29-08-04, 17:15 hours: The Portugese Navy circles the Women on Waves ship and orders the ship to stop approaching Portugal. Photo: Nadya Peek for Women on Waves.
In this day-to-day diary, read what happened during the Women on Waves campaign in Portugal.
Sunday, 29-08-04 17:00; After receiving no response from the harbour authorities to repeated requests for permission to enter, Ms Borndiep slowly started to sail for the coast. Within minutes, the portugese Navy appeared at the horizon and ordered the captain to immediately stop moving. Or else...
Saturday 28-08-2004; Women on Waves and the Portuguese Organizations (Acção Jovem para a Paz, Clube Safo, Não Te Prives and UMAR ) which invited Women on Waves to come to Portugal, are giving a public statement at 13.00h, at Café Santa Cruz, Plaça 8 Maio, Coimbra.
Thursday, 26-08-2004; A opinion poll conducted by the Portuguese national newspaper Jornal de Notícias shows that 63% of the respondents are in favour that the boat comes to Portugal.
Tuesday, 24-08-2004, 14:00; Latest news from the ship: we just passed Dover. Rough weather with 25 meter high waves! Everything OK.
Monday, 23-08-2004; The women on Waves ship today set sail to Portugal. In this EU-country, abortion is illegal and women are prosecuted and punished for having abortions.
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.