Camilo Mejia is a brave man.  His eight years of military service are noted for his courage and leadership and he is described by his commanding officers and men under him as an exemplary and popular soldier.  While deployed in Iraq he led his squad team of soldiers in the fight against insurgents in the deadly Sunni triangle. 

But Camilo was growing increasingly uneasy about his involvement in Iraq, his witnessing of excessive use of force, the killing of civilians, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners left him deeply disturbed.  And while on leave in October 2003 for two weeks, with the time and solitude on which to reflect on his war experiences, he decided that he was a conscientious objector who could no longer participate in an immoral "oil-driven war" and that he would not report for duty when his leave expired.

When Camilo did return it was with a completed application for conscientious objection on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the war, with much media attention he became the first veteran of the war to come back and publicly challenge the legality and morality of the conflict.  This action was just another testament to the extraordinary courage of this 28 year old soldier.  But Camilo's bravery to follow his conscience and invite public scrutiny despite tremendous pressure to follow orders were not rewarded, rather punished.  He was charged with desertion and senentced to one year in a military prison and a bad-conduct discharge.

Now Camilo Mejia needs our support.  I personally know what he is going through, in April of 2003--around the same time Camilo was deployed to Iraq--I became the first public conscientious objector to this war.  As a Marine, I too was sent to military prison for speaking out in opposition and for creating some public attention and scrutiny towards the legality and morality of the war.  I was also charged with desertion and although I wasn't convicted of it I was sentenced to six months in the brig.  The support I recieved was so crucial which is why I urge everyone to do what they can to help.  Write letters to him letting him and those around him know he has support, donate money to help with his legal expenses, arrange a visit or two if you live nearby, and put pressure on his command to do the right thing and grant him conscientious objector status and release him.

Camilo was given a sentence twice as long as mine.  I believe it is because the truth that he had to tell would be very damaging to the credibility of the occupation of Iraq.  During his court-martial his defense team planned on attacking the legality of the war and therfore the legality of his orders to participate.  Months before the prisoner abuse scandal at Abu Graib was made public, Camilo had complained about his witness of similar abuses at a different prison to his military superiors, all of which was written in his application for conscientious objection.  But the judge in Camilo's case did not allow for these arguments to be made, eradicating the risk of damaging testimony by Camilo and his chances for a fair trial. 

By isolating Camilo for a year the military hopes to keep a powerful voice against an increasingly devestatingly unpopular war muted.  By punishing perfectly legal dissent and free speech they hope to prevent other service men and women from following their conscience.  The purpose of the military is to protect the rights and freedoms of the people, not to punish those who use their rights and freedoms to express their views.  Please support Camilo Mejia.