Guatemalan President intervenes for Earthrace crew

by Powerboat-World on 27 Mar 2007 While attempting a world record circumnavigation, the bio-diesel powered trimaran Earthrace collided with a small fishing boat killing one fisherman and injuring another. Earthrace's insurers have settled with the families. Now skipper Peter Bethune is waiting for his day in court and the Guatemalan President has intervened.

Peter Bethune reports..

'Capitan. Human Rights are here to see you.' It’s the Comandante and he looks a little worried.

Wow. I wasn’t expecting to see them. Four people are escorted in and the Comandante leaves us to it.

'How have you been treated', is their first question. 'Well', I start, 'the Comandante and everyone here have done an outstanding job in looking after us. But I am surprised that I can be held here for five days with no charges being laid.'

'But they cannot hold you for five days', comes the translation, 'they can only hold you for 48 hours.' Now this is news to me. It means I’ve been detained illegally if they’re right. What have my lawyers been up to I’m wondering?

We call in the Comandante and he explains he is simply obeying orders. We ask to see the orders, and he produces an official note from the Ministerio Publico. The Human Rights people pore over the document, and there is much debate in Spanish. '

It seems', starts one of them, 'that this document is invalid because it has not been signed by a Judge, and only a Judge can request people be detained. Secondly it can only be used for up to 48 hours before charges must be laid. 'So that means, I can walk out of here now', I ask? 'Yes you can.' El Comandate looks concerned.

'Capitan. I am given my orders to detain you and keep you safe. This I have done. And I still have those orders.' There is more debate in Spanish, with the Human Rights people arguing that the orders are invalid.

Finally the Comandante turns to me. 'Capitan. You can leave this base. But I am requesting you not to.

When you first arrived here', he goes on, 'I received a call from the Minister of Defence, my boss, and he told me to ensure your safety. I then received the paper orders from Ministerio Publico with the same request. If you leave and anything happens, it will be very bad for me. I think about this for a few minutes. I’m certainly tired of being detained. While I can go anywhere on the base, there’s just nothing to do. You don’t realise how valuable your freedom is until it’s taken from you.

But if I leave now, the military, who until now have been extremely supportive of us, may suddenly withdraw their support. My goal is to get my crew and Earthrace out of here as quickly as I can, and if I piss off the Comandante, it might end up costing us more time.

'Comandante', I say, 'I will remain here, but only as a favour to you.' He shakes my hand graciously and has a relived smile on his face. 'Capitan. Capitan. You like beer?' Its early evening and the officers are heading off to their bar for a few beers.

They trundle me in the back of a beat up old Toyota. My shadow suddenly realises he’s about to lose me and comes running up to stop us, but Munyos plants his foot and we’re off. I look back at the comical sight of my shadow running after the car and waving, and the Officers in the car all having a good laugh. We’re onto our second beer before my shadow finally makes his way up beside me.

I pat his shoulder and offer him a beer. He steels a quick glance at the Officers all around and declines. 'Is it OK if he has a drink', I ask Senior Munyos? The officers have a quick debate then pass him a beer. He wolfs it down eagerly. Thirsty little bugger I think to myself. A few hours later and we’ve moved onto Ciclon and Vodkas. Really strong ones.

We’re down to the hard core half dozen officers by now, and it seems a bender is unfolding. My shadow has fallen asleep, the concoction of beer and vodkas too much for his tiny frame. Things move on to one of the Officers rooms to finish off the final few packs of beer.

The Captain who had escorted us last weekend disappears, then returns and asks for quiet. 'Capitan' he says ceremoniously, 'this is the badge I received for outstanding service in the Guatemalan Navy, and I would like you to have it.' He proffers s a gold badge out in the palms of his hands.

I’m starting to think it’s just a drunken gift, because we’ve all had a skinful by now. All the Officers however are deftly quiet and looking at me expectantly. Man this is too much. I start to decline and he holds up his hands for me to stop speaking. 'We here are all men of the sea. And everyone in this room has respect for what you are doing.

And we all have respect for what you did last weekend. And I will be honoured if you will accept this.' I finally agree to accept his badge, but there’s a pang of guilt that I shouldn’t be taking it. A fisherman was killed last week by a vessel that I was Captain of, and I just don’t think I should receive such a precious gift from these generous people.

A few minutes later and Munyos takes me aside, explaining that the badge is a very high honour in the Guatemalan Navy, and that he has never heard of anyone giving one away before. A short while later and I’m crashed out on my bunk,

'Capitan. It seems you have friends in high places.' The Comandante is standing by my bed and I’m sporting a massive hangover, the taste of Vodka still in my mouth. I pick up my cell phone and its 10am already.

'Last night', he continues, as I look up at him blearily, 'some people who know you, called El Presidente and informed him of your situation. He has now issued direct orders that you are to be released, and you can go where you like in Guatemala, as long as you are back to meet the Judge on Monday.

A car will arrive here shortly with two guards, and they will take you wherever you would like to go for the weekend. El Presidente also has a beautiful house here in Puerto Quetzal. He says you are his guest, and you are welcome to stay at his house if you like.

Wicked wicked wicked. 'I’d really like to go to Antigua to be with my crew please.' This is about an hour away. As I’m packing my things he sees the gold medal from last night. I’m embarrassed and not really sure what to say about it. And I’m not sure he’d approve of his men giving away their hard won medals to people they’re detaining.

'I think', says the Comandante, as I stuff the last of my cloths away, 'that you have many friends who help you. The arm is raised at the gatehouse and we get waved through. I get my first glimpse of Guatemala outside the military base, and I wonder again at how lucky we are in having so many supporters.

Ryan Kiefer, this amazing guy who helped us in Charleston for a couple of weeks put it very well. 'Earthrace is like a vortex', he said. 'It sucks you in and it’s hard to escape.'

Which is really close to the truth. But there’s also an energy and magic about this team that is very intoxicating. The countryside starts to roll by. Freedom. Ha-ha.