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Christina Haverkamp, from our project partner Yanomami-Hilfe e.V., is in mortal danger in Venezuela. As you may recall, thanks to your donations, Tulisa was able to provide radio equipment for the indigenous health service on behalf of her organisation.
Last week, our board member and doctor, Dr Dirk Englisch, received the following urgent email from Christina Haverkamp:
+++ Sent: Wednesday, 25 February 2015 at 7.15 pm +++
Hello dear Dirk,
please read this email, which I sent to a friend in Germany with the previous link in the other email,
I need your assessment and opinion!
Many thanks.
The situation is more difficult and dangerous than I had thought.
It’s hard to put into words.
Christina
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Hello dear Fin,
I hope I can finish writing this email in peace.
I’ve just received an urgent warning at 11 pm from Caracas from Enrique Tapir, a confidant at the Ministry of Health for Indigenous Peoples, telling me that I must leave Puerto Ayacucho immediately!!!!
The Ministry of Health has received a secret call stating that I am suspected of espionage and that the police will arrest me at any time from tomorrow onwards.
Enrique said I must take this warning extremely seriously and should get myself to safety as quickly as possible and not stay at the Hotel Amazonas any longer. At the moment, there is no rule of law in Venezuela. None of the political prisoners arrested in recent days are receiving a fair trial. All foreigners working with indigenous peoples are suspected by Nizia Maldonado – who controls the military in Amazonas State – of inciting people against the government.
I have tried five times in the last week in Puerto Ayacucho to speak to Nizia Maldonado. She refused to see me! She hates all foreigners. I wanted to explain my long-standing work with the Yanomami to her calmly, but she didn’t give me a chance. She wields immense power and works very, very closely with President Maduro. She can decide who is arrested here, even without a warrant!
I won’t get a peaceful night’s sleep tonight and will head straight to Bishop Divasion with my rucksack first thing tomorrow morning. He knows me and has long valued my work.
A group of Yanomami, including the Horonami spokesperson Luis Shatiwe, have been outside Puerto Ayacucho for a few days now. As I’ve already written, Luis Shatiwe was threatened and beaten up after the demonstration and has been very afraid to appear in public ever since.
The situation is unbearable and very difficult to comprehend. From now on, I’ll send you a short email or give you a call every day so that you know I’m still safe. If you don’t hear from me for two days, please ring the following people:…
Unfortunately, my mobile doesn’t work for international calls.
I hadn’t realised this mission would be so dangerous.Best wishes from the Hotel Amazonas (in Puerto Ayachucho, Ed.)
Christina
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Christina Haverkamp
Hökerberg 1
24241 Blumenthal
Tel: 04347-70 81 34
www.yanomami-hilfe.de
Dear donors, please follow the link below to read an NDR report:
NDR report: A dangerous mission for the Yanomami (archive version)
A dangerous mission for the Yanomami
by Fin Walden
Please do read it; it will help you understand even better why your donations are so important, and ensure that Christina remains in the public eye and is not forgotten, especially at this time!
We will, of course, keep you up to date!