite Ms. Isatis Citron to address the committee.","start":787.392,"end":794.557,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":787.392,"end":787.441},{"text":"now","start":787.489,"end":787.764},{"text":"invite","start":788.054,"end":788.651},{"text":"Ms.","start":788.699,"end":789.732},{"text":"Isatis","start":790.458,"end":791.087},{"text":"Citron","start":791.459,"end":792.136},{"text":"to","start":793.476,"end":793.669},{"text":"address","start":793.685,"end":794.089},{"text":"the","start":794.089,"end":794.186},{"text":"committee.","start":794.186,"end":794.557}]},{"text":"Madam, you have the floor, please.","start":794.992,"end":796.893,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam,","start":794.992,"end":795.347},{"text":"you","start":795.88,"end":796.025},{"text":"have","start":796.025,"end":796.09},{"text":"the","start":796.09,"end":796.138},{"text":"floor,","start":796.186,"end":796.523},{"text":"please.","start":796.668,"end":796.893}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":8,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":797.648,"end":798.211,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":797.648,"end":797.954},{"text":"you.","start":797.954,"end":798.211}]},{"text":"Vengo como— I appear before you as a climate scientist and an activist from Caimito, and as the executive director of Climate TRACE Puerto Rico, where we work to advance climate justice and uphold our people's right to participate, remain, and thrive in our own land.","start":800.204,"end":818.53,"topics":[{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"Vengo","start":800.204,"end":800.605},{"text":"como—","start":800.605,"end":800.911},{"text":"I","start":802.148,"end":802.229},{"text":"appear","start":802.229,"end":802.63},{"text":"before","start":802.63,"end":802.952},{"text":"you","start":802.952,"end":803.08},{"text":"as","start":803.177,"end":803.321},{"text":"a","start":803.418,"end":803.466},{"text":"climate","start":803.595,"end":804.607},{"text":"scientist","start":804.655,"end":805.187},{"text":"and","start":805.187,"end":805.357},{"text":"an","start":805.357,"end":805.408},{"text":"activist","start":805.459,"end":805.918},{"text":"from","start":806.02,"end":806.105},{"text":"Caimito,","start":806.309,"end":806.904},{"text":"and","start":808.628,"end":808.693},{"text":"as","start":808.693,"end":808.758},{"text":"the","start":808.79,"end":808.871},{"text":"executive","start":808.871,"end":809.309},{"text":"director","start":809.309,"end":809.585},{"text":"of","start":809.602,"end":809.65},{"text":"Climate","start":809.764,"end":810.137},{"text":"TRACE","start":810.235,"end":810.575},{"text":"Puerto","start":810.575,"end":810.9},{"text":"Rico,","start":810.9,"end":811.143},{"text":"where","start":811.225,"end":811.371},{"text":"we","start":811.371,"end":811.468},{"text":"work","start":811.468,"end":811.793},{"text":"to","start":811.793,"end":812.036},{"text":"advance","start":812.036,"end":812.458},{"text":"climate","start":812.52,"end":812.776},{"text":"justice","start":812.856,"end":813.081},{"text":"and","start":813.113,"end":813.193},{"text":"uphold","start":813.193,"end":813.577},{"text":"our","start":813.577,"end":813.674},{"text":"people's","start":813.674,"end":814.074},{"text":"right","start":814.074,"end":814.395},{"text":"to","start":814.459,"end":814.731},{"text":"participate,","start":815.26,"end":816.078},{"text":"remain,","start":816.382,"end":816.847},{"text":"and","start":817.264,"end":817.44},{"text":"thrive","start":817.44,"end":817.761},{"text":"in","start":817.761,"end":817.825},{"text":"our","start":817.825,"end":818.001},{"text":"own","start":818.001,"end":818.162},{"text":"land.","start":818.162,"end":818.53}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico appears once again before this committee in its 128th year as a colony of the United States Empire.","start":820.005,"end":827.41,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":827.539,"end":827.699},{"text":"is","start":827.699,"end":827.747},{"text":"a","start":827.795,"end":827.859},{"text":"reality","start":827.859,"end":828.42},{"text":"that","start":828.42,"end":828.532},{"text":"continues","start":828.58,"end":829.189},{"text":"to","start":829.222,"end":829.35},{"text":"violate","start":829.382,"end":829.799},{"text":"fundamental","start":829.847,"end":830.552},{"text":"human","start":830.969,"end":831.305},{"text":"rights,","start":831.369,"end":831.61},{"text":"including","start":831.77,"end":832.235},{"text":"the","start":832.267,"end":832.411},{"text":"rights","start":832.411,"end":832.748},{"text":"to","start":832.748,"end":832.988},{"text":"life,","start":833.052,"end":833.341},{"text":"water,","start":833.613,"end":834.19},{"text":"health,","start":834.495,"end":834.88},{"text":"participate—","start":835.697,"end":836.354},{"text":"to","start":836.354,"end":836.451},{"text":"participate,","start":836.451,"end":837.156},{"text":"uh,","start":837.46,"end":837.637},{"text":"right","start":838.101,"end":838.262},{"text":"to","start":838.262,"end":838.326},{"text":"housing,","start":838.342,"end":838.807},{"text":"and","start":838.999,"end":839.159},{"text":"also","start":839.159,"end":839.32},{"text":"the","start":839.336,"end":839.4},{"text":"healthy","start":839.4,"end":839.72},{"text":"environment.","start":839.72,"end":840.217}]},{"text":"This situation demonstrates the failure of international law to protect my people.","start":840.33,"end":845.408,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":845.763,"end":845.941},{"text":"has","start":845.941,"end":846.313},{"text":"an","start":846.572,"end":846.637},{"text":"effect","start":846.685,"end":847.073},{"text":"on","start":847.073,"end":847.122},{"text":"the","start":847.154,"end":847.251},{"text":"families","start":847.251,"end":847.688},{"text":"that","start":847.704,"end":847.834},{"text":"have","start":847.866,"end":847.995},{"text":"to","start":848.189,"end":848.367},{"text":"flee,","start":848.367,"end":848.755},{"text":"the","start":848.772,"end":848.998},{"text":"climate","start":848.998,"end":849.338},{"text":"crisis","start":849.338,"end":849.629},{"text":"that","start":849.71,"end":849.823},{"text":"is","start":849.823,"end":849.871},{"text":"affecting","start":849.968,"end":850.518},{"text":"the","start":850.954,"end":851.278},{"text":"education","start":852.005,"end":852.49},{"text":"of","start":852.49,"end":852.571},{"text":"our","start":852.571,"end":852.733},{"text":"children.","start":852.733,"end":853.25}]},{"text":"This all, as I said, speaks to the failure of international law to protect my people.","start":855.47,"end":859.566,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"For","start":864.257,"end":864.353},{"text":"10","start":864.353,"end":864.53},{"text":"years,","start":864.642,"end":864.867},{"text":"we've","start":864.964,"end":865.14},{"text":"been","start":865.14,"end":865.349},{"text":"Climate","start":867.22,"end":867.559},{"text":"policy,","start":867.623,"end":868.01},{"text":"public","start":868.123,"end":868.429},{"text":"health,","start":868.429,"end":868.607},{"text":"and","start":868.623,"end":868.687},{"text":"dignity","start":868.687,"end":868.978},{"text":"of","start":868.994,"end":869.09},{"text":"other","start":869.09,"end":869.236},{"text":"people","start":869.236,"end":869.477},{"text":"have","start":869.477,"end":869.622},{"text":"been","start":869.655,"end":869.751},{"text":"treated","start":869.816,"end":870.074},{"text":"as","start":870.074,"end":870.187},{"text":"bargaining","start":870.219,"end":870.59},{"text":"chips","start":870.686,"end":871.025},{"text":"in","start":871.025,"end":871.154},{"text":"the","start":871.267,"end":871.46},{"text":"pursuit","start":871.589,"end":872.008},{"text":"of","start":872.008,"end":872.073},{"text":"fiscal","start":872.073,"end":872.379},{"text":"adjustment.","start":872.379,"end":872.863}]},{"text":"And these— colonialism doesn't always come with imperial decrees.","start":874.22,"end":886.476,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"And","start":874.22,"end":874.397},{"text":"these—","start":874.397,"end":874.786},{"text":"colonialism","start":874.964,"end":883.231},{"text":"doesn't","start":883.796,"end":884.216},{"text":"always","start":884.426,"end":884.894},{"text":"come","start":884.991,"end":885.33},{"text":"with","start":885.33,"end":885.588},{"text":"imperial","start":885.653,"end":886.17},{"text":"decrees.","start":886.218,"end":886.476}]},{"text":"Sometimes it comes as a fiscal board, other austerity policies, and forced remilitarization, or, or or extra extraction policies that purport to protect, uh, those areas but solely serve billionaires.","start":886.557,"end":905.069,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"Sometimes","start":886.557,"end":887.154},{"text":"it","start":887.171,"end":887.203},{"text":"comes","start":887.203,"end":887.639},{"text":"as","start":887.816,"end":888.042},{"text":"a","start":888.139,"end":888.155},{"text":"fiscal","start":888.236,"end":888.85},{"text":"board,","start":888.882,"end":889.415},{"text":"other","start":889.512,"end":889.738},{"text":"austerity","start":889.754,"end":890.464},{"text":"policies,","start":890.819,"end":891.594},{"text":"and","start":891.853,"end":892.079},{"text":"forced","start":892.192,"end":892.6},{"text":"remilitarization,","start":892.6,"end":893.626},{"text":"or,","start":893.887,"end":893.936},{"text":"or","start":894.066,"end":894.408},{"text":"or","start":894.502,"end":894.679},{"text":"extra","start":894.743,"end":895.192},{"text":"extraction","start":895.209,"end":895.835},{"text":"policies","start":896.413,"end":897.039},{"text":"that","start":897.216,"end":897.794},{"text":"purport","start":897.794,"end":898.629},{"text":"to","start":898.661,"end":899.015},{"text":"protect,","start":899.24,"end":899.946},{"text":"uh,","start":900.107,"end":900.283},{"text":"those","start":901.247,"end":901.536},{"text":"areas","start":902.195,"end":902.5},{"text":"but","start":902.692,"end":902.949},{"text":"solely","start":903.431,"end":903.833},{"text":"serve","start":903.833,"end":904.347},{"text":"billionaires.","start":904.539,"end":905.069}]},{"text":"This is reflected in the corruption of a government that seeks to legalize the illegal.","start":905.969,"end":909.903,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":905.969,"end":906.081},{"text":"is","start":906.081,"end":906.21},{"text":"reflected","start":906.21,"end":906.611},{"text":"in","start":906.611,"end":906.675},{"text":"the","start":906.707,"end":906.788},{"text":"corruption","start":906.788,"end":907.366},{"text":"of","start":907.366,"end":907.446},{"text":"a","start":907.446,"end":907.51},{"text":"government","start":907.51,"end":907.832},{"text":"that","start":907.832,"end":907.928},{"text":"seeks","start":907.928,"end":908.297},{"text":"to","start":908.313,"end":908.57},{"text":"legalize","start":908.699,"end":909.165},{"text":"the","start":909.261,"end":909.422},{"text":"illegal.","start":909.422,"end":909.903}]},{"text":"The colony doesn't only occupy territories, it also molds consciences.","start":910.225,"end":914.368,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":910.225,"end":910.305},{"text":"colony","start":910.305,"end":910.642},{"text":"doesn't","start":910.642,"end":910.931},{"text":"only","start":910.947,"end":911.172},{"text":"occupy","start":911.188,"end":911.718},{"text":"territories,","start":911.766,"end":912.328},{"text":"it","start":912.344,"end":912.473},{"text":"also","start":912.553,"end":912.923},{"text":"molds","start":913.372,"end":913.822},{"text":"consciences.","start":913.838,"end":914.368}]},{"text":"Corruption doesn't surge in a vacuum, it flourishes where there is a concentration with power without accountability., a, the people as having their right to self-determination violated before they can even exercise it. 10 years on from PROMESA, we reiterate to this committee the future of Puerto Rico is— will be decided by the people of Puerto Rico, not a fiscal board, not billionaires, and not outside interests.","start":914.416,"end":940.05,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Corruption","start":914.416,"end":914.946},{"text":"doesn't","start":915.059,"end":915.701},{"text":"surge","start":915.878,"end":916.44},{"text":"in","start":916.504,"end":916.552},{"text":"a","start":916.648,"end":916.825},{"text":"vacuum,","start":917.13,"end":917.58},{"text":"it","start":917.612,"end":917.708},{"text":"flourishes","start":917.708,"end":918.238},{"text":"where","start":918.271,"end":918.367},{"text":"there","start":918.367,"end":918.495},{"text":"is","start":918.495,"end":918.576},{"text":"a","start":918.576,"end":918.656},{"text":"concentration","start":918.656,"end":919.363},{"text":"with","start":919.395,"end":919.604},{"text":"power","start":919.716,"end":919.973},{"text":"without","start":919.973,"end":920.214},{"text":"accountability.,","start":920.214,"end":922.21},{"text":"a,","start":922.21,"end":924.37},{"text":"the","start":924.37,"end":924.37},{"text":"people","start":924.37,"end":924.71},{"text":"as","start":924.71,"end":924.93},{"text":"having","start":924.93,"end":925.17},{"text":"their","start":925.17,"end":925.39},{"text":"right","start":925.39,"end":925.75},{"text":"to","start":925.75,"end":926.01},{"text":"self-determination","start":926.01,"end":926.66},{"text":"violated","start":927.14,"end":927.89},{"text":"before","start":927.89,"end":928.19},{"text":"they","start":928.19,"end":928.31},{"text":"can","start":928.31,"end":928.49},{"text":"even","start":928.49,"end":928.61},{"text":"exercise","start":928.61,"end":929.03},{"text":"it.","start":929.03,"end":929.63},{"text":"10","start":929.63,"end":929.63},{"text":"years","start":929.63,"end":929.83},{"text":"on","start":929.83,"end":930.05},{"text":"from","start":930.05,"end":930.21},{"text":"PROMESA,","start":930.21,"end":930.71},{"text":"we","start":930.71,"end":930.73},{"text":"reiterate","start":930.73,"end":931.19},{"text":"to","start":931.19,"end":931.39},{"text":"this","start":931.39,"end":931.53},{"text":"committee","start":931.53,"end":931.89},{"text":"the","start":931.89,"end":932.07},{"text":"future","start":932.07,"end":932.33},{"text":"of","start":932.33,"end":932.59},{"text":"Puerto","start":932.59,"end":932.71},{"text":"Rico","start":932.9,"end":933.45},{"text":"is—","start":933.45,"end":933.73},{"text":"will","start":933.73,"end":933.81},{"text":"be","start":933.81,"end":933.91},{"text":"decided","start":933.91,"end":934.13},{"text":"by","start":934.13,"end":934.31},{"text":"the","start":934.31,"end":934.35},{"text":"people","start":934.35,"end":934.63},{"text":"of","start":934.63,"end":934.79},{"text":"Puerto","start":934.79,"end":935.11},{"text":"Rico,","start":935.11,"end":935.57},{"text":"not","start":935.57,"end":935.77},{"text":"a","start":935.77,"end":936.63},{"text":"fiscal","start":936.63,"end":936.93},{"text":"board,","start":936.93,"end":937.55},{"text":"not","start":937.55,"end":937.589},{"text":"billionaires,","start":937.589,"end":938.43},{"text":"and","start":938.43,"end":938.51},{"text":"not","start":938.51,"end":938.89},{"text":"outside","start":938.89,"end":939.43},{"text":"interests.","start":939.43,"end":940.05}]},{"text":"We ask this committee to reaffirm the inalienable right of the Puerto Rican people to self-determination, to recognize the debt, the external fiscal control, and the impediments on development imposed as direct obstacles.","start":940.05,"end":953.793,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":940.05,"end":940.13},{"text":"ask","start":940.13,"end":940.33},{"text":"this","start":940.33,"end":940.49},{"text":"committee","start":940.49,"end":940.73},{"text":"to","start":940.73,"end":940.91},{"text":"reaffirm","start":940.91,"end":941.29},{"text":"the","start":941.29,"end":941.41},{"text":"inalienable","start":941.41,"end":941.91},{"text":"right","start":942.03,"end":942.23},{"text":"of","start":942.23,"end":942.35},{"text":"the","start":942.35,"end":942.49},{"text":"Puerto","start":942.49,"end":942.67},{"text":"Rican","start":942.67,"end":942.91},{"text":"people","start":942.91,"end":943.15},{"text":"to","start":943.15,"end":943.33},{"text":"self-determination,","start":943.33,"end":943.83},{"text":"to","start":944.13,"end":944.19},{"text":"recognize","start":944.19,"end":944.59},{"text":"the","start":944.59,"end":944.77},{"text":"debt,","start":944.77,"end":945.77},{"text":"the","start":945.91,"end":945.95},{"text":"external","start":945.95,"end":946.53},{"text":"fiscal","start":946.53,"end":946.91},{"text":"control,","start":946.91,"end":947.67},{"text":"and","start":947.67,"end":947.97},{"text":"the","start":948.15,"end":948.748},{"text":"impediments","start":949.863,"end":951.157},{"text":"on","start":951.157,"end":951.222},{"text":"development","start":951.335,"end":951.901},{"text":"imposed","start":951.901,"end":952.531},{"text":"as","start":952.612,"end":952.758},{"text":"direct","start":952.871,"end":953.259},{"text":"obstacles.","start":953.34,"end":953.793}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico is coming to demand what belongs to us, the right to decide on our own destiny.","start":953.841,"end":959.059,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":953.841,"end":954.116},{"text":"Rico","start":954.165,"end":954.569},{"text":"is","start":955.038,"end":955.183},{"text":"coming","start":955.28,"end":955.507},{"text":"to","start":955.62,"end":955.765},{"text":"demand","start":955.765,"end":956.234},{"text":"what","start":956.267,"end":956.541},{"text":"belongs","start":956.671,"end":956.962},{"text":"to","start":956.994,"end":957.124},{"text":"us,","start":957.221,"end":957.269},{"text":"the","start":957.398,"end":957.479},{"text":"right","start":957.479,"end":957.641},{"text":"to","start":957.641,"end":957.69},{"text":"decide","start":957.69,"end":958.028},{"text":"on","start":958.028,"end":958.06},{"text":"our","start":958.06,"end":958.205},{"text":"own","start":958.205,"end":958.414},{"text":"destiny.","start":958.608,"end":959.059}]},{"text":"This is a debt that has been pending for more than 100 years.","start":959.236,"end":962.039,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":959.236,"end":959.445},{"text":"is","start":959.8,"end":959.864},{"text":"a","start":960.041,"end":960.138},{"text":"debt","start":960.138,"end":960.267},{"text":"that","start":960.38,"end":960.444},{"text":"has","start":960.444,"end":960.589},{"text":"been","start":960.605,"end":960.669},{"text":"pending","start":960.766,"end":960.992},{"text":"for","start":961.088,"end":961.137},{"text":"more","start":961.137,"end":961.282},{"text":"than","start":961.282,"end":961.362},{"text":"100","start":961.362,"end":961.765},{"text":"years.","start":961.765,"end":962.039}]},{"text":"It's now time to recover it.","start":962.474,"end":965.615,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"It's","start":962.474,"end":962.586},{"text":"now","start":962.635,"end":962.812},{"text":"time","start":962.941,"end":963.247},{"text":"to","start":963.424,"end":963.698},{"text":"recover","start":964.954,"end":965.373},{"text":"it.","start":965.373,"end":965.615}]},{"text":"Long live Puerto Rico.","start":966.001,"end":966.822,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Long","start":966.001,"end":966.146},{"text":"live","start":966.178,"end":966.339},{"text":"Puerto","start":966.339,"end":966.63},{"text":"Rico.","start":966.63,"end":966.822}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Isatis Citron","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Executive Director"}},{"statement_number":9,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Citron. I now invite Mr. Juan Carlos Martinez Rousado to address the committee.","start":967.257,"end":978.385,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Citron.","start":967.257,"end":968.077},{"text":"I","start":970.681,"end":970.713},{"text":"now","start":970.762,"end":970.922},{"text":"invite","start":971.083,"end":971.694},{"text":"Mr.","start":972.369,"end":972.932},{"text":"Juan","start":973.093,"end":973.463},{"text":"Carlos","start":973.575,"end":974.106},{"text":"Martinez","start":974.219,"end":974.83},{"text":"Rousado","start":975.825,"end":976.36},{"text":"to","start":977.283,"end":977.429},{"text":"address","start":977.445,"end":977.834},{"text":"the","start":977.834,"end":977.931},{"text":"committee.","start":977.931,"end":978.385}]},{"text":"Sir, you have the floor, please.","start":978.676,"end":980.296,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Sir,","start":978.676,"end":979.065},{"text":"you","start":979.211,"end":979.308},{"text":"have","start":979.308,"end":979.47},{"text":"the","start":979.47,"end":979.551},{"text":"floor,","start":979.551,"end":979.956},{"text":"please.","start":980.037,"end":980.296}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":10,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"We speak in this forum on behalf of the Movement of Sovereignist Dialogue to denounce the persistence of the colonial regime in Puerto Rico.","start":987.045,"end":994.904,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":987.045,"end":987.158},{"text":"speak","start":987.949,"end":988.433},{"text":"in","start":988.433,"end":988.497},{"text":"this","start":988.497,"end":988.659},{"text":"forum","start":988.723,"end":988.885},{"text":"on","start":988.982,"end":989.03},{"text":"behalf","start":989.062,"end":989.53},{"text":"of","start":989.53,"end":989.756},{"text":"the","start":989.853,"end":989.934},{"text":"Movement","start":990.176,"end":990.741},{"text":"of","start":990.741,"end":990.886},{"text":"Sovereignist","start":990.902,"end":991.386},{"text":"Dialogue","start":991.483,"end":992.064},{"text":"to","start":992.112,"end":992.209},{"text":"denounce","start":992.29,"end":992.774},{"text":"the","start":992.774,"end":992.919},{"text":"persistence","start":992.919,"end":993.355},{"text":"of","start":993.355,"end":993.435},{"text":"the","start":993.435,"end":993.564},{"text":"colonial","start":993.564,"end":994.049},{"text":"regime","start":994.049,"end":994.339},{"text":"in","start":994.387,"end":994.452},{"text":"Puerto","start":994.549,"end":994.742},{"text":"Rico.","start":994.775,"end":994.904}]},{"text":"While the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, while exalting the universal principles of freedom, self-determination, and self-government, It maintains under its colonial control any Caribbean nation that continues to be deprived of its sovereignty.","start":995.339,"end":1010.469,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"While","start":995.339,"end":995.452},{"text":"the","start":995.452,"end":995.582},{"text":"United","start":995.582,"end":995.84},{"text":"States","start":995.84,"end":996.05},{"text":"celebrates","start":996.05,"end":996.484},{"text":"250","start":996.484,"end":997.192},{"text":"years","start":997.192,"end":997.336},{"text":"of","start":997.385,"end":997.465},{"text":"independence,","start":997.465,"end":998.108},{"text":"while","start":998.8,"end":998.929},{"text":"exalting","start":999.057,"end":999.524},{"text":"the","start":999.62,"end":999.701},{"text":"universal","start":999.862,"end":1000.328},{"text":"principles","start":1000.328,"end":1000.795},{"text":"of","start":1001.132,"end":1001.245},{"text":"freedom,","start":1001.245,"end":1001.663},{"text":"self-determination,","start":1001.711,"end":1002.644},{"text":"and","start":1002.677,"end":1002.837},{"text":"self-government,","start":1002.837,"end":1003.577},{"text":"It","start":1003.968,"end":1004.048},{"text":"maintains","start":1004.048,"end":1004.738},{"text":"under","start":1004.738,"end":1004.979},{"text":"its","start":1004.979,"end":1005.156},{"text":"colonial","start":1005.156,"end":1005.605},{"text":"control","start":1005.637,"end":1005.99},{"text":"any","start":1006.681,"end":1006.889},{"text":"Caribbean","start":1007.146,"end":1007.724},{"text":"nation","start":1007.724,"end":1008.093},{"text":"that","start":1008.27,"end":1008.543},{"text":"continues","start":1008.591,"end":1009.057},{"text":"to","start":1009.169,"end":1009.313},{"text":"be","start":1009.313,"end":1009.41},{"text":"deprived","start":1009.41,"end":1009.891},{"text":"of","start":1009.891,"end":1009.972},{"text":"its","start":1009.972,"end":1010.052},{"text":"sovereignty.","start":1010.052,"end":1010.469}]},{"text":"This historical and moral contradiction cannot continue to be ignored by the international community.","start":1010.517,"end":1014.755,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":1010.517,"end":1010.646},{"text":"historical","start":1010.935,"end":1011.416},{"text":"and","start":1011.416,"end":1011.529},{"text":"moral","start":1011.577,"end":1011.802},{"text":"contradiction","start":1011.802,"end":1012.347},{"text":"cannot","start":1012.38,"end":1012.701},{"text":"continue","start":1012.701,"end":1013.022},{"text":"to","start":1013.022,"end":1013.15},{"text":"be","start":1013.166,"end":1013.246},{"text":"ignored","start":1013.246,"end":1013.6},{"text":"by","start":1013.664,"end":1013.744},{"text":"the","start":1013.744,"end":1013.792},{"text":"international","start":1013.824,"end":1014.37},{"text":"community.","start":1014.37,"end":1014.755}]},{"text":"Decolonization of Puerto Rico is urgent and necessary because, as Aimé Césaire said, colonization dehumanizes the colonizer and the colonized.","start":1015.173,"end":1023.424,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Decolonization","start":1015.173,"end":1015.911},{"text":"of","start":1015.911,"end":1015.975},{"text":"Puerto","start":1015.975,"end":1016.216},{"text":"Rico","start":1016.216,"end":1016.473},{"text":"is","start":1016.473,"end":1016.521},{"text":"urgent","start":1016.778,"end":1017.099},{"text":"and","start":1017.115,"end":1017.179},{"text":"necessary","start":1017.276,"end":1017.838},{"text":"because,","start":1017.838,"end":1018.127},{"text":"as","start":1018.239,"end":1018.287},{"text":"Aimé","start":1018.544,"end":1018.737},{"text":"Césaire","start":1018.737,"end":1019.363},{"text":"said,","start":1019.363,"end":1019.652},{"text":"colonization","start":1020.31,"end":1021.032},{"text":"dehumanizes","start":1021.032,"end":1021.979},{"text":"the","start":1022.011,"end":1022.156},{"text":"colonizer","start":1022.156,"end":1022.718},{"text":"and","start":1022.798,"end":1022.894},{"text":"the","start":1022.894,"end":1022.975},{"text":"colonized.","start":1022.975,"end":1023.424}]},{"text":"This dehumanization of our colonizer has become clear with its unjustified attacks against countries and threats even against allies.","start":1023.761,"end":1034.019,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":1023.761,"end":1023.89},{"text":"dehumanization","start":1024.901,"end":1025.784},{"text":"of","start":1025.784,"end":1025.88},{"text":"our","start":1026.249,"end":1026.683},{"text":"colonizer","start":1026.827,"end":1027.47},{"text":"has","start":1027.855,"end":1027.919},{"text":"become","start":1028.176,"end":1028.401},{"text":"clear","start":1028.577,"end":1029.316},{"text":"with","start":1029.797,"end":1030.07},{"text":"its","start":1030.102,"end":1030.231},{"text":"unjustified","start":1030.664,"end":1031.178},{"text":"attacks","start":1031.178,"end":1031.579},{"text":"against","start":1031.579,"end":1031.884},{"text":"countries","start":1031.884,"end":1032.414},{"text":"and","start":1032.526,"end":1032.591},{"text":"threats","start":1032.607,"end":1032.96},{"text":"even","start":1033.024,"end":1033.233},{"text":"against","start":1033.233,"end":1033.602},{"text":"allies.","start":1033.634,"end":1034.019}]},{"text":"Cesare stated that a nation that colonizes and justifies its colonization is a civilization that is morally sick, that naturally will produce its own Hitler.","start":1034.372,"end":1044.329,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Cesare","start":1034.372,"end":1034.869},{"text":"stated","start":1035.897,"end":1036.411},{"text":"that","start":1036.443,"end":1036.604},{"text":"a","start":1036.604,"end":1036.62},{"text":"nation","start":1036.62,"end":1037.086},{"text":"that","start":1037.086,"end":1037.246},{"text":"colonizes","start":1037.246,"end":1037.712},{"text":"and","start":1037.808,"end":1037.905},{"text":"justifies","start":1037.905,"end":1038.435},{"text":"its","start":1038.563,"end":1038.852},{"text":"colonization","start":1038.852,"end":1039.543},{"text":"is","start":1039.575,"end":1039.752},{"text":"a","start":1039.752,"end":1039.768},{"text":"civilization","start":1040.137,"end":1040.699},{"text":"that","start":1040.699,"end":1040.763},{"text":"is","start":1040.779,"end":1040.924},{"text":"morally","start":1040.956,"end":1041.325},{"text":"sick,","start":1041.615,"end":1042.096},{"text":"that","start":1042.321,"end":1042.498},{"text":"naturally","start":1042.498,"end":1043.012},{"text":"will","start":1043.044,"end":1043.253},{"text":"produce","start":1043.269,"end":1043.558},{"text":"its","start":1043.622,"end":1043.831},{"text":"own","start":1043.831,"end":1043.975},{"text":"Hitler.","start":1043.991,"end":1044.329}]},{"text":"These were prophetic words, and it's necessary for the General Assembly to make the US regime accountable before it applies its Monroe Doctrine to all of America.","start":1045.035,"end":1058.381,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"These","start":1045.035,"end":1045.18},{"text":"were","start":1045.276,"end":1045.373},{"text":"prophetic","start":1045.373,"end":1045.919},{"text":"words,","start":1045.919,"end":1046.224},{"text":"and","start":1046.416,"end":1046.481},{"text":"it's","start":1046.497,"end":1046.641},{"text":"necessary","start":1046.641,"end":1047.187},{"text":"for","start":1047.219,"end":1047.364},{"text":"the","start":1047.364,"end":1047.444},{"text":"General","start":1047.444,"end":1047.765},{"text":"Assembly","start":1047.765,"end":1048.263},{"text":"to","start":1048.665,"end":1048.841},{"text":"make","start":1049.709,"end":1050.094},{"text":"the","start":1050.094,"end":1050.223},{"text":"US","start":1051.138,"end":1051.411},{"text":"regime","start":1051.54,"end":1052.294},{"text":"accountable","start":1052.294,"end":1053.579},{"text":"before","start":1053.643,"end":1053.9},{"text":"it","start":1053.9,"end":1053.981},{"text":"applies","start":1053.981,"end":1054.334},{"text":"its","start":1054.382,"end":1054.591},{"text":"Monroe","start":1054.591,"end":1055.892},{"text":"Doctrine","start":1056.293,"end":1056.631},{"text":"to","start":1056.759,"end":1056.871},{"text":"all","start":1057.08,"end":1057.128},{"text":"of","start":1057.658,"end":1057.787},{"text":"America.","start":1057.819,"end":1058.381}]},{"text":"Dehumanization of the colonized takes various forms, including failure in fulfilling duties, legislating in favor of US capital and against the well-being of its people.","start":1058.783,"end":1072.738,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Dehumanization","start":1058.783,"end":1059.714},{"text":"of","start":1059.81,"end":1059.955},{"text":"the","start":1059.987,"end":1060.067},{"text":"colonized","start":1060.132,"end":1060.838},{"text":"takes","start":1061.032,"end":1061.336},{"text":"various","start":1061.336,"end":1061.657},{"text":"forms,","start":1061.737,"end":1062.122},{"text":"including","start":1062.154,"end":1062.748},{"text":"failure","start":1062.876,"end":1063.902},{"text":"in","start":1064.72,"end":1064.768},{"text":"fulfilling","start":1064.864,"end":1065.313},{"text":"duties,","start":1065.506,"end":1065.971},{"text":"legislating","start":1066.628,"end":1067.238},{"text":"in","start":1067.286,"end":1067.366},{"text":"favor","start":1067.366,"end":1067.767},{"text":"of","start":1067.767,"end":1067.895},{"text":"US","start":1068.392,"end":1068.729},{"text":"capital","start":1068.729,"end":1069.258},{"text":"and","start":1070.076,"end":1070.333},{"text":"against","start":1070.333,"end":1071.455},{"text":"the","start":1071.455,"end":1071.6},{"text":"well-being","start":1071.68,"end":1072.049},{"text":"of","start":1072.161,"end":1072.241},{"text":"its","start":1072.257,"end":1072.417},{"text":"people.","start":1072.417,"end":1072.738}]},{"text":"Others deny that Puerto Rico is a colony, even though for the past 10 years it has been governed by the Fiscal Control Board.","start":1073.059,"end":1082.424,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1083.258,"end":1083.402},{"text":"board","start":1083.466,"end":1083.931},{"text":"can","start":1084.669,"end":1085.134},{"text":"overturn","start":1085.727,"end":1086.144},{"text":"any","start":1086.208,"end":1086.417},{"text":"local","start":1086.433,"end":1086.721},{"text":"legislation.","start":1086.738,"end":1087.379}]},{"text":"It draws up a fiscal austerity plan for Puerto Rico.","start":1089.18,"end":1093.055,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Consequently,","start":1119.922,"end":1120.406},{"text":"Puerto","start":1120.487,"end":1120.68},{"text":"Rico","start":1120.744,"end":1120.986},{"text":"is","start":1121.002,"end":1121.083},{"text":"suffering","start":1121.083,"end":1121.599},{"text":"total","start":1121.647,"end":1121.921},{"text":"deterioration","start":1121.954,"end":1122.824},{"text":"in","start":1122.824,"end":1122.872},{"text":"healthcare,","start":1123.001,"end":1123.437},{"text":"education,","start":1123.485,"end":1124.017},{"text":"transportation,","start":1124.34,"end":1124.744},{"text":"electricity,","start":1124.776,"end":1125.391},{"text":"water,","start":1126.88,"end":1127.107},{"text":"and","start":1127.123,"end":1127.268},{"text":"others.","start":1127.268,"end":1127.398}]},{"text":"So the United States is embezzling the colony and is destroying its physical and human infrastructure, condemning people to misery, denying their free determination.","start":1127.446,"end":1138.2,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1146.964,"end":1147.028},{"text":"United","start":1147.028,"end":1147.368},{"text":"States","start":1147.368,"end":1147.676},{"text":"has","start":1147.676,"end":1147.74},{"text":"not","start":1147.838,"end":1148.016},{"text":"promoted","start":1148.016,"end":1148.501},{"text":"development,","start":1148.501,"end":1148.986},{"text":"rather","start":1150.508,"end":1150.847},{"text":"social","start":1150.847,"end":1151.478},{"text":"inequality.","start":1151.737,"end":1152.676}]},{"text":"Its presence in Puerto Rico violates international law.","start":1152.967,"end":1155.498,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Its","start":1152.967,"end":1153.194},{"text":"presence","start":1153.194,"end":1153.598},{"text":"in","start":1153.598,"end":1153.679},{"text":"Puerto","start":1153.679,"end":1153.922},{"text":"Rico","start":1153.987,"end":1154.391},{"text":"violates","start":1154.391,"end":1154.814},{"text":"international","start":1154.814,"end":1155.396},{"text":"law.","start":1155.396,"end":1155.498}]},{"text":"It should pay reparations and transfer sovereign powers to Puerto Rico.","start":1157.556,"end":1161.841,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":1268.92,"end":1269.114},{"text":"is","start":1269.325,"end":1269.454},{"text":"the","start":1269.503,"end":1269.632},{"text":"voice","start":1269.632,"end":1269.891},{"text":"of","start":1269.891,"end":1269.972},{"text":"my","start":1269.972,"end":1270.231},{"text":"people,","start":1270.296,"end":1270.782},{"text":"and","start":1271.17,"end":1271.365},{"text":"it","start":1271.365,"end":1271.51},{"text":"should","start":1271.51,"end":1271.737},{"text":"be","start":1271.737,"end":1271.834},{"text":"respected.","start":1271.834,"end":1272.303}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":1272.384,"end":1272.708,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1272.384,"end":1272.627},{"text":"you.","start":1272.627,"end":1272.708}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Annette Morales","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Petitioner"}},{"statement_number":13,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Ms. Morales.","start":1282.662,"end":1284.407,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1282.662,"end":1282.694},{"text":"thank","start":1282.823,"end":1283.324},{"text":"Ms.","start":1283.324,"end":1283.712},{"text":"Morales.","start":1283.793,"end":1284.407}]},{"text":"I now invite Ms. Vivian Riviera Monero to address the committee.","start":1285.166,"end":1292.647,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1285.166,"end":1285.198},{"text":"now","start":1285.263,"end":1285.521},{"text":"invite","start":1285.731,"end":1286.313},{"text":"Ms.","start":1286.313,"end":1286.927},{"text":"Vivian","start":1287.024,"end":1287.476},{"text":"Riviera","start":1287.573,"end":1288.252},{"text":"Monero","start":1288.252,"end":1288.85},{"text":"to","start":1290.756,"end":1290.998},{"text":"address","start":1291.564,"end":1292.049},{"text":"the","start":1292.097,"end":1292.162},{"text":"committee.","start":1292.194,"end":1292.647}]},{"text":"Madam, you have the floor, please.","start":1292.986,"end":1294.666,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam,","start":1292.986,"end":1293.277},{"text":"you","start":1293.551,"end":1293.632},{"text":"have","start":1293.632,"end":1293.778},{"text":"the","start":1293.81,"end":1293.891},{"text":"floor,","start":1293.891,"end":1294.295},{"text":"please.","start":1294.376,"end":1294.666}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":14,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Mrs. Chairman, distinguished delegates, as a member of the Rhode Island extended delegation for Stay Hope for Puerto Rico, I appear before this committee to ask about an issue that has remained unsolved for more than 125 years: the political status of Puerto Rico.","start":1296.85,"end":1319.169,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. 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people."}],"words":[{"text":"Mrs.","start":1296.85,"end":1297.076},{"text":"Chairman,","start":1297.189,"end":1297.658},{"text":"distinguished","start":1298.095,"end":1298.984},{"text":"delegates,","start":1299.065,"end":1299.615},{"text":"as","start":1300.925,"end":1301.055},{"text":"a","start":1301.087,"end":1301.103},{"text":"member","start":1301.103,"end":1301.653},{"text":"of","start":1301.653,"end":1301.75},{"text":"the","start":1301.799,"end":1301.896},{"text":"Rhode","start":1301.896,"end":1302.122},{"text":"Island","start":1302.203,"end":1302.559},{"text":"extended","start":1302.559,"end":1303.157},{"text":"delegation","start":1303.19,"end":1304.047},{"text":"for","start":1304.322,"end":1304.484},{"text":"Stay","start":1304.484,"end":1304.742},{"text":"Hope","start":1304.807,"end":1304.969},{"text":"for","start":1304.969,"end":1305.114},{"text":"Puerto","start":1305.195,"end":1305.6},{"text":"Rico,","start":1305.6,"end":1305.939},{"text":"I","start":1306.668,"end":1306.716},{"text":"appear","start":1306.764,"end":1307.118},{"text":"before","start":1307.23,"end":1307.519},{"text":"this","start":1307.567,"end":1307.809},{"text":"committee","start":1307.809,"end":1308.258},{"text":"to","start":1308.451,"end":1308.596},{"text":"ask","start":1308.676,"end":1308.933},{"text":"about","start":1308.933,"end":1309.271},{"text":"an","start":1309.271,"end":1309.351},{"text":"issue","start":1309.48,"end":1309.881},{"text":"that","start":1311.022,"end":1311.247},{"text":"has","start":1311.247,"end":1311.472},{"text":"remained","start":1311.585,"end":1312.211},{"text":"unsolved","start":1312.211,"end":1312.918},{"text":"for","start":1313.031,"end":1313.272},{"text":"more","start":1313.288,"end":1313.674},{"text":"than","start":1313.674,"end":1313.77},{"text":"125","start":1313.818,"end":1315.57},{"text":"years:","start":1315.682,"end":1316.052},{"text":"the","start":1316.727,"end":1316.887},{"text":"political","start":1316.887,"end":1317.466},{"text":"status","start":1317.466,"end":1318.028},{"text":"of","start":1318.189,"end":1318.269},{"text":"Puerto","start":1318.334,"end":1318.735},{"text":"Rico.","start":1318.735,"end":1319.169}]},{"text":"A recent meeting between Senator Ron Wyden and the Honorable Jennifer González Colón, Governor of Puerto Rico, highlighted several fundamental truths.","start":1320.021,"end":1331.703,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"A","start":1320.021,"end":1320.037},{"text":"recent","start":1320.085,"end":1320.503},{"text":"meeting","start":1320.503,"end":1320.872},{"text":"between","start":1320.985,"end":1321.322},{"text":"Senator","start":1321.322,"end":1321.885},{"text":"Ron","start":1321.949,"end":1322.238},{"text":"Wyden","start":1322.576,"end":1323.026},{"text":"and","start":1323.556,"end":1323.62},{"text":"the","start":1323.717,"end":1323.797},{"text":"Honorable","start":1324.183,"end":1324.649},{"text":"Jennifer","start":1324.761,"end":1325.291},{"text":"González","start":1325.307,"end":1325.934},{"text":"Colón,","start":1326.111,"end":1326.641},{"text":"Governor","start":1327.155,"end":1327.653},{"text":"of","start":1327.653,"end":1327.798},{"text":"Puerto","start":1327.798,"end":1328.135},{"text":"Rico,","start":1328.135,"end":1328.634},{"text":"highlighted","start":1329.084,"end":1329.871},{"text":"several","start":1329.903,"end":1330.257},{"text":"fundamental","start":1330.305,"end":1331.317},{"text":"truths.","start":1331.43,"end":1331.703}]},{"text":"That should inform this assembly and the international community.","start":1332.072,"end":1335.973,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"That","start":1332.072,"end":1332.233},{"text":"should","start":1332.233,"end":1332.57},{"text":"inform","start":1332.698,"end":1333.244},{"text":"this","start":1333.276,"end":1333.517},{"text":"assembly","start":1333.517,"end":1334.127},{"text":"and","start":1334.384,"end":1334.48},{"text":"the","start":1334.48,"end":1334.561},{"text":"international","start":1334.625,"end":1335.427},{"text":"community.","start":1335.427,"end":1335.973}]},{"text":"First, the legal reality is clear.","start":1336.632,"end":1339.65,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"First,","start":1336.632,"end":1337.049},{"text":"the","start":1337.434,"end":1337.531},{"text":"legal","start":1337.595,"end":1338.06},{"text":"reality","start":1338.076,"end":1338.702},{"text":"is","start":1338.959,"end":1339.024},{"text":"clear.","start":1339.216,"end":1339.65}]},{"text":"Multiple legal authorities, including the United States Department of Justice and the Supreme Court of the United States, have concluded that the realistic non-territorial alternatives to Puerto Rico's current status are under the Constitution, is effectively limited to statehood or independence or free association.","start":1340.324,"end":1364.952,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"Multiple","start":1340.324,"end":1340.902},{"text":"legal","start":1340.902,"end":1341.175},{"text":"authorities,","start":1341.303,"end":1341.913},{"text":"including","start":1342.09,"end":1342.555},{"text":"the","start":1343.149,"end":1343.23},{"text":"United","start":1343.294,"end":1343.663},{"text":"States","start":1343.663,"end":1344.032},{"text":"Department","start":1344.032,"end":1344.498},{"text":"of","start":1344.498,"end":1344.642},{"text":"Justice","start":1344.659,"end":1345.269},{"text":"and","start":1345.477,"end":1345.542},{"text":"the","start":1345.558,"end":1345.654},{"text":"Supreme","start":1345.654,"end":1346.087},{"text":"Court","start":1346.2,"end":1346.601},{"text":"of","start":1346.665,"end":1346.778},{"text":"the","start":1346.826,"end":1346.89},{"text":"United","start":1346.922,"end":1347.324},{"text":"States,","start":1347.324,"end":1347.789},{"text":"have","start":1348.688,"end":1348.977},{"text":"concluded","start":1349.073,"end":1349.7},{"text":"that","start":1350.197,"end":1350.342},{"text":"the","start":1350.374,"end":1350.582},{"text":"realistic","start":1350.599,"end":1351.401},{"text":"non-territorial","start":1351.401,"end":1352.605},{"text":"alternatives","start":1352.686,"end":1353.392},{"text":"to","start":1353.504,"end":1353.633},{"text":"Puerto","start":1353.729,"end":1354.066},{"text":"Rico's","start":1354.066,"end":1354.387},{"text":"current","start":1354.387,"end":1354.708},{"text":"status","start":1354.708,"end":1355.206},{"text":"are","start":1355.415,"end":1355.607},{"text":"under","start":1356.378,"end":1356.828},{"text":"the","start":1356.94,"end":1357.1},{"text":"Constitution,","start":1357.1,"end":1358.112},{"text":"is","start":1358.61,"end":1358.69},{"text":"effectively","start":1358.738,"end":1359.332},{"text":"limited","start":1359.91,"end":1360.376},{"text":"to","start":1360.424,"end":1360.504},{"text":"statehood","start":1360.552,"end":1361.227},{"text":"or","start":1361.516,"end":1361.564},{"text":"independence","start":1361.773,"end":1362.688},{"text":"or","start":1363.683,"end":1363.732},{"text":"free","start":1363.78,"end":1364.101},{"text":"association.","start":1364.101,"end":1364.952}]},{"text":"Proposals allowing a territory to by itself determine which federal laws apply or to enter into treaties independently have been rejected as unconstitutional and prohibited by legal precedent.","start":1365.626,"end":1383.706,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"Proposals","start":1365.626,"end":1366.236},{"text":"allowing","start":1366.429,"end":1367.12},{"text":"a","start":1367.312,"end":1367.328},{"text":"territory","start":1367.392,"end":1368.163},{"text":"to","start":1368.436,"end":1368.645},{"text":"by","start":1369.159,"end":1369.335},{"text":"itself","start":1369.335,"end":1370.042},{"text":"determine","start":1370.202,"end":1371.037},{"text":"which","start":1371.487,"end":1371.696},{"text":"federal","start":1371.808,"end":1372.274},{"text":"laws","start":1372.274,"end":1372.498},{"text":"apply","start":1372.611,"end":1372.948},{"text":"or","start":1373.638,"end":1373.735},{"text":"to","start":1373.735,"end":1373.895},{"text":"enter","start":1374.04,"end":1374.361},{"text":"into","start":1374.441,"end":1374.634},{"text":"treaties","start":1374.859,"end":1375.308},{"text":"independently","start":1375.886,"end":1376.641},{"text":"have","start":1377.091,"end":1377.235},{"text":"been","start":1377.267,"end":1377.508},{"text":"rejected","start":1377.508,"end":1378.199},{"text":"as","start":1378.696,"end":1378.761},{"text":"unconstitutional","start":1378.937,"end":1380.864},{"text":"and","start":1380.88,"end":1381.041},{"text":"prohibited","start":1381.041,"end":1381.811},{"text":"by","start":1382.325,"end":1382.438},{"text":"legal","start":1382.55,"end":1382.839},{"text":"precedent.","start":1382.967,"end":1383.706}]},{"text":"Second, people of Puerto Rico have spoken.","start":1384.172,"end":1387.754,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"Second,","start":1384.172,"end":1384.702},{"text":"people","start":1385.296,"end":1385.746},{"text":"of","start":1386.003,"end":1386.067},{"text":"Puerto","start":1386.179,"end":1386.581},{"text":"Rico","start":1386.581,"end":1386.902},{"text":"have","start":1386.967,"end":1387.111},{"text":"spoken.","start":1387.143,"end":1387.754}]},{"text":"The majority preference expressed has been statehood.","start":1388.589,"end":1392.299,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1388.589,"end":1388.733},{"text":"majority","start":1388.733,"end":1389.328},{"text":"preference","start":1389.617,"end":1390.275},{"text":"expressed","start":1390.275,"end":1390.966},{"text":"has","start":1391.143,"end":1391.336},{"text":"been","start":1391.4,"end":1391.625},{"text":"statehood.","start":1391.625,"end":1392.299}]},{"text":"This follows a consistent pattern.","start":1392.845,"end":1394.982,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":1392.845,"end":1393.119},{"text":"follows","start":1393.151,"end":1393.456},{"text":"a","start":1393.568,"end":1393.584},{"text":"consistent","start":1393.649,"end":1394.532},{"text":"pattern.","start":1394.532,"end":1394.982}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico has rejected the territorial status in 4 consecutive plebiscites.","start":1395.399,"end":1401.407,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. 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Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"3","start":1402.419,"end":1402.724},{"text":"clear","start":1402.949,"end":1403.238},{"text":"options","start":1403.431,"end":1403.816},{"text":"have","start":1403.832,"end":1404.057},{"text":"been","start":1404.154,"end":1404.459},{"text":"presented","start":1404.491,"end":1405.182},{"text":"of","start":1405.439,"end":1405.551},{"text":"the","start":1405.551,"end":1405.696},{"text":"people:","start":1405.696,"end":1406.161},{"text":"independence,","start":1406.563,"end":1407.382},{"text":"remaining","start":1407.944,"end":1408.635},{"text":"a","start":1408.683,"end":1408.699},{"text":"territory,","start":1408.828,"end":1409.519},{"text":"or","start":1409.792,"end":1409.888},{"text":"statehood,","start":1409.936,"end":1410.561},{"text":"with","start":1411.315,"end":1411.459},{"text":"statehood","start":1411.459,"end":1412.005},{"text":"being","start":1412.117,"end":1412.325},{"text":"the","start":1412.422,"end":1412.518},{"text":"preferred","start":1412.518,"end":1412.903},{"text":"option","start":1412.999,"end":1413.368},{"text":"of","start":1413.416,"end":1413.496},{"text":"Puerto","start":1413.496,"end":1413.817},{"text":"Ricans.","start":1413.881,"end":1414.25}]},{"text":"Third, we must recognize the extraordinary service and commitment of the people of Puerto Rico.","start":1415.26,"end":1420.697,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Third,","start":1415.26,"end":1415.533},{"text":"we","start":1415.966,"end":1416.062},{"text":"must","start":1416.062,"end":1416.335},{"text":"recognize","start":1416.367,"end":1416.976},{"text":"the","start":1417.008,"end":1417.233},{"text":"extraordinary","start":1417.233,"end":1418.131},{"text":"service","start":1418.131,"end":1418.612},{"text":"and","start":1418.612,"end":1418.756},{"text":"commitment","start":1418.756,"end":1419.27},{"text":"of","start":1419.27,"end":1419.398},{"text":"the","start":1419.398,"end":1419.558},{"text":"people","start":1419.558,"end":1419.879},{"text":"of","start":1419.879,"end":1419.927},{"text":"Puerto","start":1420.039,"end":1420.376},{"text":"Rico.","start":1420.376,"end":1420.697}]},{"text":"More than 230,000 men and women from Puerto Rico have served the Armed Forces of the United States, often sacrificing their lives for the freedoms of this nation, even on American loyal.","start":1421.322,"end":1435.887,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"More","start":1421.322,"end":1421.579},{"text":"than","start":1421.579,"end":1421.707},{"text":"230,000","start":1421.836,"end":1423.247},{"text":"men","start":1423.263,"end":1423.455},{"text":"and","start":1423.52,"end":1423.664},{"text":"women","start":1423.664,"end":1424.049},{"text":"from","start":1424.049,"end":1424.241},{"text":"Puerto","start":1424.305,"end":1424.706},{"text":"Rico","start":1424.706,"end":1425.011},{"text":"have","start":1425.011,"end":1425.236},{"text":"served","start":1425.332,"end":1425.797},{"text":"the","start":1425.829,"end":1425.909},{"text":"Armed","start":1426.134,"end":1426.374},{"text":"Forces","start":1426.374,"end":1426.759},{"text":"of","start":1426.791,"end":1426.92},{"text":"the","start":1426.952,"end":1427.032},{"text":"United","start":1427.032,"end":1427.369},{"text":"States,","start":1427.369,"end":1427.914},{"text":"often","start":1428.459,"end":1428.844},{"text":"sacrificing","start":1429.133,"end":1430.047},{"text":"their","start":1430.143,"end":1430.303},{"text":"lives","start":1430.303,"end":1430.608},{"text":"for","start":1430.704,"end":1430.801},{"text":"the","start":1430.801,"end":1430.945},{"text":"freedoms","start":1430.945,"end":1431.651},{"text":"of","start":1431.827,"end":1431.971},{"text":"this","start":1432.084,"end":1432.436},{"text":"nation,","start":1432.789,"end":1433.254},{"text":"even","start":1433.912,"end":1434.217},{"text":"on","start":1434.633,"end":1434.698},{"text":"American","start":1434.73,"end":1435.259},{"text":"loyal.","start":1435.63,"end":1435.887}]},{"text":"As we celebrate 250th anniversary of the United States of America, this is a symbolic moment to honor that service and finally resolve Puerto Rico's political status.","start":1436.613,"end":1448.372,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. 