Iowa woman to return to Iraq

Hi everyone, here's our latest press release, please feel free to
distribute it to your local media outlets.


May 1, 2004

IRAQ: Christian Peacemaker Teams to Return to Iraq on May 3, 2004

On May 3rd, two members of Christian Peacemaker Teams will return to Iraq
to explore conditions for the team's full return. Stewart Vriesinga
(Lucknow,ON) and Le Anne Clausen (Mason City, IA) will consult with Iraqi
and international human rights workers, religious leaders, and other Iraqi
community representatives to determine current priorities for CPT's
violence-reduction work, and the ability of the team to operate under
current conditions. Additional team members in Amman are prepared to
enter Iraq if circumstances allow.

Given the special risks to foreigners in the past month as well as
concerns of the team's family, friends, and colleagues, members of CPT
Iraq have prepared the following statement in preparation for their
return. This release is being distributed to international and Iraqi
media sources.



CPT Iraq Statement of Conviction:

CPT Iraq evacuated to Amman on April 14th, at the urging of our Iraqi
partners and friends due to the deteriorating conditions within the
country. Now, with support from our Iraqi contacts, we are returning to
determine whether we can continue our work of witnessing to justice and
peace where there is violence.

We are aware of the risks both Iraqis and internationals face at this
time. However, we are convinced that these risks are not disproportionate
to our purposes in returning, nor greater than the risks faced by
soldiers, other armed actors, or fellow human rights workers.

Iraqi friends and human rights workers have welcomed us as a nonviolent,
independent presence. They ask us to tell their stories, since they
cannot easily be heard, nor can most flee to a safer country. They ask us
to be the eyes and ears recording the abuses of the occupation and the
devastating effects of violence. Especially when other international
monitoring bodies have pulled out, our presence provides a vital
link between people in North America and Iraq.

We believe that all life is sacred, regardless of one's country or
religion. As a peacemaking team we need to cross boundaries, trust that
both soldiers and militia are human beings capable of compassion, and
invite them to refuse unjust orders. We need to help preserve what is
human in all of us and so offer glimpses of hope in a dark time.

We reject the use of violent force to save our lives should we be
kidnapped or caught in the middle of a violent conflict situation. We
also reject violence to punish anyone who harms us, and we ask that there
be no retaliation against such a person's relatives or property. We
forgive those who consider us to be their enemies. Therefore, any response
should be in the form of rehabilitation rather than in the spirit of
revenge.

We hope that in loving both friends and enemies and by intervening
nonviolently to aid those who are systematically oppressed, we can
contribute in some small way to transforming this volatile situation.

(Signed)
Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq:
Matthew Chandler (Portland, OR)
Le Anne Clausen (Mason City, IA)
Sheila Provencher (South Bend, IN)
Greg Rollins (Surrey, BC)
Stewart Vreisinga (Lucknow, ON)