#18 More on March

#18 More on March
Tue, 12 Sep 1995 13:40:57 -0600 (GMT-0600)

Last few Messages:
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Message 14: Friday morning
Message 15: Saturday evening
Message 16: Tuesday morning
Message 17: March Alert!!!
Message 18: More on march.
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Mrs Genoveva Aguirre (a member of the Strike Committee) spoke on Local Pto. Ayora radio at 12:00 PM today to say that diputado Eduardo Veliz is coming today to Pto. Ayora.

She called all citizens of Pto. Ayora to join a peaceful march, to show that (they) are not only 4 people, and to show that they cannot be displaced. They are trying to demonstrate their strength of numbers.

She pronounced herself against the Comite de Paz y Bienestar (Committee for Peace and Well-Being) which recently formed. She continued with with a long message complaining about all faults of the Central Government, the park, etc.

As a precaution we are sending the CDRS staff home early, (with skiffs leaving ) at 15:00 and 15:30 approximately.

We have notified the Marines.

Updates to follow.

Jim

Matriarch Genoveva Aguirre (note her cooking pot) and military man chat during he takeover of Park Service offices -- artistic representation in papier-mache by townspeople during ano viejo celebrations. As is customary for all ano viejo displays, this one was burned on NewYear's Eve, 1995, symbolically cleansing the event from the collective memory.

[NOTE: Mrs. Genoveva Aguirre was matriarch to a large family of fishermen and merchants centered on Santa Cruz island where the main Station and Park offices were located. Cook and advisor to the strikers, she provided a moderating influence over some of the hot-heads who led the strike.

The Committee for Peace and Well-Being was formed by members of the tourism community and transport union (both powerful elements of the local economy), merchants, educators, resource managers, scientists, and various long-term Galapagos residents who opposed the strikers' tactics. The Committee supported the Park and Station in their on-going efforts in environmental education and a scientific approach to peaceful conflict resolution. In general, the Committee supported existing Ecuadorian governmental efforts to plan, manage, and control growth and development in the Galapagos. ]