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Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1484.846,"end":1484.99},{"text":"people","start":1484.99,"end":1485.326},{"text":"of","start":1485.326,"end":1485.455},{"text":"Puerto","start":1485.487,"end":1485.888},{"text":"Rico","start":1485.888,"end":1486.224},{"text":"deserve","start":1486.224,"end":1486.737},{"text":"a","start":1486.994,"end":1487.01},{"text":"permanent","start":1487.234,"end":1487.956},{"text":"Democratic","start":1488.133,"end":1488.958},{"text":"and","start":1489.168,"end":1489.265},{"text":"decolonizing","start":1489.265,"end":1490.283},{"text":"solutions.","start":1490.461,"end":1491.091}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Vivian Riviera Monero","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Member"}},{"statement_number":15,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Miss Moreno.","start":1492.416,"end":1494.113,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1492.416,"end":1492.465},{"text":"thank","start":1492.578,"end":1493.127},{"text":"Miss","start":1493.127,"end":1493.418},{"text":"Moreno.","start":1493.467,"end":1494.113}]},{"text":"I thank Miss Moreno.","start":1495.907,"end":1497.099,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1495.907,"end":1495.94},{"text":"thank","start":1495.972,"end":1496.374},{"text":"Miss","start":1496.374,"end":1496.648},{"text":"Moreno.","start":1496.68,"end":1497.099}]},{"text":"I now invite Mr. Gustavo Quiñones to address the committee.","start":1498.951,"end":1505.626,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1498.951,"end":1499.048},{"text":"now","start":1499.048,"end":1499.386},{"text":"invite","start":1499.757,"end":1500.369},{"text":"Mr.","start":1500.643,"end":1501.045},{"text":"Gustavo","start":1501.206,"end":1501.915},{"text":"Quiñones","start":1502.575,"end":1503.268},{"text":"to","start":1504.589,"end":1504.717},{"text":"address","start":1504.75,"end":1505.073},{"text":"the","start":1505.073,"end":1505.224},{"text":"committee.","start":1505.224,"end":1505.626}]},{"text":"Sir, you have the floor, please.","start":1505.827,"end":1507.302,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Sir,","start":1505.827,"end":1506.213},{"text":"you","start":1506.229,"end":1506.347},{"text":"have","start":1506.347,"end":1506.514},{"text":"the","start":1506.514,"end":1506.648},{"text":"floor,","start":1506.648,"end":1506.933},{"text":"please.","start":1507,"end":1507.302}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":16,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":1511.231,"end":1512.468,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1511.231,"end":1512.303},{"text":"you.","start":1512.303,"end":1512.468}]},{"text":"Distinguished members of the special decolonization committee of the United Nations, respectfully, I'm Gustavo Quiñones representing the eastern region of Puerto Rico.","start":1513.612,"end":1528.214,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Distinguished","start":1513.612,"end":1514.288},{"text":"members","start":1514.417,"end":1514.868},{"text":"of","start":1515.126,"end":1515.206},{"text":"the","start":1515.206,"end":1515.238},{"text":"special","start":1515.238,"end":1515.722},{"text":"decolonization","start":1515.722,"end":1517.783},{"text":"committee","start":1517.783,"end":1518.041},{"text":"of","start":1518.041,"end":1518.121},{"text":"the","start":1518.121,"end":1518.186},{"text":"United","start":1518.186,"end":1518.492},{"text":"Nations,","start":1518.524,"end":1518.894},{"text":"respectfully,","start":1518.926,"end":1519.538},{"text":"I'm","start":1520.295,"end":1520.634},{"text":"Gustavo","start":1520.762,"end":1521.197},{"text":"Quiñones","start":1521.327,"end":1521.957},{"text":"representing","start":1522.135,"end":1522.927},{"text":"the","start":1524.091,"end":1524.285},{"text":"eastern","start":1524.738,"end":1525.094},{"text":"region","start":1527.066,"end":1527.325},{"text":"of","start":1527.325,"end":1527.406},{"text":"Puerto","start":1527.406,"end":1527.6},{"text":"Rico.","start":1527.713,"end":1528.214}]},{"text":"We appear in this forum to demand that the United States stops maintaining the Puerto Rican nation under its imperial domination and continues to violate its human rights of its citizens.","start":1528.942,"end":1542.665,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"And","start":1624.955,"end":1625.084},{"text":"Puerto","start":1625.117,"end":1625.294},{"text":"Rico","start":1625.294,"end":1625.472},{"text":"has","start":1625.488,"end":1625.568},{"text":"never","start":1625.601,"end":1625.988},{"text":"been","start":1625.988,"end":1626.052},{"text":"democratic","start":1626.311,"end":1626.972},{"text":"because","start":1626.972,"end":1627.343},{"text":"a","start":1627.392,"end":1627.408},{"text":"colonial","start":1628.812,"end":1629.247},{"text":"relationship","start":1629.247,"end":1629.732},{"text":"cannot","start":1629.78,"end":1630.312},{"text":"be","start":1630.361,"end":1630.522},{"text":"by","start":1630.522,"end":1630.684},{"text":"its","start":1630.684,"end":1630.845},{"text":"nature","start":1630.845,"end":1631.248},{"text":"democratic.","start":1631.798,"end":1632.607}]},{"text":"We are in the worst— seeing the worst crisis in international relations.","start":1632.704,"end":1638.417,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":1632.704,"end":1632.866},{"text":"are","start":1632.866,"end":1632.947},{"text":"in","start":1632.947,"end":1633.076},{"text":"the","start":1633.108,"end":1633.157},{"text":"worst—","start":1633.254,"end":1633.642},{"text":"seeing","start":1634.565,"end":1634.775},{"text":"the","start":1634.872,"end":1634.937},{"text":"worst","start":1634.953,"end":1635.261},{"text":"crisis","start":1635.277,"end":1635.86},{"text":"in","start":1635.86,"end":1635.941},{"text":"international","start":1635.941,"end":1636.766},{"text":"relations.","start":1637.802,"end":1638.417}]},{"text":"The United States has exceeded all limits, first of all on its own soil, where freedom of expression is criminalized, where dissidents are blacklisted, where This moral degradation of the United States is reflected also in Puerto Rico because the— in fact, Puerto Rico is used as a platform for its military attacks against Central and South America in order to pillages natural wealth.","start":1640.092,"end":1680,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1640.092,"end":1640.157},{"text":"United","start":1640.157,"end":1640.484},{"text":"States","start":1640.484,"end":1640.81},{"text":"has","start":1640.81,"end":1640.973},{"text":"exceeded","start":1640.989,"end":1641.397},{"text":"all","start":1641.462,"end":1641.626},{"text":"limits,","start":1641.626,"end":1642.066},{"text":"first","start":1642.768,"end":1643.012},{"text":"of","start":1643.012,"end":1643.045},{"text":"all","start":1643.045,"end":1643.11},{"text":"on","start":1643.11,"end":1643.273},{"text":"its","start":1643.273,"end":1643.436},{"text":"own","start":1643.436,"end":1643.567},{"text":"soil,","start":1643.844,"end":1644.187},{"text":"where","start":1645.44,"end":1645.813},{"text":"freedom","start":1646.592,"end":1646.819},{"text":"of","start":1646.916,"end":1646.981},{"text":"expression","start":1646.997,"end":1647.403},{"text":"is","start":1647.403,"end":1647.468},{"text":"criminalized,","start":1647.565,"end":1648.361},{"text":"where","start":1648.393,"end":1648.572},{"text":"dissidents","start":1648.945,"end":1649.675},{"text":"are","start":1649.675,"end":1649.773},{"text":"blacklisted,","start":1649.854,"end":1650.633},{"text":"where","start":1650.909,"end":1651.363},{"text":"This","start":1654.78,"end":1654.99},{"text":"moral","start":1657.04,"end":1657.249},{"text":"degradation","start":1657.701,"end":1658.25},{"text":"of","start":1658.25,"end":1658.331},{"text":"the","start":1658.331,"end":1658.411},{"text":"United","start":1658.411,"end":1658.831},{"text":"States","start":1658.831,"end":1659.396},{"text":"is","start":1660.428,"end":1660.574},{"text":"reflected","start":1660.929,"end":1661.477},{"text":"also","start":1661.477,"end":1662.058},{"text":"in","start":1662.365,"end":1662.43},{"text":"Puerto","start":1662.527,"end":1662.866},{"text":"Rico","start":1662.866,"end":1663.335},{"text":"because","start":1664.969,"end":1665.503},{"text":"the—","start":1665.778,"end":1665.94},{"text":"in","start":1666.506,"end":1666.554},{"text":"fact,","start":1666.668,"end":1666.894},{"text":"Puerto","start":1666.926,"end":1667.493},{"text":"Rico","start":1667.493,"end":1667.751},{"text":"is","start":1667.784,"end":1667.848},{"text":"used","start":1667.881,"end":1668.188},{"text":"as","start":1668.188,"end":1668.253},{"text":"a","start":1668.301,"end":1668.318},{"text":"platform","start":1668.431,"end":1668.965},{"text":"for","start":1669.417,"end":1669.612},{"text":"its","start":1669.886,"end":1670.031},{"text":"military","start":1671.111,"end":1672.771},{"text":"attacks","start":1673.609,"end":1674.028},{"text":"against","start":1674.093,"end":1674.254},{"text":"Central","start":1674.254,"end":1674.673},{"text":"and","start":1674.673,"end":1674.834},{"text":"South","start":1674.834,"end":1675.189},{"text":"America","start":1675.237,"end":1675.85},{"text":"in","start":1676.897,"end":1677.01},{"text":"order","start":1677.059,"end":1677.3},{"text":"to","start":1677.462,"end":1677.687},{"text":"pillages","start":1678.531,"end":1678.927},{"text":"natural","start":1679.059,"end":1679.505},{"text":"wealth.","start":1679.62,"end":1680}]},{"text":"The General Assembly should examine our case to begin a process that leads to the recognition of Puerto Rico as a free and nation state.","start":1682.27,"end":1691.005,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1682.27,"end":1682.464},{"text":"General","start":1682.464,"end":1682.722},{"text":"Assembly","start":1682.722,"end":1683.111},{"text":"should","start":1683.111,"end":1683.353},{"text":"examine","start":1683.353,"end":1683.742},{"text":"our","start":1683.742,"end":1683.839},{"text":"case","start":1683.839,"end":1684.114},{"text":"to","start":1684.227,"end":1684.324},{"text":"begin","start":1684.405,"end":1684.728},{"text":"a","start":1684.728,"end":1684.809},{"text":"process","start":1684.809,"end":1685.375},{"text":"that","start":1685.375,"end":1685.602},{"text":"leads","start":1685.602,"end":1685.748},{"text":"to","start":1685.942,"end":1686.103},{"text":"the","start":1686.103,"end":1686.168},{"text":"recognition","start":1686.184,"end":1686.815},{"text":"of","start":1686.815,"end":1686.864},{"text":"Puerto","start":1686.912,"end":1687.171},{"text":"Rico","start":1687.22,"end":1687.624},{"text":"as","start":1688.206,"end":1688.336},{"text":"a","start":1688.433,"end":1688.514},{"text":"free","start":1688.514,"end":1688.918},{"text":"and","start":1689.015,"end":1689.145},{"text":"nation","start":1689.193,"end":1689.857},{"text":"state.","start":1690.633,"end":1691.005}]},{"text":"It's our demand.","start":1691.134,"end":1691.701,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"It's","start":1691.134,"end":1691.296},{"text":"our","start":1691.296,"end":1691.41},{"text":"demand.","start":1691.41,"end":1691.701}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":1691.749,"end":1692.283,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1691.749,"end":1692.072},{"text":"you.","start":1692.072,"end":1692.283}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Gustavo Quiñones","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Representative"}},{"statement_number":17,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Mr. Gustavo Quinones.","start":1696.599,"end":1699.98,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1696.599,"end":1696.648},{"text":"thank","start":1696.761,"end":1697.246},{"text":"Mr.","start":1697.262,"end":1697.876},{"text":"Gustavo","start":1698.006,"end":1698.782},{"text":"Quinones.","start":1699.429,"end":1699.98}]},{"text":"I now invite Mr. Alex Rivera to address the committee.","start":1701.616,"end":1706.656,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1701.616,"end":1701.649},{"text":"now","start":1701.649,"end":1701.811},{"text":"invite","start":1701.956,"end":1702.475},{"text":"Mr.","start":1702.912,"end":1703.382},{"text":"Alex","start":1703.561,"end":1704.193},{"text":"Rivera","start":1704.149,"end":1704.832},{"text":"to","start":1705.532,"end":1705.679},{"text":"address","start":1705.712,"end":1706.102},{"text":"the","start":1706.102,"end":1706.2},{"text":"committee.","start":1706.2,"end":1706.656}]},{"text":"Sir, you have the floor, please.","start":1707.112,"end":1708.496,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Sir,","start":1707.112,"end":1707.323},{"text":"you","start":1707.405,"end":1707.454},{"text":"have","start":1707.502,"end":1707.616},{"text":"the","start":1707.665,"end":1707.795},{"text":"floor,","start":1707.812,"end":1708.154},{"text":"please.","start":1708.219,"end":1708.496}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":18,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"The youth of Puerto Rico has been asking the question, should I stay or should I go?","start":1714.912,"end":1721.185,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1714.912,"end":1715.089},{"text":"youth","start":1715.089,"end":1715.298},{"text":"of","start":1715.797,"end":1716.022},{"text":"Puerto","start":1718.226,"end":1718.419},{"text":"Rico","start":1718.547,"end":1718.885},{"text":"has","start":1718.885,"end":1719.239},{"text":"been","start":1719.416,"end":1719.577},{"text":"asking","start":1719.577,"end":1719.721},{"text":"the","start":1719.738,"end":1719.834},{"text":"question,","start":1719.834,"end":1720.14},{"text":"should","start":1720.156,"end":1720.317},{"text":"I","start":1720.317,"end":1720.349},{"text":"stay","start":1720.397,"end":1720.542},{"text":"or","start":1720.542,"end":1720.59},{"text":"should","start":1720.638,"end":1720.863},{"text":"I","start":1720.863,"end":1721.024},{"text":"go?","start":1721.024,"end":1721.185}]},{"text":"In fact, all possibility for young people to live in decent material conditions has been destroyed and to be able to develop.","start":1722.466,"end":1729.255,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":1722.466,"end":1722.643},{"text":"fact,","start":1722.643,"end":1722.918},{"text":"all","start":1723.031,"end":1723.145},{"text":"possibility","start":1723.209,"end":1723.775},{"text":"for","start":1723.775,"end":1723.985},{"text":"young","start":1724.082,"end":1724.228},{"text":"people","start":1724.26,"end":1724.664},{"text":"to","start":1724.664,"end":1724.874},{"text":"live","start":1724.89,"end":1725.117},{"text":"in","start":1725.456,"end":1725.602},{"text":"decent","start":1725.876,"end":1726.297},{"text":"material","start":1726.361,"end":1726.83},{"text":"conditions","start":1726.83,"end":1727.218},{"text":"has","start":1727.25,"end":1727.38},{"text":"been","start":1727.477,"end":1727.59},{"text":"destroyed","start":1727.59,"end":1728.123},{"text":"and","start":1728.123,"end":1728.22},{"text":"to","start":1728.22,"end":1728.35},{"text":"be","start":1728.382,"end":1728.463},{"text":"able","start":1728.463,"end":1728.624},{"text":"to","start":1728.624,"end":1728.77},{"text":"develop.","start":1729.029,"end":1729.255}]},{"text":"Modern colonialism is characterized by economic control of territories that it controls in its interest, the interest of capital.","start":1729.977,"end":1738.953,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Modern","start":1729.977,"end":1730.283},{"text":"colonialism","start":1730.299,"end":1731.121},{"text":"is","start":1731.121,"end":1731.169},{"text":"characterized","start":1731.266,"end":1731.814},{"text":"by","start":1731.846,"end":1732.023},{"text":"economic","start":1732.023,"end":1732.49},{"text":"control","start":1732.49,"end":1732.925},{"text":"of","start":1733.054,"end":1733.183},{"text":"territories","start":1733.216,"end":1733.908},{"text":"that","start":1734.021,"end":1735.165},{"text":"it","start":1735.31,"end":1735.471},{"text":"controls","start":1735.471,"end":1736.003},{"text":"in","start":1736.422,"end":1736.712},{"text":"its","start":1736.76,"end":1736.986},{"text":"interest,","start":1736.986,"end":1737.405},{"text":"the","start":1737.631,"end":1737.727},{"text":"interest","start":1737.727,"end":1738.049},{"text":"of","start":1738.114,"end":1738.259},{"text":"capital.","start":1738.517,"end":1738.953}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico is one of these cases.","start":1739.663,"end":1741.244,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":1776.023,"end":1776.312},{"text":"fact,","start":1776.361,"end":1776.859},{"text":"there's","start":1777.406,"end":1777.647},{"text":"an","start":1777.647,"end":1777.744},{"text":"economic,","start":1777.744,"end":1778.21},{"text":"political,","start":1778.275,"end":1778.596},{"text":"and","start":1778.612,"end":1778.757},{"text":"climate","start":1778.757,"end":1779.256},{"text":"crisis","start":1779.256,"end":1779.674},{"text":"that","start":1779.674,"end":1779.98},{"text":"threatens","start":1780.076,"end":1780.35},{"text":"our","start":1780.35,"end":1780.472},{"text":"future.","start":1780.541,"end":1780.803}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico has been depopulating over the past 25 years, and the youth has suffered the most here.","start":1780.89,"end":1788.006,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":1780.89,"end":1781.116},{"text":"Rico","start":1781.169,"end":1781.692},{"text":"has","start":1781.82,"end":1781.9},{"text":"been","start":1782.077,"end":1782.141},{"text":"depopulating","start":1782.655,"end":1783.458},{"text":"over","start":1783.458,"end":1783.619},{"text":"the","start":1783.619,"end":1783.764},{"text":"past","start":1783.764,"end":1783.94},{"text":"25","start":1783.94,"end":1784.551},{"text":"years,","start":1784.583,"end":1784.953},{"text":"and","start":1785.467,"end":1785.531},{"text":"the","start":1785.612,"end":1785.772},{"text":"youth","start":1785.853,"end":1786.158},{"text":"has","start":1786.238,"end":1786.56},{"text":"suffered","start":1787.09,"end":1787.492},{"text":"the","start":1787.492,"end":1787.572},{"text":"most","start":1787.572,"end":1787.877},{"text":"here.","start":1787.941,"end":1788.006}]},{"text":"The main reasons, the wish to have a better quality of life and to seek better economic opportunities.","start":1788.054,"end":1794.594,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1788.054,"end":1788.134},{"text":"main","start":1788.134,"end":1788.327},{"text":"reasons,","start":1788.44,"end":1788.97},{"text":"the","start":1789.725,"end":1789.886},{"text":"wish","start":1789.886,"end":1790.095},{"text":"to","start":1790.191,"end":1790.271},{"text":"have","start":1790.271,"end":1790.4},{"text":"a","start":1790.464,"end":1790.593},{"text":"better","start":1790.593,"end":1790.85},{"text":"quality","start":1790.85,"end":1791.219},{"text":"of","start":1791.235,"end":1791.284},{"text":"life","start":1791.396,"end":1791.621},{"text":"and","start":1791.878,"end":1792.055},{"text":"to","start":1792.055,"end":1792.2},{"text":"seek","start":1792.2,"end":1792.521},{"text":"better","start":1792.537,"end":1792.858},{"text":"economic","start":1793.18,"end":1793.742},{"text":"opportunities.","start":1793.742,"end":1794.594}]},{"text":"These reasons are a consequence of the colonial structure that pillages most of natural resources and produced wealth.","start":1795.51,"end":1805.841,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"These","start":1795.51,"end":1795.638},{"text":"reasons","start":1795.815,"end":1796.2},{"text":"are","start":1796.458,"end":1796.506},{"text":"a","start":1796.715,"end":1796.859},{"text":"consequence","start":1796.859,"end":1797.855},{"text":"of","start":1797.984,"end":1798.289},{"text":"the","start":1798.386,"end":1798.595},{"text":"colonial","start":1798.643,"end":1799.366},{"text":"structure","start":1799.366,"end":1800.089},{"text":"that","start":1800.555,"end":1801.101},{"text":"pillages","start":1802.499,"end":1803.029},{"text":"most","start":1803.142,"end":1803.544},{"text":"of","start":1803.544,"end":1803.833},{"text":"natural","start":1803.881,"end":1804.315},{"text":"resources","start":1804.331,"end":1804.974},{"text":"and","start":1804.974,"end":1805.07},{"text":"produced","start":1805.07,"end":1805.552},{"text":"wealth.","start":1805.552,"end":1805.841}]},{"text":"Push Puerto Rico to contract public debt that means that losses are socialized.","start":1807.77,"end":1818.32,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Push","start":1807.77,"end":1808.012},{"text":"Puerto","start":1808.77,"end":1808.964},{"text":"Rico","start":1808.996,"end":1809.416},{"text":"to","start":1809.416,"end":1809.755},{"text":"contract","start":1810.045,"end":1810.432},{"text":"public","start":1810.465,"end":1810.788},{"text":"debt","start":1810.868,"end":1811.352},{"text":"that","start":1811.352,"end":1811.659},{"text":"means","start":1812.321,"end":1814.951},{"text":"that","start":1815.048,"end":1815.323},{"text":"losses","start":1816.824,"end":1816.969},{"text":"are","start":1817.05,"end":1817.198},{"text":"socialized.","start":1817.231,"end":1818.32}]},{"text":"Every one of these actions is aligned with the modern colonial strategy which is being implemented by the Fiscal Control Board and our neoliberal government, the colonial attack The most direct in the past decade that has been suffering by young people has been the dismantling of public education.","start":1821.994,"end":1841.328,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Every","start":1821.994,"end":1822.22},{"text":"one","start":1822.316,"end":1822.446},{"text":"of","start":1822.494,"end":1822.591},{"text":"these","start":1822.639,"end":1822.785},{"text":"actions","start":1822.881,"end":1823.35},{"text":"is","start":1823.543,"end":1824.189},{"text":"aligned","start":1824.189,"end":1824.641},{"text":"with","start":1824.738,"end":1825.028},{"text":"the","start":1825.061,"end":1825.271},{"text":"modern","start":1825.4,"end":1825.852},{"text":"colonial","start":1825.884,"end":1826.32},{"text":"strategy","start":1826.368,"end":1827.03},{"text":"which","start":1827.175,"end":1827.369},{"text":"is","start":1827.498,"end":1827.627},{"text":"being","start":1827.66,"end":1827.789},{"text":"implemented","start":1827.886,"end":1828.467},{"text":"by","start":1828.467,"end":1828.725},{"text":"the","start":1828.725,"end":1828.967},{"text":"Fiscal","start":1829.193,"end":1829.597},{"text":"Control","start":1829.597,"end":1829.968},{"text":"Board","start":1830,"end":1830.178},{"text":"and","start":1830.227,"end":1830.309},{"text":"our","start":1830.309,"end":1830.423},{"text":"neoliberal","start":1830.423,"end":1831.125},{"text":"government,","start":1831.125,"end":1831.5},{"text":"the","start":1832.104,"end":1832.169},{"text":"colonial","start":1832.202,"end":1832.691},{"text":"attack","start":1832.691,"end":1833.262},{"text":"The","start":1833.332,"end":1833.572},{"text":"most","start":1833.572,"end":1833.813},{"text":"direct","start":1833.813,"end":1834.311},{"text":"in","start":1834.311,"end":1834.423},{"text":"the","start":1834.456,"end":1834.6},{"text":"past","start":1834.761,"end":1835.178},{"text":"decade","start":1835.644,"end":1836.222},{"text":"that","start":1836.222,"end":1836.27},{"text":"has","start":1836.27,"end":1836.431},{"text":"been","start":1836.543,"end":1836.639},{"text":"suffering","start":1836.639,"end":1837.137},{"text":"by","start":1838.229,"end":1838.502},{"text":"young","start":1838.55,"end":1838.759},{"text":"people","start":1838.791,"end":1839.016},{"text":"has","start":1839.016,"end":1839.16},{"text":"been","start":1839.192,"end":1839.321},{"text":"the","start":1839.353,"end":1839.546},{"text":"dismantling","start":1839.578,"end":1840.204},{"text":"of","start":1840.316,"end":1840.397},{"text":"public","start":1840.397,"end":1840.798},{"text":"education.","start":1840.798,"end":1841.328}]},{"text":"With the arrival of the fiscal control board, the budget of University of Puerto Rico was cut by more than half, establishing precarious conditions that limit access to education for hundreds of thousands of young people.","start":1841.761,"end":1854.783,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"With","start":1841.761,"end":1842.002},{"text":"the","start":1842.002,"end":1842.259},{"text":"arrival","start":1842.564,"end":1843.046},{"text":"of","start":1843.046,"end":1843.174},{"text":"the","start":1843.206,"end":1843.447},{"text":"fiscal","start":1844.106,"end":1844.491},{"text":"control","start":1844.491,"end":1844.844},{"text":"board,","start":1844.973,"end":1845.294},{"text":"the","start":1845.92,"end":1846.161},{"text":"budget","start":1846.177,"end":1846.562},{"text":"of","start":1846.562,"end":1846.723},{"text":"University","start":1846.723,"end":1847.237},{"text":"of","start":1847.237,"end":1847.301},{"text":"Puerto","start":1847.301,"end":1847.606},{"text":"Rico","start":1847.622,"end":1848.023},{"text":"was","start":1848.023,"end":1848.152},{"text":"cut","start":1848.264,"end":1848.569},{"text":"by","start":1848.569,"end":1848.746},{"text":"more","start":1848.746,"end":1848.923},{"text":"than","start":1848.923,"end":1849.067},{"text":"half,","start":1849.212,"end":1849.693},{"text":"establishing","start":1850.127,"end":1850.641},{"text":"precarious","start":1850.753,"end":1851.315},{"text":"conditions","start":1851.315,"end":1851.781},{"text":"that","start":1851.781,"end":1851.909},{"text":"limit","start":1851.957,"end":1852.198},{"text":"access","start":1852.262,"end":1852.583},{"text":"to","start":1852.583,"end":1852.664},{"text":"education","start":1852.664,"end":1853.258},{"text":"for","start":1853.306,"end":1853.402},{"text":"hundreds","start":1853.402,"end":1853.74},{"text":"of","start":1853.804,"end":1853.868},{"text":"thousands","start":1853.868,"end":1854.205},{"text":"of","start":1854.205,"end":1854.35},{"text":"young","start":1854.35,"end":1854.462},{"text":"people.","start":1854.526,"end":1854.783}]},{"text":"Without our public university, there will be no Puerto Rico for people of working age.","start":1854.831,"end":1860.755,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"Without","start":1854.831,"end":1855.169},{"text":"our","start":1855.169,"end":1855.329},{"text":"public","start":1855.329,"end":1855.715},{"text":"university,","start":1855.715,"end":1856.421},{"text":"there","start":1856.774,"end":1856.903},{"text":"will","start":1856.919,"end":1857.031},{"text":"be","start":1857.079,"end":1857.176},{"text":"no","start":1857.176,"end":1857.417},{"text":"Puerto","start":1857.417,"end":1857.673},{"text":"Rico","start":1857.738,"end":1858.139},{"text":"for","start":1858.139,"end":1858.573},{"text":"people","start":1859.183,"end":1860.129},{"text":"of","start":1860.129,"end":1860.21},{"text":"working","start":1860.21,"end":1860.514},{"text":"age.","start":1860.611,"end":1860.755}]},{"text":"We need to overcome the limitation to, as a people, to demand a truly binding and democratic process of decolonization.","start":1861.75,"end":1868.458,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":1861.75,"end":1861.846},{"text":"need","start":1861.846,"end":1862.071},{"text":"to","start":1862.071,"end":1862.119},{"text":"overcome","start":1862.135,"end":1862.713},{"text":"the","start":1862.713,"end":1862.857},{"text":"limitation","start":1862.857,"end":1863.579},{"text":"to,","start":1863.579,"end":1863.852},{"text":"as","start":1864.061,"end":1864.125},{"text":"a","start":1864.173,"end":1864.189},{"text":"people,","start":1864.318,"end":1864.719},{"text":"to","start":1864.783,"end":1864.975},{"text":"demand","start":1865.184,"end":1865.617},{"text":"a","start":1865.617,"end":1865.633},{"text":"truly","start":1865.682,"end":1865.97},{"text":"binding","start":1866.083,"end":1866.5},{"text":"and","start":1866.5,"end":1866.644},{"text":"democratic","start":1866.644,"end":1867.206},{"text":"process","start":1867.206,"end":1867.543},{"text":"of","start":1867.543,"end":1867.655},{"text":"decolonization.","start":1867.687,"end":1868.458}]},{"text":"For these reasons, we support Resolution 1514 of the Special Committee that declares that all peoples have the right to free determination.","start":1868.57,"end":1876.802,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"For","start":1868.57,"end":1868.714},{"text":"these","start":1868.714,"end":1868.859},{"text":"reasons,","start":1868.955,"end":1869.34},{"text":"we","start":1869.757,"end":1869.838},{"text":"support","start":1869.838,"end":1870.239},{"text":"Resolution","start":1870.255,"end":1870.624},{"text":"1514","start":1870.624,"end":1871.747},{"text":"of","start":1871.876,"end":1871.988},{"text":"the","start":1872.02,"end":1872.1},{"text":"Special","start":1872.1,"end":1872.469},{"text":"Committee","start":1872.501,"end":1872.871},{"text":"that","start":1872.903,"end":1873.031},{"text":"declares","start":1873.079,"end":1873.512},{"text":"that","start":1873.545,"end":1873.769},{"text":"all","start":1873.849,"end":1874.042},{"text":"peoples","start":1874.588,"end":1874.876},{"text":"have","start":1874.925,"end":1875.085},{"text":"the","start":1875.085,"end":1875.229},{"text":"right","start":1875.229,"end":1875.47},{"text":"to","start":1875.534,"end":1875.631},{"text":"free","start":1875.631,"end":1875.936},{"text":"determination.","start":1875.936,"end":1876.802}]},{"text":"Pursuant to this right, they determine freely their political condition and pursue freely their economic, social, and cultural development.","start":1877.075,"end":1886.077,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Pursuant","start":1877.075,"end":1878.503},{"text":"to","start":1878.503,"end":1878.567},{"text":"this","start":1878.615,"end":1878.728},{"text":"right,","start":1878.904,"end":1879.321},{"text":"they","start":1880.027,"end":1880.268},{"text":"determine","start":1880.268,"end":1880.766},{"text":"freely","start":1880.766,"end":1881.151},{"text":"their","start":1881.247,"end":1881.488},{"text":"political","start":1881.488,"end":1881.969},{"text":"condition","start":1881.969,"end":1882.499},{"text":"and","start":1882.755,"end":1883.06},{"text":"pursue","start":1883.173,"end":1883.574},{"text":"freely","start":1883.574,"end":1884.023},{"text":"their","start":1884.055,"end":1884.168},{"text":"economic,","start":1884.232,"end":1884.665},{"text":"social,","start":1884.681,"end":1885.05},{"text":"and","start":1885.098,"end":1885.179},{"text":"cultural","start":1885.179,"end":1885.58},{"text":"development.","start":1885.58,"end":1886.077}]},{"text":"Thank you to the committee for this initiative and commitment to the decolonization of our archipelago.","start":1886.639,"end":1892.648,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1886.639,"end":1886.962},{"text":"you","start":1886.962,"end":1887.026},{"text":"to","start":1887.043,"end":1887.107},{"text":"the","start":1887.14,"end":1887.301},{"text":"committee","start":1887.301,"end":1887.624},{"text":"for","start":1887.624,"end":1887.77},{"text":"this","start":1887.77,"end":1887.834},{"text":"initiative","start":1887.947,"end":1888.4},{"text":"and","start":1888.82,"end":1888.917},{"text":"commitment","start":1888.917,"end":1889.547},{"text":"to","start":1889.547,"end":1889.741},{"text":"the","start":1889.741,"end":1889.805},{"text":"decolonization","start":1889.886,"end":1891.243},{"text":"of","start":1891.243,"end":1891.324},{"text":"our","start":1891.647,"end":1891.841},{"text":"archipelago.","start":1892.131,"end":1892.648}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":1892.713,"end":1893.02,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1892.713,"end":1892.891},{"text":"you.","start":1892.891,"end":1893.02}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Alex Rivera","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Petitioner"}},{"statement_number":19,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Mr. Alex Rivera.","start":1894.232,"end":1896.652,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":1894.232,"end":1894.28},{"text":"thank","start":1894.393,"end":1894.813},{"text":"Mr.","start":1894.878,"end":1895.346},{"text":"Alex","start":1895.686,"end":1895.814},{"text":"Rivera.","start":1895.927,"end":1896.652}]},{"text":"I now invite Mr. Ariel Hernandez to address the 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please.","start":1902.77,"end":1905.835,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Mr.","start":1902.77,"end":1903.028},{"text":"Hernandez,","start":1903.092,"end":1903.64},{"text":"you","start":1904.381,"end":1904.493},{"text":"have","start":1904.703,"end":1904.944},{"text":"the","start":1904.944,"end":1905.008},{"text":"floor,","start":1905.17,"end":1905.452},{"text":"please.","start":1905.519,"end":1905.835}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":20,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Distinguished chair, delegates of this special committee, I am Ariel Hernández Santana representing the committee honoring our heroes, an organization dedicated to highlighting the legacy of Puerto Rican women and men who have been important in our history.","start":1908.847,"end":1927.344,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Distinguished","start":1908.847,"end":1910.583},{"text":"chair,","start":1910.583,"end":1911.037},{"text":"delegates","start":1911.231,"end":1911.718},{"text":"of","start":1911.783,"end":1911.864},{"text":"this","start":1911.864,"end":1911.994},{"text":"special","start":1912.026,"end":1912.562},{"text":"committee,","start":1912.627,"end":1913},{"text":"I","start":1913.465,"end":1913.546},{"text":"am","start":1913.546,"end":1913.594},{"text":"Ariel","start":1913.707,"end":1914.112},{"text":"Hernández","start":1914.112,"end":1914.549},{"text":"Santana","start":1914.549,"end":1915.148},{"text":"representing","start":1915.148,"end":1915.779},{"text":"the","start":1916.038,"end":1916.248},{"text":"committee","start":1916.847,"end":1917.284},{"text":"honoring","start":1917.413,"end":1917.672},{"text":"our","start":1917.672,"end":1917.883},{"text":"heroes,","start":1917.899,"end":1918.206},{"text":"an","start":1918.32,"end":1918.401},{"text":"organization","start":1918.401,"end":1918.999},{"text":"dedicated","start":1919.032,"end":1919.663},{"text":"to","start":1919.841,"end":1920.019},{"text":"highlighting","start":1920.019,"end":1920.553},{"text":"the","start":1920.666,"end":1920.747},{"text":"legacy","start":1920.747,"end":1921.152},{"text":"of","start":1921.249,"end":1921.362},{"text":"Puerto","start":1921.556,"end":1921.751},{"text":"Rican","start":1921.799,"end":1922.058},{"text":"women","start":1922.284,"end":1922.672},{"text":"and","start":1922.672,"end":1923.222},{"text":"men","start":1923.254,"end":1923.545},{"text":"who","start":1923.561,"end":1923.594},{"text":"have","start":1923.739,"end":1924.273},{"text":"been","start":1924.774,"end":1926.164},{"text":"important","start":1926.245,"end":1926.714},{"text":"in","start":1926.714,"end":1926.746},{"text":"our","start":1926.746,"end":1926.891},{"text":"history.","start":1926.891,"end":1927.344}]},{"text":"We acknowledge the valuable contributions of Juan Mari Brasa and Rubén Bárez Martínez, who were the first to speak to the special committee in 1973.","start":1927.457,"end":1934.787,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":1927.457,"end":1927.538},{"text":"acknowledge","start":1927.603,"end":1928.023},{"text":"the","start":1928.023,"end":1928.104},{"text":"valuable","start":1928.104,"end":1928.492},{"text":"contributions","start":1928.492,"end":1929.284},{"text":"of","start":1929.462,"end":1929.607},{"text":"Juan","start":1929.64,"end":1929.817},{"text":"Mari","start":1929.882,"end":1930.173},{"text":"Brasa","start":1930.205,"end":1930.593},{"text":"and","start":1930.593,"end":1930.674},{"text":"Rubén","start":1930.674,"end":1930.933},{"text":"Bárez","start":1930.933,"end":1931.224},{"text":"Martínez,","start":1931.321,"end":1931.709},{"text":"who","start":1931.741,"end":1931.79},{"text":"were","start":1931.79,"end":1931.822},{"text":"the","start":1931.822,"end":1931.902},{"text":"first","start":1931.902,"end":1932.321},{"text":"to","start":1932.321,"end":1932.579},{"text":"speak","start":1932.708,"end":1932.95},{"text":"to","start":1932.95,"end":1933.047},{"text":"the","start":1933.047,"end":1933.127},{"text":"special","start":1933.127,"end":1933.514},{"text":"committee","start":1933.514,"end":1933.804},{"text":"in","start":1933.836,"end":1933.949},{"text":"1973.","start":1933.949,"end":1934.787}]},{"text":"The Puerto Rican nation has a vibrant culture, and we are proud of our Caribbean and Latin American inheritance.","start":1935.19,"end":1941.142,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1935.19,"end":1935.287},{"text":"Puerto","start":1935.287,"end":1935.416},{"text":"Rican","start":1935.448,"end":1935.706},{"text":"nation","start":1935.77,"end":1935.996},{"text":"has","start":1935.996,"end":1936.141},{"text":"a","start":1936.173,"end":1936.189},{"text":"vibrant","start":1936.189,"end":1936.657},{"text":"culture,","start":1936.657,"end":1937.076},{"text":"and","start":1937.124,"end":1937.253},{"text":"we","start":1937.285,"end":1937.366},{"text":"are","start":1937.366,"end":1937.414},{"text":"proud","start":1937.543,"end":1938.172},{"text":"of","start":1938.575,"end":1938.671},{"text":"our","start":1938.671,"end":1938.865},{"text":"Caribbean","start":1938.897,"end":1939.38},{"text":"and","start":1939.38,"end":1939.461},{"text":"Latin","start":1939.461,"end":1939.638},{"text":"American","start":1939.638,"end":1940.09},{"text":"inheritance.","start":1940.582,"end":1941.142}]},{"text":"Figures such as Roberto Clemente in baseball, Rafael Hernández in bad bunny in music, and Joseph Acaba, who is an astronaut, are just some of the examples of what we achieved in different areas.","start":1941.383,"end":1955.052,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Figures","start":1941.383,"end":1941.655},{"text":"such","start":1941.655,"end":1941.912},{"text":"as","start":1941.96,"end":1942.072},{"text":"Roberto","start":1942.104,"end":1942.456},{"text":"Clemente","start":1942.488,"end":1943.53},{"text":"in","start":1943.53,"end":1943.594},{"text":"baseball,","start":1943.626,"end":1944.011},{"text":"Rafael","start":1944.027,"end":1944.299},{"text":"Hernández","start":1944.411,"end":1944.908},{"text":"in","start":1944.908,"end":1944.972},{"text":"bad","start":1944.988,"end":1945.229},{"text":"bunny","start":1945.229,"end":1945.437},{"text":"in","start":1945.453,"end":1945.597},{"text":"music,","start":1945.613,"end":1945.934},{"text":"and","start":1946.334,"end":1946.415},{"text":"Joseph","start":1946.895,"end":1947.232},{"text":"Acaba,","start":1947.232,"end":1947.664},{"text":"who","start":1948.033,"end":1948.241},{"text":"is","start":1948.273,"end":1948.321},{"text":"an","start":1948.978,"end":1949.876},{"text":"astronaut,","start":1949.876,"end":1950.709},{"text":"are","start":1951.558,"end":1951.639},{"text":"just","start":1951.639,"end":1951.959},{"text":"some","start":1951.959,"end":1952.536},{"text":"of","start":1952.536,"end":1952.6},{"text":"the","start":1952.6,"end":1952.744},{"text":"examples","start":1952.744,"end":1953.289},{"text":"of","start":1953.337,"end":1953.449},{"text":"what","start":1953.481,"end":1953.642},{"text":"we","start":1953.642,"end":1953.802},{"text":"achieved","start":1953.802,"end":1954.202},{"text":"in","start":1954.202,"end":1954.283},{"text":"different","start":1954.283,"end":1954.683},{"text":"areas.","start":1954.747,"end":1955.052}]},{"text":"However, in spite of having a rich history in the political sphere, we have had a very different and dark experience.","start":1955.629,"end":1964.538,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"However,","start":1955.629,"end":1956.013},{"text":"in","start":1956.029,"end":1956.093},{"text":"spite","start":1956.125,"end":1956.43},{"text":"of","start":1956.43,"end":1956.59},{"text":"having","start":1956.59,"end":1956.879},{"text":"a","start":1957.872,"end":1958.048},{"text":"rich","start":1958.129,"end":1958.449},{"text":"history","start":1958.834,"end":1959.298},{"text":"in","start":1960.035,"end":1960.067},{"text":"the","start":1960.067,"end":1960.212},{"text":"political","start":1960.212,"end":1960.708},{"text":"sphere,","start":1960.708,"end":1961.045},{"text":"we","start":1961.237,"end":1961.414},{"text":"have","start":1961.414,"end":1961.622},{"text":"had","start":1962.279,"end":1962.471},{"text":"a","start":1962.471,"end":1962.487},{"text":"very","start":1962.535,"end":1962.728},{"text":"different","start":1963.096,"end":1963.641},{"text":"and","start":1963.641,"end":1963.737},{"text":"dark","start":1963.737,"end":1964.058},{"text":"experience.","start":1964.058,"end":1964.538}]},{"text":"While the former Spanish colonies achieved independence in the first decades of the 19th century, Spain maintained Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean as colonies until the end of that century, which was lost to the United States after the War of '98.","start":1965.163,"end":1979.695,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"While","start":1965.163,"end":1965.292},{"text":"the","start":1965.42,"end":1965.644},{"text":"former","start":1965.644,"end":1966.157},{"text":"Spanish","start":1966.638,"end":1967.123},{"text":"colonies","start":1967.575,"end":1967.963},{"text":"achieved","start":1968.011,"end":1968.334},{"text":"independence","start":1968.334,"end":1969.045},{"text":"in","start":1969.045,"end":1969.11},{"text":"the","start":1969.11,"end":1969.207},{"text":"first","start":1969.207,"end":1969.433},{"text":"decades","start":1969.433,"end":1969.918},{"text":"of","start":1969.918,"end":1969.966},{"text":"the","start":1970.015,"end":1970.096},{"text":"19th","start":1970.112,"end":1970.516},{"text":"century,","start":1970.516,"end":1970.839},{"text":"Spain","start":1971.162,"end":1971.437},{"text":"maintained","start":1971.469,"end":1971.921},{"text":"Cuba","start":1971.954,"end":1972.18},{"text":"and","start":1972.18,"end":1972.277},{"text":"Puerto","start":1972.277,"end":1972.535},{"text":"Rico","start":1972.6,"end":1972.81},{"text":"in","start":1972.826,"end":1972.923},{"text":"the","start":1972.923,"end":1973.004},{"text":"Caribbean","start":1973.004,"end":1973.537},{"text":"as","start":1973.634,"end":1973.699},{"text":"colonies","start":1973.812,"end":1974.183},{"text":"until","start":1974.296,"end":1974.571},{"text":"the","start":1974.619,"end":1974.7},{"text":"end","start":1974.7,"end":1975.25},{"text":"of","start":1975.25,"end":1975.428},{"text":"that","start":1975.573,"end":1975.719},{"text":"century,","start":1975.929,"end":1976.365},{"text":"which","start":1976.947,"end":1977.092},{"text":"was","start":1977.125,"end":1977.254},{"text":"lost","start":1977.286,"end":1977.513},{"text":"to","start":1977.513,"end":1977.61},{"text":"the","start":1977.61,"end":1977.755},{"text":"United","start":1977.755,"end":1978.175},{"text":"States","start":1978.175,"end":1978.58},{"text":"after","start":1978.58,"end":1978.822},{"text":"the","start":1978.822,"end":1978.903},{"text":"War","start":1978.903,"end":1979.048},{"text":"of","start":1979.048,"end":1979.113},{"text":"'98.","start":1979.129,"end":1979.695}]},{"text":"The illusion of self-government that was supposedly created with the Commonwealth in 1952 was in fact an illusion and leaves us with a cruel reality of a colonial regime that continues to strengthen over the past few years.","start":1983.568,"end":1996.839,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1983.568,"end":1983.649},{"text":"illusion","start":1983.649,"end":1983.909},{"text":"of","start":1983.909,"end":1984.022},{"text":"self-government","start":1984.039,"end":1985.029},{"text":"that","start":1985.029,"end":1985.419},{"text":"was","start":1985.419,"end":1985.532},{"text":"supposedly","start":1985.532,"end":1986.133},{"text":"created","start":1986.165,"end":1986.636},{"text":"with","start":1986.636,"end":1986.717},{"text":"the","start":1986.717,"end":1986.88},{"text":"Commonwealth","start":1986.88,"end":1987.464},{"text":"in","start":1987.464,"end":1987.545},{"text":"1952","start":1987.545,"end":1988.601},{"text":"was","start":1988.747,"end":1988.893},{"text":"in","start":1988.925,"end":1988.974},{"text":"fact","start":1989.088,"end":1989.331},{"text":"an","start":1989.331,"end":1989.38},{"text":"illusion","start":1989.477,"end":1989.867},{"text":"and","start":1990.704,"end":1991.1},{"text":"leaves","start":1991.297,"end":1991.56},{"text":"us","start":1991.56,"end":1991.659},{"text":"with","start":1991.774,"end":1991.906},{"text":"a","start":1991.956,"end":1991.972},{"text":"cruel","start":1992.212,"end":1992.533},{"text":"reality","start":1992.533,"end":1993.079},{"text":"of","start":1993.079,"end":1993.16},{"text":"a","start":1993.16,"end":1993.24},{"text":"colonial","start":1993.24,"end":1993.706},{"text":"regime","start":1993.722,"end":1994.011},{"text":"that","start":1994.043,"end":1994.14},{"text":"continues","start":1994.14,"end":1994.75},{"text":"to","start":1994.782,"end":1995.104},{"text":"strengthen","start":1995.264,"end":1995.875},{"text":"over","start":1996.003,"end":1996.148},{"text":"the","start":1996.148,"end":1996.228},{"text":"past","start":1996.292,"end":1996.501},{"text":"few","start":1996.533,"end":1996.63},{"text":"years.","start":1996.63,"end":1996.839}]},{"text":"The self-government is a principle, is a root principle of international law, and the capacity of people to decide on their own destiny is a question of human dignity that cannot be undermined by economic or military interests.","start":1997.433,"end":2011.266,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":1997.433,"end":1997.53},{"text":"self-government","start":1997.53,"end":1998.381},{"text":"is","start":1998.381,"end":1998.494},{"text":"a","start":1998.494,"end":1998.558},{"text":"principle,","start":1998.558,"end":1999.265},{"text":"is","start":1999.281,"end":1999.441},{"text":"a","start":1999.441,"end":1999.586},{"text":"root","start":1999.602,"end":1999.923},{"text":"principle","start":1999.923,"end":2000.325},{"text":"of","start":2000.325,"end":2000.47},{"text":"international","start":2000.47,"end":2001.128},{"text":"law,","start":2001.128,"end":2001.209},{"text":"and","start":2001.53,"end":2001.594},{"text":"the","start":2002.189,"end":2002.317},{"text":"capacity","start":2002.317,"end":2002.751},{"text":"of","start":2002.751,"end":2002.864},{"text":"people","start":2002.896,"end":2003.137},{"text":"to","start":2003.137,"end":2003.522},{"text":"decide","start":2003.522,"end":2003.908},{"text":"on","start":2003.94,"end":2004.085},{"text":"their","start":2004.085,"end":2004.261},{"text":"own","start":2004.261,"end":2004.39},{"text":"destiny","start":2004.486,"end":2004.92},{"text":"is","start":2005.145,"end":2005.193},{"text":"a","start":2005.306,"end":2005.322},{"text":"question","start":2005.386,"end":2005.691},{"text":"of","start":2005.691,"end":2005.788},{"text":"human","start":2005.788,"end":2006.045},{"text":"dignity","start":2006.109,"end":2006.478},{"text":"that","start":2006.511,"end":2006.655},{"text":"cannot","start":2006.655,"end":2007.105},{"text":"be","start":2007.314,"end":2007.378},{"text":"undermined","start":2008.824,"end":2009.403},{"text":"by","start":2009.483,"end":2009.676},{"text":"economic","start":2009.724,"end":2010.286},{"text":"or","start":2010.286,"end":2010.318},{"text":"military","start":2010.318,"end":2010.816},{"text":"interests.","start":2010.929,"end":2011.266}]},{"text":"Today we see with horror how our territory continues to be used to attack and threaten brethren nations Venezuela and Cuba without our people being consulted.","start":2011.33,"end":2022.141,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"Today","start":2011.33,"end":2011.668},{"text":"we","start":2011.812,"end":2011.909},{"text":"see","start":2012.712,"end":2013.194},{"text":"with","start":2013.242,"end":2013.387},{"text":"horror","start":2013.821,"end":2014.222},{"text":"how","start":2014.222,"end":2014.303},{"text":"our","start":2014.303,"end":2014.576},{"text":"territory","start":2014.624,"end":2015.074},{"text":"continues","start":2015.106,"end":2015.476},{"text":"to","start":2015.508,"end":2015.636},{"text":"be","start":2015.652,"end":2015.733},{"text":"used","start":2015.749,"end":2015.909},{"text":"to","start":2015.909,"end":2016.07},{"text":"attack","start":2016.07,"end":2016.568},{"text":"and","start":2016.568,"end":2016.713},{"text":"threaten","start":2016.713,"end":2017.628},{"text":"brethren","start":2017.677,"end":2018.287},{"text":"nations","start":2018.4,"end":2018.817},{"text":"Venezuela","start":2018.882,"end":2019.347},{"text":"and","start":2019.347,"end":2019.492},{"text":"Cuba","start":2019.524,"end":2019.989},{"text":"without","start":2020.086,"end":2020.423},{"text":"our","start":2020.423,"end":2020.648},{"text":"people","start":2020.648,"end":2020.937},{"text":"being","start":2020.969,"end":2021.178},{"text":"consulted.","start":2021.451,"end":2022.141}]},{"text":"The internal battle to resolve the colonial situation of Puerto Rico has always had three aspects: full independence, integration with the United States, and