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03/11/93
Cult displays banner seeking talks with rights group
By Terrence Stutz / The Dallas Morning News
WACO-Cagily trying to communicate with the outside world, Branch Davidians draped another banner from their compound watchtower Wednesday, this one asking for a meeting with representatives of a self-proclaimed constitutional rights group.
It was the second consecutive day that cult members tried the strategy, aimed directly at scores of reporters stationed about two miles from the besieged compound.
The sign hung out on Wednesday read: "We want CFA & Don Stewart.'
CFA refers to Constitution Foundational Association, a group based in Richland Hills.
Don Stewart is a Portland, Ore., consultant who says he has worked contractually for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The banner asking for the meeting was displayed in response to a request from a religious radio station in Dallas, KGBS-AM (1190).
Ron Engelman, a talk show host, asked cult members who were listening to the station Tuesday evening to hang out the sign if they wanted to talk to the Constitution Foundational Association and Mr. Stewart. Mr. Engelman also said two Portland doctors had traveled to Waco with Mr. Stewart and were willing to enter the compound to treat those wounded in the gunbattle with ATF agents on Feb. 28.
The radio station was promoting Mr. Stewart and the group as people who might be able to negotiate a settlement. Federal officials firmly rejected the offer, saying that any outside attempts to communicate with the cult would be counterproductive and interfere with negotiations.
"He wants to put out his message. And the longer that he feels he's able to capture the attention nationwide of the media . . . we believe he will continue to hold out,' said FBI Special Agent Bob Ricks of Oklahoma City.
Jim Long, KGBS program director, denied that his radio station was hindering the negotiation process. "All they had to do was tell us to leave,' he says. "What did we do? We left. How could we hinder the process? We don't have guns; we don't have an army of personnel down there. If anything else, maybe we opened up the process.'
Mr. Long, who has been program director for only two days, characterized his station's actions as "humanitarian first and freedom of speech second. That is our priority.'
Mr. Engelman, however, said his station will continue trying to communicate with cult members despite the FBI criticism.
There have been no specific reports on how many cult members were killed or wounded in the battle, but Branch Davidian children released from the compound have described gunshot injuries to several members.
Four ATF agents were killed and 16 wounded in the incident.
"I think both sides should be told,' said Mr. Engelman, referring
to the cult's account of events. He went to Waco to see the Branch Davidian compound.
Phone lines in and out of the compound are controlled by federal agents, who have been negotiating with cult leader David Koresh and others.
Mr. Stewart, who was involved in another siege in Idaho last year, said he was offering his services to end the standoff without further bloodshed. "The main thing is to get the people out,' he said.
Mr. Stewart also criticized the federal agency for the the way it handled the cult and Mr. Koresh.
Greg Sali, president of the Constitution Foundational Association, said his organization was interested in bringing a "peaceful solution' to the standoff. Mr. Sali said his group had no previous connection with the Branch Davidians.
"We don't know them. We have never met them,' he said. "But they are American citizens and have the same rights as everybody else.'
Mr. Sali said the Branch Davidians have the right to bear arms and defend themselves. But he added, "He (Koresh) needs to be brought to justice if he broke the law.'
Mr. Sali said he was involved in a petition drive in Idaho last year to put Dallas businessman Ross Perot's name on the ballot in last year's presidential election. Mr. Sali later became disenchanted with the movement and quit.
Richard Ortt, Constitution Foundational vice president, told The Associated Press that the "group of patriots' was formed in part after an Idaho incident last year when Randy Weaver held off federal agents for 11 days after a shootout killed his wife and a U.S. marshal. Mr. Stewart was identified as someone experienced in negotiations who has appeared on a talk show broadcast on KGBS.
On Tuesday, cult members first displayed a white banner, and then one which stated: "God help us. We want the press.'
Staff writer Diane Jennings contributed to this report.
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