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On Earth Peace ~ Peace Witness Action List
www.brethren.org/oepa
November 29/30, 2005
(please forward widely)


CPTNet -- www.cpt.org
Nov 30, 2005, 1 am (Baghdad)

Update on Missing Persons in Iraq

We were very saddened to see the images of our loved ones on Al Jazeera
television recently. We were disturbed by seeing the video and believe that
repeated showing of it will endanger the lives of our friends. We are deeply
disturbed by their abduction. We pray that those who hold them will be
merciful and that they will be released soon. We want so much to see their
faces in our home again, and we want them to know how much we love them, how
much we miss them, and how anxious and concerned we are by what is happening
to them.

We are angry because what has happened to our teammates is the result of the
actions of the U.S. and U.K. government due to the illegal attack on Iraq
and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people. Christian
Peacemaker Teams (CPT) has worked for the rights of Iraqi prisoners who have
been illegally detained and abused by the U.S. government. We were the first
people to publicly denounce the torture of Iraqi people at the hands of U.S.
forces, long before the western media admitted what was happening at Abu
Ghraib. We are some of the few internationals left in Iraq who are telling
the truth about what is happening to the Iraqi people We hope that we can
continue to do this work and we pray for the speedy release of our beloved
teammates.


We can confirm the identities of those who are being held as follows:

Tom Fox, age 54, is from Clearbrook, Virginia and is a dedicated father of
two children. For the past two years, Mr. Fox has worked with CPT in
partnership with Iraqi human rights organizations to promote peace. Mr. Fox
has been faithful in the observance of Quaker practice for 22 years. While
in Iraq, he sought a more complete understanding of Islamic cultural
richness. He is committed to telling the truth to U.S. citizens about the
horrors of war and its effects on ordinary Iraqi civilians and families as a
result of U.S. policies and practices.

Mr. Fox is an accomplished musician. He plays the bass clarinet and the
recorder and he loves to cook. He has also worked as a professional grocer.
Mr. Fox devotes much of his time to working with children. He has served as
an adult leader of youth programs and worked at a Quaker camp for youth. He
has facilitated young people's participation in opposing war and violence.
Mr. Fox is a quiet and peaceful man, respectful of everyone, who believes
that "there is that of God in every person" which is why work for peace is
so important to him.


Norman Kember, age 74, is from London, England. He and his wife of 45 years
have two married daughters and a 3-year old grandson. He has been a pacifist
all his life beginning with his work in a hospital instead of National
Service at age 18. Before his retirement he was a professor teaching medical
students at St Bartholemew's Hospital in London. He is well-known as a peace
activist, and has been involved in several peace groups. For the past 10
years he has volunteered with a local program providing free food to the
homeless. He likes walking, birdwatching, and writing humorous songs and
sketches. In his younger days he enjoyed mountaineering.


James Loney, 41, is a community worker from Toronto, Canada. He has been a
member of Christian Peacemaker Teams since August 2000, and is currently the
Program Coordinator for CPT Canada. On previous visits to Iraq, his work
focused on taking testimonies from families of detainees for CPT's report on
detainee abuse, and making recommendations for securing basic legal rights.
James was leading the November 2005 delegation in Iraq when he went missing.

James is a peace activist, writer, trained mediator, and works actively with
two Toronto community conflict resolution services. He has spent many years
working to provide housing and support for homeless people.

In a personal statement from James to CPT, he writes: "I believe that our
actions as a people of peace must be an _expression of hope for everyone. My
hope in practising non-violence is that I can be a conduit for the
transformative power of God's love acting upon me as much as I hope it will
act upon others around me."


Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 is a Canadian electrical engineer. He is studying
for a masters degree in English literature in Auckland University in New
Zealand to prepare for a teaching career. He enjoys art, is active in squash
and worked part time as a local squash coach. His family describes him as
peaceful and fun-loving and he is known to be passionate about the plight of
the underprivileged around the globe. He works tirelessly in his spare time
to educate and help others.


Christian Peacemaker Teams has been present in Iraq since October 2002,
providing first-hand, independent reports from the region, working with
detainees of both United States and Iraqi forces, and training others in
non-violent intervention and human rights documentation.

Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence reduction program. Teams of
trained peacemakers work in areas of lethal conflict around the world.

also broadcast on democracy now Listen to Segment]

On Earth Peace ~ Peace Witness Action List
www.brethren.org/oepa
November 29, 2005
(please forward widely)

Friends,
There have not been updates available today as to the situation of the four CPT hostages taken this weekend in Baghdad.
Here is a letter from Gene Stolzfus, the founding director of CPT, about the situation, which I think you will find stirring.
Gene has also written an article on the "Dancing Signs of Peace" which will be published in the winter On Earth Peace newsletter. Please let me know if you would like to receive a copy.

Yours in courage and conviction,
Matt Guynn
On Earth Peace

<><><><><>

From: Gene Stoltzfus

Greetings,

By this time many of you know that four CPT workers
were taken hostage in Baghdad. This crisis calls us
back to our most basic convictions in life, what is
worth living for and what is worth dying for. This
event reminds us that we build meaning into our lives
by the choices we make.

The choice to begin, and to continue the CPT work in
Iraq was made in prayer. I believe it was the right
decision, and that the hand of God seeks to be
revealed as we all walk into the face of violence in
this century.

Today is December 1st. In 25 days Christians will be
joined by people of many faiths to celebrate the Price
of Peace. He came in weakness, as a baby, in a time
when terrorism was rampant. A few days after his
birth, innocent male children were declared enemies of
the state and killed. A lot of people must have
thought that this was a poor way to begin the peace
project.

Now, just as in the time of Jesus, the earth and its
people hang in the balance. The outcome of this
abduction of my co-workers is not only in the hands of
hostage takers and persons working tirelessly to seek
their release. The outcome of this event is also in
your hands, in my hands.

I write to encourage your prayers for the hostages,
the hostage takers, for Iraqi people who face this
every day and for the good that can come from this
event. Your prayers for the immediate outcome and for
our common willingness to embrace sacrifice and risk
are a fundamental part of our commitment to the Christ
who had to flee to Egypt because of state sponsored
terrorism.

I know that I speak for at least two of the CPT
hostages with whom I have worked directly that their
desire is that this situation will be used to awaken
the soul of our age, to bring us to deeper unity,
vision, and the practical arts of peacemaking.

With much thankfulness for colleagues in the journey.

Gene Stoltzfus

for complete up to date information go to www.cpt.org

Gene Stoltzfus ( US mail )
P. O. Box 1482
International Falls MN 56649

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