autonomy.","start":2023.313,"end":2033.412,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":2088.5,"end":2088.532},{"text":"José","start":2088.597,"end":2088.856},{"text":"Martí","start":2088.856,"end":2089.39},{"text":"anticipated,","start":2089.828,"end":2090.606},{"text":"fighting","start":2090.719,"end":2091.124},{"text":"for","start":2091.124,"end":2091.254},{"text":"our","start":2091.302,"end":2091.529},{"text":"cause","start":2091.529,"end":2091.82},{"text":"is","start":2091.853,"end":2091.901},{"text":"fighting","start":2091.999,"end":2092.258},{"text":"for","start":2092.339,"end":2092.533},{"text":"the","start":2093.068,"end":2093.214},{"text":"world.","start":2093.214,"end":2093.603}]},{"text":"We don't want to be a colony of Spain or the United States.","start":2094.283,"end":2096.811,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"My","start":2121.704,"end":2121.801},{"text":"name","start":2121.801,"end":2122.011},{"text":"is","start":2122.091,"end":2122.156},{"text":"Isa","start":2122.333,"end":2122.479},{"text":"Anastasia","start":2122.495,"end":2123.237},{"text":"Rivas,","start":2123.237,"end":2123.527},{"text":"and","start":2123.64,"end":2123.705},{"text":"I","start":2123.705,"end":2123.77},{"text":"am","start":2123.77,"end":2123.883},{"text":"a","start":2123.883,"end":2123.899},{"text":"member","start":2123.899,"end":2124.336},{"text":"of","start":2124.353,"end":2124.417},{"text":"Alofina,","start":2124.595,"end":2125.907},{"text":"a","start":2126.377,"end":2126.393},{"text":"political","start":2126.393,"end":2126.814},{"text":"mass","start":2126.814,"end":2127.122},{"text":"organization","start":2127.187,"end":2127.802},{"text":"for","start":2127.851,"end":2128.012},{"text":"the","start":2128.012,"end":2128.174},{"text":"Puerto","start":2128.174,"end":2128.353},{"text":"Rico","start":2128.417,"end":2128.725},{"text":"anti-imperialistic","start":2128.887,"end":2131.462},{"text":"women's","start":2130.584,"end":2131.053},{"text":"movement,","start":2131.069,"end":2131.507},{"text":"actively","start":2132.025,"end":2132.381},{"text":"struggling","start":2132.381,"end":2132.818},{"text":"for","start":2132.915,"end":2132.996},{"text":"national","start":2133.012,"end":2133.417},{"text":"sovereignty","start":2133.417,"end":2133.984},{"text":"and","start":2133.984,"end":2134.113},{"text":"liberation","start":2134.146,"end":2134.68},{"text":"for","start":2134.777,"end":2134.988},{"text":"all","start":2135.101,"end":2135.166},{"text":"women","start":2135.279,"end":2135.587},{"text":"and","start":2135.587,"end":2135.684},{"text":"gender-oppressed","start":2135.684,"end":2136.477},{"text":"people.","start":2136.477,"end":2136.752}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico is a nation that has never been given a chance at self-determination.","start":2137.6,"end":2141.215,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":2137.6,"end":2137.776},{"text":"Rico","start":2137.776,"end":2138.033},{"text":"is","start":2138.114,"end":2138.162},{"text":"a","start":2138.194,"end":2138.21},{"text":"nation","start":2138.274,"end":2138.74},{"text":"that","start":2138.901,"end":2138.997},{"text":"has","start":2138.997,"end":2139.206},{"text":"never","start":2139.238,"end":2139.463},{"text":"been","start":2139.463,"end":2139.544},{"text":"given","start":2139.56,"end":2139.785},{"text":"a","start":2139.801,"end":2139.881},{"text":"chance","start":2139.881,"end":2140.267},{"text":"at","start":2140.267,"end":2140.347},{"text":"self-determination.","start":2140.347,"end":2141.215}]},{"text":"She is a nation that has had her lands and resources exploited and her people displaced for hundreds of years.","start":2141.729,"end":2147.892,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"She","start":2141.729,"end":2141.906},{"text":"is","start":2141.906,"end":2142.05},{"text":"a","start":2142.05,"end":2142.066},{"text":"nation","start":2142.066,"end":2142.596},{"text":"that","start":2142.773,"end":2142.902},{"text":"has","start":2142.918,"end":2143.062},{"text":"had","start":2143.094,"end":2143.319},{"text":"her","start":2143.319,"end":2143.496},{"text":"lands","start":2143.496,"end":2143.946},{"text":"and","start":2144.123,"end":2144.187},{"text":"resources","start":2144.283,"end":2144.782},{"text":"exploited","start":2144.862,"end":2145.553},{"text":"and","start":2145.826,"end":2145.89},{"text":"her","start":2145.906,"end":2146.067},{"text":"people","start":2146.067,"end":2146.436},{"text":"displaced","start":2146.469,"end":2147.015},{"text":"for","start":2147.015,"end":2147.143},{"text":"hundreds","start":2147.16,"end":2147.518},{"text":"of","start":2147.518,"end":2147.664},{"text":"years.","start":2147.664,"end":2147.892}]},{"text":"How many more tragedies must happen before real action is taken?","start":2148.479,"end":2151.882,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"How","start":2148.479,"end":2148.593},{"text":"many","start":2148.593,"end":2148.821},{"text":"more","start":2148.821,"end":2149.049},{"text":"tragedies","start":2149.049,"end":2149.684},{"text":"must","start":2149.716,"end":2149.928},{"text":"happen","start":2149.944,"end":2150.303},{"text":"before","start":2150.368,"end":2150.58},{"text":"real","start":2150.694,"end":2150.905},{"text":"action","start":2151.084,"end":2151.312},{"text":"is","start":2151.41,"end":2151.475},{"text":"taken?","start":2151.508,"end":2151.882}]},{"text":"Will we all allow a future of a Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans?","start":2153.352,"end":2157.538,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"Will","start":2153.352,"end":2153.612},{"text":"we","start":2153.839,"end":2153.92},{"text":"all","start":2154.309,"end":2154.358},{"text":"allow","start":2154.553,"end":2154.829},{"text":"a","start":2155.039,"end":2155.056},{"text":"future","start":2155.072,"end":2155.689},{"text":"of","start":2155.705,"end":2155.802},{"text":"a","start":2155.802,"end":2155.932},{"text":"Puerto","start":2155.932,"end":2156.24},{"text":"Rico","start":2156.354,"end":2156.662},{"text":"without","start":2156.662,"end":2156.938},{"text":"Puerto","start":2156.987,"end":2157.23},{"text":"Ricans?","start":2157.246,"end":2157.538}]},{"text":"Due to colonial economic policies imposed by the US, close to half Puerto Ricans live in poverty.","start":2158.868,"end":2164.542,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"Due","start":2158.868,"end":2159.044},{"text":"to","start":2159.044,"end":2159.188},{"text":"colonial","start":2159.204,"end":2159.829},{"text":"economic","start":2159.909,"end":2160.39},{"text":"policies","start":2160.406,"end":2160.903},{"text":"imposed","start":2160.903,"end":2161.384},{"text":"by","start":2161.384,"end":2161.512},{"text":"the","start":2161.528,"end":2161.608},{"text":"US,","start":2161.608,"end":2161.961},{"text":"close","start":2162.474,"end":2162.682},{"text":"to","start":2162.73,"end":2162.827},{"text":"half","start":2162.875,"end":2163.275},{"text":"Puerto","start":2163.275,"end":2163.468},{"text":"Ricans","start":2163.516,"end":2163.82},{"text":"live","start":2163.852,"end":2163.965},{"text":"in","start":2164.013,"end":2164.141},{"text":"poverty.","start":2164.157,"end":2164.542}]},{"text":"This has been an ongoing trend for decades, made worse after the creation of la Junta.","start":2165.295,"end":2170.104,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2165.295,"end":2165.519},{"text":"has","start":2165.519,"end":2165.664},{"text":"been","start":2165.696,"end":2165.808},{"text":"an","start":2165.856,"end":2165.904},{"text":"ongoing","start":2166.08,"end":2166.465},{"text":"trend","start":2166.561,"end":2166.834},{"text":"for","start":2166.882,"end":2167.042},{"text":"decades,","start":2167.042,"end":2167.507},{"text":"made","start":2167.763,"end":2167.988},{"text":"worse","start":2168.084,"end":2168.517},{"text":"after","start":2168.805,"end":2168.982},{"text":"the","start":2168.982,"end":2169.062},{"text":"creation","start":2169.062,"end":2169.43},{"text":"of","start":2169.527,"end":2169.607},{"text":"la","start":2169.607,"end":2169.735},{"text":"Junta.","start":2169.735,"end":2170.104}]},{"text":"Public schools, universities, and hospitals are being underfunded and closed.","start":2170.825,"end":2175.121,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Public","start":2170.825,"end":2171.145},{"text":"schools,","start":2171.145,"end":2171.755},{"text":"universities,","start":2171.947,"end":2172.7},{"text":"and","start":2172.748,"end":2172.812},{"text":"hospitals","start":2172.893,"end":2173.47},{"text":"are","start":2173.47,"end":2173.614},{"text":"being","start":2173.614,"end":2173.758},{"text":"underfunded","start":2173.87,"end":2174.495},{"text":"and","start":2174.511,"end":2174.576},{"text":"closed.","start":2174.672,"end":2175.121}]},{"text":"This while public utilities are sold off to privatization and mega-luxury developments such as Essencia are pursued regardless of the predictable ecological and societal damage such projects will inflict on the nation.","start":2175.794,"end":2187.706,"topics":[{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2175.794,"end":2176.05},{"text":"while","start":2176.194,"end":2176.355},{"text":"public","start":2176.355,"end":2176.691},{"text":"utilities","start":2176.691,"end":2177.204},{"text":"are","start":2177.236,"end":2177.332},{"text":"sold","start":2177.332,"end":2177.701},{"text":"off","start":2177.701,"end":2177.893},{"text":"to","start":2177.893,"end":2178.038},{"text":"privatization","start":2178.038,"end":2178.807},{"text":"and","start":2179.08,"end":2179.144},{"text":"mega-luxury","start":2179.16,"end":2179.881},{"text":"developments","start":2179.881,"end":2180.394},{"text":"such","start":2180.474,"end":2180.57},{"text":"as","start":2180.682,"end":2180.763},{"text":"Essencia","start":2180.763,"end":2181.292},{"text":"are","start":2181.628,"end":2181.676},{"text":"pursued","start":2181.724,"end":2182.285},{"text":"regardless","start":2182.285,"end":2182.862},{"text":"of","start":2182.862,"end":2182.942},{"text":"the","start":2182.942,"end":2183.071},{"text":"predictable","start":2183.071,"end":2183.712},{"text":"ecological","start":2183.712,"end":2184.353},{"text":"and","start":2184.385,"end":2184.465},{"text":"societal","start":2184.465,"end":2185.138},{"text":"damage","start":2185.17,"end":2185.619},{"text":"such","start":2185.78,"end":2186.02},{"text":"projects","start":2186.117,"end":2186.598},{"text":"will","start":2186.598,"end":2186.679},{"text":"inflict","start":2186.679,"end":2187.176},{"text":"on","start":2187.176,"end":2187.225},{"text":"the","start":2187.257,"end":2187.353},{"text":"nation.","start":2187.353,"end":2187.706}]},{"text":"It is clear that the elected officials, many of them statehooders, serve foreign investors instead of the Puerto Rican people.","start":2188.445,"end":2195.446,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2188.445,"end":2188.525},{"text":"is","start":2188.525,"end":2188.67},{"text":"clear","start":2188.686,"end":2188.975},{"text":"that","start":2189.344,"end":2189.44},{"text":"the","start":2189.44,"end":2189.569},{"text":"elected","start":2189.569,"end":2189.89},{"text":"officials,","start":2189.89,"end":2190.356},{"text":"many","start":2190.613,"end":2190.837},{"text":"of","start":2190.869,"end":2190.966},{"text":"them","start":2190.966,"end":2191.11},{"text":"statehooders,","start":2191.11,"end":2191.72},{"text":"serve","start":2192.009,"end":2192.7},{"text":"foreign","start":2192.716,"end":2193.005},{"text":"investors","start":2193.374,"end":2193.968},{"text":"instead","start":2194.065,"end":2194.466},{"text":"of","start":2194.466,"end":2194.498},{"text":"the","start":2194.498,"end":2194.643},{"text":"Puerto","start":2194.643,"end":2194.868},{"text":"Rican","start":2194.868,"end":2195.092},{"text":"people.","start":2195.124,"end":2195.446}]},{"text":"This is especially clear when we take into account the lives of Puerto Rican women, single mothers and trans people, all stuck in poverty.","start":2195.911,"end":2203.554,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2195.911,"end":2196.008},{"text":"is","start":2196.008,"end":2196.104},{"text":"especially","start":2196.104,"end":2196.81},{"text":"clear","start":2196.875,"end":2197.067},{"text":"when","start":2197.517,"end":2197.597},{"text":"we","start":2197.597,"end":2197.694},{"text":"take","start":2197.694,"end":2197.886},{"text":"into","start":2197.934,"end":2198.143},{"text":"account","start":2198.159,"end":2198.48},{"text":"the","start":2198.48,"end":2198.641},{"text":"lives","start":2198.641,"end":2198.93},{"text":"of","start":2198.978,"end":2199.074},{"text":"Puerto","start":2199.139,"end":2199.315},{"text":"Rican","start":2199.379,"end":2199.668},{"text":"women,","start":2199.765,"end":2200.07},{"text":"single","start":2200.343,"end":2200.728},{"text":"mothers","start":2200.728,"end":2201.194},{"text":"and","start":2201.531,"end":2201.611},{"text":"trans","start":2201.611,"end":2201.997},{"text":"people,","start":2202.029,"end":2202.318},{"text":"all","start":2202.575,"end":2202.671},{"text":"stuck","start":2202.671,"end":2203.008},{"text":"in","start":2203.008,"end":2203.056},{"text":"poverty.","start":2203.153,"end":2203.554}]},{"text":"This citizen— these citizens are abandoned to the violence imposed by this colonial structure.","start":2204.277,"end":2210.394,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2204.277,"end":2204.453},{"text":"citizen—","start":2204.453,"end":2205.047},{"text":"these","start":2205.963,"end":2206.091},{"text":"citizens","start":2206.139,"end":2206.653},{"text":"are","start":2206.765,"end":2206.846},{"text":"abandoned","start":2206.846,"end":2207.408},{"text":"to","start":2207.408,"end":2207.552},{"text":"the","start":2207.552,"end":2207.633},{"text":"violence","start":2207.649,"end":2208.066},{"text":"imposed","start":2208.13,"end":2208.74},{"text":"by","start":2208.853,"end":2208.965},{"text":"this","start":2209.094,"end":2209.286},{"text":"colonial","start":2209.399,"end":2209.897},{"text":"structure.","start":2209.897,"end":2210.394}]},{"text":"Let us take note of the femicide crisis.","start":2211.31,"end":2213.539,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Let","start":2211.31,"end":2211.422},{"text":"us","start":2211.422,"end":2211.47},{"text":"take","start":2211.518,"end":2211.791},{"text":"note","start":2211.807,"end":2212.144},{"text":"of","start":2212.384,"end":2212.449},{"text":"the","start":2212.449,"end":2212.529},{"text":"femicide","start":2212.529,"end":2213.074},{"text":"crisis.","start":2213.106,"end":2213.539}]},{"text":"As reported by the UN this year, Puerto Rico has shown to have one of the sharpest increases of femicide among Latin American nations.","start":2214.213,"end":2222.058,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":2214.213,"end":2214.277},{"text":"reported","start":2214.326,"end":2214.919},{"text":"by","start":2215.096,"end":2215.192},{"text":"the","start":2215.192,"end":2215.336},{"text":"UN","start":2215.352,"end":2215.802},{"text":"this","start":2215.994,"end":2216.235},{"text":"year,","start":2216.235,"end":2216.347},{"text":"Puerto","start":2216.86,"end":2217.197},{"text":"Rico","start":2217.197,"end":2217.518},{"text":"has","start":2217.518,"end":2217.679},{"text":"shown","start":2217.679,"end":2217.967},{"text":"to","start":2217.999,"end":2218.096},{"text":"have","start":2218.096,"end":2218.24},{"text":"one","start":2218.304,"end":2218.368},{"text":"of","start":2218.417,"end":2218.497},{"text":"the","start":2218.545,"end":2218.609},{"text":"sharpest","start":2218.625,"end":2219.106},{"text":"increases","start":2219.187,"end":2219.7},{"text":"of","start":2219.828,"end":2219.893},{"text":"femicide","start":2219.925,"end":2220.454},{"text":"among","start":2220.55,"end":2220.855},{"text":"Latin","start":2220.951,"end":2221.176},{"text":"American","start":2221.208,"end":2221.593},{"text":"nations.","start":2221.673,"end":2222.058}]},{"text":"This is happening in the backdrop of hospital closures that create such issues such as maternity care deserts, which make up about 20% of the municipalities on the island, a trend set to also increase.","start":2222.716,"end":2237.171,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2222.716,"end":2222.828},{"text":"is","start":2222.893,"end":2222.957},{"text":"happening","start":2222.973,"end":2223.502},{"text":"in","start":2223.775,"end":2223.823},{"text":"the","start":2223.855,"end":2223.967},{"text":"backdrop","start":2224.016,"end":2224.738},{"text":"of","start":2224.802,"end":2224.882},{"text":"hospital","start":2224.882,"end":2225.443},{"text":"closures","start":2225.443,"end":2225.909},{"text":"that","start":2226.406,"end":2226.502},{"text":"create","start":2226.502,"end":2227},{"text":"such","start":2227,"end":2227.256},{"text":"issues","start":2227.465,"end":2227.802},{"text":"such","start":2227.802,"end":2228.123},{"text":"as","start":2228.331,"end":2228.476},{"text":"maternity","start":2228.668,"end":2229.117},{"text":"care","start":2229.23,"end":2229.422},{"text":"deserts,","start":2229.631,"end":2230},{"text":"which","start":2230.272,"end":2230.401},{"text":"make","start":2230.497,"end":2230.754},{"text":"up","start":2230.754,"end":2230.914},{"text":"about","start":2231.315,"end":2231.636},{"text":"20%","start":2231.636,"end":2231.925},{"text":"of","start":2232.743,"end":2232.823},{"text":"the","start":2232.823,"end":2232.887},{"text":"municipalities","start":2232.887,"end":2233.77},{"text":"on","start":2233.946,"end":2234.01},{"text":"the","start":2234.026,"end":2234.091},{"text":"island,","start":2234.187,"end":2234.572},{"text":"a","start":2235.085,"end":2235.101},{"text":"trend","start":2235.166,"end":2235.535},{"text":"set","start":2235.583,"end":2235.936},{"text":"to","start":2236.048,"end":2236.16},{"text":"also","start":2236.353,"end":2236.577},{"text":"increase.","start":2236.609,"end":2237.171}]},{"text":"This means women and their children will continue to not receive adequate care for the foreseeable future.","start":2237.718,"end":2245.173,"topics":[{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2237.718,"end":2237.847},{"text":"means","start":2237.96,"end":2238.428},{"text":"women","start":2239.025,"end":2239.38},{"text":"and","start":2239.655,"end":2239.832},{"text":"their","start":2239.832,"end":2240.074},{"text":"children","start":2240.074,"end":2240.591},{"text":"will","start":2241.204,"end":2241.752},{"text":"continue","start":2241.768,"end":2242.253},{"text":"to","start":2242.253,"end":2242.382},{"text":"not","start":2242.414,"end":2242.608},{"text":"receive","start":2242.72,"end":2243.108},{"text":"adequate","start":2243.205,"end":2243.543},{"text":"care","start":2243.543,"end":2243.818},{"text":"for","start":2243.866,"end":2243.979},{"text":"the","start":2243.979,"end":2244.092},{"text":"foreseeable","start":2244.092,"end":2244.673},{"text":"future.","start":2244.737,"end":2245.173}]},{"text":"Instead of focusing attention on these crises, the Puerto Rican government instead focuses on anti-LGBT laws such as banning life-saving gender-affirming care and bathroom bans, policies that have shown to incite further violence on trans, non-binary individuals, and cis women due to gender policing.","start":2246.212,"end":2265.434,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"Instead","start":2246.212,"end":2246.341},{"text":"of","start":2246.341,"end":2246.373},{"text":"focusing","start":2246.373,"end":2246.889},{"text":"attention","start":2247.179,"end":2247.743},{"text":"on","start":2247.888,"end":2247.937},{"text":"these","start":2248.066,"end":2248.275},{"text":"crises,","start":2248.388,"end":2249.001},{"text":"the","start":2249.355,"end":2249.388},{"text":"Puerto","start":2249.436,"end":2249.678},{"text":"Rican","start":2249.678,"end":2249.968},{"text":"government","start":2250,"end":2250.355},{"text":"instead","start":2250.403,"end":2250.774},{"text":"focuses","start":2250.79,"end":2251.306},{"text":"on","start":2251.371,"end":2251.435},{"text":"anti-LGBT","start":2251.596,"end":2252.644},{"text":"laws","start":2252.644,"end":2253.031},{"text":"such","start":2253.321,"end":2253.515},{"text":"as","start":2253.563,"end":2253.676},{"text":"banning","start":2253.789,"end":2254.079},{"text":"life-saving","start":2254.176,"end":2254.789},{"text":"gender-affirming","start":2254.902,"end":2255.532},{"text":"care","start":2255.629,"end":2255.984},{"text":"and","start":2256.355,"end":2256.42},{"text":"bathroom","start":2256.533,"end":2256.969},{"text":"bans,","start":2257.017,"end":2257.469},{"text":"policies","start":2257.905,"end":2258.438},{"text":"that","start":2258.454,"end":2258.6},{"text":"have","start":2258.6,"end":2258.68},{"text":"shown","start":2258.696,"end":2258.987},{"text":"to","start":2259.1,"end":2259.213},{"text":"incite","start":2259.213,"end":2259.649},{"text":"further","start":2259.681,"end":2260.053},{"text":"violence","start":2260.149,"end":2260.553},{"text":"on","start":2260.634,"end":2260.682},{"text":"trans,","start":2260.795,"end":2261.296},{"text":"non-binary","start":2261.603,"end":2262.329},{"text":"individuals,","start":2262.329,"end":2262.959},{"text":"and","start":2263.156,"end":2263.252},{"text":"cis","start":2263.268,"end":2263.589},{"text":"women","start":2263.717,"end":2263.942},{"text":"due","start":2264.279,"end":2264.375},{"text":"to","start":2264.375,"end":2264.6},{"text":"gender","start":2264.6,"end":2264.985},{"text":"policing.","start":2265.001,"end":2265.434}]},{"text":"These issues are policy choices.","start":2266.043,"end":2268.354,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"These","start":2266.043,"end":2266.188},{"text":"issues","start":2266.445,"end":2266.83},{"text":"are","start":2267.166,"end":2267.215},{"text":"policy","start":2267.327,"end":2267.792},{"text":"choices.","start":2267.888,"end":2268.354}]},{"text":"While statehooders will continue to dwell on the results of the past plebiscite, which does not represent even half of the Puerto Rican total population or the millions forced to live in the diaspora, they are blind to the suffering of their own people.","start":2268.867,"end":2282.567,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"While","start":2268.867,"end":2268.963},{"text":"statehooders","start":2268.963,"end":2269.637},{"text":"will","start":2269.733,"end":2269.83},{"text":"continue","start":2269.83,"end":2270.375},{"text":"to","start":2270.375,"end":2270.519},{"text":"dwell","start":2270.616,"end":2270.824},{"text":"on","start":2271.193,"end":2271.241},{"text":"the","start":2271.289,"end":2271.418},{"text":"results","start":2271.418,"end":2271.835},{"text":"of","start":2271.851,"end":2271.915},{"text":"the","start":2271.915,"end":2272.075},{"text":"past","start":2272.075,"end":2272.525},{"text":"plebiscite,","start":2272.637,"end":2273.215},{"text":"which","start":2273.744,"end":2273.904},{"text":"does","start":2274.225,"end":2274.37},{"text":"not","start":2274.386,"end":2274.594},{"text":"represent","start":2274.706,"end":2275.204},{"text":"even","start":2275.204,"end":2275.412},{"text":"half","start":2275.428,"end":2275.765},{"text":"of","start":2275.765,"end":2275.797},{"text":"the","start":2275.797,"end":2275.926},{"text":"Puerto","start":2275.926,"end":2276.15},{"text":"Rican","start":2276.166,"end":2276.391},{"text":"total","start":2276.407,"end":2276.728},{"text":"population","start":2276.728,"end":2277.418},{"text":"or","start":2277.514,"end":2277.562},{"text":"the","start":2277.594,"end":2277.674},{"text":"millions","start":2277.674,"end":2278.14},{"text":"forced","start":2278.236,"end":2278.509},{"text":"to","start":2278.557,"end":2278.717},{"text":"live","start":2278.733,"end":2278.99},{"text":"in","start":2279.214,"end":2279.263},{"text":"the","start":2279.295,"end":2279.375},{"text":"diaspora,","start":2279.375,"end":2280.177},{"text":"they","start":2280.402,"end":2280.562},{"text":"are","start":2280.562,"end":2280.658},{"text":"blind","start":2280.658,"end":2281.059},{"text":"to","start":2281.059,"end":2281.14},{"text":"the","start":2281.14,"end":2281.22},{"text":"suffering","start":2281.22,"end":2281.669},{"text":"of","start":2281.765,"end":2281.813},{"text":"their","start":2281.845,"end":2282.006},{"text":"own","start":2282.006,"end":2282.15},{"text":"people.","start":2282.247,"end":2282.567}]},{"text":"Widening gender inequalities and growing social discontent leave little options besides immigration.","start":2283.289,"end":2289.931,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"Widening","start":2283.289,"end":2283.835},{"text":"gender","start":2283.851,"end":2284.172},{"text":"inequalities","start":2284.188,"end":2284.958},{"text":"and","start":2285.311,"end":2285.375},{"text":"growing","start":2285.792,"end":2286.161},{"text":"social","start":2286.193,"end":2286.658},{"text":"discontent","start":2286.739,"end":2287.476},{"text":"leave","start":2287.717,"end":2287.926},{"text":"little","start":2287.958,"end":2288.247},{"text":"options","start":2288.343,"end":2288.728},{"text":"besides","start":2288.76,"end":2289.209},{"text":"immigration.","start":2289.37,"end":2289.931}]},{"text":"In other words, displacement.","start":2290.445,"end":2292.356,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":2290.445,"end":2290.493},{"text":"other","start":2290.67,"end":2290.895},{"text":"words,","start":2290.927,"end":2291.296},{"text":"displacement.","start":2291.65,"end":2292.356}]},{"text":"Displacement is a genocidal policy, a tool used to clear land for capital and push people out.","start":2292.838,"end":2300.031,"topics":[{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."}],"words":[{"text":"Displacement","start":2292.838,"end":2293.753},{"text":"is","start":2293.881,"end":2293.946},{"text":"a","start":2294.058,"end":2294.203},{"text":"genocidal","start":2294.203,"end":2294.893},{"text":"policy,","start":2294.941,"end":2295.471},{"text":"a","start":2296.129,"end":2296.21},{"text":"tool","start":2296.21,"end":2296.515},{"text":"used","start":2296.707,"end":2297.093},{"text":"to","start":2297.093,"end":2297.237},{"text":"clear","start":2297.253,"end":2297.542},{"text":"land","start":2297.655,"end":2297.928},{"text":"for","start":2297.976,"end":2298.152},{"text":"capital","start":2298.152,"end":2298.811},{"text":"and","start":2298.875,"end":2298.939},{"text":"push","start":2299.036,"end":2299.228},{"text":"people","start":2299.357,"end":2299.726},{"text":"out.","start":2299.822,"end":2300.031}]},{"text":"Today, I am here to call upon mi gente en Puerto Rico and across the diaspora to rise up, to resist, organize, demand our independencia.","start":2300.786,"end":2310.998,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Today,","start":2300.786,"end":2301.203},{"text":"I","start":2301.444,"end":2301.492},{"text":"am","start":2301.524,"end":2301.685},{"text":"here","start":2301.685,"end":2301.958},{"text":"to","start":2302.327,"end":2302.424},{"text":"call","start":2302.472,"end":2302.664},{"text":"upon","start":2302.664,"end":2302.921},{"text":"mi","start":2302.969,"end":2303.066},{"text":"gente","start":2303.13,"end":2303.515},{"text":"en","start":2303.515,"end":2303.66},{"text":"Puerto","start":2303.676,"end":2304.158},{"text":"Rico","start":2304.158,"end":2304.559},{"text":"and","start":2304.816,"end":2304.88},{"text":"across","start":2304.96,"end":2305.41},{"text":"the","start":2305.458,"end":2305.571},{"text":"diaspora","start":2305.571,"end":2306.02},{"text":"to","start":2306.02,"end":2306.197},{"text":"rise","start":2306.245,"end":2306.47},{"text":"up,","start":2306.646,"end":2306.743},{"text":"to","start":2307.208,"end":2307.321},{"text":"resist,","start":2307.369,"end":2308.027},{"text":"organize,","start":2308.413,"end":2309.039},{"text":"demand","start":2309.392,"end":2309.89},{"text":"our","start":2309.938,"end":2310.099},{"text":"independencia.","start":2310.099,"end":2310.998}]},{"text":"¡Que viva Puerto Rico libre!","start":2311.319,"end":2312.925,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"¡Que","start":2311.319,"end":2311.479},{"text":"viva","start":2311.479,"end":2311.881},{"text":"Puerto","start":2311.881,"end":2312.266},{"text":"Rico","start":2312.282,"end":2312.587},{"text":"libre!","start":2312.587,"end":2312.925}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Isa Anastasia Rivas","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Member"}},{"statement_number":23,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":2313.326,"end":2313.695,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":2313.326,"end":2313.487},{"text":"you.","start":2313.487,"end":2313.695}]},{"text":"I thank the petitioner.","start":2317.7,"end":2319.421,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2317.7,"end":2317.765},{"text":"thank","start":2317.962,"end":2318.372},{"text":"the","start":2318.372,"end":2318.618},{"text":"petitioner.","start":2318.618,"end":2319.421}]},{"text":"I now invite Miss Corina Perez to address the committee.","start":2321.656,"end":2326.065,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2321.656,"end":2321.672},{"text":"now","start":2321.672,"end":2321.865},{"text":"invite","start":2322.138,"end":2322.766},{"text":"Miss","start":2322.863,"end":2323.217},{"text":"Corina","start":2323.281,"end":2324.005},{"text":"Perez","start":2324.23,"end":2324.697},{"text":"to","start":2324.971,"end":2325.132},{"text":"address","start":2325.148,"end":2325.518},{"text":"the","start":2325.518,"end":2325.614},{"text":"committee.","start":2325.614,"end":2326.065}]},{"text":"Madam, you have the floor, please.","start":2326.564,"end":2328.238,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam,","start":2326.564,"end":2326.934},{"text":"you","start":2326.998,"end":2327.127},{"text":"have","start":2327.127,"end":2327.272},{"text":"the","start":2327.304,"end":2327.385},{"text":"floor,","start":2327.385,"end":2327.787},{"text":"please.","start":2327.932,"end":2328.238}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":24,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"My name is Coco, and I'm the national chairperson of Juventud Unida por la Independencia, a youth and student mass organization.","start":2332.152,"end":2338.169,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"My","start":2332.152,"end":2332.313},{"text":"name","start":2332.313,"end":2332.442},{"text":"is","start":2332.491,"end":2332.571},{"text":"Coco,","start":2332.636,"end":2332.958},{"text":"and","start":2333.12,"end":2333.184},{"text":"I'm","start":2333.265,"end":2333.345},{"text":"the","start":2333.345,"end":2333.378},{"text":"national","start":2333.378,"end":2333.846},{"text":"chairperson","start":2333.846,"end":2334.426},{"text":"of","start":2334.426,"end":2334.555},{"text":"Juventud","start":2334.555,"end":2335.023},{"text":"Unida","start":2335.023,"end":2335.314},{"text":"por","start":2335.314,"end":2335.523},{"text":"la","start":2335.523,"end":2335.572},{"text":"Independencia,","start":2335.62,"end":2336.491},{"text":"a","start":2336.523,"end":2336.556},{"text":"youth","start":2336.652,"end":2336.878},{"text":"and","start":2336.911,"end":2337.056},{"text":"student","start":2337.056,"end":2337.378},{"text":"mass","start":2337.378,"end":2337.636},{"text":"organization.","start":2337.636,"end":2338.169}]},{"text":"Our current status as a colony has led to the degradation of our land and the worsening of the conditions of our people causing our youth to migrate in droves.","start":2338.857,"end":2346.253,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Our","start":2338.857,"end":2339.02},{"text":"current","start":2339.02,"end":2339.249},{"text":"status","start":2339.281,"end":2339.689},{"text":"as","start":2339.689,"end":2339.787},{"text":"a","start":2339.787,"end":2339.917},{"text":"colony","start":2339.917,"end":2340.308},{"text":"has","start":2340.341,"end":2340.52},{"text":"led","start":2340.651,"end":2340.797},{"text":"to","start":2340.83,"end":2340.863},{"text":"the","start":2340.911,"end":2340.993},{"text":"degradation","start":2341.075,"end":2341.613},{"text":"of","start":2341.645,"end":2341.727},{"text":"our","start":2341.727,"end":2341.89},{"text":"land","start":2341.89,"end":2342.183},{"text":"and","start":2342.216,"end":2342.281},{"text":"the","start":2342.362,"end":2342.428},{"text":"worsening","start":2342.525,"end":2342.9},{"text":"of","start":2342.949,"end":2343.031},{"text":"the","start":2343.031,"end":2343.178},{"text":"conditions","start":2343.178,"end":2343.585},{"text":"of","start":2343.585,"end":2343.667},{"text":"our","start":2343.667,"end":2343.846},{"text":"people","start":2343.846,"end":2344.172},{"text":"causing","start":2344.506,"end":2344.794},{"text":"our","start":2344.859,"end":2345.051},{"text":"youth","start":2345.067,"end":2345.291},{"text":"to","start":2345.323,"end":2345.404},{"text":"migrate","start":2345.404,"end":2345.804},{"text":"in","start":2345.804,"end":2345.852},{"text":"droves.","start":2345.965,"end":2346.253}]},{"text":"We are headed towards a Puerto Rico sin puertorriqueños.","start":2346.846,"end":2350.181,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2346.846,"end":2346.943},{"text":"are","start":2347.007,"end":2347.103},{"text":"headed","start":2347.151,"end":2347.455},{"text":"towards","start":2347.472,"end":2347.856},{"text":"a","start":2347.968,"end":2348.129},{"text":"Puerto","start":2348.129,"end":2348.369},{"text":"Rico","start":2348.465,"end":2348.77},{"text":"sin","start":2349.026,"end":2349.347},{"text":"puertorriqueños.","start":2349.347,"end":2350.181}]},{"text":"It is clear that the U.S. has only ever been interested in our land for its strategic location for military and imperial expansion, as well as a playground for the wealthy to evade taxes and build luxury 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education and medical care.","start":2368.231,"end":2380.899,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":2368.231,"end":2368.311},{"text":"U.S.","start":2368.327,"end":2368.584},{"text":"cares","start":2368.648,"end":2368.856},{"text":"more","start":2368.953,"end":2369.161},{"text":"for","start":2369.594,"end":2369.69},{"text":"the","start":2369.69,"end":2369.77},{"text":"debt","start":2369.914,"end":2370.347},{"text":"that","start":2370.492,"end":2370.652},{"text":"is","start":2370.652,"end":2370.78},{"text":"being","start":2370.812,"end":2371.021},{"text":"managed","start":2371.037,"end":2371.39},{"text":"by","start":2371.39,"end":2371.534},{"text":"a","start":2371.534,"end":2371.678},{"text":"U.S.-imposed","start":2371.678,"end":2372.464},{"text":"fiscal","start":2372.48,"end":2372.817},{"text":"control","start":2372.817,"end":2373.202},{"text":"board","start":2373.218,"end":2373.506},{"text":"that","start":2373.763,"end":2373.859},{"text":"has","start":2373.875,"end":2373.987},{"text":"decided","start":2374.1,"end":2374.581},{"text":"to","start":2374.581,"end":2374.677},{"text":"cut","start":2374.805,"end":2375.062},{"text":"corners","start":2375.062,"end":2375.527},{"text":"by","start":2375.783,"end":2375.88},{"text":"means","start":2375.88,"end":2376.28},{"text":"of","start":2376.28,"end":2376.361},{"text":"privatizing","start":2376.425,"end":2377.05},{"text":"our","start":2377.05,"end":2377.146},{"text":"public","start":2377.146,"end":2377.483},{"text":"services","start":2377.483,"end":2377.996},{"text":"and","start":2378.349,"end":2378.413},{"text":"reducing","start":2378.509,"end":2378.958},{"text":"funding","start":2379.055,"end":2379.44},{"text":"for","start":2379.472,"end":2379.552},{"text":"education","start":2379.552,"end":2380.241},{"text":"and","start":2380.257,"end":2380.321},{"text":"medical","start":2380.354,"end":2380.642},{"text":"care.","start":2380.674,"end":2380.899}]},{"text":"Students at the University of Puerto Rico have been striking for months to demand for a quality education and representation.","start":2381.572,"end":2387.618,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Students","start":2381.572,"end":2382.037},{"text":"at","start":2382.037,"end":2382.117},{"text":"the","start":2382.117,"end":2382.198},{"text":"University","start":2382.262,"end":2382.807},{"text":"of","start":2382.839,"end":2382.903},{"text":"Puerto","start":2382.903,"end":2383.16},{"text":"Rico","start":2383.16,"end":2383.48},{"text":"have","start":2383.721,"end":2383.865},{"text":"been","start":2383.865,"end":2383.962},{"text":"striking","start":2383.962,"end":2384.411},{"text":"for","start":2384.507,"end":2384.587},{"text":"months","start":2384.587,"end":2385.004},{"text":"to","start":2385.004,"end":2385.148},{"text":"demand","start":2385.148,"end":2385.485},{"text":"for","start":2385.485,"end":2385.645},{"text":"a","start":2385.645,"end":2385.726},{"text":"quality","start":2385.726,"end":2386.175},{"text":"education","start":2386.271,"end":2386.72},{"text":"and","start":2386.768,"end":2386.896},{"text":"representation.","start":2386.912,"end":2387.618}]},{"text":"It is no wonder our youth have decided to either leave the archipelago or join the military.","start":2388.051,"end":2392.942,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2388.051,"end":2388.131},{"text":"is","start":2388.131,"end":2388.179},{"text":"no","start":2388.291,"end":2388.371},{"text":"wonder","start":2388.596,"end":2389.077},{"text":"our","start":2389.318,"end":2389.414},{"text":"youth","start":2389.478,"end":2389.654},{"text":"have","start":2389.654,"end":2389.815},{"text":"decided","start":2389.815,"end":2390.296},{"text":"to","start":2390.296,"end":2390.44},{"text":"either","start":2390.472,"end":2390.761},{"text":"leave","start":2390.761,"end":2390.937},{"text":"the","start":2390.937,"end":2391.097},{"text":"archipelago","start":2391.097,"end":2391.723},{"text":"or","start":2391.963,"end":2392.012},{"text":"join","start":2392.06,"end":2392.316},{"text":"the","start":2392.38,"end":2392.428},{"text":"military.","start":2392.444,"end":2392.942}]},{"text":"Our research indicates they do so because they have no choice.","start":2393.487,"end":2397.255,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Our","start":2393.487,"end":2393.711},{"text":"research","start":2393.743,"end":2394.144},{"text":"indicates","start":2394.224,"end":2394.689},{"text":"they","start":2394.706,"end":2394.914},{"text":"do","start":2394.946,"end":2395.106},{"text":"so","start":2395.106,"end":2395.347},{"text":"because","start":2395.347,"end":2395.716},{"text":"they","start":2395.732,"end":2395.844},{"text":"have","start":2395.892,"end":2396.277},{"text":"no","start":2396.469,"end":2396.79},{"text":"choice.","start":2396.854,"end":2397.255}]},{"text":"Puerto Ricans are left with little to no option but to sell their land, bodies, and souls to an imperialist power that does nothing when we are left without a drop of water to drink or bathe.","start":2398.058,"end":2408.519,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":2398.058,"end":2398.251},{"text":"Ricans","start":2398.315,"end":2398.637},{"text":"are","start":2398.637,"end":2398.797},{"text":"left","start":2398.797,"end":2399.038},{"text":"with","start":2399.103,"end":2399.247},{"text":"little","start":2399.279,"end":2399.472},{"text":"to","start":2399.504,"end":2399.617},{"text":"no","start":2399.617,"end":2399.826},{"text":"option","start":2399.922,"end":2400.195},{"text":"but","start":2400.469,"end":2400.565},{"text":"to","start":2400.581,"end":2400.661},{"text":"sell","start":2400.661,"end":2400.854},{"text":"their","start":2400.886,"end":2401.111},{"text":"land,","start":2401.111,"end":2401.497},{"text":"bodies,","start":2401.77,"end":2402.22},{"text":"and","start":2402.477,"end":2402.541},{"text":"souls","start":2402.573,"end":2403.023},{"text":"to","start":2403.039,"end":2403.136},{"text":"an","start":2403.136,"end":2403.184},{"text":"imperialist","start":2403.216,"end":2403.859},{"text":"power","start":2403.859,"end":2404.18},{"text":"that","start":2404.18,"end":2404.325},{"text":"does","start":2404.325,"end":2404.421},{"text":"nothing","start":2404.502,"end":2404.952},{"text":"when","start":2405.369,"end":2405.466},{"text":"we","start":2405.466,"end":2405.546},{"text":"are","start":2405.61,"end":2405.659},{"text":"left","start":2405.771,"end":2405.98},{"text":"without","start":2406.028,"end":2406.414},{"text":"a","start":2406.414,"end":2406.51},{"text":"drop","start":2406.51,"end":2406.703},{"text":"of","start":2406.831,"end":2406.928},{"text":"water","start":2406.992,"end":2407.314},{"text":"to","start":2407.314,"end":2407.522},{"text":"drink","start":2407.538,"end":2407.892},{"text":"or","start":2407.956,"end":2408.117},{"text":"bathe.","start":2408.117,"end":2408.519}]},{"text":"Members of our organization have shared with us that they are forced to stock up on water bottles for drinking, washing their dishes, their clothes, and even flushing their toilets.","start":2409.161,"end":2419.252,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Members","start":2409.161,"end":2409.531},{"text":"of","start":2409.659,"end":2409.74},{"text":"our","start":2409.74,"end":2409.82},{"text":"organization","start":2409.884,"end":2410.415},{"text":"have","start":2410.511,"end":2410.624},{"text":"shared","start":2410.624,"end":2410.961},{"text":"with","start":2411.009,"end":2411.17},{"text":"us","start":2411.17,"end":2411.427},{"text":"that","start":2411.716,"end":2411.893},{"text":"they","start":2411.893,"end":2411.973},{"text":"are","start":2411.973,"end":2412.118},{"text":"forced","start":2412.118,"end":2412.745},{"text":"to","start":2412.953,"end":2413.082},{"text":"stock","start":2413.082,"end":2413.564},{"text":"up","start":2413.644,"end":2413.741},{"text":"on","start":2413.805,"end":2413.869},{"text":"water","start":2413.982,"end":2414.383},{"text":"bottles","start":2414.383,"end":2414.753},{"text":"for","start":2415.107,"end":2415.267},{"text":"drinking,","start":2415.267,"end":2415.701},{"text":"washing","start":2415.99,"end":2416.36},{"text":"their","start":2416.392,"end":2416.617},{"text":"dishes,","start":2416.617,"end":2416.922},{"text":"their","start":2416.954,"end":2417.083},{"text":"clothes,","start":2417.26,"end":2417.565},{"text":"and","start":2417.661,"end":2417.726},{"text":"even","start":2417.838,"end":2418.031},{"text":"flushing","start":2418.079,"end":2418.529},{"text":"their","start":2418.642,"end":2418.802},{"text":"toilets.","start":2418.802,"end":2419.252}]},{"text":"Governor Jennifer González plans to revive Puerto Rico by allowing the U.S. to reopen military bases and passing bills that encourage foreign developers to steal and destroy our land with their settlements.","start":2419.927,"end":2431.609,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Governor","start":2419.927,"end":2420.313},{"text":"Jennifer","start":2420.313,"end":2420.65},{"text":"González","start":2420.714,"end":2421.18},{"text":"plans","start":2421.212,"end":2421.582},{"text":"to","start":2421.614,"end":2421.839},{"text":"revive","start":2422.08,"end":2422.546},{"text":"Puerto","start":2422.578,"end":2422.884},{"text":"Rico","start":2422.884,"end":2423.285},{"text":"by","start":2423.446,"end":2423.606},{"text":"allowing","start":2423.606,"end":2423.991},{"text":"the","start":2424.023,"end":2424.103},{"text":"U.S.","start":2424.167,"end":2424.408},{"text":"to","start":2424.504,"end":2424.6},{"text":"reopen","start":2424.665,"end":2425.226},{"text":"military","start":2425.226,"end":2425.675},{"text":"bases","start":2425.787,"end":2426.124},{"text":"and","start":2426.188,"end":2426.252},{"text":"passing","start":2426.332,"end":2426.717},{"text":"bills","start":2426.83,"end":2427.198},{"text":"that","start":2427.535,"end":2427.615},{"text":"encourage","start":2427.647,"end":2428.08},{"text":"foreign","start":2428.193,"end":2428.481},{"text":"developers","start":2428.513,"end":2429.043},{"text":"to","start":2429.315,"end":2429.412},{"text":"steal","start":2429.412,"end":2429.861},{"text":"and","start":2429.861,"end":2429.925},{"text":"destroy","start":2429.957,"end":2430.374},{"text":"our","start":2430.454,"end":2430.662},{"text":"land","start":2430.662,"end":2430.839},{"text":"with","start":2430.839,"end":2430.999},{"text":"their","start":2430.999,"end":2431.079},{"text":"settlements.","start":2431.095,"end":2431.609}]},{"text":"The president of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authorities, Luis González Delgado, even acknowledged that they do not have enough water to support the destructive Proyecto Esencia.","start":2432.202,"end":2442.53,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":2432.202,"end":2432.346},{"text":"president","start":2432.346,"end":2432.763},{"text":"of","start":2432.763,"end":2432.843},{"text":"the","start":2432.843,"end":2432.988},{"text":"Puerto","start":2432.988,"end":2433.244},{"text":"Rico","start":2433.244,"end":2433.533},{"text":"Aqueduct","start":2433.629,"end":2434.11},{"text":"and","start":2434.11,"end":2434.207},{"text":"Sewer","start":2434.207,"end":2434.527},{"text":"Authorities,","start":2434.527,"end":2435.057},{"text":"Luis","start":2435.393,"end":2435.81},{"text":"González","start":2435.81,"end":2436.34},{"text":"Delgado,","start":2436.372,"end":2437.077},{"text":"even","start":2437.558,"end":2437.767},{"text":"acknowledged","start":2437.815,"end":2438.296},{"text":"that","start":2438.296,"end":2438.472},{"text":"they","start":2438.521,"end":2438.617},{"text":"do","start":2438.617,"end":2438.729},{"text":"not","start":2438.777,"end":2439.05},{"text":"have","start":2439.098,"end":2439.258},{"text":"enough","start":2439.258,"end":2439.499},{"text":"water","start":2439.563,"end":2439.9},{"text":"to","start":2440.076,"end":2440.156},{"text":"support","start":2440.204,"end":2440.702},{"text":"the","start":2440.702,"end":2440.782},{"text":"destructive","start":2440.846,"end":2441.391},{"text":"Proyecto","start":2441.423,"end":2441.92},{"text":"Esencia.","start":2441.92,"end":2442.53}]},{"text":"Jennifer prioritizes U.S. interests, tourists, and foreign private investment over the well-being of her own people.","start":2443.187,"end":2449.153,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Jennifer","start":2443.187,"end":2443.588},{"text":"prioritizes","start":2443.588,"end":2444.358},{"text":"U.S.","start":2444.454,"end":2444.679},{"text":"interests,","start":2444.855,"end":2445.32},{"text":"tourists,","start":2445.577,"end":2445.994},{"text":"and","start":2446.234,"end":2446.299},{"text":"foreign","start":2446.379,"end":2446.683},{"text":"private","start":2446.715,"end":2447.02},{"text":"investment","start":2447.02,"end":2447.421},{"text":"over","start":2447.517,"end":2447.646},{"text":"the","start":2447.678,"end":2447.758},{"text":"well-being","start":2447.838,"end":2448.287},{"text":"of","start":2448.383,"end":2448.431},{"text":"her","start":2448.464,"end":2448.624},{"text":"own","start":2448.704,"end":2448.752},{"text":"people.","start":2448.864,"end":2449.153}]},{"text":"And this is a woman who has been unsuccessfully lobbying for statehood for years.","start":2450.083,"end":2454.702,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":2450.083,"end":2450.147},{"text":"this","start":2450.244,"end":2450.484},{"text":"is","start":2450.484,"end":2450.532},{"text":"a","start":2450.629,"end":2450.693},{"text":"woman","start":2450.725,"end":2451.029},{"text":"who","start":2451.029,"end":2451.126},{"text":"has","start":2451.126,"end":2451.254},{"text":"been","start":2451.286,"end":2451.43},{"text":"unsuccessfully","start":2451.671,"end":2452.697},{"text":"lobbying","start":2452.794,"end":2453.178},{"text":"for","start":2453.515,"end":2453.595},{"text":"statehood","start":2453.611,"end":2454.077},{"text":"for","start":2454.173,"end":2454.381},{"text":"years.","start":2454.397,"end":2454.702}]},{"text":"Why would we ever want to transfer from one colonizer to another?","start":2455.616,"end":2458.968,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Why","start":2455.616,"end":2455.809},{"text":"would","start":2455.857,"end":2456.017},{"text":"we","start":2456.081,"end":2456.177},{"text":"ever","start":2456.258,"end":2456.466},{"text":"want","start":2456.498,"end":2456.659},{"text":"to","start":2456.659,"end":2456.739},{"text":"transfer","start":2456.739,"end":2457.22},{"text":"from","start":2457.22,"end":2457.396},{"text":"one","start":2457.525,"end":2457.669},{"text":"colonizer","start":2457.701,"end":2458.343},{"text":"to","start":2458.343,"end":2458.583},{"text":"another?","start":2458.583,"end":2458.968}]},{"text":"Reunification with Spain does not make any sense.","start":2459.385,"end":2462.015,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Reunification","start":2459.385,"end":2460.187},{"text":"with","start":2460.187,"end":2460.315},{"text":"Spain","start":2460.347,"end":2460.572},{"text":"does","start":2460.732,"end":2460.876},{"text":"not","start":2460.973,"end":2461.293},{"text":"make","start":2461.293,"end":2461.486},{"text":"any","start":2461.486,"end":2461.63},{"text":"sense.","start":2461.63,"end":2462.015}]},{"text":"We should not make any decisions solely based on preserving culture.","start":2462.416,"end":2465.495,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2462.416,"end":2462.512},{"text":"should","start":2462.512,"end":2462.689},{"text":"not","start":2462.737,"end":2462.897},{"text":"make","start":2462.897,"end":2463.09},{"text":"any","start":2463.09,"end":2463.282},{"text":"decisions","start":2463.298,"end":2463.811},{"text":"solely","start":2463.811,"end":2464.244},{"text":"based","start":2464.276,"end":2464.581},{"text":"on","start":2464.581,"end":2464.677},{"text":"preserving","start":2464.677,"end":2465.126},{"text":"culture.","start":2465.158,"end":2465.495}]},{"text":"We must pay attention to the current conditions of our people.","start":2465.8,"end":2468.093,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2465.8,"end":2465.88},{"text":"must","start":2465.88,"end":2466.105},{"text":"pay","start":2466.201,"end":2466.297},{"text":"attention","start":2466.297,"end":2466.682},{"text":"to","start":2466.682,"end":2466.778},{"text":"the","start":2466.778,"end":2466.923},{"text":"current","start":2466.923,"end":2467.147},{"text":"conditions","start":2467.147,"end":2467.564},{"text":"of","start":2467.564,"end":2467.628},{"text":"our","start":2467.628,"end":2467.789},{"text":"people.","start":2467.789,"end":2468.093}]},{"text":"And why would we ever want to be a part of a country such as the U.S. that thrives on the exploitation and destruction of other countries?","start":2468.606,"end":2474.957,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":2468.606,"end":2468.671},{"text":"why","start":2468.751,"end":2468.879},{"text":"would","start":2468.927,"end":2469.023},{"text":"we","start":2469.072,"end":2469.168},{"text":"ever","start":2469.312,"end":2469.537},{"text":"want","start":2469.553,"end":2469.729},{"text":"to","start":2469.729,"end":2469.809},{"text":"be","start":2469.809,"end":2469.889},{"text":"a","start":2469.954,"end":2469.97},{"text":"part","start":2469.97,"end":2470.21},{"text":"of","start":2470.21,"end":2470.29},{"text":"a","start":2470.29,"end":2470.371},{"text":"country","start":2470.371,"end":2470.788},{"text":"such","start":2470.788,"end":2471.06},{"text":"as","start":2471.108,"end":2471.221},{"text":"the","start":2471.237,"end":2471.317},{"text":"U.S.","start":2471.317,"end":2471.589},{"text":"that","start":2471.814,"end":2471.99},{"text":"thrives","start":2472.054,"end":2472.455},{"text":"on","start":2472.455,"end":2472.504},{"text":"the","start":2472.536,"end":2472.648},{"text":"exploitation","start":2472.696,"end":2473.402},{"text":"and","start":2473.402,"end":2473.498},{"text":"destruction","start":2473.498,"end":2474.059},{"text":"of","start":2474.059,"end":2474.203},{"text":"other","start":2474.284,"end":2474.46},{"text":"countries?","start":2474.46,"end":2474.957}]},{"text":"The