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Guadalupe Tepeyac, Chiapas, Mexico - Three members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPTers) today began a fast in front of the military base in this abandoned town in the Lacandon jungle. They are demanding that the federal government of Mexico withdraw its troops and return the land to its rightful owners, who fled almost six years ago upon the arrival of the army. The three CPTers will stay in front of the base for three days and nights, praying every four hours that the new government of President Vicente Fox Quesada will follow through on its commitments to demilitarize the indigenous communities of Mexico. Each night they will light 80 candles, one for each family displaced from Guadalupe Tepeyac by the military presence.

Erin Kindy, a member of the group, said, "During this extended Christmas season, we remember that Jesus Christ was born in a stable because there was no room at the inn. He was not born into a rich or powerful family, but of poor parents. He and his family had to flee to Egypt because of the violence of the government. These days in Chiapas many children are born like Jesus, poor and displaced, suffering in inadequate housing, because their parents had to flee the militarization and para-militarization of their lands. Today we say that the time has come to end the military occupation of the indigenous lands of Chiapas, so that the displaced of Guadalupe Tepeyac and other communities can return to their houses and lands."

Kindy added that the three fasters, from the United States and Canada, recognize that their governments share the blame for creating the conditions under which the indigenous communities of Chiapas have been militarized.

The Chiapas CPT Team requests that you write Mexican President Vicente Fox (See January 4 release: Chiapas, Mexico: Your Action invited for Guadalupe Tepeyac) to encourage him to demilitarize the indigenous communities of Chiapas. Team members also request your prayers and/or fasting in solidarity with the action in Guadalupe Tepeyac.

Kindy (North Manchester, IN, USA), Carl Meyer (Goshen, IN, USA), and William Payne (Toronto, ON, Canada) are participating in the fast. Other team members include Frank Moore (Chiapas, Mexico) and Lynn Stoltzfus (Harrisonburg, VA, USA).