Camilo Mejia freed from Oklahoma Army prison - by Rena Blaiz
Iraq CO and family honored by Oklahoma peace activists
Camilo Mejia was sentenced to one year in an Oklahoma Army prison for "desertion" when he refused to continue to participate in a war he felt was immoral. His release was celebrated by dozens of local activists who were notified of his low-key re-entry into "normal" life.
Camilo Mejia was sentenced to one year in prison for "desertion" when he refused to continue to participate in a war he felt was immoral.
On February 15, Camilo Mejia was released from the prison at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, where he had been incarcerated since last June. He was welcomed by members of his family, including his mother, aunt and 5-year-old daughter. The family met with Oklahoma peace activists for a celebratory dinner before going on to Miami, where Camilo will take up residence to be near his daughter (he and her mother are divorced).
Camilo, who holds dual citizenship in Nicaragua and Costa Rico, was a centering and calming influence on the crowd, many of whom expressed concern about how the US government will address his lack of citizenship here. The family had refrained from making any kind of media event out of the release, prefering to give Camilo time to adjust, and to avoid precipitating any adverse reaction by authorities.
The dinner was held at Church of the Open Arms in Oklahoma City, a UCC church were many peace-related activities occur. Attenders represented a wide cross-section of the peace and justice community in the Oklahoma City area, and included Mennonites, Quakers and Catholics, as well as non-religious organizations.
Members of the Oklahoma Committee for Conscientious Objectors were present and especially pleased by having Camilo in their midst. Moses and Sadie Mast, James Branum, Susan Lee, Serena Blaiz and others had formed the group in May 2004, just before Camilo's case was made public, and through their efforts, his incarceration in the Oklahoma Army base, so far from his family, did not go unnoticed by the media or public. Two demonstrations took place in near Ft. Sill in Lawton, and numerous stories were published and broadcast. OCCO, under the auspices of Joy Mennonite Church, continues to work on support for other COs and to educate about the relationship between the military and personal conscience.
During a question and answer period, Camilo described his time in prison, and how the knowledge that he had supporters across the globe made a difference for him. In addition to local advocacy, his case was taken up by Amnesty International, CodePink, and other well-known groups. He received thousands of letters from around the world, most of which he was not allowed to read. He had them shipped to Miami, where he plans to read each one.
Camilo's mother, Maritza, told the Oklahoma crowd that she feels sure that God had a hand in putting him there. Friends told her that in Oklahoma, he would be alone, and no one would care about him, since there were no peace activists there. But she, Camilo and others have come to feel it was a blessing for them, and they feel that they have family in Oklahoma now.
Camilo may soon be traveling the country to speak out about the war. CodePink is planning a tour, so check their web site at www.codepink4peace.org for updates.
See: http://www.okobjector.org for more info on OCCO