USA: Camilo Mejia sentenced to 1 year prison plus bad conduct discharge

On Friday, 21 May 2004, US Army National Guard staff sergeant Camilo Mejia was sentenced to one year in prison, reduction in rank to E-1, forfeiture of 2/3 pay for one year, and a bad conduct discharge, by a special court martial at Fort Steward. Camilo Mejia had been charged with desertion, although he applied for conscientious objector status.

Camilo Mejio went into hiding after returning from duty in Iraq for rest and recreation (see http://wri-irg.org/news/htdocs/20040402a.html), to prepare his conscientiouso objection application. This application is still pending, but was excluded from the evidence that was permitted during the court martial.

Camilo Mejia is presently being held in police custody at Fort Stewart, and will be transferred to a military prison sometime in the next few days. It is presently not known if the court will grant him bail while pursuing an appeal.

War Resisters' International calls for letters of support to Camilo Mejia:
Ssg. Camilo Mejia
A Company USAG MED-HOLD 865
Hase Road
Ft. Stewart, GA 31315
USA

War Resisters' International calls for letters of protest to his commanding officer:
Major General William G. Webster, Jr. Commanding General, Fort Stewart
42 Wayne Place
Ft. Stewart, GA 31314
USA

War Resisters' International calls for the immediate release of Camilo Mejia and all other imprisoned conscientious objectors.