CNN - Signs of progress raise hopes of end to Freemen standoff

Signs of progress raise hopes of end to Freemen standoff

April 6, 1996
Web posted at: 3:30 p.m. EST

NEAR BRUSETT, Montana (CNN) -- Officials in Montana are hoping the Easter weekend will bring a peaceful end to the standoff with the Freemen.

There were some signs Saturday that the 13-day impasse may be coming to a close on the Montana plains.

Law enforcement officials have told CNN that three to five members of the so-called "Freemen" group may leave their farm Saturday.

A woman and her 5-year-old daughter reportedly left the Freemen ranch late Friday, and were taken to an undisclosed location. Relatives told The Associated Press Saturday they were relieved that Val Stanton and her daughter, Mariah, had left the besieged Freeman farm.

The new developments followed two days of meetings between insiders and outside negotiators. Friday's meeting in a motor home on the property Freemen call "Justus Township" lasted two hours and ended with a handshake. After the outsiders left, a number of visitors crossed the fence and entered the ranch, including two visitors who told reporters camped outside the ranch that everything was fine inside the compound.

State Attorney General Joe Mazurek said some of those inside, may have less to worry about than others.

"Most of the people inside are much less culpable than others who are under arrest. And many inside do not face serious charges at all, and it really would be in their interest to come out," he said. (170K AIFF sound or 170K WAV sound)

Mazurek said about 24 men women and children remain on the ranch. Nine men face federal indictments for fraud and threatening public officials.

Authorities have factored the religious holiday into their talks, saying they hope the holiday's time of reflection will prompt the Christian Freemen to decide to end the standoff.

Despite the recent positive developments, Mazurek sought to quell speculation about an imminent end to the standoff.

"Nobody's suggesting that there's some big breakthrough," Mazurek said. "We're just hopeful, given the time of the year and the importance of Easter to those people, that maybe it would provide an opportunity."

He declined to say who the negotiators were, citing safety concerns. But he described them as "third-party intermediaries," not part of any FBI negotiating team.

The standoff began March 25 after federal agents arrested two Freemen leaders, LeRoy Schweitzer, 57, and Daniel Petersen, 53. A third Freeman, Richard E. Clark, surrendered to FBI agents five days later. Neighbors have said the Freemen have stockpiled weapons and enough food and supplies to last months.
CNN Correspondent Don Knapp and the Associated Press contributed to this report.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related stories:

Officials hopeful after talks with Freemen - April 5
'Delicate discussions' take place at Freemen ranch - April 5
State officials hold talks with Freemen - April 4
Bail unlikely for Freemen suspect - April 3
Freemen relative warns against using force - April 2
Montana Freemen member uncooperative in court - April 1
Freemen sympathizers to stage rally - April 1

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Signs of progress raise hopes of end to Freemen standoff

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