© Noom Srithanomwong
Amrit is a deckhand from India on board the Rainbow Warrior.
Greetings from the Rainbow Warrior II - Greenpeace's flagship. For those who don't know, the Rainbow Warrior I lies at the bottom of the sea today, in New Zealand. Bombed by the French Secret service in 1985 for its continuous work against nuclear testing, it bears testimony to the sheer commitment and dedication of this organisation to the environment and non-violent activism.
The Rainbow Warrior II was supposed to dock in Jakarta on the 13th of October. We were hoping to be visited by high level officials from Indonesia. However, none of it ever happened. On October 13 we were told by the port control of Indonesia that we weren't allowed to enter due to lack of permission. It was a bit surprising, but we were not too alarmed.
However as the days progressed, it seemed likely that there was more willingness to keep us out of Indonesia than get us into it. The ship apparently had to get permission from the Ministry of External Affairs, which was being pondered over. They pondered over and over and over. Today is the 21st of October and they are still pondering. Meanwhile, rainforests keep on being destroyed.
We were running out of food (environmental activists have a rather good appetite, you know). So, on the 20th of October we were told we could approach the port and take food supplies (by boat). The government had apparently allowed us to enter the anchorage and resupply. Walter, our excellent cook, had big dreams of tomatoes and vegetables and curry and soup, which were shattered by two Indonesian navy vessels on the horizon. If only the government could act as quickly on stopping deforestation as they did in getting the navy ships to visit us.
Needless to say, they were not carrying our supplies. Instead, they told us to turn around and go out 25 miles at full speed as they escorted us. We complied out of respect. Later we heard on the radio that the Indonesian navy ship was congratulating itself for stopping our blocking of the Jakarta port...
My condolences to poor Walter - looks like it’s going to be rice and water all the way to our next port. Gandhi undertook a fast unto death for India’s freedom so we can definitely have a little less luxury for the planet!
I am still really glad we came to Indonesia. We might not have received the best hospitality from the Indonesian government but the fact that they went so far just to keep us out of the country gives me hope that we must have done something right. I feel upset only for our crew member Noom, an excellent electrician from Thailand, who couldn't get home to his pregnant wife (he will be a father in less than a month) due to the Indonesian government's actions.
The Rainbow Warrior is escorted by an Indonesian navy vessel, © Noom Srithanomwong.
The crew of the Rainbow Warrior holds a banner reading "How are you? Hopefully we will meet soon" in Indonesian. © Greenpeace.
Above:
Amrit, deckhand from India, © Noom Srithanomwong.
Agus, deckhand from Indonesia, © Noom Srithanomwong.