Congressmen were aware ...

[PaDUer]

Note the date of this article--

http://216.87.159.41/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=3019

Local Soldiers Charged with Abuse

Monday, July 28, 2003

The parents of two Lackawanna County soldiers accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners of war claim their children are innocent. The army is not releasing any information about the attack which took place May 12th. But the soldiers` families are and they want you to know what they know. Jim and Diane Canjar`s 21 year old son, Specialist Tim Canjar and three other soldiers from our area are already charged with abusing iraqui p-o-w`s. 5 other soldiers are under investigation. But Tim`s dad says the charges are bogus, "believe me, my son`s not a bully. If he acted, he acted in self defense along with the rest of `em. They`re not gonna jeopardize their civilian jobs over some incident like this." The soldiers who stand accused are all from the 320th Army Reserve Military Police Unit out of Ashley. They were transporting a busload of 44 injured Iraqi p-o-w`s when things allegedly got out of hand.
Tim`s father says he has enlisted the support of U.S. Congressman Don Sherwood and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and has requested an investigation, "These are pow`s. These are hard core murderers, rapists, killers...and you`re supposed to handle them with kid gloves? I know for a fact my son was attacked and he acted in self defense." That`s what Lynn and Jim Edmondson say about their daughter, 24 year old Sgt. Shawna Edmondson, "Iraqi prisoners had attacked 2 of our MP`s and Shawna went to help. They got the prisoners quieted down and next thing you know, she`s charged with attacking prisoners." The Edmondson`s were shocked to hear it, "Not my daughter. She works at the "U". As a public safety officer. She`s handled drunks. She`s never hurt anybody." The four soldiers who`ve been charged also include Master Sgt. Lisa Girman of Pittston along with another member of their unit from Florida. A week-long military hearing is set to begin August 27th to determine whether the soldiers will face a court martial. Until then, the four accused soldiers have been separated. They are being held in a warehouse in Kuwait.

[PaDUer]

1. Kanjorski

also aware and was working with these people.

[PaDUer]

2. KICK n/t