News Release
For Immediate Release
October 16, 1998
Contact: Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization
phone: 212-926-5757
email: ifco@igc.apc.org
Evening/Weekend: 718-398-6854
Interreligious Foundation Files Injunction to Block US Treasury Department Effort to Secure IFCO Bank Records
Today, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) filed a complaint in the Southern District Court of New York seeking to block a US Treasury Department demand that the Amalgamated Bank of New York turn over IFCO bank records.
On October 1, 1998 the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury Department sent a letter to the Amalgamated Bank of New York demanding detailed information about IFCO's bank account including copies of each transaction of $100 or more between January 1, and August 1, 1998.
Since 1992 IFCO has sponsored humanitarian aid caravans which have delivered 1,700 tons of educational and medical aid to Cuban churches and non-governmental organizations. The US Treasury Department has repeatedly attempted to stop IFCO, a 31-year-old ecumenical agency, from pursuing its Cuba-related humanitarian efforts.
"In its effort to stop IFCO's work for peace and friendshipment between Cuba and the US, the Treasury Department has used arrests, beatings, grand jury subpoenas and threats against IFCO," said Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., IFCO executive director. "This new move by the Treasury Department is yet another effort to threaten, intimidate and harass IFCO."We are filing this injunction to prohibit the disclosure of names and personal information of thousands of innocent individuals and organizations, most of whom are in no way related to our humanitarian aid efforts toward Cuba. The government's request is excessively far reaching and threatens to violate the right to privacy and Constitutional rights of US citizens. Furthermore, it exceeds OFAC's authority to enforce the embargo and it violates IFCO's rights under the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments as well as the spirit, if not the letter of the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978."
-30-
check our new web site: http://www.ifconews.org
"Let us not love in word: but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:18
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)
402 W. 145th St
New York, NY 10031
212.926.5757; fax 212.926-5842 email:ifco@igc.apc.org
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
[posted October 19, 1998]
Contact Refuse
& Resist!
305 Madison Ave., Suite 1166, New York, NY 10165
Phone: 212-713-5657
email: info@refuseandresist.org