DATE=4/17/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-40081
TITLE= WACO ANNIVERSARY
BYLINE= MICHAEL LELAND
DATELINE= CHICAGO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SUNDAY (4/19) IS THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRE THAT
DESTROYED THE CHURCH AND LIVING QUARTERS OF THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN
RELIGIOUS SECT NEAR THE U-S CITY OF WACO, TEXAS. THE FIRE KILLED
80 PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE GROUP'S LEADER, DAVID KORESH. THE BLAZE
ENDED A 51-DAY STANDOFF BETWEEN THE DAVIDIANS AND FEDERAL
OFFICIALS WHO HAD RAIDED THE PROPERTY IN FEBRUARY OF 1993 TO
INVESTIGATE LOCAL OFFICIALS' CONCERNS THE GROUP WAS AMASSING
ILLEGAL WEAPONS. FOUR FEDERAL AGENTS WERE KILLED IN THE RAID.
AT THE SITE OF THE GUNFIGHT, STANDOFF AND FIRE TODAY, THE SOUND
OF HAMMERING FILLS THE AIR AS DAVIDIANS BEGIN REBUILDING.
V-O-A'S MICHAEL LELAND RECENTLY VISITED THE BRANCH DAVIDIAN
PROPERTY NEAR WACO AND HAS THIS REPORT.
TEXT: // HAMMERING SOUND //
ABOUT A DOZEN SURVIVORS OF THE 1993 FIRE AND OTHER BRANCH
DAVIDIANS ARE PUTTING UP A WALL ON A NEW, SMALL MUSEUM UNDER
CONSTRUCTION AT THE ENTRANCE TO THEIR PROPERTY, ABOUT 15
KILOMETERS EAST OF WACO. A FEW METERS AWAY, ANOTHER MEMBER OF
THE GROUP WELCOMES A FEW OF THE DOZENS OF VISITORS WHO STOP BY
EACH DAY.
// ANDREW ACT #1 //
MY NAME IS ANDREW. I AM THE GROUNDKEEPER HERE FOR THE
BRANCH DAVIDIAN SURVIVORS WHO ARE OVER HERE WORKING TO
BUILD A VISITORS CENTER FOR YOU FOLKS. SO THAT YOU MIGHT
BE WELCOMED INTO OUR HOME AND OUR CHURCH.
// END ACT //
ANDREW STANDS IN FRONT OF A MAP OF THE DAVIDIAN PROPERTY, WHICH
SHOWS VISITORS WHERE THE OLD CHURCH AND LIVING QUARTERS STOOD
BEFORE THE FIRE, AS WELL AS A NARRATIVE GIVING THE GROUP'S SIDE
OF THE STORY. HE POINTS TO A GROVE OF NEWLY-PLANTED TREES IN
FRONT OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF THOSE BUILDINGS.
// ANDREW ACT #2 //
DOWN HERE IN THE FIELD THERE ARE TREES PLANTED. AT THE
BASE OF THOSE TREES ARE HEADSTONES FOR 82 PEOPLE WHO
LOST THEIR LIVES HERE, INCLUDING THE TWO FETUSES.
// END ACT //
CLIVE DOYLE IS ONE OF THE DAVIDIANS WHO MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE
APRIL 19TH FIRE, WHICH HE AND THE OTHERS STILL CLAIM WAS SET BY
FEDERAL OFFICIALS. THE GOVERNMENT HAD PUMPED TEAR GAS INTO THE
BUILDINGS IN AN EFFORT TO DRIVE OUT THE DAVIDIANS, BUT MAINTAINS
IT WAS THOSE INSIDE WHO SET THE BUILDINGS ABLAZE.
MR. DOYLE DENIES HIS GROUP WAS EVER DANGEROUS. HE SAYS THE
DOZENS OF WEAPONS STORED ON THE PROPERTY WERE TO BE SOLD AT GUN
SHOWS TO RAISE MONEY, AND THAT THE DAVIDIANS FIRED ON FEDERAL
AGENTS DURING THE FEBRUARY RAID IN SELF-DEFENSE. HE BELIEVES
MANY AMERICANS FEEL THE U-S GOVERNMENT ACTED IMPROPERLY IN
RAIDING THE COMPOUND.
