At 1 PM (cst) today (7/28/98) CPTers Pierre Gingerich and Cliff Kindy appeared
before the immigration authorities at San Cristobal de Las Casas in the
southern Mexican state of Chiapas. They had been grilled for 3 hours
yesterday by the authorities to determine whether their presence in Chiapas
fell within the boundaries of activities permitted on a tourist visa and told
to return for the verdict on the following day.

On July 22nd, Kindy, Gingerich and Lynn Stoltzfus were returning from a
worship service in Acteal, a refugee camp about 1h 40 min. north of San
Cristobal when they were stopped by the military at a checkpoint. Immigration
authorities then issued Kindy and Gingerich citations commanding them to
appear at a hearing on July 27. These citation hearings have often been a
step toward outright expulsion of foreigners or toward visas allowing the
recipients a very limited amount of time (sometimes only one day) to leave
the country.

When Kindy and Gingerich arrived at the Immigration office in San Cristobal
today, they noticed that the officer in charge had a stack of five or more
faxes on his desk, to which he referred frequently in the course of the
conversation. According to Cliff Kindy, who reported on the results of the
proceeding to Kryss Chupp at CPT's Chicago office, the officer told them, "You
have some pretty good friends" (referring to CPT supporters and government
representatives who sent faxes or inquired into the case.)

Kindy explained to the officer why it was so important for CPT to spend time
with the Bees (las Abejas) in Acteal. Although the Bees support the
political and economic reforms called for by the Zapatista movement, they have
rejected violence as a means of achieving these goals. Even after 45 of their
number were massacred by paramilitaries on December 22, 1997, the Bees remain
commited to nonviolent resistance.

Kindy told the officer that North Americans have much to learn from the Bees
about the practice of Nonviolence, and reported that discussing the Bees
seemed to move the conversation to a "lighter level."

Kindy and Gingerich left the meeting with no new restrictions on their visas.

CPT wishes to extend its deep gratitude to those of their supporters who made
phone calls or sent faxes on behalf of Gingerich and Kindy. From all
accounts, they made a huge difference in the decision rendered by the Mexican
authorities.