April 22, Thursday. The three members of the CPT team traveled to the
displaced community of Acteal for a few days. They experienced no
exceptional difficulties at the two immigration checkpoints on the road,
arriving in time to attend the monthly mass in memory of the 45 people --
all members of the pacifist group Las Abejas -- who were killed here in
December 1997. This service honored children who survived the massacre and
brothers and sisters of the 17 children who died.

April 23, Friday. A three-member delegation from the U.S. arrived in
Acteal. CPTers joined them to meet with the board of directors of Las
Abejas ("The Bees"). The Abejas are a non-politically aligned group whose
Christian faith calls them to non-violence. There are now has some 4000
members in this area of Chiapas. They were founded in 1992 when 400 of them
marched to the capital, protesting the unjust incarceration of five men.
The Abejas support the justice issues, but not the use of weapons, of the
Zapatistas.
The visiting internationals, including CPTers, attended the evening
prayers of the Abejas in Acteal, which on this day were held at the chapel
where the massacre took place.

April 24, Saturday. CPTers met with members of the Abejas board to share
with them more about the team's work and ask for their ideas about what
future directions CPT might take in the area. The Abejas expressed
appreciation for CPT's presence with them and for the Holy Week vigil of
prayer and fasting which CPTers undertook with Abejas in the nearby
community of X'oyep. The Abejas asked that CPT's broader community pray
that the Abejas in Chiapas might be faithful in their prayers and fasting
for a just peace.

April 25, Sunday. The CPT team traveled in the back of a
truck to the nearby autonomous (Zapatista) community of Polho. There are
more than 5000 people living here who have been displaced from six
different villages.
CPTers attended the Presbyterian church, a 20-minute hike on a hilly path
from the center of the community. The church was filled with perhaps 400
indigenous men, women and children. Midway through the three-hour service
the team was invited to share a few words. The team sang "Marching in
the Light of God" in Spanish.