Christian Peacemakers in Iraq replace team member as crisis continues
-2001/06
One of
Christian Peacemakers in Iraq replace team member as crisis continues
-2001/06
One of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq that included the now-captive Tom Fox, Jim Loney, Norman Kember, and Harmeet Singh Sooden has reluctantly returned to Canada. But he has been replaced by a new volunteer as CPT reorganizes itself on the ground
Two days ago, Greg Rollins from British Colombia left the Christian Peacemaker Teams Baghdad apartment for Amman, Jordan, from where he will gradually make his way back home.
Rollins has vivid memories of the day his friends were captured (26 November 2005), and he admits that he was reluctant to go.
ìThe phrase, ‘leave no one behind,’ constantly runs through my mind,î explains Rollins, aged 33. ìWith my four teammates still missing, I don’t want to leave Iraq. I want to stay.î
He continues: ìIt isn’t that I believe I am the only person who can release our abducted colleaguesóI have confidence in my teammates who remain. It isn’t survivor guilt either. I don’t feel guilty that my friends were taken while I was not. The reason why I don’t want to leave is because it makes me feel as though I have let my four friends down; as though I have not lived up to our bond to look out for each other.î
Says Rollins: ìI am not a soldier, but I understand what soldiers mean when they say, ëleave no one behind.í It is never something that you want to do. It is a break in your bond.î
Greg Rollins joined the Iraq Team in April of 2004 after three years of service with CPT in Israel-Palestine. He began his most recent period of service in Baghdad in early October.
CPT Co-Director and Support Coordinator for the Iraq project, Doug Pritchard, adds: ìIt’s been very intense for our Team in Baghdad, and two months after the beginning of the crisis, they’re in need of a break.î
Pritchard says: ìItís very important that we continue to have good energy focused on justice for all those detained in Iraq, including our four colleagues.î
Rollins is being replaced in Baghdad by Allan Slater of Zorra Township, Ontario.
Slater comments: ìI am not crazy enough to think that my presence in Iraq will miraculously bring peace to Iraqis, get young American soldiers home to their loved ones, and free our four missing comrades.î
But, he says, he does believe that it is important to draw attention to the ìreality of Iraq,î where ìtens of thousands of ordinary Iraqis have been arrested in violent raids and detained in U.S. operated prisons without access to due process.î
ìWar is crazy,î concludes the new volunteer.
[Excerpts from Ekklesia’s extensive coverage of CPT and the Iraq hostage crisis: Jill Carroll’s captors issue videotape demands 17/01/06 Peacemaker vigils in Washington and Toronto focus on Iraq policy 17/01/06 Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four; Briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams; Iraq peacemaker describes the agony of waiting; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush; Al-Jazeera releases film of Iraq peace hostages; Christian peacemakers say the work must go on; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Adopt-an-Iraqi-Detainee programme closed – includes comprehensive list of all Ekklesias coverage; regular updates on FaithInSociety weblog.]
Christian Peacemakers in Iraq replace team member as crisis continues
-2001/06
One of the Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq that included the now-captive Tom Fox, Jim Loney, Norman Kember, and Harmeet Singh Sooden has reluctantly returned to Canada. But he has been replaced by a new volunteer as CPT reorganizes itself on the ground
Two days ago, Greg Rollins from British Colombia left the Christian Peacemaker Teams Baghdad apartment for Amman, Jordan, from where he will gradually make his way back home.
Rollins has vivid memories of the day his friends were captured (26 November 2005), and he admits that he was reluctant to go.
‘The phrase, ‘leave no one behind,’ constantly runs through my mind,’ explains Rollins, aged 33. ‘With my four teammates still missing, I don’t want to leave Iraq. I want to stay.’
He continues: ‘It isn’t that I believe I am the only person who can release our abducted colleaguesóI have confidence in my teammates who remain. It isn’t survivor guilt either. I don’t feel guilty that my friends were taken while I was not. The reason why I don’t want to leave is because it makes me feel as though I have let my four friends down; as though I have not lived up to our bond to look out for each other.’
Says Rollins: ‘I am not a soldier, but I understand what soldiers mean when they say, ëleave no one behind.’ It is never something that you want to do. It is a break in your bond.’
Greg Rollins joined the Iraq Team in April of 2004 after three years of service with CPT in Israel-Palestine. He began his most recent period of service in Baghdad in early October.
CPT Co-Director and Support Coordinator for the Iraq project, Doug Pritchard, adds: ‘It’s been very intense for our Team in Baghdad, and two months after the beginning of the crisis, they’re in need of a break.’
Pritchard says: ‘It’s very important that we continue to have good energy focused on justice for all those detained in Iraq, including our four colleagues.’
Rollins is being replaced in Baghdad by Allan Slater of Zorra Township, Ontario.
Slater comments: ‘I am not crazy enough to think that my presence in Iraq will miraculously bring peace to Iraqis, get young American soldiers home to their loved ones, and free our four missing comrades.’
But, he says, he does believe that it is important to draw attention to the ‘reality of Iraq,’ where ‘tens of thousands of ordinary Iraqis have been arrested in violent raids and detained in U.S. operated prisons without access to due process.’
‘War is crazy,’ concludes the new volunteer.
[Excerpts from Ekklesia’s extensive coverage of CPT and the Iraq hostage crisis: Jill Carroll’s captors issue videotape demands 17/01/06 Peacemaker vigils in Washington and Toronto focus on Iraq policy 17/01/06 Muslim envoy may return to Iraq for CPT four; Briefing on Christian Peacemaker Teams; Iraq peacemaker describes the agony of waiting; Muslims urge release of Christian peacemakers missing in Iraq; Christian Peacemaker Teams seek meeting with President Bush; Al-Jazeera releases film of Iraq peace hostages; Christian peacemakers say the work must go on; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Adopt-an-Iraqi-Detainee programme closed – includes comprehensive list of all Ekklesias coverage; regular updates on FaithInSociety weblog.]