USA: National Guard soldier refuses to return to Iraq / Charged with desertion

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US National Guard Staff Sargeant Camilo Mejia, 28, is presently held at Ft. Stewart in the US state of Georgia, on charges of desertion. Camilo Mejia fought in Iraq, serving with a unit that crossed into Iraq just after the invasion. He went on to fight in the counterinsurgency war in the Sunni Triangle for five months. There he was in firefights, killed people, almost got killed, helped torture prisoners and finally had his life saved by a small-scale mutiny. He then returned to the USA for rest and recreation. During this time he turned conscientious objector. Although the military never officially charged Mejia with desertion, he spent the rest of the autumn and winter living like a fugitive, never using cell phones, credit cards or the internet for fear of being busted. Camilo Mejia then turned himself in and filed an application for conscientious objector status. He is now being held at Ft. Stewart in Georgia, where is being charged with desertion. He can receive up to one year in prison.

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.

Andreas Speck
War Resisters' International