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Wednesday, April 30, 1997

Two armored carriers brought into place; 'Another Waco' is feared

By EDUARDO MONTES Associated Press Writer

FORT DAVIS, Texas (AP) - Two armored personnel carriers rolled into place Tuesday in the siege of the Texas secessionists as their leader's lawyer warned of "another Waco" if officers move in for an arrest.

"There's the potential for a lot of killing and that's what we want to stop," said Terry O'Rourke, the lawyer for Richard McLaren, the self-proclaimed ambassador of the Republic of Texas.

McLaren and his followers have been holed up in the mountain community since Sunday, when they took two neighbors hostage in retaliation for the arrest of two followers. They released both hostages Monday in exchange for one of the jailed comrades, who had been arrested on weapons charges.

By Tuesday, nearly 100 state and federal officers were stationed within two miles of the trailer the group calls its "embassy" in the rugged Davis Mountains, 175 miles southeast of El Paso.

Officers negotiated with the group by telephone.

"We're very positive, very optimistic," said Mike Cox, spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety.

O'Rourke said McLaren sent him legal documents that he characterized as a starting point for the negotiations. He wouldn't discuss the nature of the material.

Jeanette Kinman, a spokeswoman for the Republic of Texas, said Tuesday she has spoken to someone in communication with McLaren, and said the leader "is tired, I understand, but he is very positive, very optimistic and has dogged determination. He will not buckle."

Ms. Kinman also said the group had "quite a stockpile" of rations when she visited the headquarters three or four months ago.

Cox said 13 people - all adults - were holed up. The group has demanded the release of the other jailed follower, a woman arrested on contempt charges. McLaren has also demanded a statewide referendum on independence for Texas.

Six of the holed-up Republic of Texas members are wanted on kidnapping charges or other offenses related to the hostage-taking.

Two armored personnel carriers arrived around midday from Tyler, 520 miles across the state. They were borrowed from the Smith County Sheriff's Department, which obtained them free as surplus from the Army.

"We have ample manpower out here and we have augmented that some, as you've seen today. And (McLaren) is aware of that. ... He is aware that we have slowly moved in his direction," Cox said.

O'Rourke said of McLaren: "Clearly there are people up there with weapons and hundreds of guns pointed at him. If they attempt to execute those warrants, he will likely be killed. ... Nobody wants another Waco."

Government agents were locked in a 51-day standoff with the Branch Davidians cult near Waco before launching an assault that ended in a fire in 1993. Cult leader David Koresh and about 80 followers died.

O'Rourke said that McLaren is "not David Koresh" and "does not have a death wish," but that McLaren and his wife are willing to die for their beliefs.

On his Internet Web site, McLaren warned that a "declaration of war" will be issued if state and federal agents threaten the Republic of Texas' "sovereignty." He warned that the clash could "set off the liberation of America from New World Order tyranny."

O'Rourke contacted fellow Houston lawyer Dick DeGuerin, who was Koresh's attorney, to become co-counsel. But DeGuerin suggested Tuesday that the best way to end the standoff would be for O'Rourke to convince McLaren that he must surrender and fight his battles in court.

"If McLaren has a different agenda, if he wants to be a martyr, he can do that real easy," DeGuerin said. "Have a standoff, start shooting and the government will accommodate him and probably win. I'd hate to see it come to that."

DeGuerin called the arrival of the armored carriers "provocative."

Authorities also set up a roadblock closing at least 11 miles of the only highway into the community.

Republic members contend that Texas, which was briefly an independent republic, was illegally annexed as a state in 1845 and that they are its legitimate government.

They also have filed millions of dollars in bogus liens against Texans and public officials, clogging up the courts. The group, founded in 1995, has split into at least three factions, two of which now disavow McLaren.

"We have seen this paper terrorism transform itself into a more conventional type of violent terrorism," Texas Attorney General Dan Morales said. "This is no longer a situation where misdemeanor civil violations are involved. Now, you have first-degree criminal felonies. It doesn't get any more serious than that."

Most of the roughly 100 residents of the area had left because of the siege. "I want them (police) to go in and I want Mr. McLaren and all of his followers taken out for good," Suzanne Parchman said.Send a Letter to the Editor about This Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
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