The boat of the Greek coast guard that blocks the "dignity" in a Cretan port. (HQ)
For two hours, late Wednesday afternoon, the "Dignity" is moored at Ormos Kouremenos, a small port in the far east of Crete. He needs to replenish fuel one last time before sailing to Gaza.
Suddenly, as he has already recovered 1,000 liters and is awaiting a second delivery, a gunboat of Greek coast guard emerges. The passengers immediately understand. In this small bay where there are only fishing boats made of wood, they know it is there for them. The star is approaching, an unmarked car also happens.
The Coast Guard asking politely papers. Thus began a two-hour discussion and document control board where everything is carefully checked. Activists trample board.
"It's too bad", they say all. This was the last step before the great crossing. A dozen men in uniform, very polite, surround the Dignity. They multiply the phone calls, presumably to refer to a distant authority. The Coast Guard require passports, they note carefully the names.
They do not find much wrong with the boat. The captain did not hold a logbook and the costs of entry into the marina, 30 euros, not resolved. Except that in this small fishing harbor no, there was no place to declare their arrival. We must wait. Passengers prepare to eat the menu that night, chicken pasta, coppa and lentils.
In the meantime they keep the papers of the boat to make photocopies. They ensure that there is no problem. One of them apologized repeatedly: "Sorry." Omeyya Seddik, one of the passengers replied, "You do your job, it's normal."
The "Dignity" off again at night to the port of Xinthya, escorted by the Coast Guard feature that goes straight. Too fast. many times it seems to disappear into the night as if in the back she would not be followed.
Passengers do not know how to react. What to do? Keep a slim hope? Or contact immediately surrounding the inquiry may be sure they will not leave then? They doubted, they feel that there was not that of the Greeks among the Coast Guard and the people who wandered around and took pictures.
Three days they are at sea, three days they play cat and mouse without really knowing if he is a cat. The dignity can not will go to Gaza. It was the only ship of the "Freedom Flotilla" that has managed to sail and have a time hoped to win Gaza. He finally went a little further than others, probably not enough. "We are all committed" they said. "Tomorrow if we can go, we continue to Gaza."
Suddenly, as he has already recovered 1,000 liters and is awaiting a second delivery, a gunboat of Greek coast guard emerges. The passengers immediately understand. In this small bay where there are only fishing boats made of wood, they know it is there for them. The star is approaching, an unmarked car also happens.
The Coast Guard asking politely papers. Thus began a two-hour discussion and document control board where everything is carefully checked. Activists trample board.
"It's too bad", they say all. This was the last step before the great crossing. A dozen men in uniform, very polite, surround the Dignity. They multiply the phone calls, presumably to refer to a distant authority. The Coast Guard require passports, they note carefully the names.
They do not find much wrong with the boat. The captain did not hold a logbook and the costs of entry into the marina, 30 euros, not resolved. Except that in this small fishing harbor no, there was no place to declare their arrival. We must wait. Passengers prepare to eat the menu that night, chicken pasta, coppa and lentils.
"Sorry"
Eventually the Coast Guard announced that we must follow them in another good sign for port authorities and the "Dignity" will leave the next morning. It is 22 hours.In the meantime they keep the papers of the boat to make photocopies. They ensure that there is no problem. One of them apologized repeatedly: "Sorry." Omeyya Seddik, one of the passengers replied, "You do your job, it's normal."
The "Dignity" off again at night to the port of Xinthya, escorted by the Coast Guard feature that goes straight. Too fast. many times it seems to disappear into the night as if in the back she would not be followed.
Passengers do not know how to react. What to do? Keep a slim hope? Or contact immediately surrounding the inquiry may be sure they will not leave then? They doubted, they feel that there was not that of the Greeks among the Coast Guard and the people who wandered around and took pictures.
Three days they are at sea, three days they play cat and mouse without really knowing if he is a cat. The dignity can not will go to Gaza. It was the only ship of the "Freedom Flotilla" that has managed to sail and have a time hoped to win Gaza. He finally went a little further than others, probably not enough. "We are all committed" they said. "Tomorrow if we can go, we continue to Gaza."
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