Wednesday, July 10, 1996

Republic of Texas leaders want peace but will fight for independence

By ANNA M. TINSLEY
Harte-Hanks Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Republic of Texas leaders Tuesday said they wanted peace but promised to fight violence with violence in their quest to gain independence from the United States.

Richard McLaren, a Fort Davis man who claims the title of the group's chief ambassador, said neither he nor other leaders would attend ongoing court hearings against the group - or obey any rulings against members. The group claims Texas was illegally annexed from the United States and remains an independent nation.

Republic leaders boycotting a Tuesday court date with Attorney General Dan Morales gathered a block away from the courthouse. Morales is seeking a permanent injunction to keep the group from filing bogus liens.

Members spoke of new security measures in their group - adding to their Texas Defense Force System - and boosting security at group meetings. But they also spoke of a peaceful fight for independence.

"We have told everybody we are going to do this nonviolently, without force," McLaren said emphatically. "If the force comes about, it will come about ... from the other side. If they commit an act of force, I'm not responsible for (Republic) citizens defending (themselves).

"They have a legitimate right to do that."

McLaren scheduled his news conference at the same time the court hearing was to begin.
Last month, Morales sued 25 members of the Republic of Texas, claiming the group and some of its members intimidated, retaliated and filed bogus liens against the state, public officials and private citizens.

A temporary restraining order was issued against the individuals. Tuesday's hearing would have given them a chance to argue against Morales' next legal move.

"I am not responding to the hearing," McLaren said. "No, I will not (obey orders of a state court). I will only obey the orders of (U.S. District Judge Lucius) Bunton - and those will have to be on a diplomatic basis."

At the end of a daylong hearing, state District Judge Joseph Hart granted the state an injunction - meaning that Republic members are prohibited from filing any more liens. The injunction is expected to stay in effect until the case goes to trial. No trial date has been set.

"That is the most important thing," AG spokesman Ward Tisdale said. "Their filing liens has been causing all the trouble."

But the state was not granted an order to let Morales' office begin removing liens already filed. "We can still bring evidence of bogus liens to the court one by one," Tisdale said. "We just can't remove them wholesale."

Several people named in the lawsuit were present at the hearing. But no formal court representation was present at the hearing for either the group as a whole or for McLaren.

"They are not required to be there," Tisdale said. "But if you're a defendant ... it's a good idea to show up to present your point of view and have legal representation."

Morales has said hundreds if not thousands of liens were clogging the state's property records system, including one lien filed against all state property.

Liens can cause problems for property owners when they try to sell those properties or list them as assets.

"The Republic will file no more liens," McLaren said Tuesday. "I cannot speak ... to what an individual of the Republic of Texas does.

"What the citizens do, that's up to them."

McLaren estimated that about one-third of the liens filed likely are legitimate.

He also said the group has informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the Republic may print money and has notified all nations of the world that they are a nation held captive.

McLaren said a proclamation of declaration was filed last month with the United Nations.

"It's basically ... declaring our right as a captive nation of war to regain our independence," McLaren said.

On July 4, McLaren sent a letter to state lawmakers, telling them they should meet and elect members for available positions in the Provisional Government of the Republic of Texas.

The letter said members had 30 days to take advantage of the opportunity. After that, any rights lawmakers would have had in the nation would be terminated.

"The Republic of Texas represents only part of the people of Texas as it's operating now," McLaren said. "And it's up to these individuals, who claim to represent the other half, to come forward and sit down in a timely matter and discuss coalition."

Gov. George W. Bush is not planning to convene the Legislature to select people to fill available positions in the Republic, spokesman Ray Sullivan said.

"As the governor has said many times, his position on this whole matter is in agreement with Sam Houston," Sullivan said. "Texas should be and is a proud part of the United States."

Republic officials say they will set a date for their constitutional convention during a meeting in Abilene later this month. At their convention, they will vote on a new constitution and whether they want to rejoin the United States, McLaren said.

At the end of the press conference, McLaren turned somber, speaking of telephone taps and ongoing criminal investigations of the Republic.

He spoke of increased security measures the group is undergoing and said although the Republic wants to obtain independence through peaceful means, they will fight violence with violence.

"I see a build up on both sides of the security situation. I don't think either side wants to do anything stupid," McLaren said. "I think the problem is you don't know (if) somebody in between, in the middle (is) trying to set off the violence."