RIMPAC military exercises held in Hawaiʻi prove that statehood does nothing to protect the people who call these lands home.","start":2475.423,"end":2481.992,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":2475.423,"end":2475.487},{"text":"RIMPAC","start":2475.567,"end":2476.001},{"text":"military","start":2476.001,"end":2476.435},{"text":"exercises","start":2476.531,"end":2477.077},{"text":"held","start":2477.109,"end":2477.366},{"text":"in","start":2477.366,"end":2477.495},{"text":"Hawaiʻi","start":2477.495,"end":2478.009},{"text":"prove","start":2478.217,"end":2478.458},{"text":"that","start":2478.458,"end":2478.635},{"text":"statehood","start":2478.635,"end":2479.117},{"text":"does","start":2479.117,"end":2479.245},{"text":"nothing","start":2479.358,"end":2479.775},{"text":"to","start":2479.824,"end":2479.904},{"text":"protect","start":2479.904,"end":2480.241},{"text":"the","start":2480.241,"end":2480.321},{"text":"people","start":2480.321,"end":2480.627},{"text":"who","start":2480.884,"end":2481.044},{"text":"call","start":2481.044,"end":2481.301},{"text":"these","start":2481.301,"end":2481.494},{"text":"lands","start":2481.526,"end":2481.783},{"text":"home.","start":2481.831,"end":2481.992}]},{"text":"Statehooders here will continue to speak on the numbers from past plebiscites when only 33% of the total population voted.","start":2482.747,"end":2488.77,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Statehooders","start":2482.747,"end":2483.261},{"text":"here","start":2483.309,"end":2483.421},{"text":"will","start":2483.453,"end":2483.566},{"text":"continue","start":2483.598,"end":2483.951},{"text":"to","start":2483.999,"end":2484.032},{"text":"speak","start":2484.032,"end":2484.401},{"text":"on","start":2484.401,"end":2484.481},{"text":"the","start":2484.481,"end":2484.545},{"text":"numbers","start":2484.545,"end":2484.867},{"text":"from","start":2484.899,"end":2485.059},{"text":"past","start":2485.059,"end":2485.461},{"text":"plebiscites","start":2485.461,"end":2486.087},{"text":"when","start":2486.328,"end":2486.392},{"text":"only","start":2486.505,"end":2486.666},{"text":"33%","start":2486.81,"end":2487.228},{"text":"of","start":2487.388,"end":2487.581},{"text":"the","start":2487.613,"end":2487.693},{"text":"total","start":2487.693,"end":2487.95},{"text":"population","start":2487.95,"end":2488.4},{"text":"voted.","start":2488.513,"end":2488.77}]},{"text":"These numbers do not accurately represent our people, let alone the millions of puertorriqueños that have been forced to be a part of the 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can no longer be subjected to the neglect and abuse at the hands of the U.S.","start":2497.748,"end":2502.152,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2497.748,"end":2497.828},{"text":"can","start":2497.828,"end":2498.037},{"text":"no","start":2498.069,"end":2498.278},{"text":"longer","start":2498.374,"end":2498.711},{"text":"be","start":2498.711,"end":2498.872},{"text":"subjected","start":2498.872,"end":2499.418},{"text":"to","start":2499.418,"end":2499.514},{"text":"the","start":2499.514,"end":2499.611},{"text":"neglect","start":2499.611,"end":2500.141},{"text":"and","start":2500.237,"end":2500.301},{"text":"abuse","start":2500.317,"end":2500.703},{"text":"at","start":2500.703,"end":2500.799},{"text":"the","start":2500.799,"end":2500.912},{"text":"hands","start":2500.944,"end":2501.329},{"text":"of","start":2501.522,"end":2501.619},{"text":"the","start":2501.668,"end":2501.732},{"text":"U.S.","start":2501.764,"end":2502.152}]},{"text":"We, as a youth and student organization, demand independence and we will settle for nothing else.","start":2502.733,"end":2507.154,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We,","start":2502.733,"end":2502.894},{"text":"as","start":2503.039,"end":2503.104},{"text":"a","start":2503.136,"end":2503.201},{"text":"youth","start":2503.217,"end":2503.426},{"text":"and","start":2503.459,"end":2503.539},{"text":"student","start":2503.539,"end":2503.878},{"text":"organization,","start":2503.878,"end":2504.475},{"text":"demand","start":2504.83,"end":2505.234},{"text":"independence","start":2505.234,"end":2505.782},{"text":"and","start":2505.782,"end":2505.863},{"text":"we","start":2505.863,"end":2505.96},{"text":"will","start":2505.96,"end":2506.121},{"text":"settle","start":2506.121,"end":2506.428},{"text":"for","start":2506.428,"end":2506.557},{"text":"nothing","start":2506.557,"end":2506.831},{"text":"else.","start":2506.928,"end":2507.154}]},{"text":"And respectfully, asking us to not speak on the experience of other countries is a disservice to the issue at hand, which is not just the status of Puerto Rico.","start":2507.573,"end":2515.39,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":2507.573,"end":2507.638},{"text":"respectfully,","start":2507.654,"end":2508.299},{"text":"asking","start":2508.767,"end":2509.074},{"text":"us","start":2509.171,"end":2509.332},{"text":"to","start":2509.332,"end":2509.364},{"text":"not","start":2509.364,"end":2509.623},{"text":"speak","start":2509.687,"end":2509.978},{"text":"on","start":2509.994,"end":2510.074},{"text":"the","start":2510.074,"end":2510.22},{"text":"experience","start":2510.22,"end":2510.704},{"text":"of","start":2510.704,"end":2510.8},{"text":"other","start":2510.8,"end":2510.93},{"text":"countries","start":2510.93,"end":2511.413},{"text":"is","start":2511.606,"end":2511.67},{"text":"a","start":2511.703,"end":2511.847},{"text":"disservice","start":2511.847,"end":2512.395},{"text":"to","start":2512.395,"end":2512.492},{"text":"the","start":2512.492,"end":2512.637},{"text":"issue","start":2512.653,"end":2512.862},{"text":"at","start":2512.959,"end":2513.055},{"text":"hand,","start":2513.055,"end":2513.377},{"text":"which","start":2513.603,"end":2513.78},{"text":"is","start":2513.78,"end":2513.877},{"text":"not","start":2513.877,"end":2514.054},{"text":"just","start":2514.102,"end":2514.328},{"text":"the","start":2514.328,"end":2514.408},{"text":"status","start":2514.408,"end":2514.746},{"text":"of","start":2514.746,"end":2514.811},{"text":"Puerto","start":2514.811,"end":2515.068},{"text":"Rico.","start":2515.068,"end":2515.39}]},{"text":"It is U.S. imperialism as a whole.","start":2515.712,"end":2517.452,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2515.712,"end":2515.809},{"text":"is","start":2515.809,"end":2515.922},{"text":"U.S.","start":2516.018,"end":2516.212},{"text":"imperialism","start":2516.292,"end":2516.953},{"text":"as","start":2517.001,"end":2517.162},{"text":"a","start":2517.162,"end":2517.242},{"text":"whole.","start":2517.242,"end":2517.452}]},{"text":"The struggles of Haiti, Cuba, and Palestine are all connected.","start":2518.048,"end":2520.64,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":2518.048,"end":2518.128},{"text":"struggles","start":2518.128,"end":2518.499},{"text":"of","start":2518.531,"end":2518.595},{"text":"Haiti,","start":2518.595,"end":2518.853},{"text":"Cuba,","start":2518.917,"end":2519.207},{"text":"and","start":2519.239,"end":2519.336},{"text":"Palestine","start":2519.416,"end":2519.851},{"text":"are","start":2519.9,"end":2520.045},{"text":"all","start":2520.045,"end":2520.19},{"text":"connected.","start":2520.19,"end":2520.64}]},{"text":"¡Que viva Puerto Rico libre!","start":2520.865,"end":2522.215,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"¡Que","start":2520.865,"end":2521.026},{"text":"viva","start":2521.026,"end":2521.267},{"text":"Puerto","start":2521.267,"end":2521.524},{"text":"Rico","start":2521.588,"end":2521.829},{"text":"libre!","start":2521.829,"end":2522.215}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Coco","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"National Chairperson"}},{"statement_number":25,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Ms. Karina Perez.","start":2526.315,"end":2528.308,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2526.315,"end":2526.363},{"text":"thank","start":2526.492,"end":2526.813},{"text":"Ms.","start":2526.829,"end":2527.119},{"text":"Karina","start":2527.36,"end":2527.73},{"text":"Perez.","start":2527.73,"end":2528.308}]},{"text":"I now invite Ms. Lidia Vega Otero to address the committee.","start":2530.139,"end":2536.542,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2530.139,"end":2530.171},{"text":"now","start":2530.171,"end":2530.316},{"text":"invite","start":2530.556,"end":2531.182},{"text":"Ms.","start":2531.182,"end":2531.503},{"text":"Lidia","start":2531.921,"end":2532.595},{"text":"Vega","start":2533.991,"end":2534.488},{"text":"Otero","start":2534.729,"end":2535.387},{"text":"to","start":2535.515,"end":2535.66},{"text":"address","start":2535.676,"end":2536.013},{"text":"the","start":2536.013,"end":2536.173},{"text":"committee.","start":2536.173,"end":2536.542}]},{"text":"Madam, you have the floor, please.","start":2536.815,"end":2538.789,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam,","start":2536.815,"end":2537.281},{"text":"you","start":2537.297,"end":2537.441},{"text":"have","start":2537.441,"end":2537.586},{"text":"the","start":2537.618,"end":2537.698},{"text":"floor,","start":2537.698,"end":2538.083},{"text":"please.","start":2538.484,"end":2538.789}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":26,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Soy Lidia Vega Otero, president of the College of Social Work of Puerto Rico.","start":2539.222,"end":2545.626,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Soy","start":2539.222,"end":2539.383},{"text":"Lidia","start":2539.447,"end":2541.71},{"text":"Vega","start":2541.71,"end":2541.919},{"text":"Otero,","start":2541.935,"end":2542.512},{"text":"president","start":2542.593,"end":2543.09},{"text":"of","start":2543.09,"end":2543.186},{"text":"the","start":2543.218,"end":2543.315},{"text":"College","start":2543.539,"end":2543.812},{"text":"of","start":2543.812,"end":2543.876},{"text":"Social","start":2543.876,"end":2544.342},{"text":"Work","start":2544.342,"end":2544.711},{"text":"of","start":2544.775,"end":2544.839},{"text":"Puerto","start":2544.839,"end":2545.16},{"text":"Rico.","start":2545.16,"end":2545.626}]},{"text":"I come here today with my colleague Francisco Javier González Párez.","start":2545.866,"end":2549.862,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2545.866,"end":2545.915},{"text":"come","start":2546.203,"end":2546.46},{"text":"here","start":2546.508,"end":2546.621},{"text":"today","start":2546.621,"end":2546.845},{"text":"with","start":2546.99,"end":2547.263},{"text":"my","start":2547.263,"end":2547.423},{"text":"colleague","start":2547.632,"end":2547.985},{"text":"Francisco","start":2548.033,"end":2548.611},{"text":"Javier","start":2548.611,"end":2549.076},{"text":"González","start":2549.076,"end":2549.461},{"text":"Párez.","start":2549.493,"end":2549.862}]},{"text":"I come before this hearing pursuant to a mandate from our assembly recognizing that colonialism in Puerto Rico continues to to affect the lives of our people.","start":2550.36,"end":2556.924,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2550.36,"end":2550.44},{"text":"come","start":2550.44,"end":2550.601},{"text":"before","start":2550.601,"end":2550.777},{"text":"this","start":2550.777,"end":2550.938},{"text":"hearing","start":2550.938,"end":2551.307},{"text":"pursuant","start":2551.339,"end":2551.724},{"text":"to","start":2551.724,"end":2551.788},{"text":"a","start":2551.804,"end":2551.82},{"text":"mandate","start":2551.82,"end":2552.141},{"text":"from","start":2552.141,"end":2552.27},{"text":"our","start":2552.302,"end":2552.462},{"text":"assembly","start":2552.462,"end":2552.944},{"text":"recognizing","start":2552.944,"end":2553.473},{"text":"that","start":2553.505,"end":2553.634},{"text":"colonialism","start":2553.666,"end":2554.308},{"text":"in","start":2554.308,"end":2554.356},{"text":"Puerto","start":2554.468,"end":2554.789},{"text":"Rico","start":2554.789,"end":2555.014},{"text":"continues","start":2555.014,"end":2555.463},{"text":"to","start":2555.463,"end":2555.672},{"text":"to","start":2555.56,"end":2555.658},{"text":"affect","start":2555.658,"end":2555.905},{"text":"the","start":2555.905,"end":2555.987},{"text":"lives","start":2555.987,"end":2556.135},{"text":"of","start":2556.234,"end":2556.316},{"text":"our","start":2556.316,"end":2556.382},{"text":"people.","start":2556.415,"end":2556.924}]},{"text":"This is fully impeding the full development of our people and undermining its ability through policies that undermine human dignity and restrict fundamental rights.","start":2559.18,"end":2568.915,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2559.18,"end":2559.356},{"text":"is","start":2559.437,"end":2559.581},{"text":"fully","start":2559.838,"end":2560.143},{"text":"impeding","start":2560.481,"end":2561.107},{"text":"the","start":2561.14,"end":2561.3},{"text":"full","start":2561.3,"end":2561.541},{"text":"development","start":2561.541,"end":2562.023},{"text":"of","start":2562.023,"end":2562.103},{"text":"our","start":2562.103,"end":2562.184},{"text":"people","start":2562.184,"end":2562.73},{"text":"and","start":2562.73,"end":2562.81},{"text":"undermining","start":2562.826,"end":2563.308},{"text":"its","start":2563.308,"end":2563.469},{"text":"ability","start":2563.469,"end":2563.919},{"text":"through","start":2565.461,"end":2565.799},{"text":"policies","start":2565.799,"end":2566.329},{"text":"that","start":2566.377,"end":2566.505},{"text":"undermine","start":2566.521,"end":2566.891},{"text":"human","start":2567.084,"end":2567.389},{"text":"dignity","start":2567.389,"end":2567.726},{"text":"and","start":2567.726,"end":2567.807},{"text":"restrict","start":2567.807,"end":2568.144},{"text":"fundamental","start":2568.144,"end":2568.739},{"text":"rights.","start":2568.755,"end":2568.915}]},{"text":"On this occasion, we wish to draw the committee's attention to three interconnected expressions of the colonial relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico.","start":2568.98,"end":2576.581,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"On","start":2568.98,"end":2569.028},{"text":"this","start":2569.028,"end":2569.189},{"text":"occasion,","start":2569.189,"end":2569.561},{"text":"we","start":2569.577,"end":2569.657},{"text":"wish","start":2569.657,"end":2569.835},{"text":"to","start":2569.835,"end":2569.98},{"text":"draw","start":2569.98,"end":2570.158},{"text":"the","start":2570.158,"end":2570.287},{"text":"committee's","start":2570.287,"end":2570.642},{"text":"attention","start":2570.642,"end":2571.158},{"text":"to","start":2571.336,"end":2571.61},{"text":"three","start":2571.61,"end":2571.917},{"text":"interconnected","start":2571.917,"end":2572.772},{"text":"expressions","start":2573.353,"end":2573.983},{"text":"of","start":2574.015,"end":2574.112},{"text":"the","start":2574.112,"end":2574.241},{"text":"colonial","start":2574.241,"end":2574.596},{"text":"relationship","start":2574.596,"end":2575.29},{"text":"between","start":2575.29,"end":2575.548},{"text":"the","start":2575.548,"end":2575.629},{"text":"U.S.","start":2575.629,"end":2575.903},{"text":"and","start":2575.952,"end":2576.032},{"text":"Puerto","start":2576.032,"end":2576.339},{"text":"Rico.","start":2576.339,"end":2576.581}]},{"text":"First, we denounce the imposition of oppressive immigration policies implemented by the U.S. federal government with the collaboration of the government of Puerto Rico.","start":2577.227,"end":2584.898,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"First,","start":2577.227,"end":2577.711},{"text":"we","start":2577.969,"end":2578.211},{"text":"denounce","start":2578.47,"end":2578.923},{"text":"the","start":2578.923,"end":2579.021},{"text":"imposition","start":2579.021,"end":2579.458},{"text":"of","start":2579.49,"end":2579.555},{"text":"oppressive","start":2579.684,"end":2580.138},{"text":"immigration","start":2580.154,"end":2580.607},{"text":"policies","start":2580.705,"end":2581.174},{"text":"implemented","start":2581.207,"end":2581.692},{"text":"by","start":2581.692,"end":2581.838},{"text":"the","start":2581.854,"end":2582.097},{"text":"U.S.","start":2582.162,"end":2582.437},{"text":"federal","start":2582.502,"end":2582.826},{"text":"government","start":2582.826,"end":2583.214},{"text":"with","start":2583.214,"end":2583.312},{"text":"the","start":2583.312,"end":2583.393},{"text":"collaboration","start":2583.393,"end":2583.959},{"text":"of","start":2583.959,"end":2584.04},{"text":"the","start":2584.04,"end":2584.121},{"text":"government","start":2584.121,"end":2584.38},{"text":"of","start":2584.38,"end":2584.445},{"text":"Puerto","start":2584.445,"end":2584.688},{"text":"Rico.","start":2584.704,"end":2584.898}]},{"text":"These lead to intimidation, arbitrary detention, deportations, persecution, and the denial of access to basic services such as healthcare, food, education, all for families with undefined immigration status in our archipelago.","start":2585.652,"end":2598.793,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"These","start":2585.652,"end":2585.861},{"text":"lead","start":2586.277,"end":2586.502},{"text":"to","start":2586.55,"end":2586.758},{"text":"intimidation,","start":2586.79,"end":2587.479},{"text":"arbitrary","start":2587.559,"end":2587.96},{"text":"detention,","start":2587.96,"end":2588.649},{"text":"deportations,","start":2588.697,"end":2589.594},{"text":"persecution,","start":2589.643,"end":2590.284},{"text":"and","start":2590.3,"end":2590.364},{"text":"the","start":2590.364,"end":2590.46},{"text":"denial","start":2590.46,"end":2590.86},{"text":"of","start":2590.86,"end":2590.941},{"text":"access","start":2590.941,"end":2591.309},{"text":"to","start":2591.357,"end":2591.437},{"text":"basic","start":2591.501,"end":2591.838},{"text":"services","start":2591.838,"end":2592.319},{"text":"such","start":2592.319,"end":2592.527},{"text":"as","start":2592.703,"end":2592.832},{"text":"healthcare,","start":2593.024,"end":2593.585},{"text":"food,","start":2593.601,"end":2594.033},{"text":"education,","start":2594.13,"end":2594.755},{"text":"all","start":2595.251,"end":2595.299},{"text":"for","start":2595.331,"end":2595.444},{"text":"families","start":2595.444,"end":2595.956},{"text":"with","start":2595.988,"end":2596.181},{"text":"undefined","start":2596.293,"end":2596.854},{"text":"immigration","start":2596.854,"end":2597.319},{"text":"status","start":2597.367,"end":2597.783},{"text":"in","start":2597.911,"end":2597.96},{"text":"our","start":2598.008,"end":2598.136},{"text":"archipelago.","start":2598.216,"end":2598.793}]},{"text":"They also include interventions targeting individuals primarily on the basis of their appearance, ethnic origin, language, or 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created a climate of fear and insecurity that has violated human dignity and has fragmented entire communities in our 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we denounce the growing militarization of Puerto Rico as a strategic enclave for operations in Latin America and the reconfiguration of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base.","start":2613.457,"end":2625.127,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Second,","start":2613.457,"end":2613.858},{"text":"we","start":2613.874,"end":2614.114},{"text":"denounce","start":2614.162,"end":2614.659},{"text":"the","start":2614.659,"end":2614.771},{"text":"growing","start":2614.884,"end":2615.108},{"text":"militarization","start":2615.14,"end":2615.99},{"text":"of","start":2616.038,"end":2616.118},{"text":"Puerto","start":2616.182,"end":2616.503},{"text":"Rico","start":2616.503,"end":2616.887},{"text":"as","start":2617.368,"end":2617.513},{"text":"a","start":2617.545,"end":2617.625},{"text":"strategic","start":2617.625,"end":2618.202},{"text":"enclave","start":2618.33,"end":2618.779},{"text":"for","start":2618.811,"end":2618.987},{"text":"operations","start":2618.987,"end":2619.564},{"text":"in","start":2619.564,"end":2619.661},{"text":"Latin","start":2619.693,"end":2619.869},{"text":"America","start":2619.869,"end":2620.51},{"text":"and","start":2620.751,"end":2620.815},{"text":"the","start":2620.815,"end":2620.895},{"text":"reconfiguration","start":2620.895,"end":2621.761},{"text":"of","start":2622.017,"end":2622.37},{"text":"the","start":2622.594,"end":2622.787},{"text":"former","start":2622.915,"end":2623.412},{"text":"Roosevelt","start":2623.46,"end":2623.957},{"text":"Roads","start":2623.957,"end":2624.294},{"text":"Naval","start":2624.294,"end":2624.774},{"text":"Base.","start":2624.919,"end":2625.127}]},{"text":"We also denounce the expansion of military activities in our country, evidenced by the mobilization of military personnel and transfer of combat aircraft to Puerto Rico.","start":2625.64,"end":2635.788,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2625.64,"end":2625.8},{"text":"also","start":2625.8,"end":2626.025},{"text":"denounce","start":2626.025,"end":2626.602},{"text":"the","start":2626.602,"end":2626.842},{"text":"expansion","start":2627.644,"end":2628.141},{"text":"of","start":2628.141,"end":2628.269},{"text":"military","start":2628.269,"end":2628.574},{"text":"activities","start":2628.59,"end":2629.135},{"text":"in","start":2629.167,"end":2629.263},{"text":"our","start":2629.263,"end":2629.407},{"text":"country,","start":2629.407,"end":2629.936},{"text":"evidenced","start":2629.968,"end":2630.61},{"text":"by","start":2630.61,"end":2630.722},{"text":"the","start":2631.876,"end":2632.052},{"text":"mobilization","start":2632.052,"end":2632.774},{"text":"of","start":2632.774,"end":2632.838},{"text":"military","start":2632.838,"end":2633.142},{"text":"personnel","start":2633.158,"end":2633.479},{"text":"and","start":2633.479,"end":2633.591},{"text":"transfer","start":2633.591,"end":2634.056},{"text":"of","start":2634.056,"end":2634.152},{"text":"combat","start":2634.2,"end":2634.617},{"text":"aircraft","start":2634.681,"end":2635.082},{"text":"to","start":2635.082,"end":2635.178},{"text":"Puerto","start":2635.178,"end":2635.515},{"text":"Rico.","start":2635.515,"end":2635.788}]},{"text":"These actions include include military operations conducted outside military bases extended into civilian areas, turning our communities into spaces for military maneuvers.","start":2635.9,"end":2644.69,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"These","start":2635.9,"end":2636.028},{"text":"actions","start":2636.124,"end":2636.509},{"text":"include","start":2636.541,"end":2638.673},{"text":"include","start":2636.83,"end":2637.888},{"text":"military","start":2637.968,"end":2638.273},{"text":"operations","start":2638.305,"end":2638.995},{"text":"conducted","start":2639.011,"end":2639.412},{"text":"outside","start":2639.412,"end":2639.797},{"text":"military","start":2639.813,"end":2640.118},{"text":"bases","start":2640.15,"end":2640.439},{"text":"extended","start":2640.487,"end":2640.936},{"text":"into","start":2640.936,"end":2641.048},{"text":"civilian","start":2641.048,"end":2641.514},{"text":"areas,","start":2641.514,"end":2642.203},{"text":"turning","start":2642.396,"end":2642.668},{"text":"our","start":2642.701,"end":2642.797},{"text":"communities","start":2642.797,"end":2643.278},{"text":"into","start":2643.278,"end":2643.39},{"text":"spaces","start":2643.438,"end":2643.823},{"text":"for","start":2643.823,"end":2643.92},{"text":"military","start":2643.92,"end":2644.241},{"text":"maneuvers.","start":2644.241,"end":2644.69}]},{"text":"Such practices contributed to the recent violation of the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people.","start":2645.123,"end":2649.293,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Such","start":2645.123,"end":2645.331},{"text":"practices","start":2645.363,"end":2645.973},{"text":"contributed","start":2646.165,"end":2646.631},{"text":"to","start":2646.631,"end":2646.663},{"text":"the","start":2646.663,"end":2646.791},{"text":"recent","start":2646.791,"end":2647.048},{"text":"violation","start":2647.048,"end":2647.497},{"text":"of","start":2647.497,"end":2647.529},{"text":"the","start":2647.529,"end":2647.561},{"text":"sovereignty","start":2647.609,"end":2647.994},{"text":"of","start":2647.994,"end":2648.074},{"text":"the","start":2648.074,"end":2648.106},{"text":"Venezuelan","start":2648.106,"end":2648.62},{"text":"people.","start":2648.892,"end":2649.293}]},{"text":"Likewise, they create a possibility of a military incursion and affecting international humanitarian law and the sovereignty of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.","start":2649.598,"end":2658.437,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Likewise,","start":2649.598,"end":2649.983},{"text":"they","start":2650.08,"end":2650.176},{"text":"create","start":2650.176,"end":2650.432},{"text":"a","start":2650.432,"end":2650.448},{"text":"possibility","start":2650.497,"end":2651.106},{"text":"of","start":2651.138,"end":2651.234},{"text":"a","start":2651.234,"end":2651.411},{"text":"military","start":2651.7,"end":2651.988},{"text":"incursion","start":2652.02,"end":2652.63},{"text":"and","start":2653.208,"end":2653.512},{"text":"affecting","start":2654.507,"end":2654.956},{"text":"international","start":2655.132,"end":2655.469},{"text":"humanitarian","start":2655.469,"end":2655.983},{"text":"law","start":2656.031,"end":2656.223},{"text":"and","start":2656.255,"end":2656.32},{"text":"the","start":2656.352,"end":2656.432},{"text":"sovereignty","start":2656.432,"end":2656.881},{"text":"of","start":2656.993,"end":2657.073},{"text":"the","start":2657.073,"end":2657.154},{"text":"peoples","start":2657.154,"end":2657.394},{"text":"of","start":2657.41,"end":2657.458},{"text":"Latin","start":2657.458,"end":2657.635},{"text":"America","start":2657.635,"end":2657.876},{"text":"and","start":2657.876,"end":2657.956},{"text":"the","start":2657.956,"end":2658.02},{"text":"Caribbean.","start":2658.02,"end":2658.437}]},{"text":"Third, we regret federal education policies that redefine and devalue the training of professionals.","start":2658.517,"end":2664.581,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Third,","start":2658.517,"end":2658.918},{"text":"we","start":2658.998,"end":2659.255},{"text":"regret","start":2659.383,"end":2660.025},{"text":"federal","start":2660.025,"end":2661.084},{"text":"education","start":2661.084,"end":2661.629},{"text":"policies","start":2661.629,"end":2662.014},{"text":"that","start":2662.046,"end":2662.175},{"text":"redefine","start":2662.207,"end":2662.736},{"text":"and","start":2662.784,"end":2662.88},{"text":"devalue","start":2662.912,"end":2663.41},{"text":"the","start":2663.41,"end":2663.49},{"text":"training","start":2663.554,"end":2663.907},{"text":"of","start":2663.907,"end":2664.051},{"text":"professionals.","start":2664.1,"end":2664.581}]},{"text":"This affects the most vulnerable— the vulnerable 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education.","start":2667.968,"end":2679.01,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Uh,","start":2667.968,"end":2668.128},{"text":"federal","start":2668.61,"end":2668.898},{"text":"education","start":2669.011,"end":2669.557},{"text":"policies","start":2669.589,"end":2670.038},{"text":"and","start":2670.215,"end":2670.359},{"text":"fiscal","start":2670.391,"end":2670.921},{"text":"policies","start":2670.937,"end":2671.482},{"text":"controlled","start":2671.595,"end":2671.916},{"text":"by","start":2671.916,"end":2672.06},{"text":"the","start":2672.076,"end":2672.141},{"text":"Fiscal","start":2672.141,"end":2672.542},{"text":"Control","start":2672.542,"end":2672.911},{"text":"Board","start":2672.959,"end":2673.2},{"text":"and","start":2673.2,"end":2673.28},{"text":"supported","start":2673.28,"end":2673.585},{"text":"by","start":2673.585,"end":2673.681},{"text":"the","start":2673.681,"end":2673.713},{"text":"government","start":2673.826,"end":2674.179},{"text":"design","start":2674.789,"end":2675.335},{"text":"frameworks","start":2676.635,"end":2677.212},{"text":"that","start":2677.212,"end":2677.357},{"text":"limit","start":2677.357,"end":2677.614},{"text":"access","start":2677.614,"end":2677.902},{"text":"to","start":2677.935,"end":2678.031},{"text":"higher","start":2678.031,"end":2678.304},{"text":"education.","start":2678.416,"end":2679.01}]},{"text":"Currently, the regulations adopted by the U.S. government have meant that academic programs in Puerto Rico have to revise their curricula by removing content related to equity, diversity, and inclusion principles and values of our profession.","start":2679.138,"end":2693.947,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Currently,","start":2679.138,"end":2679.748},{"text":"the","start":2679.861,"end":2680.021},{"text":"regulations","start":2680.085,"end":2680.551},{"text":"adopted","start":2680.647,"end":2680.92},{"text":"by","start":2680.92,"end":2681.064},{"text":"the","start":2681.064,"end":2681.209},{"text":"U.S.","start":2681.209,"end":2681.353},{"text":"government","start":2681.466,"end":2681.883},{"text":"have","start":2682.252,"end":2682.718},{"text":"meant","start":2682.894,"end":2683.295},{"text":"that","start":2683.295,"end":2683.44},{"text":"academic","start":2683.536,"end":2684.034},{"text":"programs","start":2684.034,"end":2684.579},{"text":"in","start":2684.579,"end":2684.643},{"text":"Puerto","start":2684.74,"end":2685.077},{"text":"Rico","start":2685.077,"end":2685.542},{"text":"have","start":2686.586,"end":2686.73},{"text":"to","start":2686.762,"end":2686.858},{"text":"revise","start":2686.858,"end":2687.292},{"text":"their","start":2687.308,"end":2687.468},{"text":"curricula","start":2687.468,"end":2688.11},{"text":"by","start":2688.11,"end":2688.239},{"text":"removing","start":2688.351,"end":2688.736},{"text":"content","start":2688.833,"end":2689.266},{"text":"related","start":2689.314,"end":2689.683},{"text":"to","start":2689.78,"end":2689.94},{"text":"equity,","start":2690.116,"end":2690.372},{"text":"diversity,","start":2690.389,"end":2690.982},{"text":"and","start":2691.014,"end":2691.078},{"text":"inclusion","start":2691.11,"end":2691.703},{"text":"principles","start":2691.735,"end":2692.296},{"text":"and","start":2692.296,"end":2692.376},{"text":"values","start":2692.376,"end":2692.825},{"text":"of","start":2693.241,"end":2693.402},{"text":"our","start":2693.402,"end":2693.498},{"text":"profession.","start":2693.498,"end":2693.947}]},{"text":"Furthermore, the, uh, financial aid system has been reformed, classifying disciplines such as social work as non-professional 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social work from this list, master's and doctoral students no longer have access to financial support to pursue these 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is a deterrent to entering the profession that is essential to addressing social and mental health problems, as well as to defending and expanding human 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immigration policies, the militarization of our country, and the deprofessionalization of social work in Puerto Rico are not isolated realities.","start":2725.382,"end":2734.446,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Oppressive","start":2725.382,"end":2725.948},{"text":"immigration","start":2726.094,"end":2726.627},{"text":"policies,","start":2726.66,"end":2727.194},{"text":"the","start":2727.226,"end":2727.307},{"text":"militarization","start":2727.307,"end":2728.019},{"text":"of","start":2728.035,"end":2728.099},{"text":"our","start":2728.116,"end":2728.277},{"text":"country,","start":2728.277,"end":2728.601},{"text":"and","start":2729.09,"end":2729.349},{"text":"the","start":2729.349,"end":2729.382},{"text":"deprofessionalization","start":2729.382,"end":2730.583},{"text":"of","start":2730.583,"end":2730.68},{"text":"social","start":2730.68,"end":2731.135},{"text":"work","start":2731.135,"end":2731.411},{"text":"in","start":2731.411,"end":2731.524},{"text":"Puerto","start":2731.557,"end":2731.881},{"text":"Rico","start":2731.881,"end":2732.352},{"text":"are","start":2732.693,"end":2732.725},{"text":"not","start":2732.725,"end":2732.953},{"text":"isolated","start":2733.083,"end":2733.797},{"text":"realities.","start":2733.829,"end":2734.446}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Lidia Vega Otero","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"President"}},{"statement_number":27,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Ms. Vega Otero.","start":2738.786,"end":2741.232,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2738.786,"end":2738.818},{"text":"thank","start":2738.964,"end":2739.385},{"text":"Ms.","start":2739.385,"end":2739.758},{"text":"Vega","start":2740.082,"end":2740.584},{"text":"Otero.","start":2740.665,"end":2741.232}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":2742.285,"end":2742.739,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":2742.285,"end":2742.593},{"text":"you.","start":2742.593,"end":2742.739}]},{"text":"I now invite Ms. Davina Resto, madam, you have the floor, please.","start":2743.97,"end":2751.424,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2743.97,"end":2744.018},{"text":"now","start":2744.067,"end":2744.261},{"text":"invite","start":2744.699,"end":2745.363},{"text":"Ms.","start":2747.678,"end":2747.759},{"text":"Davina","start":2747.823,"end":2748.469},{"text":"Resto,","start":2748.55,"end":2749.034},{"text":"madam,","start":2749.761,"end":2750.229},{"text":"you","start":2750.31,"end":2750.374},{"text":"have","start":2750.407,"end":2750.584},{"text":"the","start":2750.584,"end":2750.714},{"text":"floor,","start":2750.714,"end":2751.053},{"text":"please.","start":2751.133,"end":2751.424}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":28,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Dear esteemed members of the Decolonization Committee, as next month marks 128 years since the U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico, we also recognize a decade since the implementation of the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board, la Junta, an undemocratic structure imposed by the U.S. to ensure payment for an illegal and unaudited debt.","start":2754.217,"end":2775.525,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Dear","start":2754.217,"end":2754.395},{"text":"esteemed","start":2754.589,"end":2755.8},{"text":"members","start":2755.8,"end":2756.139},{"text":"of","start":2756.139,"end":2756.22},{"text":"the","start":2756.22,"end":2756.284},{"text":"Decolonization","start":2756.43,"end":2757.072},{"text":"Committee,","start":2757.104,"end":2757.426},{"text":"as","start":2758.068,"end":2758.197},{"text":"next","start":2758.293,"end":2758.647},{"text":"month","start":2758.695,"end":2758.92},{"text":"marks","start":2758.968,"end":2759.273},{"text":"128","start":2759.273,"end":2760.382},{"text":"years","start":2760.382,"end":2760.607},{"text":"since","start":2760.639,"end":2760.88},{"text":"the","start":2760.88,"end":2760.992},{"text":"U.S.","start":2761.025,"end":2761.298},{"text":"invasion","start":2761.362,"end":2761.732},{"text":"of","start":2761.828,"end":2761.892},{"text":"Puerto","start":2761.924,"end":2762.181},{"text":"Rico,","start":2762.181,"end":2762.535},{"text":"we","start":2762.551,"end":2762.631},{"text":"also","start":2762.792,"end":2763.049},{"text":"recognize","start":2763.113,"end":2763.74},{"text":"a","start":2763.772,"end":2763.933},{"text":"decade","start":2763.933,"end":2764.415},{"text":"since","start":2764.415,"end":2764.656},{"text":"the","start":2764.656,"end":2764.8},{"text":"implementation","start":2764.816,"end":2765.668},{"text":"of","start":2765.957,"end":2766.07},{"text":"the","start":2766.07,"end":2766.118},{"text":"Fiscal","start":2766.166,"end":2766.537},{"text":"Oversight","start":2766.667,"end":2767.167},{"text":"and","start":2767.231,"end":2767.296},{"text":"Management","start":2767.312,"end":2767.877},{"text":"Board,","start":2767.877,"end":2768.103},{"text":"la","start":2768.119,"end":2768.264},{"text":"Junta,","start":2768.345,"end":2768.748},{"text":"an","start":2769.087,"end":2769.135},{"text":"undemocratic","start":2769.393,"end":2770.232},{"text":"structure","start":2770.297,"end":2770.781},{"text":"imposed","start":2770.942,"end":2771.717},{"text":"by","start":2771.749,"end":2771.975},{"text":"the","start":2771.975,"end":2772.024},{"text":"U.S.","start":2772.136,"end":2772.443},{"text":"to","start":2772.863,"end":2772.976},{"text":"ensure","start":2772.976,"end":2773.443},{"text":"payment","start":2773.443,"end":2773.798},{"text":"for","start":2773.911,"end":2774.008},{"text":"an","start":2774.008,"end":2774.105},{"text":"illegal","start":2774.331,"end":2774.944},{"text":"and","start":2775.138,"end":2775.202},{"text":"unaudited","start":2775.218,"end":2775.347},{"text":"debt.","start":2775.412,"end":2775.525}]},{"text":"This colonial board prioritizes Wall Street's wealth while privatizing Puerto Ricans' basic necessities, such as education and healthcare, leading to the forceful displacement of the population on the archipelago.","start":2776.962,"end":2790.823,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2776.962,"end":2777.283},{"text":"colonial","start":2777.347,"end":2777.812},{"text":"board","start":2777.909,"end":2778.165},{"text":"prioritizes","start":2778.165,"end":2778.935},{"text":"Wall","start":2779.112,"end":2779.304},{"text":"Street's","start":2779.369,"end":2779.834},{"text":"wealth","start":2779.85,"end":2780.219},{"text":"while","start":2780.476,"end":2780.604},{"text":"privatizing","start":2780.652,"end":2781.47},{"text":"Puerto","start":2781.518,"end":2781.759},{"text":"Ricans'","start":2781.775,"end":2782.128},{"text":"basic","start":2782.176,"end":2782.577},{"text":"necessities,","start":2782.577,"end":2783.267},{"text":"such","start":2783.556,"end":2783.748},{"text":"as","start":2783.845,"end":2783.909},{"text":"education","start":2784.101,"end":2784.791},{"text":"and","start":2784.823,"end":2784.887},{"text":"healthcare,","start":2784.968,"end":2785.417},{"text":"leading","start":2786.01,"end":2786.395},{"text":"to","start":2786.492,"end":2786.604},{"text":"the","start":2786.604,"end":2786.748},{"text":"forceful","start":2786.748,"end":2787.294},{"text":"displacement","start":2787.294,"end":2788.016},{"text":"of","start":2788.096,"end":2788.192},{"text":"the","start":2788.192,"end":2788.272},{"text":"population","start":2788.272,"end":2789.042},{"text":"on","start":2789.459,"end":2789.556},{"text":"the","start":2789.556,"end":2789.748},{"text":"archipelago.","start":2790.181,"end":2790.823}]},{"text":"On January 3rd, 2026, the U.S. attacked our brothers and sisters of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, killing over 100 people and kidnapping their president and first lady.","start":2791.705,"end":2802.759,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"On","start":2791.705,"end":2791.77},{"text":"January","start":2791.802,"end":2792.251},{"text":"3rd,","start":2792.363,"end":2792.684},{"text":"2026,","start":2792.7,"end":2793.647},{"text":"the","start":2794.048,"end":2794.112},{"text":"U.S.","start":2794.192,"end":2794.529},{"text":"attacked","start":2794.609,"end":2795.235},{"text":"our","start":2795.315,"end":2795.363},{"text":"brothers","start":2795.475,"end":2795.828},{"text":"and","start":2795.893,"end":2795.957},{"text":"sisters","start":2795.989,"end":2796.502},{"text":"of","start":2796.598,"end":2796.679},{"text":"the","start":2796.679,"end":2796.775},{"text":"Bolivarian","start":2796.775,"end":2797.401},{"text":"Republic","start":2797.401,"end":2797.898},{"text":"of","start":2797.898,"end":2797.978},{"text":"Venezuela,","start":2797.978,"end":2798.604},{"text":"killing","start":2798.925,"end":2799.294},{"text":"over","start":2799.486,"end":2799.631},{"text":"100","start":2799.631,"end":2800.128},{"text":"people","start":2800.128,"end":2800.513},{"text":"and","start":2800.77,"end":2800.85},{"text":"kidnapping","start":2800.93,"end":2801.395},{"text":"their","start":2801.491,"end":2801.588},{"text":"president","start":2801.588,"end":2802.133},{"text":"and","start":2802.133,"end":2802.197},{"text":"first","start":2802.229,"end":2802.486},{"text":"lady.","start":2802.534,"end":2802.759}]},{"text":"This bombing and kidnapping, illegal under so-called international law, was only possible through the military occupation of Puerto Rico.","start":2803.256,"end":2812.096,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2803.256,"end":2803.497},{"text":"bombing","start":2803.513,"end":2803.882},{"text":"and","start":2804.074,"end":2804.235},{"text":"kidnapping,","start":2804.235,"end":2804.812},{"text":"illegal","start":2804.957,"end":2805.486},{"text":"under","start":2805.582,"end":2805.759},{"text":"so-called","start":2805.759,"end":2806.368},{"text":"international","start":2806.465,"end":2807.074},{"text":"law,","start":2807.187,"end":2807.427},{"text":"was","start":2807.748,"end":2807.86},{"text":"only","start":2808.149,"end":2808.374},{"text":"possible","start":2808.486,"end":2809.08},{"text":"through","start":2809.368,"end":2809.465},{"text":"the","start":2809.513,"end":2809.577},{"text":"military","start":2809.609,"end":2810.219},{"text":"occupation","start":2810.315,"end":2811.021},{"text":"of","start":2811.358,"end":2811.422},{"text":"Puerto","start":2811.518,"end":2811.775},{"text":"Rico.","start":2811.855,"end":2812.096}]},{"text":"Not only has the U.S. called Puerto Rico an unsinkable aircraft carrier, it is clear that rather than benefiting the everyday lives of Puerto Ricans, the U.S. is simply using our land and our people to carry out their endless wars in not just Venezuela, but in Cuba, and in other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.","start":2812.882,"end":2832.277,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent 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United Nations has been unable to hold the United States accountable for the occupation and colonization of Puerto Rico, but also the ongoing genocides in Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan, the attacks on Iran and the plundering of oil, and the kidnapping and detention of migrants right here in New York City.","start":2833.176,"end":2852.57,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":2833.176,"end":2833.208},{"text":"United","start":2833.208,"end":2833.689},{"text":"Nations","start":2833.689,"end":2834.138},{"text":"has","start":2834.138,"end":2834.282},{"text":"been","start":2834.315,"end":2834.411},{"text":"unable","start":2834.635,"end":2835.181},{"text":"to","start":2835.277,"end":2835.389},{"text":"hold","start":2835.437,"end":2835.839},{"text":"the","start":2835.839,"end":2835.903},{"text":"United","start":2835.903,"end":2836.224},{"text":"States","start":2836.224,"end":2836.496},{"text":"accountable","start":2836.496,"end":2837.17},{"text":"for","start":2837.362,"end":2837.443},{"text":"the","start":2837.443,"end":2837.555},{"text":"occupation","start":2837.667,"end":2838.293},{"text":"and","start":2838.405,"end":2838.469},{"text":"colonization","start":2838.55,"end":2839.336},{"text":"of","start":2839.592,"end":2839.737},{"text":"Puerto","start":2839.753,"end":2840.074},{"text":"Rico,","start":2840.074,"end":2840.475},{"text":"but","start":2840.795,"end":2840.956},{"text":"also","start":2841.036,"end":2841.277},{"text":"the","start":2841.277,"end":2841.357},{"text":"ongoing","start":2841.517,"end":2841.806},{"text":"genocides","start":2841.854,"end":2842.384},{"text":"in","start":2842.416,"end":2842.544},{"text":"Gaza,","start":2842.64,"end":2843.138},{"text":"Lebanon,","start":2843.442,"end":2844.02},{"text":"and","start":2844.244,"end":2844.325},{"text":"Sudan,","start":2844.325,"end":2844.87},{"text":"the","start":2845.207,"end":2845.319},{"text":"attacks","start":2845.319,"end":2845.849},{"text":"on","start":2845.849,"end":2845.897},{"text":"Iran","start":2845.929,"end":2846.394},{"text":"and","start":2846.731,"end":2846.827},{"text":"the","start":2846.827,"end":2846.988},{"text":"plundering","start":2846.988,"end":2847.437},{"text":"of","start":2847.549,"end":2847.677},{"text":"oil,","start":2847.854,"end":2848.062},{"text":"and","start":2848.512,"end":2848.576},{"text":"the","start":2848.592,"end":2848.736},{"text":"kidnapping","start":2848.736,"end":2849.33},{"text":"and","start":2849.394,"end":2849.458},{"text":"detention","start":2849.474,"end":2850.068},{"text":"of","start":2850.437,"end":2850.533},{"text":"migrants","start":2850.581,"end":2851.158},{"text":"right","start":2851.158,"end":2851.351},{"text":"here","start":2851.399,"end":2851.656},{"text":"in","start":2851.8,"end":2851.88},{"text":"New","start":2851.88,"end":2852.025},{"text":"York","start":2852.025,"end":2852.217},{"text":"City.","start":2852.217,"end":2852.57}]},{"text":"How could we expect the UN or this committee to liberate Puerto Rico when it continues to bend to the will of the United States?","start":2853.148,"end":2859.933,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"How","start":2853.148,"end":2853.276},{"text":"could","start":2853.404,"end":2853.533},{"text":"we","start":2853.565,"end":2853.709},{"text":"expect","start":2853.709,"end":2854.126},{"text":"the","start":2854.126,"end":2854.287},{"text":"UN","start":2854.287,"end":2854.736},{"text":"or","start":2854.784,"end":2854.928},{"text":"this","start":2854.928,"end":2855.153},{"text":"committee","start":2855.153,"end":2855.538},{"text":"to","start":2855.57,"end":2855.746},{"text":"liberate","start":2855.794,"end":2856.163},{"text":"Puerto","start":2856.212,"end":2856.468},{"text":"Rico","start":2856.468,"end":2856.773},{"text":"when","start":2856.773,"end":2856.885},{"text":"it","start":2856.917,"end":2857.014},{"text":"continues","start":2857.014,"end":2857.591},{"text":"to","start":2857.88,"end":2858.024},{"text":"bend","start":2858.121,"end":2858.377},{"text":"to","start":2858.377,"end":2858.522},{"text":"the","start":2858.522,"end":2858.586},{"text":"will","start":2858.682,"end":2858.81},{"text":"of","start":2858.955,"end":2859.019},{"text":"the","start":2859.019,"end":2859.083},{"text":"United","start":2859.083,"end":2859.516},{"text":"States?","start":2859.516,"end":2859.933}]},{"text":"It is also concerning that we are here in a decolonization hearing, yet we've heard from those who wish to keep us colonized, not only by the U.S., but by Spain.","start":2860.687,"end":2870.14,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2860.687,"end":2860.736},{"text":"is","start":2860.768,"end":2860.816},{"text":"also","start":2861.008,"end":2861.265},{"text":"concerning","start":2861.265,"end":2861.795},{"text":"that","start":2861.827,"end":2861.923},{"text":"we","start":2861.971,"end":2862.052},{"text":"are","start":2862.084,"end":2862.244},{"text":"here","start":2862.292,"end":2862.581},{"text":"in","start":2862.79,"end":2862.934},{"text":"a","start":2862.934,"end":2863.014},{"text":"decolonization","start":2863.014,"end":2863.881},{"text":"hearing,","start":2863.977,"end":2864.362},{"text":"yet","start":2864.715,"end":2864.956},{"text":"we've","start":2864.956,"end":2865.181},{"text":"heard","start":2865.181,"end":2865.438},{"text":"from","start":2865.438,"end":2865.582},{"text":"those","start":2865.598,"end":2865.807},{"text":"who","start":2865.839,"end":2865.935},{"text":"wish","start":2866.063,"end":2866.192},{"text":"to","start":2866.32,"end":2866.417},{"text":"keep","start":2866.481,"end":2866.705},{"text":"us","start":2866.705,"end":2866.866},{"text":"colonized,","start":2866.866,"end":2867.572},{"text":"not","start":2867.989,"end":2868.118},{"text":"only","start":2868.31,"end":2868.535},{"text":"by","start":2868.567,"end":2868.647},{"text":"the","start":2868.647,"end":2868.792},{"text":"U.S.,","start":2868.792,"end":2869.064},{"text":"but","start":2869.193,"end":2869.305},{"text":"by","start":2869.369,"end":2869.482},{"text":"Spain.","start":2869.53,"end":2870.14}]},{"text":"Do we not understand what the term decolonization means?","start":2870.717,"end":2873.991,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Do","start":2870.717,"end":2870.814},{"text":"we","start":2870.814,"end":2870.974},{"text":"not","start":2870.974,"end":2871.279},{"text":"understand","start":2871.359,"end":2871.793},{"text":"what","start":2871.841,"end":2871.937},{"text":"the","start":2871.937,"end":2872.017},{"text":"term","start":2872.017,"end":2872.37},{"text":"decolonization","start":2872.483,"end":2873.51},{"text":"means?","start":2873.542,"end":2873.991}]},{"text":"It means liberation from our oppressors.","start":2874.424,"end":2877.441,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2874.424,"end":2874.585},{"text":"means","start":2874.585,"end":2875.516},{"text":"liberation","start":2875.708,"end":2876.302},{"text":"from","start":2876.35,"end":2876.511},{"text":"our","start":2876.511,"end":2876.671},{"text":"oppressors.","start":2876.671,"end":2877.441}]},{"text":"It means liberation for our homeland.","start":2877.859,"end":2879.848,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":2877.859,"end":2877.955},{"text":"means","start":2877.955,"end":2878.244},{"text":"liberation","start":2878.356,"end":2879.046},{"text":"for","start":2879.062,"end":2879.174},{"text":"our","start":2879.174,"end":2879.383},{"text":"homeland.","start":2879.383,"end":2879.848}]},{"text":"And the liberation of Puerto Rico will only and truly come from the masses of the people, both in the archipelago and in the diaspora, and as we continue to move ourselves into a militant united front that is capable of freeing ourselves, our land, once and all, once and for all, from the terror of the United