Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

CHICAGO, IL - Since the May 4 arrests of hundreds of people on the island of Vieques, the organizers of the year long nonviolent witness against the U.S. naval base there are regrouping and requesting the presence of internationals to stand in solidarity with them. Accordingly, CPT is calling for people to join its delegation to Puerto Rico (July 20-July 30.) Participants should come prepared to worship and to engage in nonviolent direct action.

The May delegation to Vieques resulted in several participants getting arrested--along with hundreds of other people--as they prayed with an ecumenical religious group on the bombing range inside the naval base. All were released without charges. Spirits are high among the Puerto Ricans who prevented naval maneuvers for a whole year and called attention to the damage that the bombings have caused to the environment and the health of the Vieques' 9000 inhabitants. They are convinced that their nonviolent witness will succeed in winning their island back.

Costs for the Puerto Rico trip are $250 U.S. dollars, plus airfare to San Juan. Interested people should contact JoAnne Lingle, guest.90199@MennoLink.org, 317-545-1305 for information.

There are still openings for the delegation to Palestine/Israel (July 21-August 3) as well. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's coalition is on the verge of collapse as he and the Palestinian Authority begin final status negotiations. In the meantime, the Israeli military continues to confiscate Palestinian land and demolish Palestinian homes. Delegates are needed to provide the eyewitness reporting of events there that the North American media ignores.

Cost for the Middle East delegation is $1700 U.S. dollars, which includes airfare. Interested people should contact Rich Meyer cptcsd@npcc.net, 219-642-3920.

An application form for both delegations may be found on CPT's web site: http://www.prairienet.org/cpt/