September 2nd, 2004

Unexpected visitors and action by Dutch Minister

Minister of Foreign affairs Bot requests Portuguese colleague Monteiro to admit the Borndiep

  • Bot

    Bot

Pressured by the Dutch members of Parliament Bot contacted the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the Borndiep. Bot says he respects the decision of the Portuguese government but kindly requests them to allow the ship in their territorial waters.

In the meantime, very early in the Morning a representatives of the PSD and CD, the Portuguese government parties try to visit the ship without notifying us. Much to their surprise we are waiting for them on the quayside. As if they never read any newspaper, the representatives claim that they thought we would be staying at the ship. They decide to cancel their trip and instead invite us for a meeting. We schedule the meeting for later that afternoon.
The representatives are inviting us for an open debate concerning abortion to show that they are very willing to have a debate. But we believe that there cannot be a fair and open debate when the government determine the conditions and abuse their power to prevent us from using the means with which we choose to express our opinion and to provide information. The ship and the mobile treatment room \ art work are our ways of expressing ourselves, a fundamental human right.
The Portuguese government clearly only wants an abstract debate but they do not want to change the reality and suffering of Portuguese women.

Women on Waves does not just want an abstract debate but wanted to be able to show a safe and legal alternative, which would treat women with dignity. By preventing the ship from entering we are being censured, and kept from providing objective scientific information.

After the meeting we realize that it was only set up to recapture the media attention and misleading the public by claiming they are open for any debate.

In the middle of the night a tiny little anti-abortion rights movement gathered before the Figueira da Foz town hall to hang posters sponsored by Human Life International
The gathered participants were almost all men, and justified the lack of women by saying that the women were at home taking care of the babies.

  • anti politicians 2

    anti politicians 2

  • anti politicians

    anti politicians

  • minister of foreign affairs Monteiro

    minister of foreign affairs Monteiro

  • dutch minister of foreign affairs Bot

    dutch minister of foreign affairs Bot

  • 16 th of September: 

    Riot in EU

    Two days after the ship arrived back in the Netherlands and the treatment stored again till the next campaign, the European Parliament debates the events in Portugal.
    This is what Constant Brand, an associated press writer, reports

  • 12 th of September, 2004: 

    Opinion polls

    As planned the Dutch Women on Waves team flies back home. But since the ship has left, some opinion polls have been published,

  • 10 th of September, 2004: 

    Medics for freedom

    Specialists, general physicians, nurses and midwives come from all over Portugal to attend the workshop for medical professionals.

  • September 9th, 2004: 

    Borndiep heads back home

    But the battle continues.

    For the last time the Portuguese shuttle boat visits the Borndiep in international waters to brings the last supplies before the ship will sail back to the Netherlands later that afternoon. It is the last opportunity for journalists to see the ship.

  • 8 th of September, 2004: 

    Rumours of prosecution

    The Misoprostol webpage and the medicines Cytotec and Arthrotec are shown all over the television and in the newspapers.

  • 7th of September, 2004: 

    Talkshow Teachings: how to induce abortion

    Describing abortion procedures to the housewives of Portugal

    On Tuesday morning, Rebecca Gomperts was featured on the Portuguese talkshow SIC 10 horas, in a show titled: Face to Face Abortion Boat. This Portuguese talkshow does not perhaps contain the most cutting edge reporting, but does reach thousands of Portuguese women.

  • 7 th of September, 2004: 

    Live on television

    Explaning how to do an abortion on television

  • September 6th, 2004: 

    Going to court

    Yes, you have freedom of speech, just not here.

    The fundamental rights to freedom of movement, information, reunion, expression and manifestation of the ship’s crew, Women on Waves and the Portuguese organisations are violated by the decision of Paulo Portas and we have asked the judge to overturn the decision and allow the ship to enter in the harbour.

  • 5 th of September, 2004: 

    Art and Politics

  • 4 th of September, 2004: 

    More dutchies

    Two Dutch MPs come to show support for Women on Waves

    The Dutch members of Parliament Lousewies van der Laan from Democrats 66 (D66) and Khadija Arib from the Labor Party (PvdA) fly to Portugal. This evening they participate in a discussion with the Portuguese Socialist Party (PS), the Left Block (BE) and the Communist Party.

  • september 3 rd, 2004: 

    Feed me, Paste me

    The Borndiep is out of fuel and running low on drinking water. Once more the captain requests to enter the port, this time only to refuel. The harbor authorities do not even answer on the emergency channel.

  • September 3rd, 2004: 

    Small, calm, quiet, hidden

    A tiny little pro life movement, at night, in the middle of nowhere

    At 1:00AM a Catholic church group gathered before the Figueira da Foz town hall to hang pro life posters sponsered by Human Life International and Pró Vida e Pró Familia Brasil. The slogan was: Who loves does not kill.

  • 1 th of september, 2004: 

    Manifestation in Lisbon

    About 250 people protest against the decision of the Portuguese government to forbid the Women on Waves ship to enter Portugal outside the official residence of the prime minister of Portugal, Santana Lopes in Lisbon.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    Real People Speak

    finally, between the press, public is showing up to voice their opinion

    Politicians have been making statements left and right, the European Commission has started grinding, the press has been all over since the beginning, activism organizations have been mobilizing their volunteers, but now, now finally Portuguese people are starting to voice their opinion on abortion and the coming of the Borndiep.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    Politicians denied permission

    Stopped by their own military

    The Portuguese Parliamentarians, Francisco Louçã from the Portuguese Left Block, Jamila Madeira, member of European Parliament and Odete Santos from the Communist Party attempt to sail the Borndiep into Portuguese waters, but are stopped by the surrounding military boats.

  • 31st of August, 2004: 

    What's happening on the internet?

    Quoting the internet forum from Correio Manha

  • 30th of August, 2004: 

    Borndiep still in international waters

    politicians will not back down

    In an effort to help realize Women on Waves' goals, Juventude Socialista (JS), the youth section of Portugal's Socialist Party (PS), sails to the Borndiep and holds a press conference there.

  • 30th of August, 2004: 

    F 486 against RU 486

    The Portuguese navy has 4 ships of this type. Why did they send us the 486?

    A closer-up picture of the F486 Baptista de Andrade, the war ship that is blocking Borndiep's way. Would the Portugese navy know that Mifepristone, the abortion pill, is also known as RU 486? Are they making fun of us?

  • 29th of August, 2004: 

    War?!

    Does abortion justify military intervention?

    Two Portuguese war ships monitor the movements of the Borndiep during 24 hours to prevent the ship from entering national waters. The captain continues to ask for permission to enter the harbor of Figueira da Foz. Unfortunately the harbor authorities are not responding to its attempt to communicate.

  • 28 th of august, 2004: 

    Entry ship denied

    Portas, open sesame!

    In the afternoon we have an improvised press conference after we hear that the Portuguese Minister of defense Paulo Portas refused the Women on Waves ship “Borndiep�? permission to enter national waters.

  • 27 th of august, 2004: 

    Requesting permission to enter the harbor of Figueira da Foz

    In the morning Women on Waves visits the harbormaster of Figueira da Foz and officially requests him to authorize their entrance into the harbor.