We moved from one problem to another with surprising ease. Like we’re addicted to troubleWe were stumbling from one issue to another; What was once an ‘administrative’ role now became a fuel load.
Froylán, from inside the plane, informed us that the corresponding request had been made in Lima, but we were still waiting.
The slow response of the Lima airport was beginning to worry us, because If we continued at that pace, it was likely that we would not reach Chimoré before the landing strip was closed.
In the AHU-EVO group chat, there were two new guests: the Mexican ambassador in Peru and his namesake in Bolivia.
[…]
When finally in Peru they gave us the OK to refuel, they came up with another unexpected madness: demanded that we make the payment in cash, in cash; they did not accept any other modality that it was not with hard cash. We are all stunned by this new occurrence, rather typical of a García Márquez story.
There was no other way than to continue “macondeando” to be able to move on to the next phase. The Mexican ambassador had to go physically to the embassy to get that cash, return to the airport and make the payment in hand for them to press on and they will provide us with fuel. Why did this happen? Were they ordered to trip over the operation and delay it as long as possible? Would they have a mandatory dollar cash payment system to sell fuel? No idea.
Finally, authorized cargo and a plane full of fuel for a one-way Lima-Chimoré and also for a hypothetical Chimoré-Lima return, which, in the heat of events, was looming increasingly unlikely.
Froylán himself had been marking in the chat that he was worrying about the attitude of the Peruvian armed forces that controlled the Lima airport.
[11/11/19 19:22:59] Pilot Froy Sacar Evo: The military got tough when we landed again, they interrogated me about everything.
Without having completely gotten out of a problem, that of the fuel load, the following was already beginning to be glimpsed: in Lima there seemed to be no predisposition to allow the return with Evo inside the plane. And among the many excuses they could use, Froylán anticipated one for us.
[11/11/19 19:32:26] Pilot Froy Sacar Evo: If we land back in Lima, they will ask us for passports. Consider that.
That word, “passports,” sat me like a kick in the stomach. Passports? Neither Evo nor Alvaro nor Gabriela had had time to deal with it. They had come out with what they were wearing.
We were still surfing a prolonged wave of problems: from plane to paper, from paper to fuel cargo, and from cargo to passport. It was necessary to assess the possibility of not being able to return with the plane from Chimoré to Lima and, therefore, it was necessary to look for alternatives.
[…]
Before, a prior and imminent challenge awaited us. The plane had to take off from Lima as soon as it was authorized, because the Chimoré airport would close at ten at night. We had to arrive before that time if we did not want to “give papaya” to the Bolivian military. If the plane arrived at 10:01 PM, they would have another excuse not to let us land.
[11/11/19 20:20:39] Pilot Froy Sacar Evo: Yes, ready. Thank you Chancellor. I report everything to you. Hugs! ????????????????
[11/11/19 20:23:24] Efraín Guadarrama Mx: Success, Froy.
[11/11/19 20:23:30] Max Reyes: Good luck Froy.
[11/11/19 20:25:41] Alfredo Serrano: Come on, come on.
[11/11/19 20:29:02] Pilot Froy Sacar Evo: On the air 6:29 pm Lima time
[11/11/19 20:34:09] Alfredo Serrano: Come on, let’s go. I’m going to tell Alberto right now to call Vizcarra to try to facilitate that issue.
“That theme” alluded to the return to Lima. At noon, Vizcarra had assured Alberto, but a lot of water had since run under the bridge. “Where I said I say, I say Diego” or, what is the same, one thing had been promised, but the opposite was going to be done. The position of the Peruvian government changed drastically; what had previously been support, was now impediment.
The planning of the return turned into another challenge, but we could not neglect the two previous stages: one, getting into Bolivia and landing in Chimoré; and, two, having Evo, Álvaro and Gabriela sitting on the plane, safe and sound.
Neither challenge was child’s play. From the first we were closer to verifying whether its execution was successful or not. If in the span of three-quarters of an hour, forty-five clock minutes, the control tower in Lima did not give any news, then we could deduce that the plane was entering Bolivian sky without impediments. OtherwiseAny notice or communication coming from Peru would be a very bad sign. We had to wait for this time, but we could not sit idly by because there were still many tasks to be done.
The first thing was to tell Álvaro that we were in the air again, and they had to make the approach maneuver accompanied by thousands of people, the more the better, to re-shield themselves against any attempt against them by the police or any sector. of the armed forces.
[11/11/19 20:05:54] Álvaro García Linera Bo: Partner.
[11/11/19 20:32:34] Álvaro García Linera Bo: Did he leave ???
[11/11/19 20:35:13] Alfredo Serrano: Yes. 21:05 h must be landing.
He always gave him the data in the local time zone for him, in order to avoid any confusion. The bun oven wasn’t there; the slightest mistake could cost us too much.
[…]
Alberto had a lot to say and do in relation to the next problem that had come our way. He had communicated at noon with the Peruvian president, and he had promised to help, support, aid. But the tables had turned. Peru no longer made its runway available to the Mexican plane on the way back. The competent military authorities of the Jorge Chávez International Airport, located in Callao, close to the Lima metropolitan area, had been forceful and exhaustive in this regard.
We were not clear if this was an autonomous decision of the Peruvian border military or if it came from the governmental heights. In addition, we had to remember that forty-five days ago the president of Peru had suffered an impeachment attempt, in which his vice president —Mercedes Aráoz— had proclaimed herself president for a few hours until, finally, the armed forces prevented him and they returned the baton to Vizcarra. I mean, after that episode It seemed evident that Vizcarra was certainly subjected and subordinate to the Peruvian military. Ultimately, it was these who had restored him to the presidential chair.
[…]
Alberto confirmed to me that Vizcarra had committed himself one hundred percent. However, he told me that he would call back to ensure the necessary logistical support in this operation. In the same way, he suggested to me, as he had done the night before, that we should start thinking about a plan b, that is, again in Paraguay: “If before they offered us to go find Evo, who was much more risky, I am sure that now Abdo will support us”. And he added: “Because Macri is not going to support us in this; Yesterday he said no to everything ”.
We ended the conversation by emphasizing what had been agreed: a double plan, the main and the secondary, and that the double call was immediately available to achieve the two routes or, at least, one of them.
[…]
At 9:35 p.m. in Argentina, one hour less in Bolivia, we received the good news.
[11/11/19 21:35:17] +51 915 992 191: The plane has already crossed into Bolivian space
[11/11/19 21:35:23] Max Reyes: Excellent.
[11/11/19 21:35:32] +51 915 992 191: That is what the Peruvian Foreign Ministry informs me
[11/11/19 21:39:53] Alfredo Serrano: What great news.
[11/11/19 21:40:32] Pari Diego Bolivia Chancellor: ????????????
[11/11/19 21:40:49] +59162001778: Good !!!!!
Restrained joy, but joy, after all. I immediately wrote to Álvaro:
[11/11/19 21:40:17] Alfredo Serrano: The plane has already crossed into Bolivian space.
[11/11/19 21:59:24] Álvaro García Linera Bo: Yes, we are close.
Next, I did the same with Alberto Fernández, so that he was aware of every millimeter.
[11/11/19 21:41:32] Alfredo Serrano: The plane is already in Bolivian airspace. They have allowed us to enter, without problems. We are closer … there is less. I notify you when landing.
[11/11/19 21:44:10] Alberto Fernández: Good news. I am attentive. Let me know.
Each time we were closer to the goal.
.