'We were terrified they were going to kill us': fishers who survived US boat strike speak
Source: Guardian
-snip-
The fishers claim drones continued to circle overhead after the blasts, leaving them fearing another strike. Mobile phone footage of the aftermath of the attack shows the terrified crew huddled at the stern of the ship, with an alarm sounding as one of them waves a white shirt. One man appears to be wiping blood from his nose.
Shortly afterwards, the crew say they were approached by a US patrol boat, and were ordered to board.
Palacios says that when onboard the patrol vessel, the crews phones were confiscated and most photos and videos of the attacks wiped.
Once the men were on the patrol boat, the US personnel boarded the fishing boat and stole the crews food and the beer, Palacios said.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/apr/21/ecuador-us-boat-strike-survivors
Much more at the link. No paywall.
Baitball Blogger
(52,518 posts)It's like America is regressing to the days when white people glorified pillage and rape.
This is the problem with history. You know that where I was born, Morgan the pirate was considered evil. Yet, in the US he's admired. At least that's the impression you get from the documentaries and movies based on his life.
delisen
(7,401 posts)I think this campaign qualifies as state terrorism.
Is it also a form of serial killing?
travelingthrulife
(5,368 posts)They know what they are doing is wrong ,but they do it anyway.
These are the jokers that pledge an oath to protect our country.
OGBuzz
(428 posts)California. These fishing boats don't look sea worthy enough to make such a journey. This is piracy and state sponsored terrorism.
slightlv
(7,857 posts)Stealing food and supplies it validates whats been written about the harms done to our service members. And it shows a military who are now operating under the Russian rules of fend for yourself.
flvegan
(66,386 posts)They assured us that all those strikes were on drug running scum looking to literally inject fentanyl into our kids, cats and dogs.
The article states that after the boat was fired upon and then burned, that all the crew were eventually released without charges. Without charges? But...but...the fentanyl? The coke? The meth? Were we lied to again? Sounds like we've been lied to again.
Remember how we questioned if the military would carry out illegal orders? Good times.
IT'S FINE. EVERYTHING IS FINE.
maxsolomon
(38,929 posts)Is this the gender-neutral term?
Harker
(17,926 posts)Neither were humans.
maxsolomon
(38,929 posts)What were Fishers doing on a boat? I'd expect Mink more...
highplainsdem
(62,637 posts)Harker
(17,926 posts)Better by far than "fisherpersons", surely.
highplainsdem
(62,637 posts)highplainsdem
(62,637 posts)riversedge
(81,193 posts)
riversedge
(81,193 posts)Max Granger
@_maxgranger
·
6h
A group of Ecuadorian fishermen survived a US drone strike, were detained at gunpoint, phones wiped, ship blown up, disappeared to El Salvador, then released without charge.
They knew we were fishermen. Even the Salvadorian authorities said things had been handled very badly.
Link to tweet
?s=20
riversedge
(81,193 posts)https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/apr/21/ecuador-us-boat-strike-survivors
...........A lawyer representing the crew says their account pointed to serious violations of international law.
A US vessel intercepted them and forced them aboard. Once they were detained, their fishing boat was blown up, said Fernando Bastias Robayo, a lawyer with the Human Rights Council (CDH). They were arbitrarily hooded and later abandoned on the Salvadorian coast. Any apprehension followed by incommunicado detention constitutes an enforced disappearance.
It was a form of psychological torture, not knowing whats really going to happen to your life and having your face covered, he adds.
Bastias Robayo said there had been no official response from either Ecuadorian or US authorities....................
Cha
(319,631 posts)moniss
(9,099 posts)what they've done.