States.","start":2880.442,"end":2898.846,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"And","start":2880.442,"end":2880.506},{"text":"the","start":2880.587,"end":2880.667},{"text":"liberation","start":2880.667,"end":2881.325},{"text":"of","start":2881.469,"end":2881.534},{"text":"Puerto","start":2881.566,"end":2881.887},{"text":"Rico","start":2881.887,"end":2882.208},{"text":"will","start":2882.208,"end":2882.352},{"text":"only","start":2882.512,"end":2882.737},{"text":"and","start":2882.849,"end":2882.914},{"text":"truly","start":2882.994,"end":2883.299},{"text":"come","start":2883.331,"end":2883.652},{"text":"from","start":2883.652,"end":2883.78},{"text":"the","start":2883.812,"end":2883.893},{"text":"masses","start":2883.893,"end":2884.342},{"text":"of","start":2884.374,"end":2884.47},{"text":"the","start":2884.47,"end":2884.615},{"text":"people,","start":2884.615,"end":2885.064},{"text":"both","start":2885.401,"end":2885.706},{"text":"in","start":2885.738,"end":2885.802},{"text":"the","start":2885.882,"end":2885.963},{"text":"archipelago","start":2886.043,"end":2886.765},{"text":"and","start":2887.006,"end":2887.166},{"text":"in","start":2887.166,"end":2887.246},{"text":"the","start":2887.246,"end":2887.342},{"text":"diaspora,","start":2887.342,"end":2888.015},{"text":"and","start":2888.464,"end":2888.528},{"text":"as","start":2888.688,"end":2888.736},{"text":"we","start":2888.784,"end":2888.928},{"text":"continue","start":2888.928,"end":2889.489},{"text":"to","start":2889.489,"end":2889.601},{"text":"move","start":2889.649,"end":2889.794},{"text":"ourselves","start":2889.826,"end":2890.322},{"text":"into","start":2890.322,"end":2890.499},{"text":"a","start":2890.547,"end":2890.707},{"text":"militant","start":2890.707,"end":2891.155},{"text":"united","start":2891.188,"end":2891.636},{"text":"front","start":2891.732,"end":2892.069},{"text":"that","start":2892.293,"end":2892.405},{"text":"is","start":2892.453,"end":2892.517},{"text":"capable","start":2892.63,"end":2893.158},{"text":"of","start":2893.254,"end":2893.335},{"text":"freeing","start":2893.351,"end":2893.719},{"text":"ourselves,","start":2893.735,"end":2894.328},{"text":"our","start":2894.648,"end":2894.728},{"text":"land,","start":2894.793,"end":2895.161},{"text":"once","start":2895.514,"end":2895.77},{"text":"and","start":2895.77,"end":2895.914},{"text":"all,","start":2896.058,"end":2896.106},{"text":"once","start":2896.475,"end":2896.651},{"text":"and","start":2896.651,"end":2896.795},{"text":"for","start":2896.795,"end":2896.94},{"text":"all,","start":2897.02,"end":2897.068},{"text":"from","start":2897.196,"end":2897.34},{"text":"the","start":2897.356,"end":2897.436},{"text":"terror","start":2897.436,"end":2897.805},{"text":"of","start":2897.853,"end":2897.981},{"text":"the","start":2897.981,"end":2898.013},{"text":"United","start":2898.013,"end":2898.414},{"text":"States.","start":2898.414,"end":2898.846}]},{"text":"We demand that Puerto Rico and the rest of the Americas are a zone of peace.","start":2899.599,"end":2903.573,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2899.599,"end":2899.824},{"text":"demand","start":2899.824,"end":2900.208},{"text":"that","start":2900.561,"end":2900.657},{"text":"Puerto","start":2900.657,"end":2901.041},{"text":"Rico","start":2901.041,"end":2901.346},{"text":"and","start":2901.346,"end":2901.442},{"text":"the","start":2901.442,"end":2901.49},{"text":"rest","start":2901.522,"end":2901.762},{"text":"of","start":2901.778,"end":2901.859},{"text":"the","start":2901.859,"end":2901.987},{"text":"Americas","start":2901.987,"end":2902.531},{"text":"are","start":2902.628,"end":2902.708},{"text":"a","start":2902.708,"end":2902.724},{"text":"zone","start":2902.724,"end":2903.012},{"text":"of","start":2903.108,"end":2903.269},{"text":"peace.","start":2903.285,"end":2903.573}]},{"text":"We demand sovereignty for our people.","start":2904.086,"end":2906.233,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2904.086,"end":2904.278},{"text":"demand","start":2904.31,"end":2904.727},{"text":"sovereignty","start":2904.727,"end":2905.335},{"text":"for","start":2905.367,"end":2905.528},{"text":"our","start":2905.528,"end":2905.752},{"text":"people.","start":2905.752,"end":2906.233}]},{"text":"We demand basic access to necessities, and we demand the end to using us and our people for imperialist wars, and we will continue to fight for justice, dignity, and our lives.","start":2906.409,"end":2918.323,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2906.409,"end":2906.569},{"text":"demand","start":2906.569,"end":2907.018},{"text":"basic","start":2907.13,"end":2907.595},{"text":"access","start":2907.675,"end":2908.043},{"text":"to","start":2908.155,"end":2908.252},{"text":"necessities,","start":2908.252,"end":2908.94},{"text":"and","start":2909.293,"end":2909.357},{"text":"we","start":2909.373,"end":2909.533},{"text":"demand","start":2909.533,"end":2910.142},{"text":"the","start":2910.174,"end":2910.366},{"text":"end","start":2910.479,"end":2910.655},{"text":"to","start":2910.655,"end":2910.863},{"text":"using","start":2910.879,"end":2911.184},{"text":"us","start":2911.44,"end":2911.616},{"text":"and","start":2911.616,"end":2911.712},{"text":"our","start":2911.712,"end":2911.921},{"text":"people","start":2911.921,"end":2912.305},{"text":"for","start":2912.337,"end":2912.53},{"text":"imperialist","start":2912.642,"end":2913.363},{"text":"wars,","start":2913.379,"end":2913.747},{"text":"and","start":2914.18,"end":2914.244},{"text":"we","start":2914.244,"end":2914.34},{"text":"will","start":2914.34,"end":2914.468},{"text":"continue","start":2914.5,"end":2915.077},{"text":"to","start":2915.35,"end":2915.478},{"text":"fight","start":2915.478,"end":2915.864},{"text":"for","start":2915.864,"end":2916.073},{"text":"justice,","start":2916.089,"end":2916.587},{"text":"dignity,","start":2916.732,"end":2917.118},{"text":"and","start":2917.455,"end":2917.536},{"text":"our","start":2917.648,"end":2917.841},{"text":"lives.","start":2917.857,"end":2918.323}]},{"text":"Que viva Puerto Rico libre!","start":2918.597,"end":2920.204,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Que","start":2918.597,"end":2918.677},{"text":"viva","start":2918.757,"end":2919.079},{"text":"Puerto","start":2919.079,"end":2919.416},{"text":"Rico","start":2919.416,"end":2919.706},{"text":"libre!","start":2919.706,"end":2920.204}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Davina Resto","affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":"Petitioner"}},{"statement_number":29,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank Miss Davina Resto.","start":2923.419,"end":2925.671,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":2923.419,"end":2923.451},{"text":"thank","start":2923.58,"end":2923.982},{"text":"Miss","start":2923.982,"end":2924.255},{"text":"Davina","start":2924.464,"end":2925.027},{"text":"Resto.","start":2925.027,"end":2925.671}]},{"text":"We have now heard the last petitioner under this item as per our list, and we have exhausted the list of petitioners who are present and in the room.","start":2928.148,"end":2941.865,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":2928.148,"end":2928.245},{"text":"have","start":2928.245,"end":2928.534},{"text":"now","start":2928.55,"end":2928.76},{"text":"heard","start":2928.953,"end":2929.178},{"text":"the","start":2929.274,"end":2929.371},{"text":"last","start":2929.435,"end":2929.886},{"text":"petitioner","start":2929.918,"end":2930.593},{"text":"under","start":2930.738,"end":2930.98},{"text":"this","start":2931.124,"end":2931.253},{"text":"item","start":2931.382,"end":2931.833},{"text":"as","start":2934.103,"end":2934.248},{"text":"per","start":2934.361,"end":2934.666},{"text":"our","start":2934.747,"end":2935.005},{"text":"list,","start":2935.069,"end":2935.488},{"text":"and","start":2935.713,"end":2936.1},{"text":"we","start":2936.293,"end":2936.454},{"text":"have","start":2936.454,"end":2936.663},{"text":"exhausted","start":2936.76,"end":2937.516},{"text":"the","start":2937.565,"end":2937.726},{"text":"list","start":2937.726,"end":2938.128},{"text":"of","start":2938.289,"end":2938.515},{"text":"petitioners","start":2938.611,"end":2939.239},{"text":"who","start":2939.416,"end":2939.561},{"text":"are","start":2939.658,"end":2939.771},{"text":"present","start":2940.318,"end":2940.85},{"text":"and","start":2941.036,"end":2941.12},{"text":"in","start":2941.306,"end":2941.357},{"text":"the","start":2941.476,"end":2941.645},{"text":"room.","start":2941.645,"end":2941.865}]},{"text":"Before giving the floor to delegations, I would like to remind committee members and observer member states that their statements should be limited to 5 minutes if delivered in a national capacity and to 7 minutes if delivered on behalf of a 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limits will be enforced by means of automatic microphone cutoffs.","start":2966.641,"end":2971.292,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Time","start":2966.641,"end":2966.979},{"text":"limits","start":2967.027,"end":2967.365},{"text":"will","start":2967.365,"end":2967.526},{"text":"be","start":2967.526,"end":2967.688},{"text":"enforced","start":2967.688,"end":2968.396},{"text":"by","start":2968.396,"end":2968.509},{"text":"means","start":2968.509,"end":2968.863},{"text":"of","start":2968.96,"end":2969.105},{"text":"automatic","start":2969.282,"end":2969.862},{"text":"microphone","start":2970.047,"end":2970.596},{"text":"cutoffs.","start":2970.774,"end":2971.292}]},{"text":"Having said this, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United 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Federation, you Thank you, Madam Chair.","start":2994.64,"end":3001.411,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Russian","start":2994.64,"end":2994.869},{"text":"Federation,","start":2994.984,"end":2995.589},{"text":"you","start":2995.639,"end":2995.72},{"text":"Thank","start":2999.841,"end":3000.149},{"text":"you,","start":3000.149,"end":3000.181},{"text":"Madam","start":3000.651,"end":3000.942},{"text":"Chair.","start":3001.217,"end":3001.411}]},{"text":"The Russian Federation has the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United 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Chair, member states of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations have taken note of the 43 resolutions and decisions adopted by the Special Committee of the United Nations on the Situation with the with regard to the employment— on the question of Puerto Rico.","start":3009.475,"end":3024.213,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam","start":3009.475,"end":3009.748},{"text":"Chair,","start":3009.861,"end":3010.118},{"text":"member","start":3011.467,"end":3011.724},{"text":"states","start":3011.724,"end":3012.014},{"text":"of","start":3012.014,"end":3012.078},{"text":"the","start":3012.11,"end":3012.19},{"text":"Group","start":3012.19,"end":3012.431},{"text":"of","start":3012.431,"end":3012.48},{"text":"Friends","start":3012.512,"end":3012.881},{"text":"in","start":3012.914,"end":3012.994},{"text":"Defense","start":3012.994,"end":3013.396},{"text":"of","start":3013.396,"end":3013.492},{"text":"the","start":3013.54,"end":3013.637},{"text":"Charter","start":3013.637,"end":3013.845},{"text":"of","start":3013.862,"end":3013.91},{"text":"the","start":3013.942,"end":3014.022},{"text":"United","start":3014.022,"end":3014.328},{"text":"Nations","start":3014.344,"end":3014.745},{"text":"have","start":3014.745,"end":3014.858},{"text":"taken","start":3014.858,"end":3015.131},{"text":"note","start":3015.163,"end":3015.42},{"text":"of","start":3015.42,"end":3015.501},{"text":"the","start":3015.549,"end":3015.725},{"text":"43","start":3015.725,"end":3016.593},{"text":"resolutions","start":3016.593,"end":3017.188},{"text":"and","start":3017.188,"end":3017.317},{"text":"decisions","start":3017.317,"end":3017.818},{"text":"adopted","start":3017.818,"end":3018.302},{"text":"by","start":3018.302,"end":3018.383},{"text":"the","start":3018.383,"end":3018.48},{"text":"Special","start":3018.48,"end":3018.9},{"text":"Committee","start":3018.948,"end":3019.368},{"text":"of","start":3019.368,"end":3019.772},{"text":"the","start":3019.82,"end":3019.901},{"text":"United","start":3019.901,"end":3020.208},{"text":"Nations","start":3020.224,"end":3020.611},{"text":"on","start":3020.644,"end":3020.724},{"text":"the","start":3020.724,"end":3020.805},{"text":"Situation","start":3020.805,"end":3021.37},{"text":"with","start":3021.37,"end":3021.435},{"text":"the","start":3021.435,"end":3021.629},{"text":"with","start":3021.52,"end":3021.601},{"text":"regard","start":3021.617,"end":3021.779},{"text":"to","start":3021.779,"end":3021.86},{"text":"the","start":3021.86,"end":3021.941},{"text":"employment—","start":3021.941,"end":3022.542},{"text":"on","start":3023.159,"end":3023.191},{"text":"the","start":3023.191,"end":3023.321},{"text":"question","start":3023.321,"end":3023.516},{"text":"of","start":3023.516,"end":3023.629},{"text":"Puerto","start":3023.645,"end":3023.84},{"text":"Rico.","start":3023.905,"end":3024.213}]},{"text":"We've also taken note of the declaration adopted by CELAC, the Bolivarian Alliance of Peoples of Our America, People's Trade Agreement, ALBA, TCP, and the Non-Aligned Movement, among other organizations and groupings on the question of Puerto Rico.","start":3024.7,"end":3038.678,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We've","start":3024.7,"end":3024.895},{"text":"also","start":3024.927,"end":3025.122},{"text":"taken","start":3025.122,"end":3025.382},{"text":"note","start":3025.43,"end":3025.593},{"text":"of","start":3025.593,"end":3025.625},{"text":"the","start":3025.625,"end":3025.771},{"text":"declaration","start":3025.771,"end":3026.29},{"text":"adopted","start":3026.323,"end":3026.777},{"text":"by","start":3026.826,"end":3027.102},{"text":"CELAC,","start":3027.151,"end":3027.816},{"text":"the","start":3028.36,"end":3028.392},{"text":"Bolivarian","start":3028.44,"end":3028.843},{"text":"Alliance","start":3028.939,"end":3029.358},{"text":"of","start":3029.358,"end":3029.438},{"text":"Peoples","start":3029.438,"end":3029.889},{"text":"of","start":3029.921,"end":3030.002},{"text":"Our","start":3030.002,"end":3030.195},{"text":"America,","start":3030.243,"end":3030.678},{"text":"People's","start":3030.807,"end":3031.209},{"text":"Trade","start":3031.209,"end":3031.515},{"text":"Agreement,","start":3031.515,"end":3032.014},{"text":"ALBA,","start":3032.159,"end":3032.594},{"text":"TCP,","start":3032.739,"end":3033.302},{"text":"and","start":3033.447,"end":3033.56},{"text":"the","start":3033.608,"end":3033.64},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":3033.64,"end":3034.188},{"text":"Movement,","start":3034.252,"end":3034.542},{"text":"among","start":3034.977,"end":3035.202},{"text":"other","start":3035.379,"end":3035.524},{"text":"organizations","start":3035.621,"end":3036.329},{"text":"and","start":3036.361,"end":3036.49},{"text":"groupings","start":3036.522,"end":3037.053},{"text":"on","start":3037.633,"end":3037.73},{"text":"the","start":3037.73,"end":3037.875},{"text":"question","start":3037.875,"end":3038.036},{"text":"of","start":3038.036,"end":3038.132},{"text":"Puerto","start":3038.132,"end":3038.309},{"text":"Rico.","start":3038.373,"end":3038.678}]},{"text":"In this context, we take this opportunity to recognize, on the one hand, the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and in accordance with Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly, and on the other, to emphasize that the people of Puerto Rico constitute a Latin American and Caribbean nation which has its own unmistakable national identity.","start":3040.703,"end":3061.685,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":3040.703,"end":3040.751},{"text":"this","start":3040.783,"end":3041.024},{"text":"context,","start":3041.089,"end":3041.474},{"text":"we","start":3041.506,"end":3041.651},{"text":"take","start":3041.651,"end":3041.844},{"text":"this","start":3041.892,"end":3042.133},{"text":"opportunity","start":3042.133,"end":3042.631},{"text":"to","start":3042.631,"end":3042.76},{"text":"recognize,","start":3042.776,"end":3043.242},{"text":"on","start":3043.354,"end":3043.387},{"text":"the","start":3043.451,"end":3043.579},{"text":"one","start":3043.595,"end":3043.708},{"text":"hand,","start":3043.756,"end":3043.965},{"text":"the","start":3043.981,"end":3044.078},{"text":"inalienable","start":3044.078,"end":3044.801},{"text":"right","start":3044.801,"end":3045.042},{"text":"of","start":3045.042,"end":3045.122},{"text":"the","start":3045.122,"end":3045.267},{"text":"people","start":3045.267,"end":3045.459},{"text":"of","start":3045.459,"end":3045.572},{"text":"Puerto","start":3045.604,"end":3045.797},{"text":"Rico","start":3045.845,"end":3046.15},{"text":"to","start":3046.15,"end":3046.183},{"text":"self-determination","start":3046.183,"end":3047.179},{"text":"and","start":3047.211,"end":3047.42},{"text":"in","start":3047.567,"end":3048.586},{"text":"accordance","start":3048.635,"end":3049.217},{"text":"with","start":3049.282,"end":3049.525},{"text":"Resolution","start":3049.59,"end":3049.994},{"text":"1514","start":3049.994,"end":3050.9},{"text":"of","start":3050.9,"end":3050.949},{"text":"the","start":3050.965,"end":3051.046},{"text":"General","start":3051.046,"end":3051.224},{"text":"Assembly,","start":3051.224,"end":3051.629},{"text":"and","start":3052.033,"end":3052.098},{"text":"on","start":3052.114,"end":3052.195},{"text":"the","start":3052.195,"end":3052.357},{"text":"other,","start":3052.357,"end":3052.503},{"text":"to","start":3052.519,"end":3052.6},{"text":"emphasize","start":3052.6,"end":3053.134},{"text":"that","start":3053.166,"end":3053.328},{"text":"the","start":3053.328,"end":3053.409},{"text":"people","start":3053.409,"end":3053.716},{"text":"of","start":3053.716,"end":3053.781},{"text":"Puerto","start":3053.813,"end":3053.991},{"text":"Rico","start":3054.056,"end":3054.364},{"text":"constitute","start":3054.38,"end":3055.092},{"text":"a","start":3055.432,"end":3055.448},{"text":"Latin","start":3055.497,"end":3055.739},{"text":"American","start":3055.739,"end":3056.095},{"text":"and","start":3056.095,"end":3056.29},{"text":"Caribbean","start":3056.29,"end":3056.644},{"text":"nation","start":3056.644,"end":3057.111},{"text":"which","start":3057.111,"end":3057.272},{"text":"has","start":3057.272,"end":3057.497},{"text":"its","start":3057.997,"end":3058.126},{"text":"own","start":3058.399,"end":3058.609},{"text":"unmistakable","start":3059.607,"end":3060.429},{"text":"national","start":3060.429,"end":3060.863},{"text":"identity.","start":3060.912,"end":3061.685}]},{"text":"Madam Chair, since this question was included on the agenda of the C-24 back in 1972, no progress has been made in the decolonization process.","start":3063.641,"end":3074.695,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Madam","start":3063.641,"end":3063.915},{"text":"Chair,","start":3064.028,"end":3064.286},{"text":"since","start":3065.656,"end":3066.091},{"text":"this","start":3066.284,"end":3066.477},{"text":"question","start":3067.09,"end":3067.412},{"text":"was","start":3067.412,"end":3067.525},{"text":"included","start":3067.573,"end":3067.976},{"text":"on","start":3067.976,"end":3068.04},{"text":"the","start":3068.073,"end":3068.169},{"text":"agenda","start":3068.169,"end":3068.524},{"text":"of","start":3068.54,"end":3068.604},{"text":"the","start":3068.62,"end":3068.701},{"text":"C-24","start":3068.701,"end":3069.41},{"text":"back","start":3069.523,"end":3069.7},{"text":"in","start":3069.765,"end":3069.845},{"text":"1972,","start":3069.845,"end":3070.538},{"text":"no","start":3071.923,"end":3072.135},{"text":"progress","start":3072.396,"end":3072.95},{"text":"has","start":3072.95,"end":3073.097},{"text":"been","start":3073.195,"end":3073.26},{"text":"made","start":3073.358,"end":3073.603},{"text":"in","start":3073.603,"end":3073.652},{"text":"the","start":3073.684,"end":3073.782},{"text":"decolonization","start":3073.847,"end":3074.581},{"text":"process.","start":3074.581,"end":3074.695}]},{"text":"Of Puerto Rico, mainly due to lack of political will on the part of the administering power and its determination, on the contrary, to consolidate and deepen its economic, political, and social domination over that nation, which has over years prevented Puerto Rico from addressing in a sovereign manner, among others, the pressing and structural challenges it faces, especially in the socioeconomic field.","start":3074.83,"end":3098.208,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"Of","start":3074.83,"end":3074.91},{"text":"Puerto","start":3075.006,"end":3075.247},{"text":"Rico,","start":3075.263,"end":3075.648},{"text":"mainly","start":3076.05,"end":3076.355},{"text":"due","start":3076.371,"end":3076.515},{"text":"to","start":3076.548,"end":3076.676},{"text":"lack","start":3076.692,"end":3076.821},{"text":"of","start":3076.949,"end":3077.077},{"text":"political","start":3077.11,"end":3077.543},{"text":"will","start":3077.672,"end":3077.8},{"text":"on","start":3077.896,"end":3078.009},{"text":"the","start":3078.009,"end":3078.153},{"text":"part","start":3078.153,"end":3078.378},{"text":"of","start":3078.378,"end":3078.41},{"text":"the","start":3078.41,"end":3078.555},{"text":"administering","start":3078.555,"end":3079.085},{"text":"power","start":3079.197,"end":3079.646},{"text":"and","start":3080.064,"end":3080.16},{"text":"its","start":3080.16,"end":3080.305},{"text":"determination,","start":3080.305,"end":3081.172},{"text":"on","start":3081.846,"end":3081.894},{"text":"the","start":3081.943,"end":3082.071},{"text":"contrary,","start":3082.071,"end":3082.472},{"text":"to","start":3082.489,"end":3082.569},{"text":"consolidate","start":3082.569,"end":3083.291},{"text":"and","start":3083.291,"end":3083.452},{"text":"deepen","start":3083.452,"end":3083.789},{"text":"its","start":3083.837,"end":3083.95},{"text":"economic,","start":3083.95,"end":3084.415},{"text":"political,","start":3084.496,"end":3084.865},{"text":"and","start":3084.881,"end":3084.929},{"text":"social","start":3084.929,"end":3085.331},{"text":"domination","start":3085.379,"end":3085.941},{"text":"over","start":3085.941,"end":3086.165},{"text":"that","start":3086.165,"end":3086.358},{"text":"nation,","start":3086.406,"end":3086.711},{"text":"which","start":3087.466,"end":3087.595},{"text":"has","start":3087.627,"end":3087.835},{"text":"over","start":3087.932,"end":3088.253},{"text":"years","start":3088.253,"end":3088.558},{"text":"prevented","start":3088.654,"end":3089.441},{"text":"Puerto","start":3089.473,"end":3089.794},{"text":"Rico","start":3089.794,"end":3090.276},{"text":"from","start":3091.304,"end":3091.448},{"text":"addressing","start":3091.496,"end":3092.01},{"text":"in","start":3092.042,"end":3092.122},{"text":"a","start":3092.122,"end":3092.139},{"text":"sovereign","start":3092.139,"end":3092.652},{"text":"manner,","start":3092.668,"end":3092.99},{"text":"among","start":3093.006,"end":3093.696},{"text":"others,","start":3093.808,"end":3094.097},{"text":"the","start":3094.13,"end":3094.162},{"text":"pressing","start":3094.21,"end":3094.659},{"text":"and","start":3094.756,"end":3094.852},{"text":"structural","start":3094.852,"end":3095.302},{"text":"challenges","start":3095.334,"end":3095.896},{"text":"it","start":3095.896,"end":3095.96},{"text":"faces,","start":3095.96,"end":3096.345},{"text":"especially","start":3096.377,"end":3096.907},{"text":"in","start":3096.923,"end":3096.956},{"text":"the","start":3096.956,"end":3097.036},{"text":"socioeconomic","start":3097.036,"end":3097.903},{"text":"field.","start":3097.903,"end":3098.208}]},{"text":"Therefore, we reiterate our support to the call of the Special Committee to the Government of the United States of America to assume its responsibility to promote a process that will allow the Puerto Rican people to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance and in full compliance with General Assembly Resolution 1514 and the resolutions and decisions of the Special Committee Concerning Puerto Rico.","start":3098.786,"end":3123.874,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Therefore,","start":3098.786,"end":3099.171},{"text":"we","start":3099.187,"end":3099.444},{"text":"reiterate","start":3099.509,"end":3100.199},{"text":"our","start":3100.488,"end":3100.616},{"text":"support","start":3100.616,"end":3101.225},{"text":"to","start":3101.674,"end":3101.77},{"text":"the","start":3101.77,"end":3101.914},{"text":"call","start":3101.914,"end":3102.155},{"text":"of","start":3102.155,"end":3102.219},{"text":"the","start":3102.219,"end":3102.299},{"text":"Special","start":3102.299,"end":3102.668},{"text":"Committee","start":3102.716,"end":3103.165},{"text":"to","start":3103.982,"end":3104.126},{"text":"the","start":3104.158,"end":3104.239},{"text":"Government","start":3104.399,"end":3104.735},{"text":"of","start":3104.784,"end":3104.88},{"text":"the","start":3104.88,"end":3105.024},{"text":"United","start":3105.425,"end":3105.729},{"text":"States","start":3105.745,"end":3106.242},{"text":"of","start":3106.386,"end":3106.435},{"text":"America","start":3106.483,"end":3106.835},{"text":"to","start":3106.867,"end":3106.931},{"text":"assume","start":3106.947,"end":3107.22},{"text":"its","start":3107.284,"end":3107.428},{"text":"responsibility","start":3107.428,"end":3108.246},{"text":"to","start":3108.246,"end":3108.326},{"text":"promote","start":3108.406,"end":3108.807},{"text":"a","start":3108.807,"end":3108.823},{"text":"process","start":3108.871,"end":3109.256},{"text":"that","start":3109.352,"end":3109.528},{"text":"will","start":3109.528,"end":3109.64},{"text":"allow","start":3109.688,"end":3109.945},{"text":"the","start":3110.169,"end":3110.314},{"text":"Puerto","start":3110.314,"end":3110.506},{"text":"Rican","start":3110.57,"end":3110.843},{"text":"people","start":3110.971,"end":3111.259},{"text":"to","start":3111.692,"end":3111.82},{"text":"fully","start":3111.836,"end":3112.061},{"text":"exercise","start":3112.173,"end":3112.702},{"text":"their","start":3112.734,"end":3112.846},{"text":"inalienable","start":3112.974,"end":3113.696},{"text":"right","start":3113.696,"end":3113.856},{"text":"to","start":3113.856,"end":3113.952},{"text":"self-determination","start":3114,"end":3114.818},{"text":"and","start":3114.818,"end":3114.882},{"text":"independence","start":3114.882,"end":3115.683},{"text":"in","start":3116.26,"end":3116.308},{"text":"accordance","start":3116.357,"end":3116.966},{"text":"and","start":3116.966,"end":3117.046},{"text":"in","start":3117.046,"end":3117.142},{"text":"full","start":3117.142,"end":3117.302},{"text":"compliance","start":3117.302,"end":3117.863},{"text":"with","start":3117.863,"end":3118.024},{"text":"General","start":3118.024,"end":3118.264},{"text":"Assembly","start":3118.264,"end":3118.665},{"text":"Resolution","start":3118.729,"end":3119.146},{"text":"1514","start":3119.146,"end":3120.236},{"text":"and","start":3120.652,"end":3120.732},{"text":"the","start":3120.732,"end":3120.765},{"text":"resolutions","start":3120.765,"end":3121.358},{"text":"and","start":3121.39,"end":3121.502},{"text":"decisions","start":3121.502,"end":3121.951},{"text":"of","start":3121.951,"end":3122.031},{"text":"the","start":3122.031,"end":3122.111},{"text":"Special","start":3122.111,"end":3122.56},{"text":"Committee","start":3122.576,"end":3122.832},{"text":"Concerning","start":3122.896,"end":3123.281},{"text":"Puerto","start":3123.313,"end":3123.505},{"text":"Rico.","start":3123.554,"end":3123.874}]},{"text":"Moreover, we also renew our full support and solidarity with the people of Puerto Rico in their struggle for the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as well as our firm determination to continue participating in an active and constructive manner in all efforts aimed at advancing toward the achievement of a world free of colonialism, with a view to settling once and for all our pending debt with humanity regarding the definitive conclusion of the decolonization process around the world.","start":3124.355,"end":3150.374,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":3151.866,"end":3151.946},{"text":"this","start":3151.946,"end":3152.106},{"text":"context,","start":3152.106,"end":3152.524},{"text":"we","start":3152.588,"end":3152.668},{"text":"seize","start":3152.668,"end":3152.876},{"text":"this","start":3152.893,"end":3153.133},{"text":"opportunity","start":3153.133,"end":3153.839},{"text":"to","start":3154.096,"end":3154.176},{"text":"welcome","start":3154.192,"end":3154.593},{"text":"efforts","start":3154.738,"end":3155.027},{"text":"and","start":3155.075,"end":3155.219},{"text":"initiatives","start":3155.219,"end":3155.685},{"text":"aimed","start":3155.942,"end":3156.118},{"text":"at","start":3156.118,"end":3156.279},{"text":"raising","start":3156.279,"end":3156.648},{"text":"awareness","start":3156.664,"end":3157.242},{"text":"on","start":3157.868,"end":3158.012},{"text":"the—","start":3158.124,"end":3158.317},{"text":"and","start":3158.67,"end":3158.734},{"text":"the","start":3158.766,"end":3158.831},{"text":"visibility","start":3158.831,"end":3159.424},{"text":"of","start":3159.424,"end":3159.505},{"text":"the","start":3159.505,"end":3159.649},{"text":"colonial","start":3159.649,"end":3160.115},{"text":"question","start":3160.115,"end":3160.387},{"text":"of","start":3160.387,"end":3160.452},{"text":"Puerto","start":3160.452,"end":3160.676},{"text":"Rico","start":3160.757,"end":3160.997},{"text":"at","start":3161.029,"end":3161.158},{"text":"all","start":3161.158,"end":3161.302},{"text":"relevant","start":3161.334,"end":3161.736},{"text":"forums,","start":3161.736,"end":3162.153},{"text":"including","start":3162.458,"end":3162.907},{"text":"through","start":3162.939,"end":3163.132},{"text":"the","start":3163.244,"end":3163.405},{"text":"convening","start":3163.662,"end":3164.159},{"text":"of","start":3164.159,"end":3164.223},{"text":"side","start":3164.223,"end":3164.544},{"text":"events","start":3164.544,"end":3164.93},{"text":"on","start":3164.93,"end":3164.962},{"text":"the","start":3164.962,"end":3165.074},{"text":"margins","start":3165.074,"end":3165.475},{"text":"of","start":3165.588,"end":3165.636},{"text":"the","start":3165.668,"end":3165.748},{"text":"work","start":3165.812,"end":3166.214},{"text":"of","start":3166.711,"end":3166.807},{"text":"the","start":3166.807,"end":3166.888},{"text":"Special","start":3166.888,"end":3167.465},{"text":"Political","start":3167.514,"end":3167.915},{"text":"and","start":3167.915,"end":3168.172},{"text":"Decolonization","start":3168.396,"end":3169.086},{"text":"Committee,","start":3169.119,"end":3169.52},{"text":"uh,","start":3170.547,"end":3170.595},{"text":"such","start":3171.35,"end":3171.622},{"text":"as","start":3171.622,"end":3171.703},{"text":"the","start":3171.703,"end":3171.783},{"text":"one","start":3171.783,"end":3171.895},{"text":"held","start":3171.992,"end":3172.232},{"text":"on","start":3172.232,"end":3172.329},{"text":"the","start":3172.329,"end":3172.409},{"text":"19th","start":3172.409,"end":3172.826},{"text":"of","start":3172.874,"end":3173.035},{"text":"November,","start":3173.035,"end":3173.436},{"text":"2024.","start":3173.452,"end":3174.367}]},{"text":"These opportunities, uh, offer a chance to raise the profile of this just a cause that has been protracted for over 120 years.","start":3174.495,"end":3182.249,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"These","start":3174.495,"end":3174.624},{"text":"opportunities,","start":3175.137,"end":3175.828},{"text":"uh,","start":3176.807,"end":3176.855},{"text":"offer","start":3177.128,"end":3177.465},{"text":"a","start":3177.465,"end":3177.609},{"text":"chance","start":3178.01,"end":3178.203},{"text":"to","start":3178.203,"end":3178.363},{"text":"raise","start":3178.412,"end":3178.556},{"text":"the","start":3178.588,"end":3178.668},{"text":"profile","start":3178.668,"end":3179.134},{"text":"of","start":3179.134,"end":3179.23},{"text":"this","start":3179.23,"end":3179.342},{"text":"just","start":3179.391,"end":3179.647},{"text":"a","start":3179.68,"end":3179.696},{"text":"cause","start":3179.696,"end":3179.92},{"text":"that","start":3179.936,"end":3180.017},{"text":"has","start":3180.017,"end":3180.161},{"text":"been","start":3180.193,"end":3180.29},{"text":"protracted","start":3180.418,"end":3180.997},{"text":"for","start":3180.997,"end":3181.157},{"text":"over","start":3181.157,"end":3181.302},{"text":"120","start":3181.302,"end":3182.008},{"text":"years.","start":3182.024,"end":3182.249}]},{"text":"Madam Chair, to conclude, the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter vow to spare no effort in preserving, promoting, and defending the prevalence and validity of the Charter of the United Nations.","start":3182.667,"end":3191.726,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam","start":3182.667,"end":3182.908},{"text":"Chair,","start":3182.908,"end":3183.149},{"text":"to","start":3183.342,"end":3183.486},{"text":"conclude,","start":3183.486,"end":3183.839},{"text":"the","start":3183.872,"end":3183.968},{"text":"Group","start":3183.968,"end":3184.209},{"text":"of","start":3184.209,"end":3184.273},{"text":"Friends","start":3184.273,"end":3184.675},{"text":"in","start":3184.675,"end":3184.771},{"text":"Defense","start":3184.771,"end":3185.108},{"text":"of","start":3185.108,"end":3185.173},{"text":"the","start":3185.173,"end":3185.317},{"text":"Charter","start":3185.317,"end":3185.719},{"text":"vow","start":3186.297,"end":3186.474},{"text":"to","start":3186.554,"end":3186.682},{"text":"spare","start":3186.682,"end":3186.859},{"text":"no","start":3186.859,"end":3187.02},{"text":"effort","start":3187.164,"end":3187.389},{"text":"in","start":3187.421,"end":3187.501},{"text":"preserving,","start":3187.501,"end":3188.032},{"text":"promoting,","start":3188.064,"end":3188.497},{"text":"and","start":3188.545,"end":3188.626},{"text":"defending","start":3188.626,"end":3189.076},{"text":"the","start":3189.108,"end":3189.188},{"text":"prevalence","start":3189.188,"end":3189.718},{"text":"and","start":3189.83,"end":3189.911},{"text":"validity","start":3189.911,"end":3190.28},{"text":"of","start":3190.393,"end":3190.473},{"text":"the","start":3190.473,"end":3190.617},{"text":"Charter","start":3190.617,"end":3190.89},{"text":"of","start":3190.89,"end":3190.955},{"text":"the","start":3190.955,"end":3191.019},{"text":"United","start":3191.019,"end":3191.356},{"text":"Nations.","start":3191.356,"end":3191.726}]},{"text":"Hence, we reiterate the priority we attach to putting an end to colonialism in all its forms and manifestations, as well as our full support and solidarity with the Puerto Rican people in their struggle for the realization of their legitimate nationalized operations in their free independent state of Puerto Rico.","start":3192.384,"end":3209.642,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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you.","start":3210.014,"end":3210.563,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":3210.014,"end":3210.272},{"text":"you.","start":3210.321,"end":3210.563}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"RUS","affiliation_full":"Russian Federation","group":"Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations","function":"Representative"}},{"statement_number":31,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank the distinguished representative of the Russian Federation speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations.","start":3210.984,"end":3223.749,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":3210.984,"end":3212.099},{"text":"the","start":3212.099,"end":3212.276},{"text":"distinguished","start":3212.276,"end":3213.004},{"text":"representative","start":3213.004,"end":3213.844},{"text":"of","start":3215.483,"end":3215.563},{"text":"the","start":3215.644,"end":3215.901},{"text":"Russian","start":3216.287,"end":3216.753},{"text":"Federation","start":3216.769,"end":3217.798},{"text":"speaking","start":3218.248,"end":3218.923},{"text":"on","start":3219.019,"end":3219.083},{"text":"behalf","start":3219.196,"end":3219.774},{"text":"of","start":3219.903,"end":3220.064},{"text":"the","start":3220.064,"end":3220.224},{"text":"Group","start":3220.224,"end":3220.482},{"text":"of","start":3220.482,"end":3220.578},{"text":"Friends","start":3220.578,"end":3221.012},{"text":"in","start":3221.108,"end":3221.157},{"text":"Defense","start":3221.205,"end":3221.687},{"text":"of","start":3221.687,"end":3221.832},{"text":"the","start":3221.832,"end":3221.992},{"text":"Charter","start":3221.992,"end":3222.571},{"text":"of","start":3222.571,"end":3222.7},{"text":"the","start":3222.7,"end":3222.796},{"text":"United","start":3222.796,"end":3223.281},{"text":"Nations.","start":3223.281,"end":3223.749}]},{"text":"I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Cuba.","start":3224.347,"end":3228.547,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":3224.347,"end":3224.396},{"text":"now","start":3224.444,"end":3224.783},{"text":"give","start":3224.912,"end":3225.074},{"text":"the","start":3225.074,"end":3225.155},{"text":"floor","start":3225.155,"end":3225.429},{"text":"to","start":3225.542,"end":3225.688},{"text":"the","start":3225.704,"end":3225.785},{"text":"distinguished","start":3225.817,"end":3226.366},{"text":"permanent","start":3226.366,"end":3226.835},{"text":"representative","start":3226.835,"end":3227.626},{"text":"of","start":3227.739,"end":3227.836},{"text":"Cuba.","start":3227.981,"end":3228.547}]},{"text":"Excellency, you have the floor, please.","start":3229.112,"end":3230.921,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Excellency,","start":3229.112,"end":3229.726},{"text":"you","start":3229.758,"end":3229.807},{"text":"have","start":3229.903,"end":3230.017},{"text":"the","start":3230.065,"end":3230.162},{"text":"floor,","start":3230.162,"end":3230.42},{"text":"please.","start":3230.63,"end":3230.921}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":32,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Russian Federation on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter and those that will be delivered on by Uganda on behalf of the NAM and Uruguay on behalf of CELAC.","start":3234.547,"end":3252.11,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":3234.547,"end":3234.771},{"text":"you,","start":3234.771,"end":3234.803},{"text":"Madam","start":3234.819,"end":3234.995},{"text":"Chair.","start":3235.091,"end":3235.316},{"text":"Madam","start":3236.373,"end":3236.614},{"text":"Chair,","start":3236.614,"end":3237.03},{"text":"my","start":3237.832,"end":3237.976},{"text":"delegation","start":3237.976,"end":3238.473},{"text":"aligns","start":3238.473,"end":3238.729},{"text":"itself","start":3238.729,"end":3239.194},{"text":"with","start":3239.194,"end":3239.402},{"text":"the","start":3239.434,"end":3239.61},{"text":"statement","start":3239.61,"end":3240.492},{"text":"delivered","start":3240.572,"end":3240.94},{"text":"by","start":3240.94,"end":3241.101},{"text":"the","start":3241.101,"end":3241.197},{"text":"Russian","start":3241.197,"end":3241.485},{"text":"Federation","start":3241.517,"end":3242.078},{"text":"on","start":3242.078,"end":3242.158},{"text":"behalf","start":3242.158,"end":3242.511},{"text":"of","start":3242.575,"end":3242.687},{"text":"the","start":3242.703,"end":3242.799},{"text":"Group","start":3242.799,"end":3243.024},{"text":"of","start":3243.024,"end":3243.088},{"text":"Friends","start":3243.104,"end":3243.408},{"text":"in","start":3243.44,"end":3243.52},{"text":"Defense","start":3243.52,"end":3243.889},{"text":"of","start":3243.985,"end":3244.129},{"text":"the","start":3244.161,"end":3244.354},{"text":"UN","start":3244.482,"end":3244.754},{"text":"Charter","start":3244.867,"end":3245.443},{"text":"and","start":3245.828,"end":3245.924},{"text":"those","start":3245.924,"end":3246.132},{"text":"that","start":3246.229,"end":3246.293},{"text":"will","start":3246.325,"end":3246.437},{"text":"be","start":3246.469,"end":3246.549},{"text":"delivered","start":3246.549,"end":3246.886},{"text":"on","start":3246.886,"end":3246.95},{"text":"by","start":3247.206,"end":3247.35},{"text":"Uganda","start":3247.35,"end":3247.831},{"text":"on","start":3247.831,"end":3247.895},{"text":"behalf","start":3247.991,"end":3248.36},{"text":"of","start":3248.632,"end":3249.097},{"text":"the","start":3249.674,"end":3250.091},{"text":"NAM","start":3250.267,"end":3250.668},{"text":"and","start":3250.716,"end":3250.812},{"text":"Uruguay","start":3250.812,"end":3251.116},{"text":"on","start":3251.116,"end":3251.148},{"text":"behalf","start":3251.148,"end":3251.613},{"text":"of","start":3251.693,"end":3251.821},{"text":"CELAC.","start":3251.869,"end":3252.11}]},{"text":"I'd like to begin by expressing our thanks Thanks for the sympathy that was expressed for Cuba today and support for Cuba, as well as the firm rejection against any military attack on our country.","start":3252.574,"end":3267.973,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I'd","start":3252.574,"end":3252.655},{"text":"like","start":3252.655,"end":3252.767},{"text":"to","start":3252.815,"end":3252.895},{"text":"begin","start":3252.895,"end":3253.183},{"text":"by","start":3253.376,"end":3253.488},{"text":"expressing","start":3253.921,"end":3254.69},{"text":"our","start":3255.122,"end":3256.661},{"text":"thanks","start":3256.661,"end":3257.238},{"text":"Thanks","start":3257.708,"end":3258.92},{"text":"for","start":3258.92,"end":3259.001},{"text":"the","start":3259.001,"end":3259.065},{"text":"sympathy","start":3259.065,"end":3259.453},{"text":"that","start":3259.469,"end":3259.566},{"text":"was","start":3259.566,"end":3259.696},{"text":"expressed","start":3259.728,"end":3260.455},{"text":"for","start":3260.455,"end":3260.698},{"text":"Cuba","start":3260.698,"end":3261.215},{"text":"today","start":3261.263,"end":3261.7},{"text":"and","start":3262.055,"end":3262.298},{"text":"support","start":3262.298,"end":3262.637},{"text":"for","start":3262.637,"end":3262.783},{"text":"Cuba,","start":3262.783,"end":3263.268},{"text":"as","start":3263.349,"end":3263.413},{"text":"well","start":3263.446,"end":3263.607},{"text":"as","start":3263.607,"end":3263.656},{"text":"the","start":3263.753,"end":3263.833},{"text":"firm","start":3263.833,"end":3264.044},{"text":"rejection","start":3264.092,"end":3264.609},{"text":"against","start":3264.642,"end":3264.9},{"text":"any","start":3264.9,"end":3265.03},{"text":"military","start":3265.03,"end":3265.438},{"text":"attack","start":3266.943,"end":3267.27},{"text":"on","start":3267.27,"end":3267.417},{"text":"our","start":3267.417,"end":3267.515},{"text":"country.","start":3267.515,"end":3267.973}]},{"text":"The people of Puerto Rico continue to be prevented from deciding on the issues affecting them.","start":3271.75,"end":3278.771,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3271.75,"end":3272.023},{"text":"people","start":3272.023,"end":3272.281},{"text":"of","start":3272.281,"end":3272.378},{"text":"Puerto","start":3272.378,"end":3272.603},{"text":"Rico","start":3272.603,"end":3272.812},{"text":"continue","start":3272.812,"end":3273.231},{"text":"to","start":3273.231,"end":3273.312},{"text":"be","start":3273.312,"end":3273.408},{"text":"prevented","start":3274.197,"end":3274.922},{"text":"from","start":3274.922,"end":3275.228},{"text":"deciding","start":3275.325,"end":3275.856},{"text":"on","start":3276.049,"end":3276.178},{"text":"the","start":3276.452,"end":3276.774},{"text":"issues","start":3277.982,"end":3278.24},{"text":"affecting","start":3278.24,"end":3278.626},{"text":"them.","start":3278.626,"end":3278.771}]},{"text":"The imposition of the so-called social— Fiscal Supervision Board has brought with it further economic deterioration and shortages for life.","start":3278.852,"end":3294.639,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. 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These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3278.852,"end":3278.964},{"text":"imposition","start":3278.964,"end":3279.818},{"text":"of","start":3279.818,"end":3280.124},{"text":"the","start":3280.317,"end":3280.591},{"text":"so-called","start":3281.01,"end":3281.49},{"text":"social—","start":3281.556,"end":3282.302},{"text":"Fiscal","start":3283.951,"end":3284.226},{"text":"Supervision","start":3284.226,"end":3284.745},{"text":"Board","start":3284.745,"end":3285.053},{"text":"has","start":3287.272,"end":3287.564},{"text":"brought","start":3288.244,"end":3288.682},{"text":"with","start":3288.731,"end":3288.974},{"text":"it","start":3288.974,"end":3289.249},{"text":"further","start":3289.46,"end":3290.01},{"text":"economic","start":3290.172,"end":3291.226},{"text":"deterioration","start":3291.226,"end":3292.052},{"text":"and","start":3292.052,"end":3292.196},{"text":"shortages","start":3292.196,"end":3292.823},{"text":"for","start":3293,"end":3293.273},{"text":"life.","start":3294.381,"end":3294.639}]},{"text":"The Commonwealth in Puerto Rico imposed more than 7 decades ago was just a phase and was just a way for the government of the United States to declare and exercise its full domination over this country.","start":3295.185,"end":3311.165,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3295.185,"end":3295.346},{"text":"Commonwealth","start":3296.149,"end":3296.76},{"text":"in","start":3296.872,"end":3296.952},{"text":"Puerto","start":3296.952,"end":3297.29},{"text":"Rico","start":3297.354,"end":3297.772},{"text":"imposed","start":3297.836,"end":3298.366},{"text":"more","start":3298.398,"end":3298.784},{"text":"than","start":3298.784,"end":3298.929},{"text":"7","start":3298.961,"end":3299.25},{"text":"decades","start":3299.266,"end":3299.684},{"text":"ago","start":3299.7,"end":3300.005},{"text":"was","start":3300.327,"end":3300.455},{"text":"just","start":3300.487,"end":3300.728},{"text":"a","start":3300.793,"end":3300.969},{"text":"phase","start":3300.969,"end":3301.5},{"text":"and","start":3301.676,"end":3301.853},{"text":"was","start":3301.853,"end":3302.03},{"text":"just","start":3302.03,"end":3302.207},{"text":"a","start":3302.272,"end":3302.288},{"text":"way","start":3302.336,"end":3302.465},{"text":"for","start":3302.642,"end":3302.803},{"text":"the","start":3302.803,"end":3303.044},{"text":"government","start":3303.044,"end":3303.478},{"text":"of","start":3303.478,"end":3303.591},{"text":"the","start":3303.623,"end":3303.865},{"text":"United","start":3303.945,"end":3304.508},{"text":"States","start":3304.508,"end":3304.991},{"text":"to","start":3304.991,"end":3305.329},{"text":"declare","start":3306.439,"end":3307.179},{"text":"and","start":3307.549,"end":3307.694},{"text":"exercise","start":3308.192,"end":3308.498},{"text":"its","start":3308.546,"end":3308.965},{"text":"full","start":3308.77,"end":3308.915},{"text":"domination","start":3309.919,"end":3310.453},{"text":"over","start":3310.501,"end":3310.679},{"text":"this","start":3310.679,"end":3310.792},{"text":"country.","start":3310.906,"end":3311.165}]},{"text":"This has been, uh, is a farce which has been declared by the Supreme Court of the United States, the Congress, and the administration itself when it clearly and unequivocally flagged that Puerto Rico lacks its own sovereignty and is fully subject to the powers of Washington, said it is a colonial territory.","start":3311.31,"end":3333.294,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":3311.31,"end":3311.44},{"text":"has","start":3312.832,"end":3313.22},{"text":"been,","start":3313.414,"end":3313.867},{"text":"uh,","start":3314.288,"end":3314.466},{"text":"is","start":3316.392,"end":3316.457},{"text":"a","start":3316.489,"end":3316.521},{"text":"farce","start":3316.57,"end":3317.298},{"text":"which","start":3317.298,"end":3317.428},{"text":"has","start":3317.444,"end":3317.59},{"text":"been","start":3317.59,"end":3317.831},{"text":"declared","start":3318.023,"end":3319.534},{"text":"by","start":3319.791,"end":3319.887},{"text":"the","start":3319.887,"end":3320.016},{"text":"Supreme","start":3320.016,"end":3320.321},{"text":"Court","start":3320.353,"end":3320.53},{"text":"of","start":3320.53,"end":3320.578},{"text":"the","start":3320.578,"end":3320.611},{"text":"United","start":3320.611,"end":3320.836},{"text":"States,","start":3320.836,"end":3321.125},{"text":"the","start":3321.141,"end":3321.221},{"text":"Congress,","start":3321.221,"end":3321.527},{"text":"and","start":3321.543,"end":3321.623},{"text":"the","start":3321.623,"end":3321.719},{"text":"administration","start":3321.719,"end":3322.282},{"text":"itself","start":3322.282,"end":3322.716},{"text":"when","start":3323.326,"end":3323.519},{"text":"it","start":3323.712,"end":3323.889},{"text":"clearly","start":3323.889,"end":3324.339},{"text":"and","start":3324.451,"end":3324.58},{"text":"unequivocally","start":3324.676,"end":3325.303},{"text":"flagged","start":3325.335,"end":3325.737},{"text":"that","start":3325.737,"end":3326.074},{"text":"Puerto","start":3326.139,"end":3326.412},{"text":"Rico","start":3326.524,"end":3326.926},{"text":"lacks","start":3326.926,"end":3327.104},{"text":"its","start":3327.104,"end":3327.266},{"text":"own","start":3327.266,"end":3327.46},{"text":"sovereignty","start":3327.589,"end":3328.236},{"text":"and","start":3328.236,"end":3328.316},{"text":"is","start":3328.316,"end":3328.365},{"text":"fully","start":3328.543,"end":3328.769},{"text":"subject","start":3328.817,"end":3329.351},{"text":"to","start":3329.351,"end":3329.464},{"text":"the","start":3329.464,"end":3329.593},{"text":"powers","start":3329.593,"end":3329.9},{"text":"of","start":3329.949,"end":3330.062},{"text":"Washington,","start":3330.159,"end":3330.627},{"text":"said","start":3331.565,"end":3331.726},{"text":"it","start":3331.726,"end":3331.872},{"text":"is","start":3331.937,"end":3332.001},{"text":"a","start":3332.179,"end":3332.195},{"text":"colonial","start":3332.26,"end":3332.712},{"text":"territory.","start":3332.745,"end":3333.294}]},{"text":"The U.S.","start":3333.407,"end":3333.957,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3333.407,"end":3333.634},{"text":"U.S.","start":3333.634,"end":3333.957}]},{"text":"Congress, exercising exercises full authority and has full powers over Puerto Rico on issues such as defense, international relations, external trade, among other matters, while Puerto Rico exercises its local authority on a limited number of areas.","start":3334.038,"end":3350.622,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Congress,","start":3334.038,"end":3334.425},{"text":"exercising","start":3334.442,"end":3334.991},{"text":"exercises","start":3334.84,"end":3335.08},{"text":"full","start":3335.176,"end":3335.432},{"text":"authority","start":3335.432,"end":3336.121},{"text":"and","start":3336.378,"end":3336.538},{"text":"has","start":3336.538,"end":3336.682},{"text":"full","start":3336.778,"end":3337.003},{"text":"powers","start":3337.035,"end":3337.403},{"text":"over","start":3337.579,"end":3337.756},{"text":"Puerto","start":3337.756,"end":3338.092},{"text":"Rico","start":3338.156,"end":3338.477},{"text":"on","start":3338.477,"end":3338.525},{"text":"issues","start":3338.637,"end":3338.925},{"text":"such","start":3338.957,"end":3339.07},{"text":"as","start":3339.134,"end":3339.246},{"text":"defense,","start":3339.278,"end":3339.71},{"text":"international","start":3339.759,"end":3340.319},{"text":"relations,","start":3340.319,"end":3340.928},{"text":"external","start":3341.906,"end":3342.434},{"text":"trade,","start":3342.563,"end":3343.171},{"text":"among","start":3343.203,"end":3343.412},{"text":"other","start":3343.524,"end":3343.7},{"text":"matters,","start":3343.7,"end":3344.213},{"text":"while","start":3344.389,"end":3344.565},{"text":"Puerto","start":3344.565,"end":3344.918},{"text":"Rico","start":3345.03,"end":3345.527},{"text":"exercises","start":3345.671,"end":3346.456},{"text":"its","start":3346.632,"end":3346.777},{"text":"local","start":3346.889,"end":3347.353},{"text":"authority","start":3347.353,"end":3347.978},{"text":"on","start":3348.155,"end":3348.203},{"text":"a","start":3348.395,"end":3348.555},{"text":"limited","start":3348.555,"end":3349.004},{"text":"number","start":3349.068,"end":3349.5},{"text":"of","start":3349.597,"end":3349.901},{"text":"areas.","start":3350.238,"end":3350.622}]},{"text":"During