CPTnet
October 10, 2002
COLOMBIA: CPT workers detained by Colombian authorities

Two Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) volunteers, Lisa Martens, 25
(Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Ben Horst, 23 (Evanston, Illinois), were detained
by officials of the Administrative Security Department of Colombia (DAS in
Spanish) and by Colombian military personnel at about 10 p.m. onOctober 8,
2002.

Earlier in the day, Martens and Horst, both Mennonites, had accompanied a
Colombian woman who was bringing the body of her husband from a nearby
village to the central Colombian city of Yondo for burial. The woman had
requested international accompaniment for herself and the other civilians
who made the trip with her because of her fear of violence.

The detentions were a matter of major concern to Colombian and international
workers because they could represent new restrictions on organizations
working with people whom armed groups have threatened with death or
persecution.

CPT regularly supports civilians who are in physical and emotional pain
because
of the ubiquitous violence in Colombia.

"To accompany a bereaved widow with her husband's body, so that it may be
treated and buried with dignity, is in keeping with CPT's work wherever CPT
has carried out projects," said Gene Stoltzfus, international director of
CPT. Martens and Horst emphasized that none of the civilians were members of
any illegal
armed group, nor were any armed.

On the morning of October 9, CPT staff contacted government officials in
both Canada and the United States to seek the release of Martens and Horst.
Officials from both countries were in contact with Colombian officials
throughout the day, and by late afternoon Martens and Horst were released
without
charges. Martens reported by phone, "We called to mind the great cloud of
witnesses in heaven who are concerned for us and the people of Colombia," as
she described their prayer times while in detention.

CPT still does not understand why the authorties detained Martens and Horst,
but hopes that the Colombian government better understands the work of CPT
after this event. President Uribe has stated that his government is
committed to the protection of human rights. CPT hopes that Colombian and
international human rights organizations will be able to continue their work
of defending the human rights of unarmed civilians caught in the bloody
conflict that grips Colombia.

CPT has had a violence-reduction team in Barrancabermeja, Colombia since
May, 2001 at the invitation of the Colombian Mennonite Church. CPT members
accompany civilians who are in danger because of the violence that has
gripped Colombia for several decades. CPT does not accompany members of
armed
groups, nor anyone who is armed. Present team members are Ben Horst
(Evanston, IL), Lisa Martens (Winnipeg, MB), Lena Siegers (Blythe, ON) and
Scott Albrecht (Waterloo, ON).