CPTNET
Friday, July 24, 1998
CHIAPAS URGENT ACTION: CPTERS THREATENED WITH DEPORTATION

CHIAPAS, MEXICO Two members of Christian Peacemaker Teams in Chiapas, Mexico
have been ordered to report to Mexican immigration authorities in San
Cristobal de las Casas by Monday, July 27 at 6:00pm (cst).

Cliff Kindy (North Manchester, IN) and Pierre Gingerich (Ithaca, NY) were
stopped by immigration officials after attending a prayer service held in
memory of 45 Mayan Indians massacred last December 22 in the village of
Acteal. CPTer Lynn Stoltzfus (Blanding, UT) was traveling with Kindy and
Gingerich but was not issued a citation to appear at immigration headquarters.

Kindy and Gingerich have been in Chiapas since the end of May and have spent
significant amounts of time with the Christian pacifist group Las Abejas (The
Bees). They went to Acteal on July 22nd to participate in a memorial service
for members of The Bees killed last December.

As they traveled back to San Cristobal de las Casas on the morning of July
23rd, they were stopped at an immigration checkpoint and told they had "broken
the law" by going to Acteal.

A human rights lawyer and an Associated Press journalist plan to ccompany
Kindy and Gingerich to the Monday hearing where immigration officials may
claim that they have "violated the terms of their tourist visas" and are
therefore subject to expulsion from the country.

Over the last two years the Mexican government has expelled hundreds of human
rights observers who visited indigenous communities in Chiapas. This policy
has effectively silenced and/or restricted the work of church and peace groups
in Chiapas.

CPT asks supporters to contact either the Mexican Immigration office in San
Cristobal de Las Casas or Canadian and U.S. government officials regarding
this case. Emphasize that the CPTers went to visit and pray with fellow
Christians.

U.S. citizens are especially urged to contact your legislators. Ask them to
intervene with Mexican immigration officials on behalf of Kindy and Gingerich
to stop any expulsion or deportation.

Recently, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced a "Sense of Congress
Resolution" which makes six recommendations for changing U.S. policy in
Mexico, including that the U.S. "seek a commitment from the Government of
Mexico to respect the rights of United States citizens and human rights
monitors in Mexico in accordance with Mexican law and international law..."

Co-sponsors of this resolution include: Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Dianne
Feinstein (D- CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Bingaman
(D-NM), Russell Feingold (D-WI), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Dale Bumpers (D-AR).
A House version of the resolution is expected soon.

Christian Peacemaker Teams asks that supporters who reside in the states that
Leahy and these co-sponsors represent to make a special effort to ask these
senators to intervene on behalf of Kindy and Gingerich.

Mexico:
Rene Pulido - Delegate
Instituto Nacional de Migracion (National Immigration Institute)
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
Tel./Fax: 011-52-967-80292

Canada:
Minister of Foreign Affairs Lloyd Axworthy
Tel: 613-995-1851; Fax: 613-996-3443
e-mail:axworl [at] parl [dot] gc [dot] ca

U.S.
Congressional Switchboard: 1-800-985-8762