Re: PASTORS FOR PEACE "FAST FOR LIFE" (SAN DIEGO) (fwd)

[Robert Peter Burns <rburns@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

The following is the text of a one page press release issued the morning
that the Pastors for Peace hunger strike began:

         ANNOUNCING THE CONSECRATION OF A FAST FOR LIFE

                    ISSUED FEBRUARY 21, 1996

We have made the most momentous decision of our lives.  We have declared
a liquid only "Fast for Life" until the 400 medical computers which the
U.S. Treasury officials seized on January 31, 1996 and February 17, 1996
are released.

Over the past three weeks the U.S. government has spent more than one
million tax dollars to prevent volunteers engaged in a mission to send
donated humanitarian aid to churches in Cuba from fulfilling that mission.

On January 31 and February 17, 400 peaceful, non-violent volunteers,
under the leadership of IFCO-Pastors for Peace were confronted by over
one thousand Treasury officials, special agents, INS officials, FBI
agents, Customs police, California Highway Patrol, Caltrans officials,
and San Diego police.  These combined forces used helicopters,
sophisticated surveillance equipment, police vans, tow trucks, unmarked
cars which we were able to identify, and agents provocateurs to prevent
U.S. and Canadian citizens from performing a simply act of love.  Facing
the cruel, inhumane policy that forces shortages of food and medicine on
11 million innocent Cubans, we are compelled to lay our lives on the line
as a means of saying no to our country's policy of death, and yes to life
and peace.

We cannot match the force or resources of the government, and so have
decided to make the only and ultimate sacrifice -- ourselves.  We
consecrate this liquid-only "Fast for Life" to the release of the
computers which the churches of Cuba have requested and which will
significantly improve the medical care of the Cuban people.

We willingly and freely take this action and call upon all the good
citizens of San Diego and the world to join us in prayer, and in an
appeal to the President of the United States to release the 400 computers.

We are:

The Reverend Lucius Walker, Jr. (Demarest, N.J.)
Lisa Valanti (Pittsburgh, PA)
Brian Rohatyn (Regina, jSaskatchewan, Canada)
Seya Sangari (San Jose, CA)
Jim Clifford (Louisville, KY)

We have the assurances that others will join our Fast for Life in San
Diego and around the world.

END MESSAGE

URGENT ACTION NEEDED -- PLEASE CONTACT:

President Clinton:  202/456-1414; 202/456-3000; fax: 202/456-2461

Sec. of Treasury Robert Rubin:  202/622-5300;  fax: 202/622-0073

Sec. of Commerce Ron Brown:  202/482-2000


PLEASE REPORT ALL ACTIONS OF SOLIDARITY AND SEND ALL MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO:

IFCO--PASTORS FOR PEACE             IFCO
610 W. 28th St.                     402 W. 145th St.
Minneapolis, MN 55408               New York, NY 10031

Tel: 612/870-7121                   Tel: 212/926-5757
Fax: 612/870-7109                   Fax: 212/926-5842
E-mail: p4p@xxxxxxxxxxx                 





**********************************************************************
*                                                                    *
*                       Dr. Rodney G. Peffer                         *
*             Dept. of Philosophy - University of San Diego          *  
*                         5998 Acala Park                            *
*                       San Diego, CA 92110                          *
*                                                                    *
*               Internet address: peffer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx            *
*                 Tele: 619-260-4705  Fax: 619-260-4619              *
*                                                                    *
**********************************************************************          




     --- from list marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---

     ------------------