
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, May 2, 1993                   TAG: 9305030271
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: F-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NO DUE PROCESS IN WACO, TEXAS

THE INCIDENT in Waco, Texas is truly a sad event. The alleged crimes of the Branch Davidians do not seem to be equal to the initial raid by the federal government, much less the terrible loss of lives that ended the siege.

The initial raid was totally unnecessary due to the fact that David Koresh could have been picked up on any of his many visits to town. Then, a search warrant could have been issued in a much more conventional manner by local law-enforcement officers.

I am extremely surprised at how quickly the federal government, the media and some in the general public will try, convict and condemn those people without due process of law. The America that I grew up in would have presumed innocence until proved guilty in a court of law. Why are we so quick to believe speculation and opinions delivered by a government through the media? Both have proved themselves untrustworthy on several occasions in the past. The destruction of due process in regard to the Branch Davidians will not stop there. You, too, may wake up one day and wonder what has happened to our nation.

There is differing opinion as to who fired the first shots and how the fire was started. The people who came out alive must be heard.

I heard George Stephanopolous on the news say that the children were the No. 1 concern to federal agents. Why were gas masks not sent in for those children and the 1-year-old baby before gassing the place?

Both the Treasury and Justice departments will investigate themselves and, no doubt, be found to have done absolutely nothing wrong. Such is the state of justice in this country today. Will the federal government release all information regarding this event to the public, or will some of the material be labeled "top secret" and locked away as in the Kennedy assassination? Or shredded, as happened with Iran-Contra?

Whatever happens, my heart will try, convict and condemn all those in the government, media and general public who have done the same to the Branch Davidians without due process of law and a trial with all the evidence laid on the table. JOEY ZAMORSKI SALEM

by CNB