the successful holding of the Regional Seminar of the Caribbean on Decolonization held in the Kindred Republic of Nicaragua last May, we heard the presentation from an Puerto Rican expert who explained how the Puerto Rican case is illustrative of the harmful effects of structural dependency within a colonial territory.","start":3351.279,"end":3372.672,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"During","start":3351.279,"end":3351.503},{"text":"the","start":3351.616,"end":3351.808},{"text":"successful","start":3351.856,"end":3352.593},{"text":"holding","start":3352.593,"end":3353.009},{"text":"of","start":3353.122,"end":3353.186},{"text":"the","start":3353.218,"end":3353.362},{"text":"Regional","start":3353.378,"end":3353.731},{"text":"Seminar","start":3353.779,"end":3354.323},{"text":"of","start":3354.323,"end":3354.387},{"text":"the","start":3354.42,"end":3354.5},{"text":"Caribbean","start":3354.5,"end":3355.108},{"text":"on","start":3355.205,"end":3355.253},{"text":"Decolonization","start":3355.301,"end":3356.294},{"text":"held","start":3356.406,"end":3356.791},{"text":"in","start":3356.887,"end":3356.951},{"text":"the","start":3357.063,"end":3357.304},{"text":"Kindred","start":3357.304,"end":3357.576},{"text":"Republic","start":3357.576,"end":3358.025},{"text":"of","start":3358.025,"end":3358.169},{"text":"Nicaragua","start":3358.169,"end":3358.81},{"text":"last","start":3358.81,"end":3359.194},{"text":"May,","start":3359.547,"end":3359.739},{"text":"we","start":3360.348,"end":3360.588},{"text":"heard","start":3360.588,"end":3360.925},{"text":"the","start":3360.973,"end":3361.053},{"text":"presentation","start":3361.053,"end":3361.838},{"text":"from","start":3362.014,"end":3362.239},{"text":"an","start":3362.495,"end":3362.559},{"text":"Puerto","start":3362.8,"end":3363.072},{"text":"Rican","start":3363.072,"end":3363.442},{"text":"expert","start":3363.618,"end":3364.276},{"text":"who","start":3364.276,"end":3364.501},{"text":"explained","start":3364.517,"end":3365.127},{"text":"how","start":3365.143,"end":3365.272},{"text":"the","start":3365.384,"end":3365.48},{"text":"Puerto","start":3365.48,"end":3365.753},{"text":"Rican","start":3365.802,"end":3366.09},{"text":"case","start":3366.187,"end":3366.412},{"text":"is","start":3367.15,"end":3367.214},{"text":"illustrative","start":3367.311,"end":3368.017},{"text":"of","start":3368.113,"end":3368.274},{"text":"the","start":3368.274,"end":3368.338},{"text":"harmful","start":3368.354,"end":3368.723},{"text":"effects","start":3368.755,"end":3369.317},{"text":"of","start":3369.398,"end":3369.446},{"text":"structural","start":3369.574,"end":3370.088},{"text":"dependency","start":3370.136,"end":3370.826},{"text":"within","start":3370.923,"end":3371.147},{"text":"a","start":3371.244,"end":3371.404},{"text":"colonial","start":3371.404,"end":3372.175},{"text":"territory.","start":3372.207,"end":3372.672}]},{"text":"The U.S., the colonial power, attempts through all possible means to strengthen its economic, political, and social domination on Puerto Rico, ignoring the 43 resolutions and decisions adopted by the Committee which reaffirmed the inalienable right of the the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and to independence in accordance with Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly.","start":3373.106,"end":3397.078,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3373.106,"end":3373.266},{"text":"U.S.,","start":3373.266,"end":3373.652},{"text":"the","start":3374.31,"end":3374.438},{"text":"colonial","start":3374.631,"end":3375.113},{"text":"power,","start":3375.113,"end":3375.674},{"text":"attempts","start":3376.878,"end":3377.472},{"text":"through","start":3377.521,"end":3377.745},{"text":"all","start":3377.842,"end":3377.986},{"text":"possible","start":3377.986,"end":3378.404},{"text":"means","start":3378.404,"end":3378.853},{"text":"to","start":3378.885,"end":3379.062},{"text":"strengthen","start":3379.062,"end":3379.559},{"text":"its","start":3379.608,"end":3379.832},{"text":"economic,","start":3379.832,"end":3380.394},{"text":"political,","start":3380.41,"end":3380.956},{"text":"and","start":3380.972,"end":3381.117},{"text":"social","start":3381.117,"end":3381.662},{"text":"domination","start":3381.855,"end":3382.545},{"text":"on","start":3382.722,"end":3382.77},{"text":"Puerto","start":3383.204,"end":3383.46},{"text":"Rico,","start":3383.525,"end":3384.006},{"text":"ignoring","start":3384.167,"end":3384.713},{"text":"the","start":3384.825,"end":3384.921},{"text":"43","start":3384.921,"end":3385.531},{"text":"resolutions","start":3385.628,"end":3386.27},{"text":"and","start":3386.27,"end":3386.35},{"text":"decisions","start":3386.35,"end":3386.848},{"text":"adopted","start":3386.848,"end":3387.217},{"text":"by","start":3387.217,"end":3387.313},{"text":"the","start":3387.313,"end":3387.41},{"text":"Committee","start":3387.41,"end":3387.843},{"text":"which","start":3387.955,"end":3388.084},{"text":"reaffirmed","start":3388.196,"end":3388.646},{"text":"the","start":3388.678,"end":3388.838},{"text":"inalienable","start":3388.838,"end":3389.464},{"text":"right","start":3389.464,"end":3389.657},{"text":"of","start":3389.657,"end":3389.689},{"text":"the","start":3389.705,"end":3389.753},{"text":"the","start":3389.77,"end":3389.802},{"text":"people","start":3389.802,"end":3390.123},{"text":"of","start":3390.123,"end":3390.203},{"text":"Puerto","start":3390.203,"end":3390.508},{"text":"Rico","start":3390.541,"end":3390.781},{"text":"to","start":3390.91,"end":3391.022},{"text":"self-determination","start":3391.022,"end":3391.922},{"text":"and","start":3392.436,"end":3392.5},{"text":"to","start":3392.532,"end":3392.677},{"text":"independence","start":3392.693,"end":3393.48},{"text":"in","start":3393.496,"end":3393.576},{"text":"accordance","start":3393.576,"end":3394.235},{"text":"with","start":3394.283,"end":3394.444},{"text":"Resolution","start":3394.46,"end":3394.91},{"text":"1514","start":3394.926,"end":3396.227},{"text":"of","start":3396.227,"end":3396.291},{"text":"the","start":3396.291,"end":3396.371},{"text":"General","start":3396.371,"end":3396.628},{"text":"Assembly.","start":3396.628,"end":3397.078}]},{"text":"Since the adoption of the first resolution in 1972, the very relevant work of this committee has collided with the absolute lack of political will and commitment of the United States to the decolonization cause.","start":3398.251,"end":3413.302,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Since","start":3398.251,"end":3398.62},{"text":"the","start":3398.62,"end":3398.765},{"text":"adoption","start":3398.781,"end":3399.198},{"text":"of","start":3399.198,"end":3399.327},{"text":"the","start":3399.343,"end":3399.439},{"text":"first","start":3399.439,"end":3399.777},{"text":"resolution","start":3399.777,"end":3400.275},{"text":"in","start":3400.307,"end":3400.355},{"text":"1972,","start":3400.403,"end":3401.656},{"text":"the","start":3402.556,"end":3402.764},{"text":"very","start":3403.134,"end":3403.343},{"text":"relevant","start":3403.359,"end":3403.648},{"text":"work","start":3403.696,"end":3403.953},{"text":"of","start":3403.953,"end":3404.017},{"text":"this","start":3404.017,"end":3404.242},{"text":"committee","start":3404.242,"end":3404.708},{"text":"has","start":3405.045,"end":3405.35},{"text":"collided","start":3405.527,"end":3406.234},{"text":"with","start":3406.266,"end":3406.555},{"text":"the","start":3406.668,"end":3406.86},{"text":"absolute","start":3407.294,"end":3407.872},{"text":"lack","start":3407.872,"end":3408.194},{"text":"of","start":3408.194,"end":3408.274},{"text":"political","start":3408.274,"end":3408.82},{"text":"will","start":3408.916,"end":3409.109},{"text":"and","start":3409.238,"end":3409.398},{"text":"commitment","start":3409.398,"end":3410.105},{"text":"of","start":3410.442,"end":3410.667},{"text":"the","start":3410.667,"end":3410.748},{"text":"United","start":3410.748,"end":3411.149},{"text":"States","start":3411.149,"end":3411.567},{"text":"to","start":3411.567,"end":3411.727},{"text":"the","start":3411.727,"end":3411.872},{"text":"decolonization","start":3411.872,"end":3412.739},{"text":"cause.","start":3412.852,"end":3413.302}]},{"text":"In addition to hampering the cooperation with the committee, the U.S. government continues with its aggressive rhetoric and irresponsible action guided by anachronistic neocolonialist interests and imperialist pretensions that seriously threaten international peace and security.","start":3413.414,"end":3432.419,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent 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we see this in Cuba, an independent sovereign nation against which the US government every day strengthens its imperial and hostile policies at an extreme 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worsening economic blockade, including the energy siege, the collective punishment, and public systematic threats of military aggression against our country expose and reveal the historic criminal and blatant objectives of the U.S. government to restore neo-colonial domination over a Cuban nation and to prevent us from continuing to build our political, economic, and social model that we freely and sovereignly 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we also denounce the action of the U.S., which is increasing its military presence in the country and undermining the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, and also the commitment to not use our region for force or the threat of use of force.","start":3476.93,"end":3500.79,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"Chair,","start":3476.93,"end":3477.219},{"text":"we","start":3477.606,"end":3477.864},{"text":"also","start":3478.073,"end":3478.25},{"text":"denounce","start":3478.266,"end":3478.798},{"text":"the","start":3478.798,"end":3479.007},{"text":"action","start":3479.136,"end":3479.474},{"text":"of","start":3479.474,"end":3479.587},{"text":"the","start":3479.619,"end":3479.764},{"text":"U.S.,","start":3479.764,"end":3480.086},{"text":"which","start":3480.247,"end":3480.472},{"text":"is","start":3480.891,"end":3480.956},{"text":"increasing","start":3481.052,"end":3481.568},{"text":"its","start":3481.616,"end":3481.729},{"text":"military","start":3481.729,"end":3482.083},{"text":"presence","start":3482.115,"end":3482.518},{"text":"in","start":3482.518,"end":3482.598},{"text":"the","start":3482.598,"end":3482.679},{"text":"country","start":3482.679,"end":3483.13},{"text":"and","start":3483.307,"end":3483.532},{"text":"undermining","start":3485.481,"end":3486.093},{"text":"the","start":3486.222,"end":3486.302},{"text":"Proclamation","start":3486.947,"end":3487.543},{"text":"of","start":3487.575,"end":3487.607},{"text":"Latin","start":3487.607,"end":3487.752},{"text":"America","start":3487.752,"end":3487.994},{"text":"and","start":3487.994,"end":3488.074},{"text":"the","start":3488.074,"end":3488.155},{"text":"Caribbean","start":3488.155,"end":3488.461},{"text":"as","start":3488.557,"end":3488.638},{"text":"a","start":3488.638,"end":3488.654},{"text":"Zone","start":3488.718,"end":3488.912},{"text":"of","start":3488.96,"end":3489.041},{"text":"Peace,","start":3489.041,"end":3489.331},{"text":"and","start":3489.991,"end":3490.378},{"text":"also","start":3490.555,"end":3491.054},{"text":"the","start":3494.437,"end":3494.695},{"text":"commitment","start":3494.743,"end":3495.244},{"text":"to","start":3495.244,"end":3495.57},{"text":"not","start":3496.403,"end":3496.664},{"text":"use","start":3496.778,"end":3497.154},{"text":"our","start":3497.268,"end":3497.627},{"text":"region","start":3497.758,"end":3498.15},{"text":"for","start":3498.52,"end":3498.665},{"text":"force","start":3499.266,"end":3499.768},{"text":"or","start":3499.768,"end":3499.833},{"text":"the","start":3499.833,"end":3499.914},{"text":"threat","start":3499.914,"end":3500.174},{"text":"of","start":3500.174,"end":3500.271},{"text":"use","start":3500.271,"end":3500.433},{"text":"of","start":3500.433,"end":3500.514},{"text":"force.","start":3500.563,"end":3500.79}]},{"text":"In this spirit and in line with our unwavering solidarity with the Puerto Rican people, we reiterate that the definitive solution to the fate of Puerto Rico isn't an internal matter for the United States.","start":3501.212,"end":3511.869,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":3511.918,"end":3512.047},{"text":"falls","start":3512.047,"end":3512.257},{"text":"to","start":3512.257,"end":3512.37},{"text":"the","start":3512.37,"end":3512.402},{"text":"Special","start":3512.402,"end":3512.709},{"text":"Committee","start":3512.709,"end":3512.919},{"text":"on","start":3512.952,"end":3513},{"text":"Decolonization","start":3513.032,"end":3513.791},{"text":"and","start":3513.84,"end":3513.921},{"text":"the","start":3513.921,"end":3514.001},{"text":"international","start":3514.001,"end":3514.486},{"text":"community","start":3514.486,"end":3514.89},{"text":"as","start":3514.89,"end":3514.987},{"text":"a","start":3514.987,"end":3515.019},{"text":"whole","start":3515.051,"end":3515.245},{"text":"to","start":3515.31,"end":3515.439},{"text":"decide","start":3515.439,"end":3515.843},{"text":"it.","start":3515.843,"end":3515.891}]},{"text":"The General Assembly must continue to look closely and broadly at this issue, which affects is affecting a people that has resisted colonial occupation and which continues to defend their roots, idiosyncrasy, and national cultural identity.","start":3516.38,"end":3534.449,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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Representative"}},{"statement_number":33,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank the distinguished representative of— I thank the distinguished representative of Cuba.","start":3535.229,"end":3545.774,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":3535.229,"end":3535.327},{"text":"thank","start":3535.327,"end":3535.684},{"text":"the","start":3535.717,"end":3535.912},{"text":"distinguished","start":3535.912,"end":3536.676},{"text":"representative","start":3536.806,"end":3537.733},{"text":"of—","start":3538.074,"end":3538.123},{"text":"I","start":3538.172,"end":3538.204},{"text":"thank","start":3543.007,"end":3543.266},{"text":"the","start":3543.266,"end":3543.411},{"text":"distinguished","start":3543.411,"end":3543.962},{"text":"representative","start":3543.978,"end":3544.852},{"text":"of","start":3544.949,"end":3545.095},{"text":"Cuba.","start":3545.127,"end":3545.774}]},{"text":"I now recognize and give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran.","start":3547.727,"end":3554.921,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":3547.727,"end":3547.776},{"text":"now","start":3547.824,"end":3548.099},{"text":"recognize","start":3549.1,"end":3549.649},{"text":"and","start":3549.697,"end":3549.843},{"text":"give","start":3549.843,"end":3549.972},{"text":"the","start":3550.004,"end":3550.085},{"text":"floor","start":3550.085,"end":3550.408},{"text":"to","start":3550.408,"end":3550.537},{"text":"the","start":3550.634,"end":3550.812},{"text":"distinguished","start":3550.812,"end":3551.361},{"text":"representative","start":3551.361,"end":3552.249},{"text":"of","start":3552.33,"end":3552.395},{"text":"the","start":3552.491,"end":3552.621},{"text":"Islamic","start":3552.669,"end":3553.17},{"text":"Republic","start":3553.218,"end":3553.735},{"text":"of","start":3553.8,"end":3553.896},{"text":"Iran.","start":3554.823,"end":3554.921}]},{"text":"Iran, you have the floor, please.","start":3554.97,"end":3556.349,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Iran,","start":3554.97,"end":3555.2},{"text":"you","start":3555.217,"end":3555.315},{"text":"have","start":3555.315,"end":3555.496},{"text":"the","start":3555.496,"end":3555.627},{"text":"floor,","start":3555.627,"end":3555.988},{"text":"please.","start":3556.054,"end":3556.349}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":34,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful.","start":3559.492,"end":3561.581,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"In","start":3559.492,"end":3559.54},{"text":"the","start":3559.572,"end":3559.604},{"text":"name","start":3559.604,"end":3559.797},{"text":"of","start":3559.797,"end":3559.942},{"text":"God,","start":3559.974,"end":3560.15},{"text":"the","start":3560.215,"end":3560.295},{"text":"compassionate,","start":3560.295,"end":3560.938},{"text":"the","start":3560.954,"end":3561.034},{"text":"merciful.","start":3561.034,"end":3561.581}]},{"text":"Madam Chair, distinguished delegates.","start":3561.741,"end":3563.348,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Madam","start":3561.741,"end":3561.95},{"text":"Chair,","start":3562.047,"end":3562.223},{"text":"distinguished","start":3562.304,"end":3562.866},{"text":"delegates.","start":3562.866,"end":3563.348}]},{"text":"At the outset, my delegation wishes to associate itself with the statement delivered by the representative of the Russian Federation on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter, as well as with the statement that is going to be delivered by the representative of Uganda on behalf of the Non-Aligned 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line with the positions expressed in those statements, my delegation further reaffirms the longstanding position of the Islamic Republic of Iran that the inalienable rights of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence must be fully respected in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 1514.","start":3582.571,"end":3603.795,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":3582.571,"end":3582.635},{"text":"line","start":3582.667,"end":3582.876},{"text":"with","start":3582.988,"end":3583.164},{"text":"the","start":3583.212,"end":3583.308},{"text":"positions","start":3583.308,"end":3583.998},{"text":"expressed","start":3584.046,"end":3584.671},{"text":"in","start":3584.671,"end":3584.719},{"text":"those","start":3584.831,"end":3585.04},{"text":"statements,","start":3585.136,"end":3585.937},{"text":"my","start":3585.953,"end":3586.274},{"text":"delegation","start":3586.274,"end":3586.963},{"text":"further","start":3587.62,"end":3588.101},{"text":"reaffirms","start":3588.101,"end":3588.727},{"text":"the","start":3588.919,"end":3589.079},{"text":"longstanding","start":3589.079,"end":3589.849},{"text":"position","start":3589.961,"end":3590.394},{"text":"of","start":3590.442,"end":3590.586},{"text":"the","start":3590.586,"end":3590.666},{"text":"Islamic","start":3590.666,"end":3591.067},{"text":"Republic","start":3591.067,"end":3591.548},{"text":"of","start":3591.548,"end":3591.724},{"text":"Iran","start":3591.724,"end":3592.093},{"text":"that","start":3592.59,"end":3592.942},{"text":"the","start":3593.167,"end":3593.311},{"text":"inalienable","start":3593.391,"end":3594.177},{"text":"rights","start":3594.193,"end":3594.674},{"text":"of","start":3594.754,"end":3594.818},{"text":"the","start":3594.914,"end":3595.01},{"text":"people","start":3595.01,"end":3595.347},{"text":"of","start":3595.395,"end":3595.459},{"text":"Puerto","start":3595.475,"end":3595.748},{"text":"Rico","start":3595.812,"end":3596.197},{"text":"to","start":3596.197,"end":3596.293},{"text":"self-determination","start":3596.293,"end":3597.463},{"text":"and","start":3597.639,"end":3597.735},{"text":"independence","start":3597.735,"end":3598.617},{"text":"must","start":3598.617,"end":3598.825},{"text":"be","start":3598.938,"end":3599.082},{"text":"fully","start":3599.082,"end":3599.483},{"text":"respected","start":3599.483,"end":3600.028},{"text":"in","start":3600.541,"end":3600.637},{"text":"accordance","start":3600.637,"end":3601.182},{"text":"with","start":3601.246,"end":3601.39},{"text":"General","start":3601.406,"end":3601.775},{"text":"Assembly","start":3601.823,"end":3602.304},{"text":"Resolution","start":3602.304,"end":3602.753},{"text":"1514.","start":3602.753,"end":3603.795}]},{"text":"We remain concerned that externally imposed austerity measures continue to undermine public services, weaken essential infrastructure, and place a heavy burden on the daily lives of Puerto Ricans.","start":3604.548,"end":3617.822,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":3604.548,"end":3604.709},{"text":"remain","start":3604.709,"end":3605.077},{"text":"concerned","start":3605.173,"end":3605.686},{"text":"that","start":3605.734,"end":3605.975},{"text":"externally","start":3606.28,"end":3606.712},{"text":"imposed","start":3606.712,"end":3607.338},{"text":"austerity","start":3607.338,"end":3607.899},{"text":"measures","start":3607.899,"end":3608.364},{"text":"continue","start":3608.476,"end":3609.037},{"text":"to","start":3609.037,"end":3609.165},{"text":"undermine","start":3609.181,"end":3609.726},{"text":"public","start":3609.758,"end":3610.143},{"text":"services,","start":3610.143,"end":3610.688},{"text":"weaken","start":3611.265,"end":3611.554},{"text":"essential","start":3611.602,"end":3612.163},{"text":"infrastructure,","start":3612.163,"end":3613.221},{"text":"and","start":3613.75,"end":3613.846},{"text":"place","start":3613.846,"end":3614.199},{"text":"a","start":3614.472,"end":3614.488},{"text":"heavy","start":3614.632,"end":3614.937},{"text":"burden","start":3615.049,"end":3615.401},{"text":"on","start":3615.594,"end":3615.658},{"text":"the","start":3615.69,"end":3615.85},{"text":"daily","start":3615.914,"end":3616.251},{"text":"lives","start":3616.251,"end":3616.7},{"text":"of","start":3616.796,"end":3616.956},{"text":"Puerto","start":3616.973,"end":3617.309},{"text":"Ricans.","start":3617.309,"end":3617.822}]},{"text":"These constraints must be lifted to enable the full enjoyment of their social and economic rights.","start":3618.496,"end":3624.812,"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"These","start":3618.496,"end":3618.704},{"text":"constraints","start":3618.816,"end":3619.682},{"text":"must","start":3619.682,"end":3620.018},{"text":"be","start":3620.018,"end":3620.163},{"text":"lifted","start":3620.163,"end":3620.548},{"text":"to","start":3620.66,"end":3620.868},{"text":"enable","start":3620.884,"end":3621.365},{"text":"the","start":3621.381,"end":3621.461},{"text":"full","start":3621.461,"end":3621.814},{"text":"enjoyment","start":3621.862,"end":3622.568},{"text":"of","start":3622.648,"end":3622.712},{"text":"their","start":3622.744,"end":3622.92},{"text":"social","start":3622.968,"end":3623.594},{"text":"and","start":3623.69,"end":3623.77},{"text":"economic","start":3623.802,"end":3624.427},{"text":"rights.","start":3624.427,"end":3624.812}]},{"text":"Madam Chair, Iran underscores that the further— the future status of this territory, like that of any territory with a colonial history, must be determined strictly in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of its people and within the framework established by the General Assembly.","start":3625.613,"end":3644.057,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"Madam","start":3625.613,"end":3625.838},{"text":"Chair,","start":3625.934,"end":3626.271},{"text":"Iran","start":3626.495,"end":3626.816},{"text":"underscores","start":3626.816,"end":3627.521},{"text":"that","start":3627.553,"end":3627.858},{"text":"the","start":3627.858,"end":3627.938},{"text":"further—","start":3627.938,"end":3628.435},{"text":"the","start":3628.98,"end":3629.06},{"text":"future","start":3629.06,"end":3629.573},{"text":"status","start":3629.573,"end":3630.118},{"text":"of","start":3630.118,"end":3630.247},{"text":"this","start":3630.279,"end":3630.519},{"text":"territory,","start":3630.519,"end":3630.968},{"text":"like","start":3631.545,"end":3631.962},{"text":"that","start":3632.026,"end":3632.379},{"text":"of","start":3632.507,"end":3632.619},{"text":"any","start":3632.828,"end":3632.972},{"text":"territory","start":3633.004,"end":3633.453},{"text":"with","start":3633.485,"end":3633.661},{"text":"a","start":3633.661,"end":3633.677},{"text":"colonial","start":3633.79,"end":3634.238},{"text":"history,","start":3634.287,"end":3634.703},{"text":"must","start":3634.912,"end":3635.184},{"text":"be","start":3635.248,"end":3635.393},{"text":"determined","start":3635.393,"end":3636.066},{"text":"strictly","start":3636.066,"end":3636.659},{"text":"in","start":3637.013,"end":3637.093},{"text":"accordance","start":3637.093,"end":3637.672},{"text":"with","start":3637.72,"end":3637.865},{"text":"the","start":3637.897,"end":3637.961},{"text":"freely","start":3637.961,"end":3638.428},{"text":"expressed","start":3638.444,"end":3639.087},{"text":"wishes","start":3639.087,"end":3639.393},{"text":"of","start":3639.489,"end":3639.65},{"text":"its","start":3639.731,"end":3639.843},{"text":"people","start":3639.908,"end":3640.358},{"text":"and","start":3640.857,"end":3640.953},{"text":"within","start":3640.953,"end":3641.404},{"text":"the","start":3641.436,"end":3641.516},{"text":"framework","start":3641.516,"end":3642.079},{"text":"established","start":3642.079,"end":3642.787},{"text":"by","start":3642.803,"end":3643.044},{"text":"the","start":3643.044,"end":3643.125},{"text":"General","start":3643.125,"end":3643.543},{"text":"Assembly.","start":3643.543,"end":3644.057}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico has endured significant challenges as a result of prolonged colonial practices, and such practices cannot be justified under any fabricated pretext, including human rights.","start":3644.84,"end":3657.195,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":3644.84,"end":3644.968},{"text":"Rico","start":3645.032,"end":3645.402},{"text":"has","start":3645.418,"end":3645.563},{"text":"endured","start":3645.659,"end":3646.205},{"text":"significant","start":3646.494,"end":3647.346},{"text":"challenges","start":3647.346,"end":3647.812},{"text":"as","start":3648.069,"end":3648.133},{"text":"a","start":3648.246,"end":3648.262},{"text":"result","start":3648.326,"end":3648.872},{"text":"of","start":3648.872,"end":3648.937},{"text":"prolonged","start":3648.969,"end":3649.547},{"text":"colonial","start":3650.238,"end":3650.8},{"text":"practices,","start":3650.8,"end":3651.427},{"text":"and","start":3651.684,"end":3651.764},{"text":"such","start":3651.781,"end":3652.07},{"text":"practices","start":3652.182,"end":3652.712},{"text":"cannot","start":3652.825,"end":3653.291},{"text":"be","start":3653.291,"end":3653.371},{"text":"justified","start":3653.371,"end":3654.094},{"text":"under","start":3654.175,"end":3654.351},{"text":"any","start":3654.496,"end":3654.642},{"text":"fabricated","start":3654.674,"end":3655.369},{"text":"pretext,","start":3655.401,"end":3655.886},{"text":"including","start":3655.967,"end":3656.419},{"text":"human","start":3656.516,"end":3656.823},{"text":"rights.","start":3656.856,"end":3657.195}]},{"text":"The people of Puerto Rico are entitled to independence and to the full exercise of their right to self-determination which requires that their democratic choices be respected.","start":3657.89,"end":3668.715,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3657.89,"end":3657.987},{"text":"people","start":3657.987,"end":3658.326},{"text":"of","start":3658.375,"end":3658.439},{"text":"Puerto","start":3658.472,"end":3658.779},{"text":"Rico","start":3658.779,"end":3659.166},{"text":"are","start":3659.263,"end":3659.344},{"text":"entitled","start":3659.344,"end":3659.926},{"text":"to","start":3659.926,"end":3660.071},{"text":"independence","start":3660.071,"end":3660.815},{"text":"and","start":3660.96,"end":3661.073},{"text":"to","start":3661.073,"end":3661.219},{"text":"the","start":3661.219,"end":3661.3},{"text":"full","start":3661.3,"end":3661.574},{"text":"exercise","start":3661.623,"end":3662.156},{"text":"of","start":3662.269,"end":3662.398},{"text":"their","start":3662.431,"end":3662.544},{"text":"right","start":3662.657,"end":3662.915},{"text":"to","start":3662.915,"end":3663.012},{"text":"self-determination","start":3663.012,"end":3663.853},{"text":"which","start":3664.462,"end":3664.719},{"text":"requires","start":3664.719,"end":3665.393},{"text":"that","start":3665.505,"end":3665.714},{"text":"their","start":3665.826,"end":3666.003},{"text":"democratic","start":3666.131,"end":3666.95},{"text":"choices","start":3667.335,"end":3667.8},{"text":"be","start":3667.912,"end":3668.073},{"text":"respected.","start":3668.073,"end":3668.715}]},{"text":"In this context, my delegation calls on the United States as the administering power to fully discharge its responsibilities under the Charter to engage constructively with the people of Puerto Rico and to ensure that no unilateral measures are taken that impede the free and genuine expression of their will regarding their political future.","start":3669.26,"end":3690.797,"topics":[{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":3669.26,"end":3669.325},{"text":"this","start":3669.357,"end":3669.662},{"text":"context,","start":3669.662,"end":3670.143},{"text":"my","start":3670.159,"end":3670.384},{"text":"delegation","start":3670.384,"end":3671.01},{"text":"calls","start":3671.106,"end":3671.491},{"text":"on","start":3671.604,"end":3671.652},{"text":"the","start":3671.684,"end":3671.828},{"text":"United","start":3671.828,"end":3672.245},{"text":"States","start":3672.262,"end":3672.679},{"text":"as","start":3672.952,"end":3673.016},{"text":"the","start":3673.112,"end":3673.176},{"text":"administering","start":3673.192,"end":3673.738},{"text":"power","start":3673.85,"end":3674.235},{"text":"to","start":3674.251,"end":3674.332},{"text":"fully","start":3674.332,"end":3674.733},{"text":"discharge","start":3674.733,"end":3675.391},{"text":"its","start":3675.519,"end":3675.696},{"text":"responsibilities","start":3675.696,"end":3676.675},{"text":"under","start":3677.204,"end":3677.525},{"text":"the","start":3677.525,"end":3677.622},{"text":"Charter","start":3677.622,"end":3678.103},{"text":"to","start":3678.103,"end":3678.247},{"text":"engage","start":3678.247,"end":3678.665},{"text":"constructively","start":3678.665,"end":3679.547},{"text":"with","start":3679.547,"end":3679.676},{"text":"the","start":3679.708,"end":3679.868},{"text":"people","start":3679.868,"end":3680.205},{"text":"of","start":3680.254,"end":3680.318},{"text":"Puerto","start":3680.35,"end":3680.655},{"text":"Rico","start":3680.655,"end":3680.992},{"text":"and","start":3681.457,"end":3681.537},{"text":"to","start":3681.553,"end":3681.666},{"text":"ensure","start":3681.714,"end":3682.067},{"text":"that","start":3682.179,"end":3682.452},{"text":"no","start":3682.532,"end":3682.885},{"text":"unilateral","start":3682.901,"end":3683.688},{"text":"measures","start":3683.704,"end":3684.089},{"text":"are","start":3684.346,"end":3684.458},{"text":"taken","start":3684.458,"end":3684.891},{"text":"that","start":3684.924,"end":3685.148},{"text":"impede","start":3685.325,"end":3685.822},{"text":"the","start":3685.886,"end":3685.967},{"text":"free","start":3685.967,"end":3686.464},{"text":"and","start":3686.673,"end":3686.769},{"text":"genuine","start":3686.833,"end":3687.315},{"text":"expression","start":3687.315,"end":3688.037},{"text":"of","start":3688.037,"end":3688.181},{"text":"their","start":3688.213,"end":3688.534},{"text":"will","start":3688.534,"end":3688.743},{"text":"regarding","start":3689.24,"end":3689.626},{"text":"their","start":3689.738,"end":3689.898},{"text":"political","start":3689.898,"end":3690.524},{"text":"future.","start":3690.524,"end":3690.797}]},{"text":"Madam Chair, we also remain deeply concerned that the continued denial of self-determination in various territories, including Puerto Rico and in the case of Palestine, where generations have been deprived of their right to self-determination and of full membership in the United Nations, poses a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.","start":3691.567,"end":3714.841,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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concluding, Madam Chair, my delegation expresses its appreciation to the Republic of Cuba for submitting the draft resolution on the decision of this special committee on 16 June 2025 concerning Puerto Rico.","start":3727.819,"end":3741.62,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Before","start":3727.819,"end":3728.14},{"text":"concluding,","start":3728.14,"end":3728.766},{"text":"Madam","start":3728.863,"end":3729.071},{"text":"Chair,","start":3729.167,"end":3729.44},{"text":"my","start":3729.89,"end":3729.986},{"text":"delegation","start":3729.986,"end":3730.499},{"text":"expresses","start":3730.531,"end":3731.077},{"text":"its","start":3731.109,"end":3731.286},{"text":"appreciation","start":3731.494,"end":3732.232},{"text":"to","start":3732.232,"end":3732.329},{"text":"the","start":3732.329,"end":3732.457},{"text":"Republic","start":3732.457,"end":3732.938},{"text":"of","start":3732.938,"end":3733.083},{"text":"Cuba","start":3733.099,"end":3733.5},{"text":"for","start":3733.757,"end":3733.885},{"text":"submitting","start":3733.917,"end":3734.447},{"text":"the","start":3734.543,"end":3734.623},{"text":"draft","start":3734.623,"end":3735.041},{"text":"resolution","start":3735.041,"end":3735.666},{"text":"on","start":3735.666,"end":3735.731},{"text":"the","start":3735.763,"end":3735.843},{"text":"decision","start":3735.843,"end":3736.372},{"text":"of","start":3736.405,"end":3736.533},{"text":"this","start":3736.565,"end":3736.822},{"text":"special","start":3736.822,"end":3737.287},{"text":"committee","start":3737.287,"end":3737.736},{"text":"on","start":3737.833,"end":3737.913},{"text":"16","start":3737.913,"end":3738.378},{"text":"June","start":3738.475,"end":3738.699},{"text":"2025","start":3738.956,"end":3739.983},{"text":"concerning","start":3740.336,"end":3740.946},{"text":"Puerto","start":3740.978,"end":3741.283},{"text":"Rico.","start":3741.299,"end":3741.62}]},{"text":"We welcome this initiative which continues to advance the committee's longstanding consideration of this important question, and we hope that the consensus among the Committee's membership will be repeated for this 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full and complete decolonization of our continent is essential to make Latin America and the Caribbean a territory free of colonialism and thus to contribute to eradicating any vestige of colonialism in all of its expressions and manifestations around the world.","start":3806.456,"end":3822.483,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3806.456,"end":3806.713},{"text":"full","start":3806.777,"end":3807.146},{"text":"and","start":3807.338,"end":3807.467},{"text":"complete","start":3807.563,"end":3807.98},{"text":"decolonization","start":3808.044,"end":3808.991},{"text":"of","start":3809.087,"end":3809.167},{"text":"our","start":3809.167,"end":3809.344},{"text":"continent","start":3809.344,"end":3809.969},{"text":"is","start":3809.969,"end":3810.034},{"text":"essential","start":3810.082,"end":3810.82},{"text":"to","start":3810.852,"end":3810.964},{"text":"make","start":3810.964,"end":3811.189},{"text":"Latin","start":3811.189,"end":3811.445},{"text":"America","start":3811.445,"end":3811.911},{"text":"and","start":3811.911,"end":3811.991},{"text":"the","start":3811.991,"end":3812.135},{"text":"Caribbean","start":3812.135,"end":3812.745},{"text":"a","start":3812.938,"end":3813.034},{"text":"territory","start":3813.098,"end":3813.643},{"text":"free","start":3813.676,"end":3814.028},{"text":"of","start":3814.061,"end":3814.125},{"text":"colonialism","start":3814.157,"end":3815.023},{"text":"and","start":3815.103,"end":3815.376},{"text":"thus","start":3815.761,"end":3816.018},{"text":"to","start":3816.146,"end":3816.242},{"text":"contribute","start":3816.242,"end":3817.045},{"text":"to","start":3817.045,"end":3817.205},{"text":"eradicating","start":3817.205,"end":3817.895},{"text":"any","start":3817.927,"end":3818.152},{"text":"vestige","start":3818.152,"end":3818.585},{"text":"of","start":3818.585,"end":3818.665},{"text":"colonialism","start":3818.713,"end":3819.451},{"text":"in","start":3819.451,"end":3819.58},{"text":"all","start":3819.596,"end":3819.708},{"text":"of","start":3819.756,"end":3819.916},{"text":"its","start":3819.916,"end":3820.093},{"text":"expressions","start":3820.43,"end":3820.911},{"text":"and","start":3820.911,"end":3820.975},{"text":"manifestations","start":3820.975,"end":3821.697},{"text":"around","start":3821.697,"end":3821.922},{"text":"the","start":3821.922,"end":3821.986},{"text":"world.","start":3822.018,"end":3822.483}]},{"text":"This year exactly, Nicaragua was honored to to host the Regional Seminar on Decolonization held in Managua from the 25th to 28th of May.","start":3823.205,"end":3833.914,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":3823.205,"end":3823.334},{"text":"year","start":3823.622,"end":3823.943},{"text":"exactly,","start":3823.943,"end":3824.553},{"text":"Nicaragua","start":3825.467,"end":3826.189},{"text":"was","start":3826.334,"end":3826.446},{"text":"honored","start":3826.574,"end":3826.879},{"text":"to","start":3826.895,"end":3827.024},{"text":"to","start":3826.96,"end":3827.12},{"text":"host","start":3827.136,"end":3827.633},{"text":"the","start":3827.633,"end":3827.761},{"text":"Regional","start":3827.777,"end":3828.129},{"text":"Seminar","start":3828.129,"end":3828.85},{"text":"on","start":3828.979,"end":3829.043},{"text":"Decolonization","start":3829.075,"end":3830.004},{"text":"held","start":3830.116,"end":3830.453},{"text":"in","start":3830.517,"end":3830.597},{"text":"Managua","start":3830.597,"end":3831.254},{"text":"from","start":3831.623,"end":3831.847},{"text":"the","start":3832.023,"end":3832.232},{"text":"25th","start":3832.36,"end":3832.857},{"text":"to","start":3832.857,"end":3833.001},{"text":"28th","start":3833.017,"end":3833.642},{"text":"of","start":3833.642,"end":3833.738},{"text":"May.","start":3833.738,"end":3833.914}]},{"text":"This meeting reaffirmed our region's commitment to the full eradication of colonialism and was an opportunity to hear directly from the peoples of the non-self-governing territories, including the heroic people of Puerto Rico.","start":3834.283,"end":3848.369,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":3834.283,"end":3834.411},{"text":"meeting","start":3834.587,"end":3834.892},{"text":"reaffirmed","start":3835.068,"end":3835.853},{"text":"our","start":3836.03,"end":3836.783},{"text":"region's","start":3836.783,"end":3837.167},{"text":"commitment","start":3837.167,"end":3837.632},{"text":"to","start":3837.728,"end":3837.969},{"text":"the","start":3837.969,"end":3838.193},{"text":"full","start":3838.193,"end":3838.433},{"text":"eradication","start":3838.433,"end":3838.946},{"text":"of","start":3838.946,"end":3839.01},{"text":"colonialism","start":3839.01,"end":3839.715},{"text":"and","start":3839.796,"end":3839.908},{"text":"was","start":3839.956,"end":3840.02},{"text":"an","start":3840.052,"end":3840.1},{"text":"opportunity","start":3840.148,"end":3840.741},{"text":"to","start":3840.997,"end":3841.27},{"text":"hear","start":3841.318,"end":3841.671},{"text":"directly","start":3841.671,"end":3842.424},{"text":"from","start":3842.937,"end":3843.161},{"text":"the","start":3843.337,"end":3843.449},{"text":"peoples","start":3843.578,"end":3844.026},{"text":"of","start":3844.283,"end":3844.395},{"text":"the","start":3844.443,"end":3844.635},{"text":"non-self-governing","start":3844.635,"end":3845.308},{"text":"territories,","start":3845.404,"end":3845.949},{"text":"including","start":3845.981,"end":3846.59},{"text":"the","start":3846.686,"end":3846.783},{"text":"heroic","start":3846.783,"end":3847.327},{"text":"people","start":3847.327,"end":3847.648},{"text":"of","start":3847.648,"end":3847.712},{"text":"Puerto","start":3847.744,"end":3848.081},{"text":"Rico.","start":3848.081,"end":3848.369}]},{"text":"Puerto Rico is an integral part of our Latin America and Caribbean It is an exemplary people with their own identity forged through resistance and through their love for freedom.","start":3848.946,"end":3859.104,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Puerto","start":3848.946,"end":3849.186},{"text":"Rico","start":3849.202,"end":3849.523},{"text":"is","start":3849.523,"end":3849.635},{"text":"an","start":3849.667,"end":3849.747},{"text":"integral","start":3849.747,"end":3850.228},{"text":"part","start":3850.228,"end":3850.629},{"text":"of","start":3850.629,"end":3850.725},{"text":"our","start":3850.725,"end":3850.869},{"text":"Latin","start":3850.869,"end":3851.109},{"text":"America","start":3851.109,"end":3851.51},{"text":"and","start":3851.51,"end":3851.574},{"text":"Caribbean","start":3851.67,"end":3852.199},{"text":"It","start":3852.632,"end":3852.712},{"text":"is","start":3852.712,"end":3852.76},{"text":"an","start":3852.793,"end":3852.937},{"text":"exemplary","start":3852.937,"end":3853.483},{"text":"people","start":3853.596,"end":3854.077},{"text":"with","start":3854.077,"end":3854.238},{"text":"their","start":3854.238,"end":3854.35},{"text":"own","start":3854.463,"end":3854.607},{"text":"identity","start":3854.88,"end":3855.459},{"text":"forged","start":3855.539,"end":3856.133},{"text":"through","start":3856.165,"end":3856.47},{"text":"resistance","start":3856.486,"end":3857.322},{"text":"and","start":3857.434,"end":3857.691},{"text":"through","start":3857.691,"end":3857.868},{"text":"their","start":3858.012,"end":3858.317},{"text":"love","start":3858.317,"end":3858.542},{"text":"for","start":3858.574,"end":3858.751},{"text":"freedom.","start":3858.751,"end":3859.104}]},{"text":"The Puerto Rican people strengthened through their struggle against Spanish colonialism since 1898 have resisted the colonial imposition of the United States.","start":3859.763,"end":3869.945,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":3859.763,"end":3859.972},{"text":"Puerto","start":3860.02,"end":3860.502},{"text":"Rican","start":3860.502,"end":3860.951},{"text":"people","start":3860.983,"end":3861.385},{"text":"strengthened","start":3861.385,"end":3862.011},{"text":"through","start":3862.011,"end":3862.268},{"text":"their","start":3862.268,"end":3862.365},{"text":"struggle","start":3862.365,"end":3862.927},{"text":"against","start":3862.927,"end":3863.216},{"text":"Spanish","start":3863.216,"end":3863.585},{"text":"colonialism","start":3863.698,"end":3864.485},{"text":"since","start":3864.934,"end":3865.288},{"text":"1898","start":3865.288,"end":3866.444},{"text":"have","start":3866.444,"end":3866.653},{"text":"resisted","start":3866.685,"end":3867.504},{"text":"the","start":3867.568,"end":3867.793},{"text":"colonial","start":3867.793,"end":3868.227},{"text":"imposition","start":3868.227,"end":3868.741},{"text":"of","start":3868.789,"end":3868.901},{"text":"the","start":3868.917,"end":3869.078},{"text":"United","start":3869.078,"end":3869.495},{"text":"States.","start":3869.495,"end":3869.945}]},{"text":"And every year before this committee, the patriotic Puerto Rican people show us that their spirit of struggle remains intact.","start":3870.523,"end":3879.035,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"And","start":3870.523,"end":3870.764},{"text":"every","start":3870.764,"end":3870.989},{"text":"year","start":3871.085,"end":3871.358},{"text":"before","start":3871.358,"end":3871.696},{"text":"this","start":3871.728,"end":3871.792},{"text":"committee,","start":3871.904,"end":3872.354},{"text":"the","start":3872.852,"end":3873.109},{"text":"patriotic","start":3874.137,"end":3874.779},{"text":"Puerto","start":3874.795,"end":3875.133},{"text":"Rican","start":3875.181,"end":3875.422},{"text":"people","start":3875.518,"end":3875.871},{"text":"show","start":3875.903,"end":3876.128},{"text":"us","start":3876.144,"end":3876.305},{"text":"that","start":3876.305,"end":3876.45},{"text":"their","start":3876.546,"end":3876.819},{"text":"spirit","start":3876.98,"end":3877.59},{"text":"of","start":3877.59,"end":3877.638},{"text":"struggle","start":3877.686,"end":3878.232},{"text":"remains","start":3878.232,"end":3878.65},{"text":"intact.","start":3878.65,"end":3879.035}]},{"text":"We have heard close— listened closely to our brothers from Puerto Rico who have come before this committee.","start":3879.453,"end":3886.728,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":3879.453,"end":3879.694},{"text":"have","start":3879.694,"end":3879.902},{"text":"heard","start":3879.935,"end":3880.384},{"text":"close—","start":3880.802,"end":3881.219},{"text":"listened","start":3881.219,"end":3881.589},{"text":"closely","start":3881.621,"end":3882.151},{"text":"to","start":3882.906,"end":3883.227},{"text":"our","start":3883.532,"end":3883.709},{"text":"brothers","start":3883.709,"end":3884.158},{"text":"from","start":3884.351,"end":3884.511},{"text":"Puerto","start":3884.511,"end":3884.785},{"text":"Rico","start":3884.833,"end":3885.314},{"text":"who","start":3885.314,"end":3885.459},{"text":"have","start":3885.459,"end":3885.539},{"text":"come","start":3885.555,"end":3885.796},{"text":"before","start":3885.796,"end":3886.069},{"text":"this","start":3886.117,"end":3886.342},{"text":"committee.","start":3886.342,"end":3886.728}]},{"text":"Their testimonies bear out a reality that we cannot overlook.","start":3887.226,"end":3890.357,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Their","start":3887.226,"end":3887.386},{"text":"testimonies","start":3887.386,"end":3888.012},{"text":"bear","start":3888.189,"end":3888.43},{"text":"out","start":3888.43,"end":3888.687},{"text":"a","start":3888.687,"end":3888.735},{"text":"reality","start":3888.751,"end":3889.185},{"text":"that","start":3889.185,"end":3889.297},{"text":"we","start":3889.313,"end":3889.41},{"text":"cannot","start":3889.41,"end":3889.683},{"text":"overlook.","start":3889.795,"end":3890.357}]},{"text":"This is a colonial situation which is holding back their ability to sovereignly decide on their present and future, which is affecting the essential services on the island, and which is preventing the Puerto Rican people from building their economic, social, and cultural, political political model in line with their national history and identity.","start":3890.694,"end":3910.251,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":3890.694,"end":3890.839},{"text":"is","start":3890.839,"end":3890.903},{"text":"a","start":3890.999,"end":3891.08},{"text":"colonial","start":3891.08,"end":3891.578},{"text":"situation","start":3891.578,"end":3892.365},{"text":"which","start":3892.365,"end":3892.429},{"text":"is","start":3892.541,"end":3892.621},{"text":"holding","start":3892.686,"end":3892.975},{"text":"back","start":3893.087,"end":3893.36},{"text":"their","start":3893.489,"end":3893.89},{"text":"ability","start":3893.89,"end":3894.404},{"text":"to","start":3894.629,"end":3894.806},{"text":"sovereignly","start":3894.806,"end":3895.48},{"text":"decide","start":3895.512,"end":3896.042},{"text":"on","start":3896.155,"end":3896.235},{"text":"their","start":3896.235,"end":3896.395},{"text":"present","start":3896.395,"end":3896.797},{"text":"and","start":3896.797,"end":3896.909},{"text":"future,","start":3896.957,"end":3897.455},{"text":"which","start":3897.841,"end":3897.969},{"text":"is","start":3898.001,"end":3898.13},{"text":"affecting","start":3898.323,"end":3898.852},{"text":"the","start":3898.869,"end":3898.965},{"text":"essential","start":3898.965,"end":3899.35},{"text":"services","start":3899.35,"end":3899.816},{"text":"on","start":3899.848,"end":3899.928},{"text":"the","start":3899.928,"end":3900.073},{"text":"island,","start":3900.073,"end":3900.426},{"text":"and","start":3900.555,"end":3900.747},{"text":"which","start":3900.796,"end":3900.94},{"text":"is","start":3900.988,"end":3901.101},{"text":"preventing","start":3901.133,"end":3901.663},{"text":"the","start":3901.775,"end":3901.936},{"text":"Puerto","start":3901.936,"end":3902.321},{"text":"Rican","start":3902.321,"end":3902.643},{"text":"people","start":3902.643,"end":3902.948},{"text":"from","start":3902.98,"end":3903.156},{"text":"building","start":3903.221,"end":3903.558},{"text":"their","start":3903.606,"end":3903.783},{"text":"economic,","start":3904.505,"end":3904.907},{"text":"social,","start":3904.923,"end":3905.196},{"text":"and","start":3905.212,"end":3905.373},{"text":"cultural,","start":3905.373,"end":3905.822},{"text":"political","start":3905.87,"end":3906.368},{"text":"political","start":3906.16,"end":3906.625},{"text":"model","start":3906.625,"end":3906.914},{"text":"in","start":3907.234,"end":3907.363},{"text":"line","start":3907.395,"end":3907.684},{"text":"with","start":3907.796,"end":3908.133},{"text":"their","start":3908.181,"end":3908.454},{"text":"national","start":3908.775,"end":3909.192},{"text":"history","start":3909.24,"end":3909.561},{"text":"and","start":3909.625,"end":3909.705},{"text":"identity.","start":3909.705,"end":3910.251}]},{"text":"Chair, in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 1514, within this committee we are obliged to assist the people of Puerto Rico to fully and truly exercise their right to self-determination and independence.","start":3911.55,"end":3926.054,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Chair,","start":3911.55,"end":3911.871},{"text":"in","start":3911.887,"end":3911.935},{"text":"accordance","start":3911.983,"end":3912.401},{"text":"with","start":3912.529,"end":3912.994},{"text":"General","start":3913.01,"end":3913.235},{"text":"Assembly","start":3913.235,"end":3913.572},{"text":"Resolution","start":3913.572,"end":3914.021},{"text":"1514,","start":3914.053,"end":3915.305},{"text":"within","start":3915.401,"end":3915.545},{"text":"this","start":3915.641,"end":3915.706},{"text":"committee","start":3915.802,"end":3916.267},{"text":"we","start":3916.299,"end":3916.556},{"text":"are","start":3917.166,"end":3917.342},{"text":"obliged","start":3917.342,"end":3917.904},{"text":"to","start":3917.904,"end":3918.128},{"text":"assist","start":3918.225,"end":3918.786},{"text":"the","start":3918.786,"end":3918.946},{"text":"people","start":3918.946,"end":3919.54},{"text":"of","start":3919.668,"end":3919.797},{"text":"Puerto","start":3919.829,"end":3920.15},{"text":"Rico","start":3920.214,"end":3920.471},{"text":"to","start":3920.695,"end":3920.872},{"text":"fully","start":3920.872,"end":3921.241},{"text":"and","start":3922.701,"end":3922.781},{"text":"truly","start":3922.861,"end":3923.246},{"text":"exercise","start":3923.262,"end":3923.808},{"text":"their","start":3923.84,"end":3924.064},{"text":"right","start":3924.064,"end":3924.241},{"text":"to","start":3924.241,"end":3924.337},{"text":"self-determination","start":3924.337,"end":3925.075},{"text":"and","start":3925.188,"end":3925.3},{"text":"independence.","start":3925.364,"end":3926.054}]},{"text":"We