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Us fines woman human shield { August 11 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/A43504-2003Aug11.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/A43504-2003Aug11.html U.S. Fines Woman for Being 'Human Shield' The Associated Press Monday, August 11, 2003; 9:42 AM SARASOTA, Fla. - A retired schoolteacher who went to Iraq to serve as a "human shield" against the U.S. invasion is facing thousands of dollars in U.S. government fines, which she is refusing to pay. The U.S. Department of the Treasury said in a March letter to Faith Fippinger that she broke the law by crossing the Iraqi border before the war. Her travel to Iraq violated U.S. sanctions that prohibited American citizens from engaging in "virtually all direct or indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq." She and others from 30 countries spread out through Iraq to prevent the war. She spent about three months there. Only about 20 of nearly 300 "human shields" were Americans, she said. Fippinger, who returned home May 4, is being fined at least $10,000, but she has refused to pay. She could face up to 12 years in prison. In her response to the charges, she wrote the government that "if it comes to fines or imprisonment, "please be aware that I will not contribute money to the United States government to continue the buildup of its arsenal of weapons." Since she won't pay, she said, "perhaps the alternative should be considered." The government also has asked Fippinger, 62, to detail her travels to Iraq and any financial transactions she made. In her response, Fippinger wrote that the only money she spent was on food and emergency supplies. If Fippinger does not pay, the fine may increase, and the money will be drawn from her retirement paycheck, her Social Security check or any of her assets, officials said. "She was (in Iraq) in violation of U.S. sanctions," said Taylor Griffin, a Treasury Department spokesman. "That's what happens." Shortly before the U.S. invasion in March, Fippinger was one of several dozen human shields scattered around a refinery in Baghdad. "We are planning to stay here in the refinery if war breaks out," Fippinger said at the time. "We are staying here because we think this war is unjust." © 2003 The Associated Press

americans arabs asia canada celebs church cities coleen-rowley congress dixie-chicks during-war europe former-presidents france germany iraqis military protests ritter russia turkey united-nations 911 family survivors { January 9 2003 } American soldiers seek asylum in canada { July 9 2004 } Americans resist war Amy goodman voice heard on iraq { March 10 2003 } Anti american sentiments Anti war strategy disruption { March 8 2003 } Attack not legal { February 27 2003 } Baghdad accuses powell { January 27 2003 } Blair regrets blowback from iraq war { May 10 2007 } Briton convincted for opposing war { April 14 2006 } Bush to please powerful jewish lobby { September 19 2002 } Bush_war_pics [gif] City sued over war protest { February 5 2003 } Former exchange ceo { March 4 2003 } Former minister meacher sparks fury { September 6 2003 } Gop leader resigns { March 10 2003 } Gore warns war helps terror { September 24 2002 } Greenpeace blocks uk { January 27 2003 } Happy you know it satire song Hecklers yell rumsfeld your fired Helen thomas { January 9 2003 } Hillary given pink slip { March 7 2003 } Human shields entry visa { February 11 2003 } Human shields ready Iraq double standard Iraq has world of allies { October 20 2002 } Iraq spies stirred protests { January 30 2003 } Iraq suffers { September 11 2002 } Iraq war effect on terrorism 031704 [gif] Late night satire Mainstream media dissent Mandela blasts { September 2 2002 } Mandela us wants holocaust Nationwise student protest 3 5 03 Pilger calls blair a coward Poet forum called off { January 31 2003 } Poet laureate opposes war Ramsey clark deounces war crimes { December 15 2002 } Rumsfeld disowned by relatives Saddam accuses US of world control Stormin norman schwarzkopf { January 28 2003 } Supports lacks among blacks Theatres global protest { March 3 2003 } Us diplomat resignation { February 27 2003 } Us fines woman human shield { August 11 2003 } Views on us 031704 [gif] Virtual protest { February 26 2003 } Whitehouse cancels poetry { January 30 2003 } World says oil greedy World suspicious US motives in iraq { December 4 2002 } Files Listed: 50

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