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Messages to-date:
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Message 1: Station Seizure Info
Message 2: Morning meeting with fishermen
Message 3: Restrictions and Baltra road.
Message 4: Entry.
Message 5: Rebellion
Message 6: Takeover of INGALA
(Two un-numbered messages
Message 7: Tuesday Morning
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It was an interesting night. We were informed there might be a
military action and that we should keep everyone together (which
was our plan anyway.) We held a meeting, and at the Port Captain's
request we didn't say there was a possibility of any kind of
operation. We just said it was a good idea to have a "slumber"
party for the night.
Soon after, we began receiving threats that the fishermen had two
objectives for the night, to burn something, and to hang
someone.
The park director, who was keeping a low profile in his house, was
escorted out of the park by some military. To my knowledge no
military responded to our calls for guards (same as previous
occasions).
I was worried that if the park director was away, the next
"hanging" target might be Chantal.
At my urging Chantal agreeded to go with me into hiding for at
least part of the evening. During the night Chantal continued to
communicate with staff members and other friendly towns people via
hand-held VHF radio. The conversation were mostly held in French,
which we figured the fishermen wouldn't know.
The decision was made to evacuate the staff via boat. During the
evacuation it was discovered that the fishermen had placed nets in
the shallow waters surrounding the station to make passage
difficult.
Most of the staff left. During the night we could see fires, but
don't know what was burning. We have had a report that the military
confronted the fishermen and caught them ready to do damage to park
equipment (and perhaps succeed).
I cannot give more information, we just got to the office and
Chantal is collecting information. Full details will follow.
We are all OK, but I understand the fishermen still control the
entrance.
Jim
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Students and visiting scientists
await evacuation
via small boats, under cover of darkness, to safety on the other
side of Academy Bay. |
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