reiterate that the United States has the moral and historic opportunity to facilitate and guarantee an effective decolonization process enabling the people of Puerto Rico to exercise their inalienable right to freedom, self-determination, and independence in accordance with Resolution 1514 and the resolutions adopted year after year by this committee.","start":3926.166,"end":3946.712,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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thank Cuba for once again presenting the draft resolution on the question of Puerto Rico.","start":3947.113,"end":3953.053,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":3947.113,"end":3947.258},{"text":"thank","start":3947.258,"end":3947.515},{"text":"Cuba","start":3947.515,"end":3947.996},{"text":"for","start":3947.996,"end":3948.269},{"text":"once","start":3948.638,"end":3948.831},{"text":"again","start":3948.943,"end":3949.232},{"text":"presenting","start":3949.441,"end":3950.051},{"text":"the","start":3950.164,"end":3950.388},{"text":"draft","start":3950.388,"end":3950.725},{"text":"resolution","start":3950.725,"end":3951.335},{"text":"on","start":3951.592,"end":3951.657},{"text":"the","start":3951.769,"end":3951.962},{"text":"question","start":3951.994,"end":3952.331},{"text":"of","start":3952.331,"end":3952.411},{"text":"Puerto","start":3952.411,"end":3952.732},{"text":"Rico.","start":3952.732,"end":3953.053}]},{"text":"Nicaragua, just like it does every year, is co-sponsoring this resolution.","start":3953.535,"end":3958.319,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Nicaragua,","start":3953.535,"end":3954.338},{"text":"just","start":3954.739,"end":3954.899},{"text":"like","start":3954.899,"end":3955.076},{"text":"it","start":3955.124,"end":3955.172},{"text":"does","start":3955.204,"end":3955.349},{"text":"every","start":3955.445,"end":3955.67},{"text":"year,","start":3955.766,"end":3955.959},{"text":"is","start":3956.505,"end":3956.553},{"text":"co-sponsoring","start":3956.649,"end":3957.259},{"text":"this","start":3957.308,"end":3957.468},{"text":"resolution.","start":3957.468,"end":3958.319}]},{"text":"This is a gesture of solidarity that reflects the historic commitment of our America to the cause of Puerto Rico.","start":3958.657,"end":3965.704,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":3958.657,"end":3958.834},{"text":"is","start":3958.834,"end":3958.931},{"text":"a","start":3958.931,"end":3958.947},{"text":"gesture","start":3959.06,"end":3959.608},{"text":"of","start":3959.641,"end":3959.737},{"text":"solidarity","start":3959.737,"end":3960.415},{"text":"that","start":3960.447,"end":3960.576},{"text":"reflects","start":3960.689,"end":3961.334},{"text":"the","start":3962.124,"end":3962.334},{"text":"historic","start":3962.785,"end":3963.253},{"text":"commitment","start":3963.253,"end":3963.688},{"text":"of","start":3963.688,"end":3963.817},{"text":"our","start":3963.817,"end":3963.979},{"text":"America","start":3963.979,"end":3964.478},{"text":"to","start":3964.478,"end":3964.624},{"text":"the","start":3964.624,"end":3964.72},{"text":"cause","start":3964.72,"end":3964.978},{"text":"of","start":3964.978,"end":3965.091},{"text":"Puerto","start":3965.124,"end":3965.382},{"text":"Rico.","start":3965.446,"end":3965.704}]},{"text":"To our Puerto Rican brothers and sisters, to their patriots, and to the new generation that is speaking up with dignity and strength today, Nicaragua reiterates that you have our full support and unwavering Recognition: Your struggle is our struggle.","start":3966.46,"end":3986.714,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"To","start":3966.46,"end":3966.508},{"text":"our","start":3966.797,"end":3967.038},{"text":"Puerto","start":3967.038,"end":3967.327},{"text":"Rican","start":3967.375,"end":3967.745},{"text":"brothers","start":3967.777,"end":3968.147},{"text":"and","start":3968.179,"end":3968.34},{"text":"sisters,","start":3968.34,"end":3968.87},{"text":"to","start":3969.625,"end":3969.834},{"text":"their","start":3973.867,"end":3974.59},{"text":"patriots,","start":3974.606,"end":3975.136},{"text":"and","start":3975.249,"end":3975.41},{"text":"to","start":3975.41,"end":3975.506},{"text":"the","start":3975.57,"end":3975.602},{"text":"new","start":3975.651,"end":3975.86},{"text":"generation","start":3975.86,"end":3976.423},{"text":"that","start":3976.44,"end":3976.552},{"text":"is","start":3976.552,"end":3976.633},{"text":"speaking","start":3976.633,"end":3977.036},{"text":"up","start":3977.084,"end":3977.261},{"text":"with","start":3977.487,"end":3977.648},{"text":"dignity","start":3977.648,"end":3978.115},{"text":"and","start":3978.534,"end":3978.647},{"text":"strength","start":3978.647,"end":3979.001},{"text":"today,","start":3979.034,"end":3979.275},{"text":"Nicaragua","start":3979.372,"end":3980.242},{"text":"reiterates","start":3980.323,"end":3981.112},{"text":"that","start":3981.112,"end":3981.354},{"text":"you","start":3981.354,"end":3981.531},{"text":"have","start":3981.531,"end":3981.708},{"text":"our","start":3981.708,"end":3981.853},{"text":"full","start":3981.853,"end":3982.127},{"text":"support","start":3982.514,"end":3983.319},{"text":"and","start":3983.448,"end":3983.69},{"text":"unwavering","start":3983.787,"end":3984.399},{"text":"Recognition:","start":3984.58,"end":3985.222},{"text":"Your","start":3985.334,"end":3985.526},{"text":"struggle","start":3985.591,"end":3985.944},{"text":"is","start":3985.976,"end":3986.024},{"text":"our","start":3986.12,"end":3986.297},{"text":"struggle.","start":3986.313,"end":3986.714}]},{"text":"Your cause is a just and necessary cause.","start":3986.778,"end":3989.395,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Your","start":3986.778,"end":3987.003},{"text":"cause","start":3987.003,"end":3987.388},{"text":"is","start":3987.966,"end":3988.03},{"text":"a","start":3988.207,"end":3988.223},{"text":"just","start":3988.287,"end":3988.544},{"text":"and","start":3988.544,"end":3988.624},{"text":"necessary","start":3988.624,"end":3989.074},{"text":"cause.","start":3989.106,"end":3989.395}]},{"text":"To conclude, Nicaragua maintains that independence is the necessary path for freedom to defend national sovereignty with dignity.","start":3989.667,"end":3998.784,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"To","start":3989.667,"end":3989.748},{"text":"conclude,","start":3989.748,"end":3990.358},{"text":"Nicaragua","start":3990.39,"end":3991.032},{"text":"maintains","start":3991.032,"end":3991.882},{"text":"that","start":3991.915,"end":3992.027},{"text":"independence","start":3992.396,"end":3993.102},{"text":"is","start":3993.102,"end":3993.166},{"text":"the","start":3993.183,"end":3993.215},{"text":"necessary","start":3993.215,"end":3993.728},{"text":"path","start":3993.76,"end":3994.21},{"text":"for","start":3994.386,"end":3994.643},{"text":"freedom","start":3994.643,"end":3995.173},{"text":"to","start":3995.285,"end":3995.381},{"text":"defend","start":3995.381,"end":3996.104},{"text":"national","start":3997.516,"end":3997.741},{"text":"sovereignty","start":3997.773,"end":3998.222},{"text":"with","start":3998.238,"end":3998.351},{"text":"dignity.","start":3998.351,"end":3998.784}]},{"text":"Nicaragua will continue supporting the Puerto Rican people in their path to self-determination and freedom, convinced that historic justice and international law are on their side.","start":3998.913,"end":4009.217,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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you very much.","start":4009.634,"end":4010.18,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":4009.634,"end":4009.795},{"text":"you","start":4009.795,"end":4009.875},{"text":"very","start":4009.875,"end":4010.035},{"text":"much.","start":4010.035,"end":4010.18}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"NIC","affiliation_full":"Nicaragua","group":null,"function":"Representative"}},{"statement_number":37,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank the distinguished I thank the distinguished representative of 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NAM.","start":4018.4,"end":4028.483,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":4018.4,"end":4018.448},{"text":"now","start":4018.544,"end":4018.641},{"text":"recognize","start":4019.106,"end":4019.732},{"text":"and","start":4019.765,"end":4019.925},{"text":"give","start":4019.925,"end":4020.038},{"text":"the","start":4020.102,"end":4020.23},{"text":"floor","start":4020.23,"end":4020.439},{"text":"to","start":4020.487,"end":4020.616},{"text":"the","start":4020.632,"end":4020.728},{"text":"distinguished","start":4020.792,"end":4021.354},{"text":"representative","start":4021.354,"end":4022.301},{"text":"of","start":4022.96,"end":4023.185},{"text":"Uganda","start":4023.522,"end":4024.276},{"text":"on","start":4024.806,"end":4024.871},{"text":"behalf","start":4024.903,"end":4025.481},{"text":"of","start":4025.689,"end":4025.834},{"text":"the","start":4025.866,"end":4026.107},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":4026.284,"end":4027.199},{"text":"Movement,","start":4027.456,"end":4028.034},{"text":"NAM.","start":4028.178,"end":4028.483}]},{"text":"You have the floor.","start":4028.676,"end":4029.399,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"You","start":4028.676,"end":4028.772},{"text":"have","start":4028.772,"end":4028.933},{"text":"the","start":4028.933,"end":4029.061},{"text":"floor.","start":4029.061,"end":4029.399}]},{"text":"Go ahead, Uganda.","start":4029.8,"end":4030.635,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Go","start":4029.8,"end":4029.928},{"text":"ahead,","start":4029.928,"end":4030.153},{"text":"Uganda.","start":4030.201,"end":4030.635}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":38,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Madam Chair, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the 121 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement during this resumed session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 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65 years have passed since the Special Committee on on decolonization was established pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 1654, in brackets, 16, of 27 November 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would like to express our sincere appreciation to you and other members of the Bureau, as well as the Committee as a whole, for the hard work and efforts put into the issue of decolonization, to which the movement to which it has historically attached particular importance.","start":4076.825,"end":4093.015,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":4076.825,"end":4076.857},{"text":"would","start":4076.905,"end":4077.065},{"text":"like","start":4077.065,"end":4077.21},{"text":"to","start":4077.242,"end":4077.322},{"text":"express","start":4077.322,"end":4077.916},{"text":"our","start":4077.964,"end":4078.06},{"text":"sincere","start":4078.06,"end":4078.462},{"text":"appreciation","start":4078.462,"end":4079.055},{"text":"to","start":4079.088,"end":4079.248},{"text":"you","start":4079.248,"end":4079.344},{"text":"and","start":4080.051,"end":4080.115},{"text":"other","start":4080.195,"end":4080.307},{"text":"members","start":4080.307,"end":4080.66},{"text":"of","start":4080.709,"end":4080.869},{"text":"the","start":4080.869,"end":4081.014},{"text":"Bureau,","start":4081.014,"end":4081.399},{"text":"as","start":4081.575,"end":4081.704},{"text":"well","start":4081.736,"end":4082.057},{"text":"as","start":4082.057,"end":4082.105},{"text":"the","start":4082.201,"end":4082.362},{"text":"Committee","start":4082.362,"end":4082.747},{"text":"as","start":4083.566,"end":4083.63},{"text":"a","start":4083.726,"end":4083.742},{"text":"whole,","start":4083.822,"end":4084.143},{"text":"for","start":4084.159,"end":4084.448},{"text":"the","start":4084.448,"end":4084.657},{"text":"hard","start":4084.705,"end":4084.833},{"text":"work","start":4084.93,"end":4085.203},{"text":"and","start":4085.267,"end":4085.492},{"text":"efforts","start":4085.508,"end":4085.925},{"text":"put","start":4086.069,"end":4086.39},{"text":"into","start":4086.455,"end":4086.583},{"text":"the","start":4086.631,"end":4086.711},{"text":"issue","start":4086.856,"end":4087.097},{"text":"of","start":4087.097,"end":4087.209},{"text":"decolonization,","start":4087.209,"end":4088.076},{"text":"to","start":4088.878,"end":4088.958},{"text":"which","start":4089.023,"end":4089.247},{"text":"the","start":4089.36,"end":4089.44},{"text":"movement","start":4089.44,"end":4090.002},{"text":"to","start":4089.97,"end":4090.002},{"text":"which","start":4090.05,"end":4090.098},{"text":"it","start":4090.098,"end":4090.13},{"text":"has","start":4090.13,"end":4090.21},{"text":"historically","start":4090.322,"end":4091.172},{"text":"attached","start":4091.284,"end":4091.813},{"text":"particular","start":4091.909,"end":4092.454},{"text":"importance.","start":4092.551,"end":4093.015}]},{"text":"Chair, with regard to the question of Puerto Rico, the Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms the validity and relevance of its principled position, particularly with respect to the right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination, independence, on the basis of the General Assembly Resolution 5, 1, 4, or 15, or 14th December 1960, and calls for a comprehensive consideration of this question, all its aspects.","start":4094.09,"end":4125.988,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Chair,","start":4094.09,"end":4094.49},{"text":"with","start":4095.212,"end":4095.308},{"text":"regard","start":4095.372,"end":4095.677},{"text":"to","start":4095.677,"end":4095.709},{"text":"the","start":4095.709,"end":4095.917},{"text":"question","start":4095.917,"end":4096.238},{"text":"of","start":4096.494,"end":4096.542},{"text":"Puerto","start":4096.574,"end":4096.831},{"text":"Rico,","start":4096.831,"end":4097.248},{"text":"the","start":4097.36,"end":4097.408},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":4097.408,"end":4097.953},{"text":"Movement","start":4097.953,"end":4098.482},{"text":"reaffirms","start":4098.482,"end":4099.107},{"text":"the","start":4099.139,"end":4099.3},{"text":"validity","start":4099.3,"end":4099.909},{"text":"and","start":4100.085,"end":4100.149},{"text":"relevance","start":4100.197,"end":4100.823},{"text":"of","start":4100.823,"end":4100.935},{"text":"its","start":4100.983,"end":4101.384},{"text":"principled","start":4101.384,"end":4101.929},{"text":"position,","start":4101.929,"end":4102.346},{"text":"particularly","start":4103.067,"end":4103.676},{"text":"with","start":4103.692,"end":4103.869},{"text":"respect","start":4103.869,"end":4104.334},{"text":"to","start":4104.334,"end":4104.43},{"text":"the","start":4104.43,"end":4104.574},{"text":"right","start":4104.574,"end":4105.151},{"text":"of","start":4105.151,"end":4105.247},{"text":"the","start":4105.311,"end":4105.472},{"text":"people","start":4105.472,"end":4105.808},{"text":"of","start":4105.808,"end":4105.873},{"text":"Puerto","start":4105.873,"end":4106.177},{"text":"Rico","start":4106.177,"end":4106.498},{"text":"to","start":4107.139,"end":4107.187},{"text":"self-determination,","start":4107.219,"end":4108.886},{"text":"independence,","start":4109.944,"end":4111.419},{"text":"on","start":4111.708,"end":4111.836},{"text":"the","start":4111.884,"end":4111.964},{"text":"basis","start":4112.045,"end":4112.461},{"text":"of","start":4113.167,"end":4113.391},{"text":"the","start":4113.648,"end":4113.808},{"text":"General","start":4113.808,"end":4114.129},{"text":"Assembly","start":4114.129,"end":4114.626},{"text":"Resolution","start":4114.626,"end":4115.443},{"text":"5,","start":4115.832,"end":4116.933},{"text":"1,","start":4116.966,"end":4117.079},{"text":"4,","start":4117.193,"end":4117.533},{"text":"or","start":4118.083,"end":4118.181},{"text":"15,","start":4118.181,"end":4118.715},{"text":"or","start":4118.893,"end":4118.974},{"text":"14th","start":4118.974,"end":4119.444},{"text":"December","start":4119.541,"end":4119.898},{"text":"1960,","start":4119.898,"end":4120.821},{"text":"and","start":4121.42,"end":4121.631},{"text":"calls","start":4121.647,"end":4121.874},{"text":"for","start":4121.971,"end":4122.068},{"text":"a","start":4122.149,"end":4122.311},{"text":"comprehensive","start":4122.311,"end":4123.17},{"text":"consideration","start":4123.267,"end":4123.915},{"text":"of","start":4123.915,"end":4123.98},{"text":"this","start":4123.98,"end":4124.156},{"text":"question,","start":4124.156,"end":4124.51},{"text":"all","start":4124.799,"end":4124.911},{"text":"its","start":4124.911,"end":4125.201},{"text":"aspects.","start":4125.522,"end":4125.988}]},{"text":"The member states of the movement reiterate their unwavering support of resolutions on Puerto Rico, many of which have been adopted by consensus within the framework of this special committee, and call for their its expeditious implementation.","start":4127.064,"end":4143.576,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":4127.064,"end":4127.161},{"text":"member","start":4127.161,"end":4127.402},{"text":"states","start":4127.402,"end":4127.787},{"text":"of","start":4127.787,"end":4127.964},{"text":"the","start":4127.964,"end":4128.076},{"text":"movement","start":4128.076,"end":4128.574},{"text":"reiterate","start":4128.574,"end":4129.217},{"text":"their","start":4129.217,"end":4129.378},{"text":"unwavering","start":4129.378,"end":4129.844},{"text":"support","start":4129.892,"end":4130.599},{"text":"of","start":4130.599,"end":4130.727},{"text":"resolutions","start":4130.775,"end":4131.45},{"text":"on","start":4131.723,"end":4131.772},{"text":"Puerto","start":4131.868,"end":4132.125},{"text":"Rico,","start":4132.141,"end":4132.382},{"text":"many","start":4133.073,"end":4133.218},{"text":"of","start":4133.234,"end":4133.378},{"text":"which","start":4133.41,"end":4133.619},{"text":"have","start":4133.7,"end":4133.894},{"text":"been","start":4133.894,"end":4133.992},{"text":"adopted","start":4134.041,"end":4134.544},{"text":"by","start":4134.544,"end":4134.771},{"text":"consensus","start":4134.771,"end":4138.019},{"text":"within","start":4138.182,"end":4138.474},{"text":"the","start":4138.507,"end":4138.604},{"text":"framework","start":4138.604,"end":4139.189},{"text":"of","start":4139.318,"end":4139.481},{"text":"this","start":4139.481,"end":4139.546},{"text":"special","start":4139.578,"end":4139.952},{"text":"committee,","start":4139.984,"end":4140.309},{"text":"and","start":4140.942,"end":4141.04},{"text":"call","start":4141.121,"end":4141.43},{"text":"for","start":4141.43,"end":4141.641},{"text":"their","start":4141.673,"end":4142.128},{"text":"its","start":4142.02,"end":4142.116},{"text":"expeditious","start":4142.116,"end":4142.501},{"text":"implementation.","start":4142.854,"end":4143.576}]},{"text":"In addition, we seize this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the adoption of yet another resolution on Puerto Rico this year by consensus.","start":4144.299,"end":4153.72,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"In","start":4144.299,"end":4144.443},{"text":"addition,","start":4144.443,"end":4144.876},{"text":"we","start":4144.941,"end":4145.117},{"text":"seize","start":4145.117,"end":4145.502},{"text":"this","start":4145.502,"end":4145.599},{"text":"opportunity","start":4145.647,"end":4146.112},{"text":"to","start":4146.128,"end":4146.16},{"text":"reiterate","start":4146.209,"end":4146.867},{"text":"our","start":4146.867,"end":4146.995},{"text":"commitment","start":4147.011,"end":4147.509},{"text":"to","start":4147.509,"end":4148.006},{"text":"the","start":4148.054,"end":4148.118},{"text":"adoption","start":4148.135,"end":4148.68},{"text":"of","start":4149.194,"end":4149.29},{"text":"yet","start":4149.354,"end":4149.691},{"text":"another","start":4149.9,"end":4150.221},{"text":"resolution","start":4150.221,"end":4150.751},{"text":"on","start":4150.975,"end":4151.072},{"text":"Puerto","start":4151.2,"end":4151.457},{"text":"Rico","start":4151.457,"end":4151.698},{"text":"this","start":4151.762,"end":4151.874},{"text":"year","start":4152.019,"end":4152.34},{"text":"by","start":4152.805,"end":4152.917},{"text":"consensus.","start":4153.03,"end":4153.72}]},{"text":"Chair, the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement held on 19th to 20th January 2024 in Kampala, the Republic of Uganda, addressed the Puerto Rico issue and in particularly expressed concern that the present political subordination of the Puerto Rican people impedes their sovereign decision-making regarding serious economic and social problems, including the present fiscal crisis, insolvency of the government of Puerto Rico, and the need to restructure public debt.","start":4154.49,"end":4186.105,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Chair,","start":4154.49,"end":4154.908},{"text":"the","start":4155.052,"end":4155.132},{"text":"19th","start":4155.132,"end":4155.582},{"text":"Summit","start":4155.614,"end":4155.951},{"text":"of","start":4155.951,"end":4156.095},{"text":"Heads","start":4156.095,"end":4156.4},{"text":"of","start":4156.4,"end":4156.464},{"text":"State","start":4156.481,"end":4156.737},{"text":"and","start":4156.737,"end":4156.898},{"text":"Government","start":4156.898,"end":4157.363},{"text":"of","start":4157.46,"end":4157.604},{"text":"the","start":4157.604,"end":4157.636},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":4157.636,"end":4158.23},{"text":"Movement","start":4158.262,"end":4158.631},{"text":"held","start":4158.728,"end":4159.193},{"text":"on","start":4159.642,"end":4159.707},{"text":"19th","start":4159.707,"end":4160.236},{"text":"to","start":4160.268,"end":4160.413},{"text":"20th","start":4160.413,"end":4160.798},{"text":"January","start":4160.991,"end":4161.376},{"text":"2024","start":4161.617,"end":4162.467},{"text":"in","start":4162.933,"end":4163.077},{"text":"Kampala,","start":4163.077,"end":4163.543},{"text":"the","start":4163.559,"end":4163.639},{"text":"Republic","start":4163.655,"end":4164.12},{"text":"of","start":4164.12,"end":4164.217},{"text":"Uganda,","start":4164.265,"end":4164.746},{"text":"addressed","start":4165.549,"end":4166.046},{"text":"the","start":4166.046,"end":4166.191},{"text":"Puerto","start":4166.191,"end":4166.399},{"text":"Rico","start":4166.448,"end":4166.688},{"text":"issue","start":4166.769,"end":4167.09},{"text":"and","start":4167.234,"end":4167.346},{"text":"in","start":4167.346,"end":4167.699},{"text":"particularly","start":4167.7,"end":4168.021},{"text":"expressed","start":4168.021,"end":4168.599},{"text":"concern","start":4168.599,"end":4169.065},{"text":"that","start":4169.161,"end":4169.306},{"text":"the","start":4169.338,"end":4169.482},{"text":"present","start":4169.482,"end":4169.98},{"text":"political","start":4169.98,"end":4170.301},{"text":"subordination","start":4170.301,"end":4171.008},{"text":"of","start":4171.008,"end":4171.104},{"text":"the","start":4171.104,"end":4171.265},{"text":"Puerto","start":4171.265,"end":4171.522},{"text":"Rican","start":4171.522,"end":4171.779},{"text":"people","start":4171.907,"end":4172.213},{"text":"impedes","start":4172.791,"end":4173.241},{"text":"their","start":4173.353,"end":4173.449},{"text":"sovereign","start":4173.449,"end":4174.108},{"text":"decision-making","start":4174.477,"end":4175.328},{"text":"regarding","start":4175.682,"end":4176.276},{"text":"serious","start":4176.324,"end":4176.678},{"text":"economic","start":4176.79,"end":4177.288},{"text":"and","start":4177.352,"end":4177.449},{"text":"social","start":4177.449,"end":4177.77},{"text":"problems,","start":4177.77,"end":4178.252},{"text":"including","start":4178.733,"end":4179.263},{"text":"the","start":4179.296,"end":4179.456},{"text":"present","start":4179.456,"end":4180.099},{"text":"fiscal","start":4180.259,"end":4180.709},{"text":"crisis,","start":4180.725,"end":4181.11},{"text":"insolvency","start":4181.64,"end":4182.154},{"text":"of","start":4182.203,"end":4182.347},{"text":"the","start":4182.347,"end":4182.492},{"text":"government","start":4182.492,"end":4182.845},{"text":"of","start":4182.893,"end":4182.941},{"text":"Puerto","start":4183.054,"end":4183.327},{"text":"Rico,","start":4183.327,"end":4183.632},{"text":"and","start":4184.178,"end":4184.258},{"text":"the","start":4184.258,"end":4184.355},{"text":"need","start":4184.355,"end":4184.66},{"text":"to","start":4184.66,"end":4184.756},{"text":"restructure","start":4184.756,"end":4185.318},{"text":"public","start":4185.479,"end":4185.945},{"text":"debt.","start":4185.945,"end":4186.105}]},{"text":"Similarly, the heads of state and government expressed their concern with the legislation adopted in the U.S.","start":4186.7,"end":4193.493,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"Similarly,","start":4186.7,"end":4187.181},{"text":"the","start":4187.406,"end":4187.487},{"text":"heads","start":4187.551,"end":4187.824},{"text":"of","start":4187.872,"end":4187.952},{"text":"state","start":4187.985,"end":4188.274},{"text":"and","start":4188.274,"end":4188.434},{"text":"government","start":4188.434,"end":4188.788},{"text":"expressed","start":4188.852,"end":4189.414},{"text":"their","start":4189.414,"end":4189.575},{"text":"concern","start":4189.575,"end":4190.024},{"text":"with","start":4190.619,"end":4190.763},{"text":"the","start":4190.763,"end":4190.859},{"text":"legislation","start":4190.859,"end":4192.433},{"text":"adopted","start":4192.53,"end":4193.028},{"text":"in","start":4193.028,"end":4193.108},{"text":"the","start":4193.108,"end":4193.253},{"text":"U.S.","start":4193.253,"end":4193.493}]},{"text":"Congress to impose a fiscal control board over the government of Puerto Rico, which will effectively infringe upon the limited power of the government of San Juan over its budgetary, fiscal, and other affairs.","start":4193.59,"end":4206.724,"topics":[{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}],"words":[{"text":"Congress","start":4193.59,"end":4194.28},{"text":"to","start":4194.393,"end":4194.457},{"text":"impose","start":4194.457,"end":4194.842},{"text":"a","start":4195.035,"end":4195.051},{"text":"fiscal","start":4195.051,"end":4195.485},{"text":"control","start":4195.581,"end":4195.966},{"text":"board","start":4195.998,"end":4196.223},{"text":"over","start":4196.785,"end":4196.962},{"text":"the","start":4196.962,"end":4197.09},{"text":"government","start":4197.122,"end":4197.443},{"text":"of","start":4197.443,"end":4197.492},{"text":"Puerto","start":4197.524,"end":4197.845},{"text":"Rico,","start":4197.845,"end":4198.15},{"text":"which","start":4198.326,"end":4198.439},{"text":"will","start":4198.632,"end":4198.744},{"text":"effectively","start":4198.744,"end":4199.45},{"text":"infringe","start":4199.675,"end":4200.189},{"text":"upon","start":4200.639,"end":4200.847},{"text":"the","start":4200.879,"end":4200.976},{"text":"limited","start":4200.976,"end":4201.441},{"text":"power","start":4201.441,"end":4201.506},{"text":"of","start":4201.522,"end":4201.57},{"text":"the","start":4201.698,"end":4201.779},{"text":"government","start":4201.779,"end":4202.196},{"text":"of","start":4202.196,"end":4202.34},{"text":"San","start":4202.34,"end":4202.549},{"text":"Juan","start":4202.549,"end":4202.951},{"text":"over","start":4203.689,"end":4203.866},{"text":"its","start":4203.866,"end":4204.171},{"text":"budgetary,","start":4204.187,"end":4204.717},{"text":"fiscal,","start":4205.054,"end":4205.696},{"text":"and","start":4205.776,"end":4205.921},{"text":"other","start":4206.017,"end":4206.162},{"text":"affairs.","start":4206.194,"end":4206.724}]},{"text":"In addition, now member states urge the government of the United States to return to the Puerto Rican people the occupied lands and installations of Vieques Islands, and the Roosevelt Road Naval Station.","start":4207.478,"end":4224.837,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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conclude, the Non-Aligned Movement calls on the government of the United States to assume its responsibility and expedite the process that will allow the Puerto Rican people to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.","start":4226.27,"end":4241.949,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"To","start":4226.27,"end":4226.318},{"text":"conclude,","start":4226.383,"end":4226.948},{"text":"the","start":4227.498,"end":4227.53},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":4227.53,"end":4228.128},{"text":"Movement","start":4228.161,"end":4228.71},{"text":"calls","start":4228.71,"end":4229.018},{"text":"on","start":4229.212,"end":4229.292},{"text":"the","start":4229.292,"end":4229.389},{"text":"government","start":4229.454,"end":4229.794},{"text":"of","start":4229.794,"end":4229.858},{"text":"the","start":4229.858,"end":4229.907},{"text":"United","start":4229.907,"end":4230.327},{"text":"States","start":4230.327,"end":4230.683},{"text":"to","start":4231.232,"end":4231.362},{"text":"assume","start":4231.394,"end":4231.685},{"text":"its","start":4231.733,"end":4231.943},{"text":"responsibility","start":4231.943,"end":4232.897},{"text":"and","start":4233.01,"end":4233.075},{"text":"expedite","start":4233.172,"end":4233.98},{"text":"the","start":4233.98,"end":4234.142},{"text":"process","start":4234.142,"end":4234.659},{"text":"that","start":4234.692,"end":4234.869},{"text":"will","start":4234.869,"end":4235.031},{"text":"allow","start":4235.031,"end":4235.29},{"text":"the","start":4235.92,"end":4236.049},{"text":"Puerto","start":4236.049,"end":4236.178},{"text":"Rican","start":4236.178,"end":4236.502},{"text":"people","start":4236.567,"end":4236.924},{"text":"to","start":4236.973,"end":4237.102},{"text":"fully","start":4237.118,"end":4237.507},{"text":"exercise","start":4237.702,"end":4238.318},{"text":"their","start":4238.918,"end":4239.064},{"text":"inalienable","start":4239.064,"end":4239.615},{"text":"right","start":4239.647,"end":4239.988},{"text":"to","start":4239.988,"end":4240.085},{"text":"self-determination","start":4240.117,"end":4241.155},{"text":"and","start":4241.187,"end":4241.349},{"text":"independence.","start":4241.349,"end":4241.949}]},{"text":"I thank you, Chair.","start":4242.322,"end":4242.889,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":4242.322,"end":4242.338},{"text":"thank","start":4242.338,"end":4242.646},{"text":"you,","start":4242.646,"end":4242.727},{"text":"Chair.","start":4242.808,"end":4242.889}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"UGA","affiliation_full":"Uganda","group":"NAM","function":"Representative"}},{"statement_number":39,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank the distinguished representative of Uganda speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.","start":4251.869,"end":4258.759,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":4251.869,"end":4251.917},{"text":"thank","start":4252.03,"end":4252.561},{"text":"the","start":4252.657,"end":4252.851},{"text":"distinguished","start":4253.462,"end":4253.945},{"text":"representative","start":4253.945,"end":4254.75},{"text":"of","start":4254.75,"end":4254.798},{"text":"Uganda","start":4254.911,"end":4255.426},{"text":"speaking","start":4255.426,"end":4255.861},{"text":"on","start":4255.957,"end":4256.07},{"text":"behalf","start":4256.135,"end":4256.601},{"text":"of","start":4256.601,"end":4256.714},{"text":"the","start":4256.778,"end":4256.956},{"text":"Non-Aligned","start":4256.956,"end":4258.034},{"text":"Movement.","start":4258.066,"end":4258.759}]},{"text":"I now recognize and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Uruguay on behalf of CELAC.","start":4260.37,"end":4267.157,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":4260.37,"end":4260.418},{"text":"now","start":4260.418,"end":4260.595},{"text":"recognize","start":4260.723,"end":4261.334},{"text":"and","start":4261.367,"end":4261.528},{"text":"give","start":4261.528,"end":4261.64},{"text":"the","start":4261.688,"end":4261.769},{"text":"floor","start":4261.769,"end":4262.106},{"text":"to","start":4262.155,"end":4262.219},{"text":"the","start":4262.267,"end":4262.412},{"text":"distinguished","start":4262.412,"end":4263.184},{"text":"representative","start":4263.216,"end":4264.069},{"text":"of","start":4264.246,"end":4264.39},{"text":"Uruguay","start":4264.744,"end":4265.259},{"text":"on","start":4265.629,"end":4265.757},{"text":"behalf","start":4265.79,"end":4266.336},{"text":"of","start":4266.417,"end":4266.529},{"text":"CELAC.","start":4266.529,"end":4267.157}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":40,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Debate on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC.","start":4278.794,"end":4284.093,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Debate","start":4278.794,"end":4279.244},{"text":"on","start":4279.34,"end":4279.388},{"text":"behalf","start":4279.517,"end":4279.934},{"text":"of","start":4280.079,"end":4280.143},{"text":"the","start":4280.239,"end":4280.384},{"text":"Community","start":4280.384,"end":4280.85},{"text":"of","start":4280.962,"end":4281.058},{"text":"Latin","start":4281.106,"end":4281.315},{"text":"American","start":4281.363,"end":4281.925},{"text":"and","start":4281.925,"end":4282.07},{"text":"Caribbean","start":4282.07,"end":4282.535},{"text":"States,","start":4282.584,"end":4283.065},{"text":"CELAC.","start":4283.692,"end":4284.093}]},{"text":"CELAC recognizes the importance of General Assembly Resolution 1514 of 14 December 1960, which contains the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to of colonial countries and peoples and constitutes a cornerstone of the political process promoted by the United Nations after the Second World War to end colonialism.","start":4285.217,"end":4308.296,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"CELAC","start":4285.217,"end":4285.602},{"text":"recognizes","start":4285.602,"end":4286.228},{"text":"the","start":4286.277,"end":4286.421},{"text":"importance","start":4286.421,"end":4287.128},{"text":"of","start":4287.128,"end":4287.272},{"text":"General","start":4287.304,"end":4287.625},{"text":"Assembly","start":4287.625,"end":4288.027},{"text":"Resolution","start":4288.027,"end":4289.038},{"text":"1514","start":4289.054,"end":4290.805},{"text":"of","start":4291.463,"end":4291.575},{"text":"14","start":4291.575,"end":4292.009},{"text":"December","start":4292.121,"end":4292.619},{"text":"1960,","start":4292.619,"end":4293.743},{"text":"which","start":4294.289,"end":4294.417},{"text":"contains","start":4294.514,"end":4294.979},{"text":"the","start":4295.076,"end":4295.156},{"text":"Declaration","start":4295.172,"end":4295.927},{"text":"on","start":4296.055,"end":4296.103},{"text":"the","start":4296.216,"end":4296.296},{"text":"Granting","start":4296.296,"end":4296.713},{"text":"of","start":4296.778,"end":4296.906},{"text":"Independence","start":4296.938,"end":4297.661},{"text":"to","start":4297.661,"end":4297.789},{"text":"of","start":4297.87,"end":4297.95},{"text":"colonial","start":4297.95,"end":4298.206},{"text":"countries","start":4298.206,"end":4298.511},{"text":"and","start":4298.623,"end":4298.752},{"text":"peoples","start":4298.784,"end":4299.233},{"text":"and","start":4299.907,"end":4299.971},{"text":"constitutes","start":4300.067,"end":4300.789},{"text":"a","start":4300.789,"end":4300.805},{"text":"cornerstone","start":4300.933,"end":4301.703},{"text":"of","start":4301.767,"end":4301.88},{"text":"the","start":4301.912,"end":4302.072},{"text":"political","start":4302.072,"end":4302.617},{"text":"process","start":4302.634,"end":4303.179},{"text":"promoted","start":4303.179,"end":4303.644},{"text":"by","start":4303.676,"end":4303.837},{"text":"the","start":4303.837,"end":4303.981},{"text":"United","start":4303.981,"end":4304.446},{"text":"Nations","start":4304.478,"end":4304.975},{"text":"after","start":4305.601,"end":4305.89},{"text":"the","start":4305.906,"end":4306.002},{"text":"Second","start":4306.002,"end":4306.387},{"text":"World","start":4306.387,"end":4306.692},{"text":"War","start":4306.788,"end":4307.045},{"text":"to","start":4307.045,"end":4307.173},{"text":"end","start":4307.349,"end":4307.494},{"text":"colonialism.","start":4307.526,"end":4308.296}]},{"text":"On 28 August 2026, we will mark the 54th anniversary of the adoption by the Special Committee on Decolonization of its first resolution on Puerto Rico.","start":4309.21,"end":4320.551,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"On","start":4309.21,"end":4309.258},{"text":"28","start":4309.29,"end":4309.82},{"text":"August","start":4310.076,"end":4310.317},{"text":"2026,","start":4310.317,"end":4311.247},{"text":"we","start":4311.376,"end":4311.536},{"text":"will","start":4311.536,"end":4311.664},{"text":"mark","start":4311.777,"end":4312.162},{"text":"the","start":4312.162,"end":4312.258},{"text":"54th","start":4312.258,"end":4313.108},{"text":"anniversary","start":4313.204,"end":4313.91},{"text":"of","start":4314.487,"end":4314.536},{"text":"the","start":4314.648,"end":4314.712},{"text":"adoption","start":4314.744,"end":4315.177},{"text":"by","start":4315.305,"end":4315.466},{"text":"the","start":4315.466,"end":4315.562},{"text":"Special","start":4315.562,"end":4316.027},{"text":"Committee","start":4316.027,"end":4316.396},{"text":"on","start":4316.509,"end":4316.605},{"text":"Decolonization","start":4316.669,"end":4317.583},{"text":"of","start":4318.193,"end":4318.289},{"text":"its","start":4318.289,"end":4318.514},{"text":"first","start":4318.514,"end":4318.818},{"text":"resolution","start":4318.818,"end":4319.524},{"text":"on","start":4319.701,"end":4319.765},{"text":"Puerto","start":4319.797,"end":4320.118},{"text":"Rico.","start":4320.182,"end":4320.551}]},{"text":"Since then, 43 resolutions and decisions on Puerto Rico have been adopted.","start":4321.497,"end":4325.555,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Since","start":4321.497,"end":4321.834},{"text":"then,","start":4321.946,"end":4322.171},{"text":"43","start":4322.347,"end":4323.005},{"text":"resolutions","start":4323.005,"end":4323.566},{"text":"and","start":4323.63,"end":4323.727},{"text":"decisions","start":4323.727,"end":4324.176},{"text":"on","start":4324.208,"end":4324.336},{"text":"Puerto","start":4324.352,"end":4324.609},{"text":"Rico","start":4324.609,"end":4324.817},{"text":"have","start":4324.834,"end":4324.994},{"text":"been","start":4325.09,"end":4325.202},{"text":"adopted.","start":4325.251,"end":4325.555}]},{"text":"Adopted by consensus.","start":4325.62,"end":4326.568,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Adopted","start":4325.62,"end":4325.78},{"text":"by","start":4325.812,"end":4325.973},{"text":"consensus.","start":4325.973,"end":4326.568}]},{"text":"These resolutions reaffirm, inter alia, the inalienable right of the Puerto Rican people to self-determination and independence pursuant to Resolution 1514 and request the General Assembly to review all aspects of the question of Puerto Rico in a comprehensive manner.","start":4327.885,"end":4346.83,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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question of Puerto Rico has been present in the pronouncements adopted at previous CELAC summits since 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on the question of Puerto Rico adopted on the occasion of the 6th summit held in Mexico City on 18 September 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line with that declaration, CELAC reaffirms the Latin American and Caribbean character of Puerto Rico, as was emphasized at the highest level at the 5th Summit, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in January 2017, at the 6th Summit, Mexico, September 2021, the 7th Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 24 January, January 2023, and the 8th Summit in Kingston, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 1st and 2nd of March 2024.","start":4367.82,"end":4397.281,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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recognizes the efforts made under the resolutions adopted by the Special Committee on Decolonization regarding the situation in Puerto Rico, including the most recent resolution adopted on 16th June 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reiterates that the question of Puerto Rico is a matter of high interest to CELAC and undertakes to continue working within the framework of international law, particularly of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 15:14, entitled Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples of December 14, 1960, to bring to a swift and unconditional end to colonialism and all its forms and manifestations in the Latin American and Caribbean region.","start":4415.271,"end":4446.081,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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Madam Chair, the community of Latin American and Caribbean states once again reaffirms its commitment to the complete eradication of colonialism poverty in all its forms and manifestations and reiterates its call to all member states of this organization to continue contributing in a positive manner to this 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109/2026/L7.","start":5597.345,"end":5631.02,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":5597.345,"end":5597.393},{"text":"now","start":5597.458,"end":5597.717},{"text":"draw","start":5597.912,"end":5598.122},{"text":"the","start":5598.317,"end":5598.398},{"text":"attention","start":5598.43,"end":5599.046},{"text":"of","start":5599.046,"end":5599.191},{"text":"members","start":5599.224,"end":5599.645},{"text":"of","start":5599.645,"end":5599.758},{"text":"the","start":5599.775,"end":5599.823},{"text":"committee","start":5599.937,"end":5600.325},{"text":"to","start":5600.536,"end":5600.73},{"text":"the","start":5600.747,"end":5600.844},{"text":"text","start":5600.925,"end":5601.476},{"text":"of","start":5601.557,"end":5601.702},{"text":"a","start":5601.816,"end":5601.848},{"text":"draft","start":5601.962,"end":5602.545},{"text":"resolution","start":5602.869,"end":5603.549},{"text":"contained","start":5604.068,"end":5604.699},{"text":"in","start":5604.797,"end":5604.861},{"text":"document","start":5604.894,"end":5605.509},{"text":"A/AC","start":5605.688,"end":5606.319},{"text":"AC","start":5606.74,"end":5607.385},{"text":"109/2026/L7,","start":5607.401,"end":5612.709},{"text":"entitled","start":5613.371,"end":5614.274},{"text":"Special","start":5614.274,"end":5614.839},{"text":"Committee","start":5614.839,"end":5615.291},{"text":"Decision","start":5615.323,"end":5616.097},{"text":"of","start":5616.452,"end":5616.581},{"text":"16th","start":5616.597,"end":5617.191},{"text":"June","start":5617.32,"end":5617.545},{"text":"2025","start":5617.995,"end":5619.377},{"text":"Concerning","start":5619.505,"end":5620.116},{"text":"Puerto","start":5620.293,"end":5620.711},{"text":"Rico,","start":5620.711,"end":5621.177},{"text":"as","start":5621.659,"end":5621.771},{"text":"well","start":5621.836,"end":5622.029},{"text":"as","start":5622.141,"end":5622.286},{"text":"the","start":5622.318,"end":5622.462},{"text":"report","start":5622.462,"end":5623.105},{"text":"on","start":5623.427,"end":5623.475},{"text":"this","start":5623.587,"end":5623.716},{"text":"item","start":5623.925,"end":5624.439},{"text":"prepared","start":5624.648,"end":5625.178},{"text":"by","start":5625.211,"end":5625.371},{"text":"the","start":5625.42,"end":5625.452},{"text":"rapporteur","start":5625.452,"end":5626.12},{"text":"of","start":5626.25,"end":5626.299},{"text":"the","start":5626.348,"end":5626.494},{"text":"committee","start":5626.494,"end":5626.885},{"text":"contained","start":5627.406,"end":5627.976},{"text":"in","start":5627.976,"end":5628.073},{"text":"Document","start":5628.122,"end":5628.692},{"text":"A/AC","start":5628.725,"end":5628.953},{"text":"109/2026/L7.","start":5628.953,"end":5631.02}]},{"text":"L13, both available on the United Nations Digital Library.","start":5634.047,"end":5640.614,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"L13,","start":5634.047,"end":5635.299},{"text":"both","start":5635.99,"end":5636.279},{"text":"available","start":5636.391,"end":5636.985},{"text":"on","start":5637.258,"end":5637.306},{"text":"the","start":5637.354,"end":5637.483},{"text":"United","start":5637.499,"end":5638.157},{"text":"Nations","start":5638.157,"end":5638.767},{"text":"Digital","start":5639.265,"end":5639.939},{"text":"Library.","start":5640.068,"end":5640.614}]},{"text":"I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations to introduce Draft Resolution L8.","start":5641.834,"end":5652.672,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":5641.834,"end":5641.882},{"text":"now","start":5641.93,"end":5642.123},{"text":"give","start":5642.412,"end":5642.589},{"text":"the","start":5642.637,"end":5642.733},{"text":"floor","start":5642.733,"end":5643.135},{"text":"to","start":5643.135,"end":5643.263},{"text":"the","start":5643.295,"end":5643.44},{"text":"distinguished","start":5643.44,"end":5644.516},{"text":"Permanent","start":5644.66,"end":5645.062},{"text":"Representative","start":5645.062,"end":5646.073},{"text":"of","start":5646.33,"end":5646.475},{"text":"Cuba","start":5646.828,"end":5647.39},{"text":"to","start":5647.39,"end":5647.598},{"text":"the","start":5647.615,"end":5647.871},{"text":"United","start":5647.871,"end":5648.433},{"text":"Nations","start":5648.498,"end":5649.044},{"text":"to","start":5649.397,"end":5649.525},{"text":"introduce","start":5649.638,"end":5650.248},{"text":"Draft","start":5650.746,"end":5651.227},{"text":"Resolution","start":5651.227,"end":5651.837},{"text":"L8.","start":5652.11,"end":5652.672}]},{"text":"Excellency, you have the floor.","start":5653.154,"end":5654.535,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Excellency,","start":5653.154,"end":5653.7},{"text":"you","start":5653.957,"end":5654.053},{"text":"have","start":5654.053,"end":5654.166},{"text":"the","start":5654.214,"end":5654.294},{"text":"floor.","start":5654.294,"end":5654.535}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":44,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Gracias, señor.","start":5659.984,"end":5660.726,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Gracias,","start":5659.984,"end":5660.355},{"text":"señor.","start":5660.371,"end":5660.726}]}]},{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, our delegation has the honor of presenting to the Special Decolonization Committee draft resolution on the question of Puerto Rico contained in Document A/AC.109/2026/L7 on behalf of Cuba, the Republic of Nicaragua, and the Russian Federation.","start":5661.177,"end":5685.089,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":5661.177,"end":5661.435},{"text":"you,","start":5661.435,"end":5661.5},{"text":"Madam","start":5661.516,"end":5661.806},{"text":"Chair.","start":5662.226,"end":5662.403},{"text":"Madam","start":5662.806,"end":5663.048},{"text":"Chair,","start":5663.048,"end":5663.323},{"text":"our","start":5664.274,"end":5664.484},{"text":"delegation","start":5664.484,"end":5665.161},{"text":"has","start":5665.161,"end":5665.274},{"text":"the","start":5665.371,"end":5665.468},{"text":"honor","start":5665.468,"end":5665.774},{"text":"of","start":5665.774,"end":5665.839},{"text":"presenting","start":5665.952,"end":5666.484},{"text":"to","start":5666.661,"end":5666.807},{"text":"the","start":5666.823,"end":5666.919},{"text":"Special","start":5666.919,"end":5667.516},{"text":"Decolonization","start":5667.79,"end":5668.452},{"text":"Committee","start":5668.452,"end":5668.858},{"text":"draft","start":5669.572,"end":5669.897},{"text":"resolution","start":5669.897,"end":5670.644},{"text":"on","start":5671.359,"end":5671.407},{"text":"the","start":5671.44,"end":5671.537},{"text":"question","start":5671.537,"end":5671.797},{"text":"of","start":5671.797,"end":5671.911},{"text":"Puerto","start":5671.927,"end":5672.171},{"text":"Rico","start":5672.171,"end":5672.577},{"text":"contained","start":5673.064,"end":5673.551},{"text":"in","start":5673.551,"end":5673.6},{"text":"Document","start":5673.957,"end":5675.072},{"text":"A/AC.109/2026/L7","start":5675.169,"end":5680.57},{"text":"on","start":5681.395,"end":5681.476},{"text":"behalf","start":5681.492,"end":5681.913},{"text":"of","start":5681.913,"end":5682.026},{"text":"Cuba,","start":5682.22,"end":5682.737},{"text":"the","start":5682.931,"end":5683.012},{"text":"Republic","start":5683.012,"end":5683.436},{"text":"of","start":5683.436,"end":5683.47},{"text":"Nicaragua,","start":5683.47,"end":5684.154},{"text":"and","start":5684.254,"end":5684.338},{"text":"the","start":5684.338,"end":5684.421},{"text":"Russian","start":5684.421,"end":5684.655},{"text":"Federation.","start":5684.689,"end":5685.089}]},{"text":"We would like to begin by hailing the presence of a significant number of Puerto Rican petitioners who, with their participation, contribute to the work of the Special Decolonization Committee and testify to the relevance of this topic for the G24.","start":5686.507,"end":5702.5,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"We","start":5686.507,"end":5686.587},{"text":"would","start":5686.587,"end":5686.684},{"text":"like","start":5686.748,"end":5686.924},{"text":"to","start":5686.924,"end":5687.084},{"text":"begin","start":5687.084,"end":5687.453},{"text":"by","start":5687.485,"end":5687.677},{"text":"hailing","start":5687.709,"end":5688.014},{"text":"the","start":5688.046,"end":5688.206},{"text":"presence","start":5688.206,"end":5688.558},{"text":"of","start":5688.687,"end":5688.783},{"text":"a","start":5688.831,"end":5688.847},{"text":"significant","start":5688.863,"end":5689.488},{"text":"number","start":5689.488,"end":5689.728},{"text":"of","start":5689.728,"end":5689.873},{"text":"Puerto","start":5690.289,"end":5690.481},{"text":"Rican","start":5690.594,"end":5690.818},{"text":"petitioners","start":5690.85,"end":5691.539},{"text":"who,","start":5692.437,"end":5692.581},{"text":"with","start":5693.254,"end":5693.446},{"text":"their","start":5693.478,"end":5693.59},{"text":"participation,","start":5693.638,"end":5694.424},{"text":"contribute","start":5694.456,"end":5695.001},{"text":"to","start":5695.001,"end":5695.065},{"text":"the","start":5695.097,"end":5695.225},{"text":"work","start":5695.241,"end":5695.481},{"text":"of","start":5695.481,"end":5695.561},{"text":"the","start":5695.561,"end":5695.593},{"text":"Special","start":5695.593,"end":5696.235},{"text":"Decolonization","start":5696.443,"end":5697.228},{"text":"Committee","start":5697.244,"end":5697.741},{"text":"and","start":5698.446,"end":5698.59},{"text":"testify","start":5698.863,"end":5699.584},{"text":"to","start":5699.6,"end":5699.744},{"text":"the","start":5699.744,"end":5699.936},{"text":"relevance","start":5700.305,"end":5700.85},{"text":"of","start":5700.85,"end":5700.914},{"text":"this","start":5700.946,"end":5701.058},{"text":"topic","start":5701.106,"end":5701.507},{"text":"for","start":5701.507,"end":5701.683},{"text":"the","start":5701.683,"end":5701.891},{"text":"G24.","start":5701.891,"end":5702.5}]},{"text":"As