On seventh anniversary, Davidians hope a new church can close

WACO, Texas (AP) -- A bell outside the newly constructed Branch Davidian chapel rang 82 times Wednesday afternoon -- once for each<br>of the people who died during the fire seven years ago that ended the

Wednesday, April 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WACO, Texas (AP) -- A bell outside the newly constructed Branch Davidian chapel rang 82 times Wednesday afternoon -- once for each
of the people who died during the fire seven years ago that ended the government siege of the religious sect's compound.

Nearly 300 people, most of them volunteers, survivors and their family members, packed into the chapel on the site of the former
compound about 10 miles outside of Waco to remember those who died and to celebrate a new beginning.

The service came on the same day that people gathered in Oklahoma City to open the Oklahoma City National Memorial on the
fifth anniversary of the federal building bombing. Timothy McVeigh, who was convicted in the bombing, was angry over the government handling of Waco.

As the bell rang in Waco, survivor Clive Doyle tearfully read the names and ages of the dead, including Davidian leader David Koresh and Doyle's 18-year-old daughter, Shari.

Alex Jones, a radio talk-show host who organized the $92,000 volunteer construction effort, named Doyle trustee of the church
during the dedication ceremony, which started nearly an hour later than scheduled.

"Government can come and destroy the building but as long as there is one child of God, they cannot destroy the church," Doyle
told the group.

Doyle, who escaped the fire that consumed the compound's buildings, also read the names of five sect members who are serving
prison terms for manslaughter and firearms convictions.

Four federal agents and six Davidians were killed during the Feb. 28, 1993, shootout that started when federal agents tried to arrest Koresh.

Jaime Castillo, Brad Eugene Branch, Renos Lenny Avraam and Kevin A. Whitecliff were sentenced to consecutive terms of 10 years in
prison for manslaughter and 30 years for using machine guns during the gun battle. Graeme Leonard Craddock was sentenced to 10 years
for using a grenade and a consecutive 10 years for using a machine gun.

"We've maintained their innocence throughout," said Doyle.

The Supreme Court on Monday will review an appeal in which the jailed Davidians are challenging their sentences.

"Let's pray that some good comes out of next Monday's hearing before the Supreme Court. We don't want them to have a shorter
sentence. We want them out!" said Doyle.

Survivors also received a new flag to fly in front of the new church. When the 51-day standoff between the government and the
Branch Davidians ended with a fire, federal agents took down the sect's flag that flew atop the compound.

The fire happened several hours after the FBI tear-gassed the compound buildings. The government contends the deaths of the
Davidians, whether caused by fire or gunshot wounds, came by their own hand.

Relatives of Branch Davidians have filed a wrongful-death suit against the federal government over the raid. A trial is scheduled
to begin June 19.

Later in the day former Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent Robert Rodriguez, who infiltrated the group's compound before the
siege, came to pay respects to agents who were killed at the compound, angering several Davidians.

"I just came to pay my respects, that's it," said Rodriguez. "I didn't come here to cause problems with anybody. ... I came here to pay respects to my people. A lot of things happened here ... a lot of things changed what I stood for, whatever that was."