“Free association is an international agreement signed between two independent nations,” says George Laws Garcia in this video. He points out that there are three free associated states with compacts of free association with the United States. “Free association is independence…Even though there are three options of the ballot, the ultimate choice is between independence and statehood.”
ELA and free association
Puerto Rico’s official name is Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, which translates to “Free Associated State of Puerto Rico”. It would make sense to guess that this means that Puerto Rico is already a free associated state, in free association with the United States, or at least hat free association would be like the “enhanced commonwealth” idea that Puerto Rico leaders have been yearning for since 1950. A “best of both worlds” option with some of the characteristics of independence and some characteristics of statehood — including U.S. citizenship and financial support from the U.S., but with a chance to choose which federal laws should apply, to make deals with other nations, and other benefits to be negotiated.
Negotiation
If Puerto Rico chose free association, Puerto Rico would negotiate the terms of a compact of free association with the United States. Three COFAs already exist. Each of those agreements has some specific qualities:
- No U.S. citizenship
- Freedom to work, travel, and study in the U.S.
- Limited, temporary financial support from the U.S.
- Permanent military oversight by the U.S. in exchange for defense and protection
Puerto Rico should expect that a compact of free association between Puerto Rico and the United States would also have these characteristics. Sovereigntists fantasize about a COFA much more favorable to Puerto Rico than any current COFA, and much more favorable than the current territory relationship, but there is no evidence to support this idea. These imaginary COFAs are a lot like the idea of “enhanced commonwealth,” which all three branches of the federal government have been rejecting for more than half a century.
What’s more, the negotiations cannot take place before the vote. People who vote for free association with some ideas in mind of what that would be like will only be able to hope that the negotiations turn out the way they hope. If Puerto Rico doesn’t get what separatists promise for free association, it will be too late.
Free association is independence
By the time a COFA is signed, Puerto Rico will already be independent. If a later Congress wants changes or a later government of the Republic of Puerto Rico decides to opt out of the COFA, Puerto Rico will already be independent. It will not be possible to return to the current status or to switch to statehood.
Voters need to understand what they’re voting for. And statehood supporters need to turn out in force for the November 5 vote, making their views clear to Congress. We demand statehood, we will not give up. Congress needs to know this.
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