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Human shields could face prison, fines

Anti-war activists who visited Iraq before the US invasion have discovered that they could face up to 12 years in prison and US$1 million in fines.

Although travel firms now tout adventure tours to a country that is a temporary home to 150,000 US troops, scores of American protesters have been warned they risk fines or imprisonment for violating a prewar travel ban.

During the past few weeks a retired schoolteacher in her 60s and a number of other activists have received warnings from the US treasury that they could face punishment for travelling to Iraq.

"When I came back from Iraq I had a letter from the treasury threatening up to 12 years in prison and up to US$1 million in fines," said Faith Fippinger, 62.

Fippinger, who retired as a teacher for the blind, spent the war as a human shield, living in the grounds of an ageing oil refinery in Baghdad.

She was among about 30 Americans who arrived in Iraq in the run-up to war to serve as human shields.

She was one of the few who stayed. More than 150 other US protesters -- including the actor Sean Penn -- travelled to Iraq in the run-up to war.

Fippinger said a Treasury official had told her last week that if she agreed to pay, the fine would be reduced to US$10,000.

She replied that she had no intention of paying.

"It's a matter of principle, having made the decision to go there out of caring for human life, and then once there having to deal with the dead children from cluster bombs, and also seeing the young American military being killed," she said.

Fippinger said she was warned that the funds could be seized from her pension, or through the sale of her house.

At least three other US activists who travelled to Baghdad before the war have received similar notices from the Treasury.

But a spokesman denied any suggestion that the enforcement effort was politically motivated.
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