The Times Argus from Barre, Vermont • 3

THREE FBI Photographed Berster Advocates During rial THE TIMES ARGUS, BARRE-MONTPELIER, VT. FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1981 Payne because she had been a member of the Venceremos Brigade, a group that traveled to Cuba. Bersters arrest was the catalyst for the Vermont part of the investigation, said ONeill. ONeill would not say whether the investigation ever turned up any evidence of wrongdoing. I dont deem it appropriate to answer that question, said ONeill.

Berster, convicted of border violations, but not conspiracy charges, was eventually sentenced to nine months in jail, most of which she had already served. She eventually returned to Germany where charges related to her political activities were dropped. lODUlS 65 Main St. Montpelier yiSAMostercorc SUMMER CONTINUES. Baader-Meinhof accusation was eventually dropped, but the trial of Berster on illegal border crossing charges drew extensive publicity.

A Kristina Berster Defense Committee formed and renowned defense attorney William Kunstler argued for acquittal on grounds Berster was seeking political asylum. Reached by telephone Thursday night in New York City, Kunstler called the investigation improper law enforcement, but said he was not surprised. They always do this. Its one of the dirty little businesses they do. (The) investigations are almost never justified.

They are just devices designed to inhibit and chill the exercise of First Amendment rights, he said. According to a series of FBI memos sent between Albany and Boston offices, Berster supporters were secretly observed and photographed, apparently outside of the courtroom. The surveillance was part of an investigation known as TERCROSS, which attempted to find links between Vermont activists and U.S. or foreign underground terrorist groups. Files obtained by Defense Committee member Roz Payne of Richmond show that the FBI began investigating Berster supporters immediately after her arraignment in August 1978.

Agents initially photographed Payne and three friends, followed them to her home and sought the identities of several visitors to her home by checking motor vehicle registrations. Secret surveillance continued throughout the trial. The FBI suspected Berster supporters had known the West German woman prior to her arrest and might have been assisting other fugitives, including one unnamed federal criminal, according to acting U.S. Attorney Jerome ONeill. On Oct.

18, 1978, U.S. Attorney William Gray, Federal District of Vermont, Burlington, was advised that special agents from the Boston Division would be traveling to Burlington, for the purposes of observing and possibly photographing Kristina Berster supporters present at the trial, one of the FBI documents reads. Gray told the FBI he had no reservations, about them attending the trial to observe supporters, according to the memo. Gray further advised, the memo notes, that he has no objection to the taking of these photographs if the photographs can be obtained discreetly and without detection. U.S.

District Judge Albert W. Coffrin said Thursday he was unaware of the surveillance. 'In other memos in the lengthy FBI file, the FBI said Payne was armed and dangerous. I'm appalled that anyone would consider me armed and dangerous, said Payne who has been active in political affairs since the 1960s. Throughout the Berster trial, federal prosecutors Gray and ONeill said they believed the case drew undue publicity and was basically a routine illegal border-crossing case.

FBI files indicate, however, there was considerable investigative activity surrounding the case, including the identification of all those who visited Berster while she was housed in the Chittenden County Correctional Center, stake-outs at the homes of supporters and use of motor vehicle and postal records for identification purposes. It continued long after Berster was transferred to a New York jail, prior to being returned to Germany. Spot checks continued on Paynes residence in an effort to link her with other groups, the files show. And the armed and dangerous warning apears on a Feb. 19, 1979, memo.

Gray said Thursday that no pictures were taken in the courtroom and that the investigation was lawful. On the basis of what I know, I do not think it (the investigation) was unjustified, he said. The former U.S. attorney said he requested the FBI use discretion to prevent additional publicity. ONeill said Thursday the FBI was watching the Defense Committee members because they were looking for a federal fugitive believed to be associated with Berster supporters.

ONeill would not name the federal criminal, or offer information on the persons activities. Documents indicate, however, that the FBI tried to link Berster supporters with a case known as GILROB, which apparently refers to the 1970 politically-motivated bank robbery in Boston. They also show the bureau was apparently suspicious of By DEBBIE BOOKCHIN BURLINGTON Supporters of West German fugitive Kristina Berster were secretly photographed during her trial here two years ago because they were thought to have links with national and international terrorist groups, recently released FBI files show. Former U.S. Attorney William B.

Gray, who prosecuted Berster, approved the surreptitious photographs as long they were obtained discreetly and without detection, an FBI document says. Gray said Thursday he felt the investigation was warranted and lawful. Berster, a then 28-year-old West German political activist, was arrested after attempting to walk across the Canadian border into Vermont in July of 1978. She was labeled by the FBI as a terrorist, believed to be associated with the Baader-Meinhof terrorist gang. The Don't Forget (Tonight And Tomorrow! Barre Ethnic Heritage Festival Fri.

July 17, 6pm-midnight Sat July 18, lOam-midnight For Information call 476-7636 Burlingtons GE Plant Is Staying Healthy On Guns tanks and other armored vehicles. Mounted on tanks or naval vessels, the high-speed guns can be used to strike at jet fighters. Along with sales to the Pentagon for the U.S. armed services, Burlington GE also supplies the Defense Department with guns for other countries. Last year Burlington guns went to, among other countries, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Korea, West Germany, Japan, Thailand, Kenya and a classified country one deemed by the Defense Department too sensitive to disclose.

