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North Pole Russia: Borneo Base up and running
Apr 11, 2005 18: 47 EST
Previously published Apr 5, 2005 18: 42 EST
The Borneo Base opened today, but the polar skiers are off the ice. Confused, the polar world wonders: What happened? As the gun smoke clears, let's check the reports. Seems the explorers were actually offered a choice to continue by the Russians, and also - one of last year's skiers has some information of his own. Here's the latest:
Borneo status
This past weekend, helicopters located a suitable spot at 89 deg 06 min North and 141 deg. 48 min East for Borneo 2005. The first air drop was made on April 4 by an Iljusin plane, IL-76. The plane delivered 27 tons of gear (tractor, living modules , generators for heating) and 120 drums of Jet fuel (approx 22 tons). The next day, another Iljusin took off from Murmansk with the second part of the load ( 27 tons of Jet fuel). Today, the Base opened for flights!
Liv Arnesen - they are corrupt
In the meantime, the polar skiers are heading back home - and they are not happy. In an interview with Norwegian television, Liv Arnesen said that the team was harassed by guards with machine guns at their initial departure from the Military base. She said the whole deal is about people in Moscow trying to get a monopoly on the business. "The country is corrupted," the school teacher told local media. She also worried what to tell the "12 million children" following her and Ann's expedition.
Victor - Cerpolex faked emergency
Well, Victor Boyarsky is upset too. "It's sad to read the initial reports of participants saying that the reason why they had to leave the ice was that 'The safety could not be guaranteed anymore'. In fact, they knew well that Center Polus was ready to take care of them and to guarantee their safety."
"I have to tell you that on March 29, a contract was signed in Khatanga between the local Air Company and Center Polus concerning their cooperation to organize the Borneo icy runway. Two helicopters were supposed to take off to search for a suitable spot for Borneo on March 30."
"Later that day Cerpolex informed the Air company that there was a need for possible evacuation of one of participants (ExplorersWeb were notified on this that day, but withheld the info). In the morning of March 30, two helicopters took off from Khatanga for Sredny. Taking in to account the emergency status of this operation, Center Polus made necessary arrangements, and allowed helicopters to refuel in Sredny, despite the fact that they were chartered by Cerpolex."
Teams were offered a choice!
"The next day, in the afternoon of March 30 I called Khatanga and was informed that Cerpolex is going evacuate all groups if refused the right to build a second Borneo Base."
"After consultations with Center Polus, we decided that there might be a chance to save the situation. I know personally most of the expedition members, and so I called all three home teams. I told them that Center Polus was ready to provide logistics (resupply if needed and pick up from Borneo) if they decided to continue."
Free of charge...
"Aware of the acute financial situation for the expeditions if they left Cerpolex, Center Polus was ready to solve the finances after the expeditions were over. Only one limit was announced - that Borneo will only stay open until maximum April 30."
"If the groups were not able to reach their goal within these dates, they would be evacuated from where they were at that moment. Resupply was promised to be made between April 1 and 2, made by the helicopters flying to Borneo. And the next day, Center Polus offered all logistical support completely free of charge."
"Unfortunately, we didn't get any replies on our proposals. Except for one - from Bernard Bugues (chief of Cerpolex) delivered to me at midnight of March 30 to my home phone: His message: "Victor, please don't touch my clients!"
Conclusion
So what is going on, really? A Russian mafia conspiracy, as Liv implies? Well, the meeting in Moscow included some heavy duty veteran polar skiers, such as Dmitry Sparo, Vladimir Chukov, Michail Malakhov, Sergey Insarov and Victor Boyarsky. (Check AdventureStats for the credentials of this all star list). There were also representatives of General Staff of Ministry of Defense, FSS, Border Guard, Department of Tourism of Russia, and the Management of Center Polius. All in all 26 people discussed the situation of permits and the preparations to build the Borneo Base.
Whilst Cerpolex have been extremely tight-lipped, the Russians have been very open and detailed through the entire situation.
It's their country, mates!
Seems the issue here is instead that French Cerpolex simply used the teams to force a permit to build their own Borneo Base, and take over the entire business of supplying tourists and Russian scientists - using Russian military resources! You can try that in US or anywhere else! In fact, the events have been a sad display of lack of respect for the host country. Expeditions are conducted all over the world with the help of local resources and governments, usually with much greater respect than this for the local military and operators.
A last word on Cerpolex tactics
The question is, who the real mafia is here, actually. Last year, polar skier Wave Vidmar got his own sample of Cerpolex tactics. Here's what he reports:
"I was given quotes (in writing) for helicopter travel time/charges, which changed when they became upset with the truth I was reporting about our situation in Khatanga. While on the ice, I was basically threatened to accept their new deal or be left on the ice. In fact, I can honestly say the most scared time I was on the ice was worrying about the actions of the expedition travel company (Cerpolex). Even the agreed upon price of $6,000 for the air lift, was raised to around $18,000 when I received the bill. In their last letter to me they threaten to damage my reputation in the polar community and sue me in France."
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