34 Arrested in Anti-Contra Protest at Air Base

Los Angeles police arrested 34 demonstrators Monday who had entered the grounds of the California Air National Guard base at Van Nuys Airport to protest U.S. military aid to the Nicaraguan contras.

About 250 members of a group called Pledge of Resistance staged the 7 a.m. protest, which drew a counterdemonstration by about 50 contra supporters from the International Human Rights Watch. The rival protesters exchanged shouts, the anti-contras yelling, “CIA out of Nicaragua,” and the contra supporters yelling back, “KGB out of Nicaragua.”

The event ended without violence by 9 a.m.

The contra opponents, carrying crosses bearing the names of civilians killed by the anti-Sandinista rebels, were arrested on suspicion of trespassing and failure to disperse after they entered the base to hand out leaflets. They were handcuffed and taken to Van Nuys Jail.

The protest was held at the base because the Van Nuys-based 146th Tactical Airlift Wing--the largest Air National Guard unit in the country--has been flying supply missions in Central America since 1978, along with Air National Guard units from at least 20 other states.

Not Supplying Contras

Air National Guard spokesmen have said in the past that they are not supplying the contras.

“We don’t haul arms or ammunition,” said Maj. Steve Mensik, public affairs officer for the state National Guard at its headquarters in Sacramento. The guard flies supplies and passengers between U.S. diplomatic and military missions in Central and South America, he said. Its last assignment was in January, he said, and there may be another in late fall.

Mensik said the demonstration was “quite orderly,” causing little disruption at the base. Both police and Guard personnel were aware of the protest in advance.

“We made a very strong statement that there are many people who want to shut down the U.S. war effort in Central America,” said Linda Lilleau, coordinator for Pledge of Resistance, an offshoot of the Southern California Ecumenical Council Interfaith Task Force on Central America. She said the demonstration was organized because of President Reagan’s recent pledge to boost aid to the contras, who are fighting to overthrow the Sandinista government in Nicaragua.

She said that all but six of the arrested protesters were released from jail on their own recognizance Monday afternoon.

Police Sgt. Harry Mauk said the protesters were warned they would be arrested once they entered base property. Only anti-contra activists entered the base and were arrested. Four juveniles were among those arrested, police said.

Prosecution Urged

Contra supporters urged police to arrest and prosecute the demonstrators, calling them members of “pro-Marxist front groups.” Bob Zirgulis, spokesman for International Human Rights Watch, said, “They should be protesting the presence of Cuban mercenaries flying Soviet Hind helicopters which are killing Nicaraguan civilians.”