Even some of the corporate people are wondering whats going to happen to the economy as a whole, if there might not be a reaction that could affect the military economy, he said. But for the time being, said Hartung, for defense industries like GE-Burlington, the present period is sort of a measured ecstasy. Different versions of the Vulcan Gatling gun are produced to be mounted on various Air Force fighters, Army tanks, helicopters and naval vessels. Mounted on aircraft fighters or helicopters, the guns can be used to kill people or knock out American Friends Service Committee. The procurement budget is up billions and billions of dollars.

Theres so much business they cant keep up with it all, Goodman said. But Goodman and other defense spending researchers believe that as in the past the winds of spending will eventually shift to another direction. I think its in a boom cycle now and it will probably go bust as it has before, said Goodman. William Hartung, of the New York-based Council on Economic Priorities agrees. YES, THERE IS AN ETHNIC FESTIVAL BREAKFAST Sponsored By The ROTARY CLUB Saturday July 18th Under The Tent At Depot Square 7 a.m.

to 10 a.m. Adults 2.50 (full breakfast) Children Mar 12) 1 .50 Coffee and Muffin $1 .00 today indicates that after a slightly rough period last year during which 350 to 400 workers were laid off, GE-Burlington is facing a period of good health and perhaps some growth. As of last month, all furloughed employees had been brought back. And while other industries face financial uncertainties in the economic period ahead, the Reagan administrations plan to increase defense spending will probably bring good financial health for the Burlington plant. Officials at GE-Burlington are reluctant to discuss contract awards or other aspects of the business, though most of it is public information available from the Defense Department.

Discussing the impact of the Reagan budget, communications director Waller would say only that GE-Burlington expects some benefits from the increased defense budget. David Goodman, a defense researcher-writer, had a different view. Theyre bouncing off the ceiling up there in the Burlington, GE plant, said Goodman, who works for the Philadelphia-based National ActionResearch on the Military Industrial Complex (NARMIC), a project of the Quaker-affiliated large bursts of fire and reduce barrel wear and tear. The basic GE Vulcan gun fires 6,000 rounds per minute-100 rounds per second. With a work force of 2.250 people, GE-Burlington is also the second largest industrial employer in the state, second only to IBM.

At $50 million a year, the companys payroll approaches $1 million per week, pumping a healthy sum of money into the Chittenden County economy. Like other defense plants in the country, GE-Burlington derives most of its income from tax dollars through arms sales contracts from the Pentagon. Department of Defense documents indicate that last year, for example, the Burlington plant received $104.4 million in Defense Department contract awards. In the past that sum has gone as high as $120.5 million, in 1976. And, during the height of the Vietnam War, GE-Burlington employed a work force of more than 3,000 people.

At the end of the war in Vietnam, in 1973, contract awards reached a low of $29 million and the work force was cut to below 1,700. In recent years, Defense Department awards have hovered around the $90 million to $100 million mark. A close look at the company aililbm mrjMim s. By DEBBIE BOOKCHIN BURLINGTON Few people think of the Burlington General Electric Lakeside Avenue plant when they hear the TV-radio jingle GE, We Bring Good Things To The ad heralds the companys washing machines, toasters, hair dryers, micro-waves and other electrical appliances and energy-related products a multi-billion-dollar industry for one of the countrys largest electrical appliance manufacturers. In Burlington, however, GE produces another kind of product.

Though it doesnt receive much attention, the Burlington plant plays an important role in the Chittenden County economy and a unique role in the defense readiness of the United States and its allies around the world. It is not advertised in the parent companys annual report or on the front of the massive red brick Lakeside Avenue plant, but GEs Burlington outpost is of significant military importance. As the only major mass producer of high speed, multibarrel Gatling guns in the country, GE-Burlington is responsible for outfitting most United States fighter planes. Many of these are shipped to U.S. allies around the world as a staple component on the F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, among others.

The F-14 Phantoms used in Vietnam and recently commissioned to the Air National Guard in Burlington, also carry the GE-Buriington guns. These guns are unique because instead of relying on one barrel to shoot a stream of bullets, they have anywhere between three and seven rotating barrels which allow C22Q; Need cash after bankers hours? Open the bank with Seven24 banking. Use it any time of the day or night, any day of the year. CONTRACTORSo CARPENTERSo HOMEOWNERS DO IT YOURSELFERS ALLIN LUMBER CO. IS PUTTING TMS ummu DOWN July 18th Only First fermont Bank Seven24 locations: 47 North Mam Barre 500 Main BenninRton215Main Brattleboro 46 North Main Rutland Member FDIC Bring in any hammer, regardless of condition or quality, "We don't even care if it's a Tinker Toy" or if you bought it out of a bubble gum machine! We will give you Off The Purchase Of Any Professional PUBLIC NOTICE Fife 6 Drum Corps Parade and Muster Cash Carry vWhile Supplies Last! Barre, Vermont July 18, 1981 Stanley Steelmaster Hammer LISTED BELOW ST-l Curved Claw 20 Oz.

ST-1 A Straight Claw 20 Oz. 0 ST-1 Vi Curved Claw 16 Oz. ST-1 Vi A Straight Claw 16 Oz. Parade on Ma in St. from Sprague Electric at 11:30 followed by performances by individual Corps at the Auditorium grounds at 1:00.

Numerous Corps from throughout the Northeast. FREE TO THE PUBLIC Sponsored By Green Mountain Regiment Fife Drum Corps "OUR SERVICE TO YOU IS OUR HUMBER 1 CONCERN" ST. JOHNSIUtY Ml JO IM STMT 74 714! ftMtf 0M41 ro (0470 JOS NOTM MAM STMT 474-41J4 MONTWaOMOI 010144 GIAMTf S1MT mms J9K. Open 7-5 P.AA., Sat.7-2P.AA. 0 9.