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04/01/93
Cult member's mom lauds involvement of lawyer in talks
By George Kuempel / The Dallas Morning News
WACO-The mother of a member of the Branch Davidians said Wednesday that she is delighted that a Houston lawyer has been allowed inside the religious cult's compound.
Balenda Ganem, whose son, David Thibodeaux, 24, is among about 90 people holed up in the compound, said family members had pleaded with federal authorities for weeks to allow outsiders to join in talks designed to break the impasse.
"It's the one thing we have asked for from the very beginning. We are absolutely elated,' she said.
Ms. Ganem said bringing in an outsider will "set a format for the breakdown of hostilities' that have stymied negotiations.
Houston lawyer Dick De-Guerin, retained by the mother of cult leader David Koresh, met with Mr. Koresh for the third day Wednesday. He said he hopes he can persuade Mr. Koresh and his followers to surrender peacefully.
Another lawyer, Jack Zimmerman of Houston, has been allowed to talk by telephone with another cult member.
While encouraged about Mr. De-Guerin's involvement, Ms. Ganem said she and other family members are disappointed that they aren't being allowed to talk directly by telephone to their loved ones inside.
"We want to see more family contact,' she said. "We would like to have an opportunity to talk over the telephone live . . . with our loved ones.'
Federal authorities earlier passed along taped messages and have defended their negotiating tactics.
Ms. Ganem said that's not enough.
"We just feel very, very left out, very helpless. It is very hard
on people,' she said.
Ms. Ganem, who lives in Bangor, Maine, said she is the spokeswoman for seven other families with relatives in the compound.
In a telephone interview Wednesday, she said federal negotiators are ill-equipped to deal with religious cults.
"They are very skilled in working with terrorists and murderers,' she said. "But what we have here is a mind control. These people are very much out of control of their thought process right now.'
She praised federal authorities, however, for silencing the loudspeakers that have been blasting the compound with music, chants and obnoxious noises.
Federal authorities said Wednesday that they have limited use of the speakers in a show of good faith in the renewed talks.
Ms. Ganem said her son, a musician, joined the Branch Davidian about 18 months ago to play in Mr. Koresh's band.
"He found David Koresh interesting, electrifying. He wanted to learn from him,' she said.
She said he was "very happy' there and was preparing to return home for a visit about 10 days before the raid by federal agents at the compound Feb. 28.
Ms. Ganem, a mental health worker and cook, came to Texas shortly after the shootout and said she plans to remain in Waco until the end.
"It's pretty miserable,' she said.
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