Dear colleagues, There is new information from the two Czech entomologists, Petr Svacha und Emil Kucera who have been in prison in India for the last four weeks. I got this information from my colleague Petr Zabransky, who himself got the news from Vlada Maly. Vlada Maly was in several times in contact with Petr Svacha und Emil Kucera by phone. Petr Svacha has asked to distribute a message from him, which you will find below (translated to English). Please continue to support the two entomologists and sign the petititions to get them released from prison: http://www.petitiononline.com/h3e09s05/petition.html http://www.petitiononline.com/wgircn2/petition.html Thank you for your support an best regards, Thomas Kirisits (Please pay attention to the messages below!) **************************************** Max Barclay Dear Friends Martin Rejzek asked me to circulate this letter below from Petr Svacha - he has translated it so below it is in Czech and English. The petition prepared by the Indian colleagues has now reached almost 1000 signatures including great names of entomology like John Lawrence, Ales Smetana, Alex Rasnitsyn, Al Newton etc.! People are still signing it. http://www.petitiononline.com/wgircn2/petition-sign.html? See letter below Max Barclay -----Original Message----- From: Martin REJZEK [mailto:bodo.bodemeyer3@ntlworld.com] Sent: 16 July 2008 22:57 To: Max Barclay; BARCLAY Max (home) Subject: Dear Max, I have just received an email message that allegedly comes from Petr Svacha. In this email Petr asks to distribute the following message. I have no reason to doubt its origin and so I translate it into English for you. Best wishes, Martin ___________________________________________ Translated by M. Rejzek from Czech original: Dear Colleagues, Many thanks for the great support you have organised in a way that I can not determine right now. I would like to just correct one fact. There is no need to look for reasons and excuses why we collected in the National Park as we have NEVER ENTERED IT. The whole case is likely be solved very quickly as soon as we get a chance to explain this fact at a court hearing. Unfortunately, the whole Darjeeling administration including the judges is currently on strike. I would like to ask you to forward this information to all who supported us as we are currently not able to do so. Many thanks again, Petr Svacha ____________________________________________________________ Dr. Thomas Kirisits Institut für Forstentomologie, Forstpathologie und Forstschutz Department für Wald- und Bodenwissenschaften Universität für Bodenkultur (BOKU) Hasenauerstraße 38 A-1190 Wien Österreich Tel.: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 Fax: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 oder (++43) (1) 368-63-52-97 e-mail: thomas.kirisits(a)boku.ac.at Homepage: http://ifff.boku.ac.at/ Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection Department for Forest and Soil Sciences BOKU - University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Hasenauerstrasse 38 A-1190 Vienna Austria Tel.: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 Fax: (++43) (1) 368-24-33 or (++43) (1) 368-63-52-97 e-mail: thomas.kirisits(a)boku.ac.at Homepage: http://ifff.boku.ac.at/