IP: Atrocities in American Airports

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

I have no idea how true this is but it is  getting a lot of play in SA and
the UK. Try putting Ricardo Abude into goggle for references. If true it is
a serious problem.

Dave

------ Forwarded Message
From: 
Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 15:34:46 +0100
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: FW: Atrocities in American Airports

Dave,

I was passed the following by a friend; not verified, nor do I know where it
was originally published, but I thought it might be suitable for IP.

Please don't include my name or email if posted to IP; thanks.

best regards,

xxx

------ Forwarded Message

Atrocities in American Airports
By Ricardo Abude 
      If you, or someone from your family, have any plan to visit the US in
a near future, I strongly suggest you to continue reading this text, where I
describe the experiences I had in LA International Airport, late Feb 24,
2002. 
      My name is Ricardo Abude E. Da Silva, I'm an Electronic Engineer
graduated in 1982 and today am managing our family´s businesses in the
farming sector. My email is ricabude () cpunet com br .
      Throughout my 42 years of age I've travelled several times to the US,
both on business and tourism. Late Feb 23 I embarked in Rio heading to LA,
in possession of my third Visa to the US, issued in November 1999, and valid
until November 2009.
      I was aware of the increased airport security for US trips, due to Sep
11 attacks, and in Rio International Airport one can already notice the
routine change, but I could have never imagined what would happen next.
      From now on I describe, step by step, the horrendous and unimaginable
nightmare that I went through :
      Saturday Feb 23 21:50 hrs I depart from Rio with Varig flight RG 8836,
going to LA. 
      Sunday Feb 24 07:00 hrs I arrive in LA and proceed towards passport
control. The officer looks at my Passport for about five minutes, and asks
me to proceed towards an INS office known as Secondary One. It is the first
time something like that happens to me, but I imagine I´m going to be
interviewed for additional information concerning my stay. Extra safety
measures.... I thought.
      Sunday Feb 24 07:30 hrs A Second officer asks me to collect all my
luggage and accompany him inside Secondary One. ...the interview is going to
be in there... I thought again. All of a sudden, I am brutally pushed inside
a 2x2 yd cell, all my luggage, money, documents and personnal belongings are
confiscated, and they take away my belt and shoe strings.
      As I protest against the unexpected treatment, the two officers
respond with loud screams and threats of beating me and keeping me confined.
I am violently pushed against the wall, they frisk me from head to toe, and
all my personnal belongings are searched.
      Again I'm pushed against the wall, my picture is taken, I'm
fingerprinted and am finally thrown into a filthy, stinky, unventilated
hall, already crowded with people. I notice, by their looks, that they've
gone through the same ritual, and even though I am still stunned by the long
flight, the jet lag, and mainly by the violent, outraging disrespect of
civil and human rights, I face the crude fact of life ...there's no such
thing as interviews. I'm a prisoner.
      Sunday Feb 24 09:00 hrs - The scene resembles a Greek tragedy, a 4x4
yd room, filthy chairs, a stinking black carpet, no ventilation, huge 50 TV
turned on all the time volume blasting. Tired, hungry people, sick people,
people throwing up....worried about a friend, who was waiting for me outside
the airport I ask for a phone call.
      - Shut up! No phone calls. - They answered.
      Sunday Feb 24 10:00 hrs - Arrested, hungry, thirsty, no communication,
and without the slightest ideia of what was going to happen next, I noticed
the continuos flow of tourists coming to our cell and I face the degrading
scandal the very same treatment is given to women, teenagers, children even
elderly people - a truly barbarian act!
      Revolted, I witness two INS officers disputing the priviledge of
frisking the prettiest ladies, without any concern of hiding their sickening
lust from their respective fathers, husbands or brothers, doing their
commentaries, invitations, and obscene declarations right on their faces.
      - I've just frisked a disgusting latino....now it's my turn to frisk
this Italian fox! - stated an Officer to his coleague, refering to the wife
of an Italian tourist. The blunt disrespect made my stomach churn in
revolt.... 
      Kicking, pushing, screaming, threathening, heavily armed bullies
displayed their brutallity, prejudice, and arrogance upon the constant flow
of tourists coming into our cell, getting more and more crowded by the
minute, holding an unbearable stench....
      Sunday Feb 24 14:00 hrs - After seven hours of ordeal, I'm finally
taken to an almost surrealistic interview with Officer Sanchez, and Officer
Lee, both subordinate to Officer Green, from INS. He explains to me that
since all my papers and my Visa were in perfect order, he would kindly give
me two options: 
      - The first was to sign a document in which I requested the withdrawal
of my Visa, returning to Brazil in the first available flight.
      - If I refused to sign the hoax I'd be arrested for an undetermined
period and he'd start a compulsory deportation process, sending me back to
my Country thus. 
      A important detail on the deal - while I refused to sign the document
I'd not receive any food, or water. What would you choose? Oh well, me too.
      Sunday Feb 24 16:00 hrs - I am taken, with another five prisoners, to
a different cell. We are all handcuffed, and escorted by armed officers, we
are made to stroll through the airport lounge. The terrified tourists make
way, frightened by the grotesc scene. They take us all to a Van, parked
outside the terminal, and transfer us to the other cell. The humiliation is
suffocating .... 
      - Sunday Feb 24 17:00 hrs - Apparently, they have forgotten to make me
sign a few forms at the Secondary One, so I'm taken again for a couple of
strolls ( going there and coming back ) in the Airport Lounge. Those strolls
remember? With cuffs and escorts?
      Sunday Feb 24 18:00 hrs - Due to my unceasing protests, they finally
allow me to make a phone call. I contact a Lawyer in LA, in the hope he'd