// DOYLE ACT #1 //
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE BELIEVED OR WHAT COLOR WE WERE OR
WHETHER WE WERE HANDSOME, RICH OR WHATEVER.
REGARDLESS OF ALL THOSE DIFFERENCES IN OUR FAITH THAT
THEY MAY NOT APPRECIATE OR AGREE WITH, THEY SAW THEIR
GOVERNMENT DOING SOMETHING TO A GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT
ALL OF A SUDDEN MADE THEM TAKE NOTICE -- DISTURBED A LOT
OF PEOPLE.
// END ACT //
NOT ALL OF THE BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY WERE DESTROYED. A
SMALL DAIRY BARN BEHIND THE LIVING QUARTERS IS STILL THE SITE OF
WEEKLY WORSHIP SERVICES. EVENTUALLY, THE GROUP HOPES TO BUILD
NEW HOUSING ON THE SITE. RELIGION PROFESSOR BILL PITTS AT
BAYLOR UNIVERSITY IN WACO SAYS THE NUMBER OF BRANCH DAVIDIANS
SEEMS TO HAVE REMAINED CONSTANT DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
// PITTS ACT #1 //
THE NUMBERS HAVE REMAINED QUITE SMALL. THE DAVIDIAN
MOVEMENT IS SPREAD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE
SMALL NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FOLLOWERS IN NORTH
CAROLINA AND MASSACHUSETTS. THERE ARE ALSO FOLLOWERS IN
ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.
// END ACT //
MR. PITTS SAYS THE DEBATE OVER WHETHER THE DAVIDIANS WERE A REAL
THREAT FIVE YEARS AGO MIGHT NEVER END, BUT HE DOES NOT WORRY
THAT THE GROUP'S PLANS TO REBUILD WILL RESULT IN ANY MORE
PROBLEMS.
// PITTS ACT #2 //
I THINK THIS WAS SUCH A HORRENDOUS EVENT FOR THEM AND
THE GOVERNMENT THAT BOTH WOULD WORK VERY HARD TO SEE
THAT THIS WOULD NOT OCCUR AGAIN. I THINK THAT IF THEY
ARE ABLE TO RECONSTITUTE THEMSELVES AND REOCCUPY THE
LAND AND GET THE RESOURCES TOGETHER TO REBUILD AND SO
FORTH, YOU WOULD SEE A VERY, VERY PEACEFUL GROUP OF
PEOPLE GATHERED PRIMARILY FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES.
// END ACT //
MR. DOYLE OF THE BRANCH DAVIDIANS SAYS HE BELIEVES THE GOVERNMENT
WAS WRONG BUT DOES NOT CARRY ANY GRUDGES. HE AND THE DAVIDIANS
SIMPLY WANT TO REBUILD THEIR CHURCH AND HOME, AND GO ON PREPARING
FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IS THE IMMINENT RETURN OF CHRIST.
// DOYLE ACT #2 //
WE FEEL THAT THE BEST PLACE TO BE IS RIGHT HERE, TO TELL
OUR SIDE OF IT, TO TELL THE TRUTH AND TO HOPEFULLY BUILD
THIS PLACE UP THE WAY DAVID (KORESH) ENVISIONED IT. HE
WANTED IT TO BE LIKE A PARK ATMOSPHERE, NICE, PEOPLE
COULD COME OUT AND ENJOY BEING OUT HERE.
// END ACT //
THERE IS ONE DISPUTE STILL TO BE SETTLED. ANOTHER GROUP OF
BRANCH DAVIDIANS WHO LIVED ON THE PROPERTY YEARS BEFORE DAVID
KORESH ARRIVED IS CLAIMING OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND. THE MATTER
WILL BE HEARD IN COURT THIS SEPTEMBER. (SIGNED)
NEB/MJL/MMK
17-Apr-98 12:02 PM EDT (1602 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.