6-10-06, 10:00 am

United Nations, Jun 10 (Prensa Latina) A special United Nations committee will submit for debate the case of Puerto Rico´s colonial status next week, with reiterated demands for the US to end its control of that island, official sources confirmed Friday.

Talks on this matter are set for Monday amid a peculiar interest this year as evidenced by an unusual list of more than 40 speakers supporting controversial views ranging from independence to annexation.

Representatives of the Permanent Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Political Parties (COPPPAL) and Sao Paulo’s Forum appear on the list.

Diplomatic officials related to the special committee in charge of colonial affairs stated that the recent cases of violence and repression supported by the US FBI against independence defenders would be taken into account this year.

The murder of leader Filiberto Ojeda Rio in September 2005, attacks, breaking and entering of homes and offices, and assaults against pro-independence movement followers count among those acts.

A final declaration issued by the Foreign Ministries of 116 countries met in Malaysia in late May called on the US government to respect Puerto Ricans’ right to self-determination and independence.