we have seen during the hearing with the petitioners, most of the interventions by the different political and social forces of the nation converge on the request to put an end to the colonial status of Puerto Rico.","start":5703.013,"end":5716.48,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":5703.013,"end":5703.141},{"text":"we","start":5703.43,"end":5703.67},{"text":"have","start":5703.959,"end":5704.039},{"text":"seen","start":5704.071,"end":5704.279},{"text":"during","start":5704.391,"end":5704.664},{"text":"the","start":5704.792,"end":5704.984},{"text":"hearing","start":5705.176,"end":5705.481},{"text":"with","start":5705.513,"end":5705.625},{"text":"the","start":5705.657,"end":5705.737},{"text":"petitioners,","start":5705.753,"end":5706.282},{"text":"most","start":5706.875,"end":5707.132},{"text":"of","start":5707.132,"end":5707.212},{"text":"the","start":5707.212,"end":5707.356},{"text":"interventions","start":5707.356,"end":5708.237},{"text":"by","start":5708.237,"end":5708.317},{"text":"the","start":5708.462,"end":5708.542},{"text":"different","start":5708.558,"end":5708.91},{"text":"political","start":5708.958,"end":5709.487},{"text":"and","start":5709.84,"end":5709.904},{"text":"social","start":5709.936,"end":5710.321},{"text":"forces","start":5710.321,"end":5710.609},{"text":"of","start":5710.737,"end":5710.817},{"text":"the","start":5710.865,"end":5711.058},{"text":"nation","start":5710.93,"end":5711.331},{"text":"converge","start":5711.924,"end":5712.534},{"text":"on","start":5712.887,"end":5712.967},{"text":"the","start":5712.967,"end":5713.031},{"text":"request","start":5713.031,"end":5713.512},{"text":"to","start":5713.512,"end":5713.689},{"text":"put","start":5713.689,"end":5713.849},{"text":"an","start":5713.849,"end":5714.009},{"text":"end","start":5714.074,"end":5714.314},{"text":"to","start":5714.314,"end":5714.378},{"text":"the","start":5714.41,"end":5714.555},{"text":"colonial","start":5714.555,"end":5714.94},{"text":"status","start":5714.988,"end":5715.405},{"text":"of","start":5715.517,"end":5715.597},{"text":"Puerto","start":5715.614,"end":5716.031},{"text":"Rico.","start":5716.095,"end":5716.48}]},{"text":"We have once again been witnesses of the urgent demand of the international community to act in favor of the will of the Puerto Rican people.","start":5717.458,"end":5727.259,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":5717.458,"end":5717.603},{"text":"have","start":5717.603,"end":5717.827},{"text":"once","start":5718.244,"end":5718.517},{"text":"again","start":5718.517,"end":5718.79},{"text":"been","start":5718.822,"end":5718.95},{"text":"witnesses","start":5719.046,"end":5719.512},{"text":"of","start":5719.608,"end":5719.72},{"text":"the","start":5719.72,"end":5719.848},{"text":"urgent","start":5719.929,"end":5720.265},{"text":"demand","start":5720.265,"end":5720.955},{"text":"of","start":5721.533,"end":5721.597},{"text":"the","start":5721.629,"end":5721.709},{"text":"international","start":5721.709,"end":5722.319},{"text":"community","start":5722.335,"end":5722.8},{"text":"to","start":5723.249,"end":5723.442},{"text":"act","start":5723.538,"end":5723.811},{"text":"in","start":5723.811,"end":5723.955},{"text":"favor","start":5723.955,"end":5724.34},{"text":"of","start":5724.5,"end":5724.645},{"text":"the","start":5724.741,"end":5724.949},{"text":"will","start":5725.944,"end":5726.072},{"text":"of","start":5726.201,"end":5726.345},{"text":"the","start":5726.345,"end":5726.441},{"text":"Puerto","start":5726.441,"end":5726.666},{"text":"Rican","start":5726.666,"end":5726.923},{"text":"people.","start":5726.923,"end":5727.259}]},{"text":"The draft resolution that we are presenting today reaffirms once again the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to free determination and independence pursuant to Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly and the applicability of the fundamental principles of this resolution to the question of Puerto Rico.","start":5727.308,"end":5749.695,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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also would like to reiterate that the Puerto Rican people constitute a Latin American and Caribbean nation that has its own and distinctive ident— national 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is to be added to the 43 three resolutions or decisions previously adopted by the Committee on the question of Puerto Rico since 1972.","start":5762.612,"end":5770.847,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":5762.612,"end":5762.807},{"text":"is","start":5762.921,"end":5762.986},{"text":"to","start":5763.247,"end":5763.312},{"text":"be","start":5763.344,"end":5763.491},{"text":"added","start":5763.572,"end":5763.686},{"text":"to","start":5763.686,"end":5763.832},{"text":"the","start":5763.832,"end":5763.914},{"text":"43","start":5763.93,"end":5764.614},{"text":"three","start":5764.42,"end":5764.708},{"text":"resolutions","start":5765.093,"end":5765.734},{"text":"or","start":5765.734,"end":5765.878},{"text":"decisions","start":5765.878,"end":5766.423},{"text":"previously","start":5766.616,"end":5767.177},{"text":"adopted","start":5767.417,"end":5767.866},{"text":"by","start":5767.898,"end":5768.058},{"text":"the","start":5768.058,"end":5768.202},{"text":"Committee","start":5768.202,"end":5768.539},{"text":"on","start":5768.603,"end":5768.635},{"text":"the","start":5768.635,"end":5768.78},{"text":"question","start":5768.78,"end":5769.02},{"text":"of","start":5769.02,"end":5769.1},{"text":"Puerto","start":5769.1,"end":5769.325},{"text":"Rico","start":5769.341,"end":5769.533},{"text":"since","start":5769.581,"end":5769.886},{"text":"1972.","start":5769.902,"end":5770.847}]},{"text":"The text notes with concern that the current political subordination of the Puerto Rican people prevents the taking of sovereign decisions with regard to serious economic and social problems that affect it.","start":5771.344,"end":5784.777,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":5771.344,"end":5771.424},{"text":"text","start":5771.569,"end":5772.05},{"text":"notes","start":5772.05,"end":5772.418},{"text":"with","start":5772.771,"end":5772.915},{"text":"concern","start":5772.947,"end":5773.556},{"text":"that","start":5773.813,"end":5773.973},{"text":"the","start":5774.294,"end":5774.454},{"text":"current","start":5774.47,"end":5775.127},{"text":"political","start":5775.833,"end":5776.297},{"text":"subordination","start":5776.297,"end":5777.035},{"text":"of","start":5777.035,"end":5777.115},{"text":"the","start":5777.115,"end":5777.275},{"text":"Puerto","start":5777.275,"end":5777.5},{"text":"Rican","start":5777.516,"end":5777.836},{"text":"people","start":5777.836,"end":5778.285},{"text":"prevents","start":5778.301,"end":5778.814},{"text":"the","start":5778.862,"end":5779.055},{"text":"taking","start":5779.76,"end":5780.048},{"text":"of","start":5780.096,"end":5780.177},{"text":"sovereign","start":5780.177,"end":5780.625},{"text":"decisions","start":5780.882,"end":5781.571},{"text":"with","start":5781.603,"end":5781.812},{"text":"regard","start":5781.828,"end":5782.164},{"text":"to","start":5782.164,"end":5782.276},{"text":"serious","start":5782.325,"end":5782.725},{"text":"economic","start":5782.725,"end":5783.206},{"text":"and","start":5783.206,"end":5783.286},{"text":"social","start":5783.286,"end":5783.623},{"text":"problems","start":5783.687,"end":5784.168},{"text":"that","start":5784.168,"end":5784.264},{"text":"affect","start":5784.264,"end":5784.713},{"text":"it.","start":5784.713,"end":5784.777}]},{"text":"This situation continues to be an obstacle to efforts to achieve sustainable development in the territory.","start":5785.21,"end":5791.429,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":5785.21,"end":5785.37},{"text":"situation","start":5785.37,"end":5785.979},{"text":"continues","start":5786.011,"end":5786.46},{"text":"to","start":5786.492,"end":5786.653},{"text":"be","start":5786.653,"end":5786.813},{"text":"an","start":5788.015,"end":5788.111},{"text":"obstacle","start":5788.239,"end":5788.656},{"text":"to","start":5788.656,"end":5788.752},{"text":"efforts","start":5788.881,"end":5789.217},{"text":"to","start":5789.217,"end":5789.458},{"text":"achieve","start":5789.458,"end":5789.746},{"text":"sustainable","start":5789.762,"end":5790.259},{"text":"development","start":5790.259,"end":5790.676},{"text":"in","start":5790.676,"end":5790.804},{"text":"the","start":5790.804,"end":5790.852},{"text":"territory.","start":5790.9,"end":5791.429}]},{"text":"It expresses furthermore its concern with regard to the imposition in June of 2016 of the fiscal control board appointed by the President of the United States to exercise powers of supervision on all issues related to fiscal topics, economic and budgetary aspects, as well as everything pertaining to the restructuring of the public debt of Puerto Rico.","start":5792.168,"end":5815.129,"topics":[{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":5792.168,"end":5792.666},{"text":"expresses","start":5792.666,"end":5793.276},{"text":"furthermore","start":5793.372,"end":5793.773},{"text":"its","start":5793.773,"end":5794.063},{"text":"concern","start":5794.255,"end":5794.641},{"text":"with","start":5794.817,"end":5794.962},{"text":"regard","start":5794.978,"end":5795.235},{"text":"to","start":5795.235,"end":5795.363},{"text":"the","start":5795.379,"end":5795.54},{"text":"imposition","start":5795.54,"end":5796.118},{"text":"in","start":5796.118,"end":5796.262},{"text":"June","start":5796.262,"end":5796.455},{"text":"of","start":5796.503,"end":5796.567},{"text":"2016","start":5796.599,"end":5797.37},{"text":"of","start":5797.467,"end":5797.579},{"text":"the","start":5797.659,"end":5797.836},{"text":"fiscal","start":5798.269,"end":5798.687},{"text":"control","start":5798.687,"end":5799.136},{"text":"board","start":5799.152,"end":5799.49},{"text":"appointed","start":5799.49,"end":5800.02},{"text":"by","start":5800.052,"end":5800.212},{"text":"the","start":5800.212,"end":5800.357},{"text":"President","start":5800.357,"end":5800.758},{"text":"of","start":5800.758,"end":5800.806},{"text":"the","start":5800.806,"end":5800.919},{"text":"United","start":5800.919,"end":5801.272},{"text":"States","start":5801.272,"end":5801.754},{"text":"to","start":5802.283,"end":5802.556},{"text":"exercise","start":5802.926,"end":5803.793},{"text":"powers","start":5804.708,"end":5805.238},{"text":"of","start":5805.527,"end":5805.639},{"text":"supervision","start":5805.655,"end":5806.169},{"text":"on","start":5806.217,"end":5806.362},{"text":"all","start":5806.538,"end":5806.731},{"text":"issues","start":5806.795,"end":5807.084},{"text":"related","start":5807.181,"end":5807.566},{"text":"to","start":5807.614,"end":5807.759},{"text":"fiscal","start":5807.759,"end":5808.16},{"text":"topics,","start":5808.16,"end":5808.722},{"text":"economic","start":5808.883,"end":5809.445},{"text":"and","start":5809.445,"end":5809.573},{"text":"budgetary","start":5809.605,"end":5810.151},{"text":"aspects,","start":5810.151,"end":5810.569},{"text":"as","start":5810.633,"end":5810.697},{"text":"well","start":5810.793,"end":5810.922},{"text":"as","start":5810.954,"end":5811.018},{"text":"everything","start":5811.05,"end":5811.42},{"text":"pertaining","start":5811.837,"end":5812.303},{"text":"to","start":5812.335,"end":5812.463},{"text":"the","start":5812.479,"end":5812.576},{"text":"restructuring","start":5812.576,"end":5813.427},{"text":"of","start":5813.443,"end":5813.475},{"text":"the","start":5813.475,"end":5813.555},{"text":"public","start":5813.619,"end":5814.021},{"text":"debt","start":5814.021,"end":5814.262},{"text":"of","start":5814.278,"end":5814.358},{"text":"Puerto","start":5814.406,"end":5814.599},{"text":"Rico.","start":5814.663,"end":5815.129}]},{"text":"All this tightens the colonial situation of the country.","start":5815.771,"end":5821.19,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"All","start":5815.771,"end":5815.835},{"text":"this","start":5816.012,"end":5816.478},{"text":"tightens","start":5818.681,"end":5818.988},{"text":"the","start":5819.021,"end":5819.182},{"text":"colonial","start":5819.182,"end":5819.684},{"text":"situation","start":5819.684,"end":5820.559},{"text":"of","start":5820.624,"end":5820.705},{"text":"the","start":5820.705,"end":5820.802},{"text":"country.","start":5820.802,"end":5821.19}]},{"text":"The resolution also expresses a concern of the people of Puerto Rico for violent actions, including repression and intimidation against Puerto Rican independence activists contained in documents declassified by federal agencies of the United Nations.","start":5822.081,"end":5840.25,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":5822.081,"end":5822.146},{"text":"resolution","start":5822.178,"end":5822.648},{"text":"also","start":5822.648,"end":5823.02},{"text":"expresses","start":5823.716,"end":5824.202},{"text":"a","start":5824.202,"end":5824.218},{"text":"concern","start":5824.283,"end":5824.639},{"text":"of","start":5824.655,"end":5824.704},{"text":"the","start":5824.704,"end":5824.85},{"text":"people","start":5824.85,"end":5825.174},{"text":"of","start":5825.174,"end":5825.255},{"text":"Puerto","start":5825.255,"end":5825.481},{"text":"Rico","start":5825.562,"end":5825.902},{"text":"for","start":5825.902,"end":5826.178},{"text":"violent","start":5826.242,"end":5826.777},{"text":"actions,","start":5826.777,"end":5827.087},{"text":"including","start":5827.12,"end":5827.527},{"text":"repression","start":5827.674,"end":5828.31},{"text":"and","start":5828.342,"end":5828.685},{"text":"intimidation","start":5828.75,"end":5829.565},{"text":"against","start":5829.565,"end":5830.054},{"text":"Puerto","start":5830.054,"end":5830.299},{"text":"Rican","start":5830.364,"end":5830.609},{"text":"independence","start":5830.69,"end":5832.158},{"text":"activists","start":5832.158,"end":5832.696},{"text":"contained","start":5835.404,"end":5836.177},{"text":"in","start":5836.29,"end":5836.418},{"text":"documents","start":5836.917,"end":5837.416},{"text":"declassified","start":5837.416,"end":5838.157},{"text":"by","start":5838.221,"end":5838.382},{"text":"federal","start":5838.382,"end":5838.93},{"text":"agencies","start":5838.93,"end":5839.429},{"text":"of","start":5839.429,"end":5839.493},{"text":"the","start":5839.493,"end":5839.557},{"text":"United","start":5839.557,"end":5839.912},{"text":"Nations.","start":5839.912,"end":5840.25}]},{"text":"With this in mind, the resolution once again urges the government of the United States the United States to assume its responsibility and promote a process that allows the people of Puerto Rico to fully exercise its inalienable right to self-determination and independence in conformity with Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly and the resolutions and decisions of the Special Committee pertaining to Puerto Rico.","start":5840.378,"end":5863.829,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"With","start":5840.378,"end":5840.475},{"text":"this","start":5840.475,"end":5840.604},{"text":"in","start":5840.7,"end":5840.797},{"text":"mind,","start":5840.797,"end":5841.264},{"text":"the","start":5841.76,"end":5841.859},{"text":"resolution","start":5841.875,"end":5842.502},{"text":"once","start":5842.535,"end":5842.7},{"text":"again","start":5842.766,"end":5843.014},{"text":"urges","start":5843.261,"end":5843.921},{"text":"the","start":5844.004,"end":5844.053},{"text":"government","start":5844.103,"end":5844.532},{"text":"of","start":5844.532,"end":5844.598},{"text":"the","start":5844.598,"end":5844.664},{"text":"United","start":5844.664,"end":5844.928},{"text":"States","start":5844.928,"end":5845.39},{"text":"the","start":5845.09,"end":5845.138},{"text":"United","start":5845.138,"end":5845.299},{"text":"States","start":5845.299,"end":5845.445},{"text":"to","start":5845.445,"end":5845.542},{"text":"assume","start":5845.542,"end":5845.848},{"text":"its","start":5845.848,"end":5845.929},{"text":"responsibility","start":5845.929,"end":5846.736},{"text":"and","start":5846.736,"end":5846.849},{"text":"promote","start":5846.962,"end":5847.285},{"text":"a","start":5847.285,"end":5847.301},{"text":"process","start":5847.382,"end":5847.737},{"text":"that","start":5847.85,"end":5848.011},{"text":"allows","start":5848.415,"end":5848.722},{"text":"the","start":5848.754,"end":5848.899},{"text":"people","start":5848.899,"end":5849.141},{"text":"of","start":5849.141,"end":5849.222},{"text":"Puerto","start":5849.222,"end":5849.464},{"text":"Rico","start":5849.48,"end":5849.868},{"text":"to","start":5849.884,"end":5849.965},{"text":"fully","start":5849.965,"end":5850.255},{"text":"exercise","start":5850.288,"end":5850.901},{"text":"its","start":5850.933,"end":5851.111},{"text":"inalienable","start":5851.175,"end":5851.918},{"text":"right","start":5851.966,"end":5852.16},{"text":"to","start":5852.209,"end":5852.289},{"text":"self-determination","start":5852.289,"end":5853.161},{"text":"and","start":5853.258,"end":5853.355},{"text":"independence","start":5853.355,"end":5854.339},{"text":"in","start":5854.63,"end":5854.711},{"text":"conformity","start":5854.727,"end":5855.34},{"text":"with","start":5855.372,"end":5855.534},{"text":"Resolution","start":5855.534,"end":5855.986},{"text":"1514","start":5856.002,"end":5857.116},{"text":"of","start":5857.164,"end":5857.293},{"text":"the","start":5857.293,"end":5857.374},{"text":"General","start":5857.374,"end":5857.616},{"text":"Assembly","start":5857.616,"end":5858.02},{"text":"and","start":5858.665,"end":5859.004},{"text":"the","start":5859.424,"end":5859.65},{"text":"resolutions","start":5859.957,"end":5860.602},{"text":"and","start":5860.602,"end":5860.667},{"text":"decisions","start":5860.699,"end":5861.199},{"text":"of","start":5861.199,"end":5861.329},{"text":"the","start":5861.329,"end":5861.425},{"text":"Special","start":5861.425,"end":5861.974},{"text":"Committee","start":5861.99,"end":5862.442},{"text":"pertaining","start":5862.797,"end":5863.185},{"text":"to","start":5863.185,"end":5863.25},{"text":"Puerto","start":5863.25,"end":5863.394},{"text":"Rico.","start":5863.443,"end":5863.829}]},{"text":"It also requests the General Assembly to examine the issue of Puerto Rico in a in all its aspects and to take a position on this as soon as possible.","start":5865.534,"end":5876.283,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"It","start":5865.534,"end":5865.631},{"text":"also","start":5865.679,"end":5865.872},{"text":"requests","start":5865.936,"end":5866.66},{"text":"the","start":5866.66,"end":5866.901},{"text":"General","start":5867.304,"end":5867.529},{"text":"Assembly","start":5867.529,"end":5867.947},{"text":"to","start":5867.947,"end":5868.092},{"text":"examine","start":5868.092,"end":5868.478},{"text":"the","start":5868.51,"end":5868.671},{"text":"issue","start":5868.671,"end":5868.88},{"text":"of","start":5868.896,"end":5868.961},{"text":"Puerto","start":5868.993,"end":5869.234},{"text":"Rico","start":5869.299,"end":5869.797},{"text":"in","start":5870.28,"end":5870.328},{"text":"a","start":5870.376,"end":5870.553},{"text":"in","start":5872.16,"end":5872.256},{"text":"all","start":5872.256,"end":5872.352},{"text":"its","start":5872.352,"end":5872.513},{"text":"aspects","start":5872.561,"end":5873.123},{"text":"and","start":5873.203,"end":5873.411},{"text":"to","start":5873.459,"end":5873.62},{"text":"take","start":5873.62,"end":5873.877},{"text":"a","start":5873.877,"end":5873.893},{"text":"position","start":5874.021,"end":5874.422},{"text":"on","start":5874.422,"end":5874.551},{"text":"this","start":5874.647,"end":5874.775},{"text":"as","start":5875.385,"end":5875.481},{"text":"soon","start":5875.545,"end":5875.642},{"text":"as","start":5875.642,"end":5875.754},{"text":"possible.","start":5875.786,"end":5876.283}]},{"text":"This would contribute to having the people of Puerto Rico to be able in a sovereign way to take decisions to address its urgent economic and social needs.","start":5876.588,"end":5885.381,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":5876.588,"end":5876.749},{"text":"would","start":5876.749,"end":5876.877},{"text":"contribute","start":5876.909,"end":5877.519},{"text":"to","start":5877.551,"end":5877.759},{"text":"having","start":5878.112,"end":5878.401},{"text":"the","start":5878.433,"end":5878.594},{"text":"people","start":5878.594,"end":5878.835},{"text":"of","start":5878.835,"end":5878.979},{"text":"Puerto","start":5878.979,"end":5879.188},{"text":"Rico","start":5879.3,"end":5879.733},{"text":"to","start":5879.813,"end":5880.118},{"text":"be","start":5880.118,"end":5880.198},{"text":"able","start":5880.198,"end":5880.471},{"text":"in","start":5880.76,"end":5880.808},{"text":"a","start":5880.856,"end":5880.872},{"text":"sovereign","start":5880.92,"end":5881.37},{"text":"way","start":5881.482,"end":5881.642},{"text":"to","start":5881.723,"end":5881.883},{"text":"take","start":5881.883,"end":5882.124},{"text":"decisions","start":5882.124,"end":5882.653},{"text":"to","start":5882.685,"end":5882.83},{"text":"address","start":5882.83,"end":5883.327},{"text":"its","start":5883.327,"end":5883.488},{"text":"urgent","start":5883.488,"end":5883.969},{"text":"economic","start":5883.985,"end":5884.514},{"text":"and","start":5884.514,"end":5884.595},{"text":"social","start":5884.595,"end":5884.932},{"text":"needs.","start":5884.932,"end":5885.381}]},{"text":"The draft resolution that we're examining also highlights the declarations of heads of state and government of the community of Latin American and Caribbean states, the Bolivarian Alliance for the People, our people, For Our America, the movement— Non-Aligned Movement, and other international fora that reiterate the inalienable rights of the people of Puerto Rico pursuant to Resolution 1514 of the General Assembly.","start":5885.894,"end":5912.462,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Ibrahim Alabi, Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic and Rapporteur of the Special Committee on Decolonization, as well as the Secretary Secretary of the Committee for their support in preparing a broad and detailed report on the question of Puerto Rico, of which we take note with satisfaction in the draft 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Chair, the 25th of July of 2026, on that date, 128 will have passed since the intervention of the United States in Puerto 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spite of having so many years having passed of colonial domination, the national feelings of the Puerto Rican people have not been extinguished.","start":5947.951,"end":5959.592,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. 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have no request for the floor.","start":5994.44,"end":5996.999,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":5994.44,"end":5994.456},{"text":"have","start":5994.553,"end":5994.844},{"text":"no","start":5995.055,"end":5995.282},{"text":"request","start":5995.282,"end":5996.108},{"text":"for","start":5996.173,"end":5996.432},{"text":"the","start":5996.432,"end":5996.562},{"text":"floor.","start":5996.562,"end":5996.999}]},{"text":"Distinguished delegates, I give the floor to the secretary of the committee to announce the additional co-sponsors of Draft Resolution 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there any other delegations— are there any other delegations who wish to co-sponsor draft resolution L.7?","start":6034.842,"end":6047.955,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Are","start":6034.842,"end":6034.94},{"text":"there","start":6034.94,"end":6035.2},{"text":"any","start":6035.248,"end":6035.395},{"text":"other","start":6035.508,"end":6035.72},{"text":"delegations—","start":6035.72,"end":6036.605},{"text":"are","start":6043.383,"end":6043.479},{"text":"there","start":6043.479,"end":6043.656},{"text":"any","start":6043.785,"end":6043.93},{"text":"other","start":6044.027,"end":6044.22},{"text":"delegations","start":6044.22,"end":6044.977},{"text":"who","start":6045.073,"end":6045.121},{"text":"wish","start":6045.25,"end":6045.46},{"text":"to","start":6045.46,"end":6045.621},{"text":"co-sponsor","start":6045.637,"end":6046.377},{"text":"draft","start":6046.377,"end":6046.651},{"text":"resolution","start":6046.699,"end":6047.392},{"text":"L.7?","start":6047.424,"end":6047.955}]},{"text":"If so, may I kindly request those delegations to indicate their wish by pressing the microphone button on their console so that they may be added to the list of sponsors and duly recorded?","start":6048.487,"end":6060.289,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"If","start":6048.487,"end":6048.632},{"text":"so,","start":6048.632,"end":6048.954},{"text":"may","start":6049.115,"end":6049.276},{"text":"I","start":6049.276,"end":6049.437},{"text":"kindly","start":6049.437,"end":6049.92},{"text":"request","start":6049.92,"end":6050.484},{"text":"those","start":6050.484,"end":6050.693},{"text":"delegations","start":6050.725,"end":6051.498},{"text":"to","start":6051.53,"end":6051.659},{"text":"indicate","start":6051.756,"end":6052.303},{"text":"their","start":6052.319,"end":6052.432},{"text":"wish","start":6052.496,"end":6052.673},{"text":"by","start":6053.221,"end":6053.382},{"text":"pressing","start":6053.446,"end":6053.913},{"text":"the","start":6054.187,"end":6054.284},{"text":"microphone","start":6054.284,"end":6054.914},{"text":"button","start":6054.914,"end":6055.272},{"text":"on","start":6055.34,"end":6055.443},{"text":"their","start":6055.494,"end":6055.682},{"text":"console","start":6055.682,"end":6056.262},{"text":"so","start":6056.514,"end":6056.724},{"text":"that","start":6056.741,"end":6056.919},{"text":"they","start":6056.919,"end":6057.016},{"text":"may","start":6057.016,"end":6057.308},{"text":"be","start":6057.308,"end":6057.389},{"text":"added","start":6057.551,"end":6057.826},{"text":"to","start":6057.826,"end":6057.939},{"text":"the","start":6057.956,"end":6058.053},{"text":"list","start":6058.053,"end":6058.377},{"text":"of","start":6058.377,"end":6058.474},{"text":"sponsors","start":6058.474,"end":6059.155},{"text":"and","start":6059.252,"end":6059.333},{"text":"duly","start":6059.43,"end":6059.738},{"text":"recorded?","start":6059.738,"end":6060.289}]},{"text":"I see no additional requests to become co-sponsor.","start":6068.804,"end":6072.405,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":6068.804,"end":6068.836},{"text":"see","start":6068.901,"end":6069.143},{"text":"no","start":6069.143,"end":6069.417},{"text":"additional","start":6069.45,"end":6070.063},{"text":"requests","start":6070.418,"end":6071.048},{"text":"to","start":6071.048,"end":6071.145},{"text":"become","start":6071.145,"end":6071.452},{"text":"co-sponsor.","start":6071.613,"end":6072.405}]},{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair.","start":6072.841,"end":6073.729,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":6072.841,"end":6073.083},{"text":"you,","start":6073.083,"end":6073.148},{"text":"Madam","start":6073.164,"end":6073.551},{"text":"Chair.","start":6073.551,"end":6073.729}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Secretary"}},{"statement_number":47,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":6077.996,"end":6078.431,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":6077.996,"end":6078.318},{"text":"you.","start":6078.318,"end":6078.431}]},{"text":"The sponsors have expressed the wish that draft Resolution L7 be adopted by the committee without a vote?","start":6079.285,"end":6089.113,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":6079.285,"end":6079.463},{"text":"sponsors","start":6079.463,"end":6080.301},{"text":"have","start":6080.559,"end":6080.752},{"text":"expressed","start":6080.752,"end":6081.413},{"text":"the","start":6081.703,"end":6081.784},{"text":"wish","start":6081.864,"end":6082.058},{"text":"that","start":6082.267,"end":6082.493},{"text":"draft","start":6082.493,"end":6082.912},{"text":"Resolution","start":6083.072,"end":6083.926},{"text":"L7","start":6084.586,"end":6085.44},{"text":"be","start":6085.795,"end":6085.923},{"text":"adopted","start":6085.956,"end":6086.503},{"text":"by","start":6086.6,"end":6086.729},{"text":"the","start":6086.777,"end":6086.874},{"text":"committee","start":6086.938,"end":6087.47},{"text":"without","start":6087.969,"end":6088.533},{"text":"a","start":6088.613,"end":6088.63},{"text":"vote?","start":6088.646,"end":6089.113}]},{"text":"May I take it that the committee wishes to act accordingly?","start":6090.869,"end":6094.076,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"May","start":6090.869,"end":6091.046},{"text":"I","start":6091.046,"end":6091.207},{"text":"take","start":6091.207,"end":6091.513},{"text":"it","start":6091.513,"end":6091.61},{"text":"that","start":6091.61,"end":6091.771},{"text":"the","start":6091.771,"end":6091.851},{"text":"committee","start":6091.9,"end":6092.318},{"text":"wishes","start":6092.418,"end":6092.737},{"text":"to","start":6092.854,"end":6092.988},{"text":"act","start":6093.172,"end":6093.322},{"text":"accordingly?","start":6093.523,"end":6094.076}]},{"text":"I hear no objection.","start":6097.274,"end":6099.17,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":6097.274,"end":6097.322},{"text":"hear","start":6097.579,"end":6097.932},{"text":"no","start":6098.174,"end":6098.318},{"text":"objection.","start":6098.463,"end":6099.17}]},{"text":"It is so decided.","start":6100.166,"end":6102.255,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"It","start":6100.166,"end":6100.295},{"text":"is","start":6100.552,"end":6100.696},{"text":"so","start":6100.889,"end":6101.275},{"text":"decided.","start":6101.516,"end":6102.255}]},{"text":"Draft Resolution L7 Draft Resolution L.7 is adopted without a vote.","start":6103.38,"end":6113.766,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Draft","start":6103.38,"end":6104.167},{"text":"Resolution","start":6104.167,"end":6104.681},{"text":"L7","start":6104.681,"end":6105.115},{"text":"Draft","start":6108.522,"end":6108.99},{"text":"Resolution","start":6108.99,"end":6109.764},{"text":"L.7","start":6110.039,"end":6110.829},{"text":"is","start":6111.168,"end":6111.233},{"text":"adopted","start":6111.426,"end":6112.04},{"text":"without","start":6112.637,"end":6113.008},{"text":"a","start":6113.347,"end":6113.363},{"text":"vote.","start":6113.363,"end":6113.766}]},{"text":"I shall now give the floor to those members of the committee wishing to explain their position after action on Draft Resolution L.7. I recognize the distinguished Permanent Representative of Cuba.","start":6114.654,"end":6133.788,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":6114.654,"end":6114.686},{"text":"shall","start":6114.815,"end":6115.057},{"text":"now","start":6115.057,"end":6115.235},{"text":"give","start":6115.461,"end":6115.654},{"text":"the","start":6115.703,"end":6115.783},{"text":"floor","start":6115.783,"end":6116.058},{"text":"to","start":6116.171,"end":6116.316},{"text":"those","start":6116.332,"end":6116.558},{"text":"members","start":6116.59,"end":6116.961},{"text":"of","start":6116.994,"end":6117.074},{"text":"the","start":6117.074,"end":6117.236},{"text":"committee","start":6117.236,"end":6117.574},{"text":"wishing","start":6117.704,"end":6117.849},{"text":"to","start":6118.042,"end":6118.172},{"text":"explain","start":6118.188,"end":6118.737},{"text":"their","start":6119.253,"end":6119.398},{"text":"position","start":6119.398,"end":6120.028},{"text":"after","start":6120.206,"end":6120.609},{"text":"action","start":6120.69,"end":6121.271},{"text":"on","start":6121.658,"end":6121.723},{"text":"Draft","start":6121.82,"end":6122.24},{"text":"Resolution","start":6122.24,"end":6122.934},{"text":"L.7.","start":6123.192,"end":6123.854},{"text":"I","start":6130.484,"end":6130.533},{"text":"recognize","start":6130.565,"end":6131.18},{"text":"the","start":6131.278,"end":6131.359},{"text":"distinguished","start":6131.375,"end":6131.958},{"text":"Permanent","start":6131.958,"end":6132.411},{"text":"Representative","start":6132.411,"end":6133.156},{"text":"of","start":6133.156,"end":6133.286},{"text":"Cuba.","start":6133.318,"end":6133.788}]},{"text":"Excellency, you have the floor.","start":6133.95,"end":6135.165,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Excellency,","start":6133.95,"end":6134.452},{"text":"you","start":6134.517,"end":6134.565},{"text":"have","start":6134.598,"end":6134.744},{"text":"the","start":6134.776,"end":6134.825},{"text":"floor.","start":6134.857,"end":6135.165}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}},{"statement_number":48,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, Cuba would like to thank all members of the Special Committee on Decolonization for the valuable and traditional support that they provided to the resolution on the colonial question of Puerto Rico.","start":6137.351,"end":6151.34,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for 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particularly appreciate the words pronounced under this agenda item by the observer member countries of the 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interventions are a demonstration of their support to the cause of the Puerto Rican people.","start":6161.03,"end":6167.511,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Their","start":6161.03,"end":6161.207},{"text":"substantive","start":6161.207,"end":6161.961},{"text":"and","start":6162.057,"end":6162.169},{"text":"relevant","start":6162.217,"end":6162.795},{"text":"interventions","start":6162.859,"end":6163.693},{"text":"are","start":6163.822,"end":6164.094},{"text":"a","start":6164.094,"end":6164.159},{"text":"demonstration","start":6164.159,"end":6164.881},{"text":"of","start":6164.881,"end":6164.961},{"text":"their","start":6164.961,"end":6166.998},{"text":"support","start":6165.25,"end":6165.634},{"text":"to","start":6165.667,"end":6165.859},{"text":"the","start":6165.859,"end":6166.067},{"text":"cause","start":6166.067,"end":6166.292},{"text":"of","start":6166.388,"end":6166.485},{"text":"the","start":6166.485,"end":6166.629},{"text":"Puerto","start":6166.629,"end":6166.805},{"text":"Rican","start":6166.805,"end":6167.014},{"text":"people.","start":6167.046,"end":6167.511}]},{"text":"In this sense, we are grateful for the statement of Nam, CELAC, and the Group of Friends on behalf of the— in defense of the charter.","start":6167.768,"end":6175.37,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"In","start":6167.768,"end":6167.816},{"text":"this","start":6167.848,"end":6167.96},{"text":"sense,","start":6168.008,"end":6168.345},{"text":"we","start":6168.409,"end":6168.65},{"text":"are","start":6169.115,"end":6169.211},{"text":"grateful","start":6169.211,"end":6169.612},{"text":"for","start":6169.612,"end":6169.853},{"text":"the","start":6169.853,"end":6170.109},{"text":"statement","start":6170.109,"end":6170.719},{"text":"of","start":6170.735,"end":6170.863},{"text":"Nam,","start":6170.895,"end":6171.248},{"text":"CELAC,","start":6171.392,"end":6171.874},{"text":"and","start":6171.922,"end":6172.018},{"text":"the","start":6172.018,"end":6172.098},{"text":"Group","start":6172.098,"end":6172.339},{"text":"of","start":6172.339,"end":6172.403},{"text":"Friends","start":6172.403,"end":6172.708},{"text":"on","start":6172.724,"end":6172.804},{"text":"behalf","start":6172.82,"end":6173.141},{"text":"of","start":6173.141,"end":6173.221},{"text":"the—","start":6173.221,"end":6173.478},{"text":"in","start":6173.943,"end":6174.071},{"text":"defense","start":6174.103,"end":6174.36},{"text":"of","start":6174.36,"end":6174.424},{"text":"the","start":6174.424,"end":6174.68},{"text":"charter.","start":6174.905,"end":6175.37}]},{"text":"We've taken due note of the contributions by the various representatives of the kindred country of Puerto Rico, which are contributing to their— our work with their 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Cuba, the adoption of this resolution is a demonstration of our historic commitment to the kindred people of Puerto Rico and their patriots who throughout history have, have dedicated their lives to the struggle for independence and freedom.","start":6188.602,"end":6205.697,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"For","start":6188.602,"end":6188.763},{"text":"Cuba,","start":6188.763,"end":6189.244},{"text":"the","start":6189.324,"end":6189.436},{"text":"adoption","start":6189.436,"end":6189.934},{"text":"of","start":6190.206,"end":6190.351},{"text":"this","start":6190.527,"end":6190.591},{"text":"resolution","start":6190.768,"end":6191.377},{"text":"is","start":6191.65,"end":6191.714},{"text":"a","start":6191.89,"end":6191.906},{"text":"demonstration","start":6191.987,"end":6192.708},{"text":"of","start":6192.708,"end":6192.805},{"text":"our","start":6192.805,"end":6192.933},{"text":"historic","start":6192.933,"end":6193.35},{"text":"commitment","start":6193.35,"end":6193.895},{"text":"to","start":6194.216,"end":6194.441},{"text":"the","start":6194.65,"end":6194.875},{"text":"kindred","start":6194.875,"end":6195.196},{"text":"people","start":6195.196,"end":6195.517},{"text":"of","start":6195.517,"end":6195.597},{"text":"Puerto","start":6195.597,"end":6195.999},{"text":"Rico","start":6196.063,"end":6196.496},{"text":"and","start":6196.785,"end":6197.01},{"text":"their","start":6197.042,"end":6197.347},{"text":"patriots","start":6197.347,"end":6198.054},{"text":"who","start":6198.311,"end":6198.504},{"text":"throughout","start":6198.504,"end":6198.969},{"text":"history","start":6199.033,"end":6199.499},{"text":"have,","start":6199.611,"end":6200.061},{"text":"have","start":6200.414,"end":6201.024},{"text":"dedicated","start":6201.875,"end":6202.341},{"text":"their","start":6202.341,"end":6202.502},{"text":"lives","start":6202.502,"end":6202.951},{"text":"to","start":6202.967,"end":6203.128},{"text":"the","start":6203.128,"end":6203.224},{"text":"struggle","start":6203.224,"end":6203.658},{"text":"for","start":6203.722,"end":6204.123},{"text":"independence","start":6204.348,"end":6205.071},{"text":"and","start":6205.151,"end":6205.312},{"text":"freedom.","start":6205.312,"end":6205.697}]},{"text":"The adoption by consensus once again of this resolution which demands the inalienable right of the people of Puerto Rico to self-determination and independence is particularly significant and in the current context It sends out a firm political message for the region and for all peoples of goodwill who are either fighting or continue to fight for their self-determination.","start":6206.195,"end":6232.02,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":6206.195,"end":6206.435},{"text":"adoption","start":6206.58,"end":6207.046},{"text":"by","start":6207.078,"end":6207.238},{"text":"consensus","start":6207.238,"end":6207.816},{"text":"once","start":6207.865,"end":6208.057},{"text":"again","start":6208.057,"end":6208.33},{"text":"of","start":6208.378,"end":6208.507},{"text":"this","start":6208.507,"end":6208.683},{"text":"resolution","start":6208.683,"end":6209.326},{"text":"which","start":6209.326,"end":6209.534},{"text":"demands","start":6209.567,"end":6210.016},{"text":"the","start":6210.048,"end":6210.177},{"text":"inalienable","start":6210.193,"end":6210.835},{"text":"right","start":6210.851,"end":6211.172},{"text":"of","start":6211.172,"end":6211.301},{"text":"the","start":6211.317,"end":6211.413},{"text":"people","start":6211.413,"end":6211.814},{"text":"of","start":6211.814,"end":6211.895},{"text":"Puerto","start":6211.895,"end":6212.216},{"text":"Rico","start":6212.28,"end":6212.473},{"text":"to","start":6212.698,"end":6212.954},{"text":"self-determination","start":6212.954,"end":6213.95},{"text":"and","start":6213.982,"end":6214.143},{"text":"independence","start":6214.143,"end":6214.881},{"text":"is","start":6215.491,"end":6215.796},{"text":"particularly","start":6215.973,"end":6216.68},{"text":"significant","start":6216.728,"end":6217.659},{"text":"and","start":6217.82,"end":6217.996},{"text":"in","start":6217.996,"end":6218.125},{"text":"the","start":6218.157,"end":6218.317},{"text":"current","start":6218.317,"end":6218.783},{"text":"context","start":6218.783,"end":6219.618},{"text":"It","start":6219.522,"end":6219.619},{"text":"sends","start":6219.619,"end":6219.991},{"text":"out","start":6219.991,"end":6220.25},{"text":"a","start":6220.25,"end":6220.331},{"text":"firm","start":6220.331,"end":6220.606},{"text":"political","start":6220.719,"end":6221.221},{"text":"message","start":6221.221,"end":6221.593},{"text":"for","start":6221.706,"end":6221.787},{"text":"the","start":6221.787,"end":6221.932},{"text":"region","start":6221.949,"end":6222.321},{"text":"and","start":6222.984,"end":6223.13},{"text":"for","start":6223.146,"end":6223.356},{"text":"all","start":6223.712,"end":6223.761},{"text":"peoples","start":6224.375,"end":6224.909},{"text":"of","start":6225.249,"end":6225.556},{"text":"goodwill","start":6226.721,"end":6227.239},{"text":"who","start":6227.449,"end":6227.66},{"text":"are","start":6227.838,"end":6227.999},{"text":"either","start":6227.999,"end":6228.145},{"text":"fighting","start":6228.177,"end":6228.55},{"text":"or","start":6228.807,"end":6228.999},{"text":"continue","start":6229.224,"end":6229.626},{"text":"to","start":6229.626,"end":6229.722},{"text":"fight","start":6229.787,"end":6230.011},{"text":"for","start":6230.092,"end":6230.445},{"text":"their","start":6230.75,"end":6231.007},{"text":"self-determination.","start":6231.168,"end":6232.02}]},{"text":"We reiterate to the people of Puerto Rico that they will always be able to count on Cuba and our firm solidarity with their legitimate cause.","start":6232.437,"end":6239.18,"topics":[{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."}],"words":[{"text":"We","start":6232.437,"end":6232.662},{"text":"reiterate","start":6232.662,"end":6233.24},{"text":"to","start":6233.24,"end":6233.321},{"text":"the","start":6233.321,"end":6233.642},{"text":"people","start":6233.642,"end":6233.947},{"text":"of","start":6233.947,"end":6234.092},{"text":"Puerto","start":6234.188,"end":6234.381},{"text":"Rico","start":6234.381,"end":6234.51},{"text":"that","start":6234.51,"end":6234.67},{"text":"they","start":6234.686,"end":6234.831},{"text":"will","start":6234.831,"end":6234.895},{"text":"always","start":6235.072,"end":6235.216},{"text":"be","start":6235.249,"end":6235.393},{"text":"able","start":6235.393,"end":6235.554},{"text":"to","start":6235.634,"end":6235.795},{"text":"count","start":6235.795,"end":6236.196},{"text":"on","start":6236.196,"end":6236.261},{"text":"Cuba","start":6236.454,"end":6237},{"text":"and","start":6237.016,"end":6237.112},{"text":"our","start":6237.112,"end":6237.257},{"text":"firm","start":6237.257,"end":6237.546},{"text":"solidarity","start":6237.658,"end":6238.301},{"text":"with","start":6238.301,"end":6238.43},{"text":"their","start":6238.43,"end":6238.48},{"text":"legitimate","start":6238.48,"end":6238.863},{"text":"cause.","start":6238.946,"end":6239.18}]},{"text":"Thank you.","start":6239.28,"end":6239.563,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":6239.28,"end":6239.463},{"text":"you.","start":6239.463,"end":6239.563}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"CUB","affiliation_full":"Cuba","group":null,"function":"Representative"}},{"statement_number":49,"paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Representative of Cuba. We have heard the last speaker on this item.","start":6245.02,"end":6254.68,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Representative","start":6245.02,"end":6245.638},{"text":"of","start":6245.785,"end":6245.85},{"text":"Cuba.","start":6246.013,"end":6246.534},{"text":"We","start":6250.18,"end":6250.292},{"text":"have","start":6250.292,"end":6250.55},{"text":"heard","start":6250.68,"end":6250.986},{"text":"the","start":6251.002,"end":6251.325},{"text":"last","start":6251.341,"end":6251.663},{"text":"speaker","start":6251.663,"end":6252.309},{"text":"on","start":6253.26,"end":6253.389},{"text":"this","start":6253.744,"end":6253.954},{"text":"item.","start":6254.244,"end":6254.68}]},{"text":"The special committee has thus concluded its consideration of the item special committee decision of 16th June 2025 concerning Puerto Rico, hearing of petitioners.","start":6255.58,"end":6270.297,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":6255.58,"end":6255.758},{"text":"special","start":6255.774,"end":6256.229},{"text":"committee","start":6256.262,"end":6256.716},{"text":"has","start":6256.814,"end":6256.96},{"text":"thus","start":6257.139,"end":6257.398},{"text":"concluded","start":6257.398,"end":6258.292},{"text":"its","start":6258.698,"end":6258.827},{"text":"consideration","start":6258.941,"end":6260.045},{"text":"of","start":6260.305,"end":6260.451},{"text":"the","start":6260.549,"end":6260.679},{"text":"item","start":6260.792,"end":6261.263},{"text":"special","start":6261.458,"end":6262.059},{"text":"committee","start":6262.092,"end":6262.498},{"text":"decision","start":6262.514,"end":6263.228},{"text":"of","start":6263.634,"end":6263.683},{"text":"16th","start":6263.7,"end":6264.27},{"text":"June","start":6264.302,"end":6264.595},{"text":"2025","start":6264.709,"end":6266.143},{"text":"concerning","start":6266.501,"end":6267.12},{"text":"Puerto","start":6267.56,"end":6267.902},{"text":"Rico,","start":6267.967,"end":6268.44},{"text":"hearing","start":6268.765,"end":6269.156},{"text":"of","start":6269.352,"end":6269.482},{"text":"petitioners.","start":6269.678,"end":6270.297}]},{"text":"The next plenary meeting of the Committee will take place on Thursday, 25th June at 10 AM in this conference room to consider the question of the Falkland Islands/Malvinas.","start":6271.867,"end":6284.844,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"The","start":6271.867,"end":6272.043},{"text":"next","start":6272.043,"end":6272.509},{"text":"plenary","start":6272.509,"end":6272.927},{"text":"meeting","start":6272.927,"end":6273.36},{"text":"of","start":6273.392,"end":6273.489},{"text":"the","start":6273.537,"end":6273.617},{"text":"Committee","start":6273.633,"end":6274.051},{"text":"will","start":6274.115,"end":6274.292},{"text":"take","start":6274.356,"end":6274.597},{"text":"place","start":6274.677,"end":6274.886},{"text":"on","start":6275.143,"end":6275.207},{"text":"Thursday,","start":6275.4,"end":6275.914},{"text":"25th","start":6276.524,"end":6277.215},{"text":"June","start":6277.392,"end":6277.616},{"text":"at","start":6277.809,"end":6277.905},{"text":"10","start":6278.05,"end":6278.243},{"text":"AM","start":6278.757,"end":6278.949},{"text":"in","start":6279.078,"end":6279.222},{"text":"this","start":6279.255,"end":6279.528},{"text":"conference","start":6279.56,"end":6280.122},{"text":"room","start":6280.122,"end":6280.331},{"text":"to","start":6280.796,"end":6280.941},{"text":"consider","start":6280.941,"end":6281.471},{"text":"the","start":6281.519,"end":6281.728},{"text":"question","start":6281.728,"end":6282.274},{"text":"of","start":6282.531,"end":6282.756},{"text":"the","start":6282.804,"end":6282.933},{"text":"Falkland","start":6282.933,"end":6283.398},{"text":"Islands/Malvinas.","start":6283.43,"end":6284.844}]},{"text":"This meeting is adjourned.","start":6285.663,"end":6287.703,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":6285.663,"end":6285.856},{"text":"meeting","start":6286.064,"end":6286.53},{"text":"is","start":6286.787,"end":6286.932},{"text":"adjourned.","start":6287.205,"end":6287.703}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":"C-24","affiliation_full":"C-24","group":null,"function":"Chair"}}],"topics":[{"key":"poverty-and-inequality","label":"Poverty and Social Inequality","description":"Recurring testimony emphasized that colonial dependency has deepened poverty and unequal access to rights and opportunities. Speakers highlighted the disproportionate burden on workers, youth, women, disabled people, and other marginalized groups."},{"key":"public-services-health","label":"Public Services and Health","description":"Several speakers linked colonial governance and austerity to the deterioration of healthcare, education, water, electricity, and other essential services. These failures were presented as direct threats to public health, human dignity, and social stability."},{"key":"displacement-and-migration","label":"Displacement and Migration","description":"Several statements described forced migration, depopulation, and displacement as consequences of colonial economic policies and investor-driven development. Speakers warned of a 'Puerto Rico without Puerto Ricans' as people are pushed off the island by crisis and exclusion."},{"key":"fiscal-oversight-austerity","label":"Fiscal Oversight and Austerity","description":"Numerous statements criticized PROMESA and the Fiscal Oversight and Management Board as undemocratic external control. Speakers argued that debt-driven austerity has weakened Puerto Rico's autonomy, development, and social protections."},{"key":"status-options-plebiscites","label":"Political Status Options and Plebiscites","description":"A recurring issue was how Puerto Rico's status should be resolved through legitimate democratic means. Speakers debated statehood, independence, free association, and the design of binding plebiscites or decolonization mechanisms that would reflect the will of the people."},{"key":"climate-environmental-justice","label":"Climate and Environmental Justice","description":"Speakers connected colonial rule to environmental harm, climate vulnerability, and unequal exposure to ecological risks. Issues raised included damaged water systems, contamination, disaster vulnerability, extractive development, and controversial projects affecting land and communities."},{"key":"self-determination-independence","label":"Self-Determination and Independence","description":"The central topic was Puerto Rico's right to end colonial rule and freely determine its political future. Many speakers explicitly called for independence and invoked UN Resolution 1514 as the legal basis for decolonization."},{"key":"militarization-regional-security","label":"Militarization and Regional Security","description":"Multiple interventions denounced the military use of Puerto Rican territory and linked it to wider U.S. operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Vieques, remilitarization, occupied military lands, and calls for the region to remain a zone of peace were prominent concerns."}]}}