get me out of that hell, but the information I get from him is even more
surprising, and disheartening:
      - Ricardo, the INS grounds at the Airport are not legally considered
American soil, so I cannot invoke any civil right to take you out of
there.... he tells me. How about that ???
      In other words: I realize I'm in a no-man's land, a lawless place,
arrested by arbitrary Nazis in the guise of INS Officers, that, due to this
legal technicality, have the power to do whatever they please with you - and
what is worse - with your family. I start to dream of the moment of catching
a plane back home to Brazil.....however, before that, I'd still go through
the worst night of my life.....
      Night of Sunday to Monday Feb 25 I start to dread the moment in which
tiredness is going to win the battle and make me lie down on those filthy
chairs. It´s very cold, but even so, the prospect of using the slimy
blankets is not at all attractive.
      Five officers are in the night shift, and feeling bored, they pass
time kicking disgusting Chinese's , cursing stupid niggers, threatening
filthy latinos. Our uneducated officers are unable to articulate three
consecutive words without using the F.. word, and we spend the night
immersed in this sea of racial prejudice, brutallity, violence, arrogance
and cowardice. 
      A curious note: our cell had two immense posters hanging on the walls.
Look at that - one was a huge map of Brazil, and the other was a picture of
Ouro Preto - a historical city in Central Brazil. Both seemed to convey a
silent, but eloquent invitation .....
      Monday Feb 25 13:00 hrs - After the worse 30 hours of my life, two
armed officers escort me to my plane ( Varig flight RG 8837 ) and deliver my
passport to the stewardess. They set guard by the plane door until take off.
Just a last minute humiliation I guess....
      Tuesday Feb 26 07:30 hrs - I arrive tired, but immensely happy in
Cumbica International Airport, in SP. I call my girlfriend Sarah in Belo
Horizonte. After her recovery from the initial shock and the necessary
explanations I invite her to celebrate our unexpected meeting with a trip -
to Ouro Preto - of course!
      I relate this unfortunate episode hoping to bring these facts to
light, to a wider number of people. Maybe those who, like me, were planning
an innocent trip to this country might think twice before permitting their
wifes, parents and children to be subjected to this infamous tribe of
uncivilized barbarians.
      Daily, in every American Airport, hundreds of people from the four
corners of the world are falling into the claws of these arrogant, racist,
brutes, barbarian Nazis, and I think every single citizen of the globe shall
contribute in whichever way they can to end this grotesc stain from the face
of the free world. 
      The terrorists put down WTC's twin towers, but they will achieve a far
greater victory if they succeed in bending down the spirit, the values and
ideals that guided America since it's very birth as an independent Nation.
      Having visited the US so many times, and knowing with reasonable depth
the history of this Country, I must say that the attitudes and methods of
the INS Officers do not reflect the way of being and thinking of the
majority of the American People, and surely do not reflect the values and
ideals I referred to above.
      However, the overwhelming majority of the thousands of tourists that
are going daily through this sad experience in American Airports do not have
this perspective, and they are going back to their countries carrying in
their hearts the seeds of hatred, violence and intolerance that end up
germinating in tragedies such as Sep 11.
      To Mr G. Bush one suggestion: in the attempt to erradicate the World
of terrorism and it's Evil Axis, start at home - in the American Immigration
and Naturalization Service - INS.
      A very important note: this narrative would not be complete without
doing justice to Victor - one of the INS officers. He came into our cell
Monday morning. Right when I lay my eyes on him I noticed a different glow,
quickly explained by his attitudes: he'd take care of one of us, feed and
give water to another, he was always ready to help, at least send a smile,
say a friendly word....
      He moved like a star, shedding light into the darkness. I had the
priviledge to talk with him for a few minutes, when I had the chance to
convey my admiration, respect and gratitude for what he was doing for all
those people, brutally subjected to such a painful experience.
      Son of Mexican Immigrants, educated in India, and possessing a
spirituality impossible to hide behind such shinning eyes, this man, who
represents so well the best of the East and the West told me simply ..
Ricardo, I don't do much, all I can do is try to transmit to these people a
little compassion, a little love....
      May God always guard you and bless you Victor, as you guard and bless
so many.... A last suggestion to the US President consider promoting Victor
to the post of Foreign Relations Minister, what he deserves more than
anyone. I'm certain that, in a very short time, he'd reverse the already
beaten up image of the US with the rest of the world.
      His attitude reflect perfectly the spirit and the values that have
created America, and proves that one cannot possilbly combat terrorism by
becoming himself a terrorist one should employ that ancient technique -
turning the other cheek.
      Finally, I want to say that I have already done the following :
      1. Filed a formal complain at the American Embassy in Brasilia.
      2. Filed a formal complain at the Brazilian Foreign Affairs Ministry
      3. Send a copy of this text in Portuguese and in English to the
Internet, newspapers, magazines, websites, and Human Rights International
Institutions. 
      I hereby authorize any individual or corporation to divulge or
reproduce this text partially or in its entirety, making it a public domain,
as I believe this case is.
      May God bless us all.
      Ricardo Abude E. da Silva
      Note from the editor: Ricardo is the brother of a friend of mine, a
Rotarian from the same club as I, so I'm publishing his story without any
doubt that it is completely true. My Rotary Club, in the brazilian district
4550, will send a letter to Rotary International's president suggesting he
visits the US President to formely protest against this kind of behavior.

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