PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
Thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to sign the petition to free the imprisoned English Long Rider, Daniel Robinson.
Here is what has occurred in the last 72 hours.
After The Guild's editorial and email appeal went out, an outpouring of support was sent to the Free Daniel website, with more than 300 signatures being added to the petition in the last three days.
Meanwhile, the Robinson family is desperately trying to determine if Daniel's appeal was postponed or heard at the local court on February 12th? This effort is being led by Mary Pettet, who is responsible for bringing news of Daniel's plight to the world via the Free Daniel website.
However any attempts to reach or assist the unfortunate Long Rider are hampered by the fact that the jail where Daniel is being held is incredibly inaccessible. We have been told that in order to see the imprisoned Long Rider one must make an eight hour train ride north from Delhi, and then travel another six to eight hours by jeep over extremely difficult terrain. These travelling conditions have effectively rendered Daniel almost unreachable, which has resulted in a news blackout in terms of determining his legal, medical and emotional condition.
Thankfully, Italian Long Rider Simone Carmignani, who resides in Delhi, is busy trying to form a legal team in India.
The Indian lawyer Simone has contacted has suggested that it is important to document Daniel's background as an equestrian explorer, so as to demonstrate to the Indian court that Daniel is a traveller, not a spy.
Consequently, The Long Riders' Guild will be emailing an extensive document to Simone later today which provides those details.
This effort will be strengthened by the news that the famous Scottish Long Rider and author, George Patterson, has nominated Daniel Robinson to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society !
George is still known as "Patterson of Tibet" because of his ride across the Himalayas during the winter of 1949 to alert the world to the fact that China had invaded the hermit kingdom.
Here is a link to George's page on the Classic Travel Books website - http://www.classictravelbooks.com/authors/patterson.htm
The Guild has also been contacted by French Long Rider Louis Meunier.
Louis currently lives in Kabul but has family in Delhi.
He wrote to say, "I have just sent a note to Simone to enquire about the situation and see what I can do. I still have family and friends in India who might be able to do something. I'll let you know."
If anyone has any legal contacts in India who might be able to assist or advise Simone and Louis, please contact via them these email addresses.
Simone - qalandars@hotmail.com
Louis - meunierlouis@hotmail.com
Simone and Louis's offer of assistance is extremely important because Christian Robinson, Daniel's brother, may be forced to travel out to India soon. The family is very concerned because they received word that Daniel is ill, needs blankets in the cold mountain winter and is losing hope. Nor is there any confirmation that mail or packages are being delivered to the prisoner.
If anyone has any travel experience in the remote Haridwar area of the Indian Himalayas, please contact Daniel's brother, Christian, via - c.robinson@clara.co.uk
Also, knowing the immense emotional pressure this situation has created, if anyone has any words of comfort for Daniel's mother, Angelina, she can be reached via - gordon.yolanda@virgin.net
Meanwhile, The Guild is attempting to find information about Daniel's horses, but as yet we have no news.
An English Member of Parliament named Martin Horwood has attempted to reach the Indian government on behalf of Daniel's mother.
If any of you could contact Mr. Horwood and thank him for his efforts, that would be great.
His office number is +44 1242 224 889.
His email address is: martin@martinhorwood.net
The Guild currently is meanwhile awaiting input from a number of friends in the international diplomatic community.
We are seeking their advice and input as to how to bring Daniel's plight before Her Majesty's government, as well the Indian government.
Further editorial help has been provided by the Czech journalist, Lenka "Lenx" Kerumova.
Lenx emailed to seek permission to translate and publish The Guild's editorial in her country.
The Guild has also sent an editorial appeal to the famous Pakistani explorer and journalist, Dr. Amjad Hussain.
Amjad is a respected columnist whose articles appear in American and Pakistani newspapers.
We have emailed Amjad to enquire if he could place a story about Daniel's treatment in those papers.
We have also enlisted the aid of Sanjay Sippy, a friend of The Guild, who has contacts in the Bollywood film industry.
Sanjay will be attempting to contact major Indian film stars and media figures, so as to enlist their help on a local level.
Finally, Basha and I are encouraged by the speed and strength which this international appeal has already raised.
While we hope to see Daniel released soon, this case has revealed the strength of our international community.
The first thing we want to say is that the case of Daniel Robinson is important to all Long Riders, because it demonstrates that the global community of equestrian explorers is alive, well and very proactive!
As you all know, Long Riders are by nature risk-takers.
So the majority of us can recall a multitude of close calls, near escapes, dodgy encounters and dangerous events which we have survived during the course of unpleasant meetings with a wide range of disagreeable humanity.
If we have learnt one thing from Daniel's case it is the realization that if any of us fall into trouble, then we no longer ride alone!
This vital realization was emailed to us by North American Long Rider Bernice Ende.
Bernice is currently out on the road, making a 5,000 mile solo journey through the western United States.
She happened to be in a small city library, picking up her emails, when she learned about Daniel Robinson's imprisonment.
While she wishes her fellow Long Rider well, she also expressed a thought which is important to all of the equestrian Argonauts of The Guild who risk their lives in the saddle.
"I am beginning to understand and feel the common thread, and kindred spirit, that runs through the veins of all the Long Riders," Bernice wrote.
A simple sentence and a noble thought from one who is out on the long grey road at the moment.
Though Daniel still suffers in prison, this unprecedented outpouring of support from the international Long Rider community, and its friends, is in itself an historic event, one which I want to thank all of you for having helped create.
Here is what has occurred in the last 72 hours.
After The Guild's editorial and email appeal went out, an outpouring of support was sent to the Free Daniel website, with more than 300 signatures being added to the petition in the last three days.
Meanwhile, the Robinson family is desperately trying to determine if Daniel's appeal was postponed or heard at the local court on February 12th? This effort is being led by Mary Pettet, who is responsible for bringing news of Daniel's plight to the world via the Free Daniel website.
However any attempts to reach or assist the unfortunate Long Rider are hampered by the fact that the jail where Daniel is being held is incredibly inaccessible. We have been told that in order to see the imprisoned Long Rider one must make an eight hour train ride north from Delhi, and then travel another six to eight hours by jeep over extremely difficult terrain. These travelling conditions have effectively rendered Daniel almost unreachable, which has resulted in a news blackout in terms of determining his legal, medical and emotional condition.
Thankfully, Italian Long Rider Simone Carmignani, who resides in Delhi, is busy trying to form a legal team in India.
The Indian lawyer Simone has contacted has suggested that it is important to document Daniel's background as an equestrian explorer, so as to demonstrate to the Indian court that Daniel is a traveller, not a spy.
Consequently, The Long Riders' Guild will be emailing an extensive document to Simone later today which provides those details.
This effort will be strengthened by the news that the famous Scottish Long Rider and author, George Patterson, has nominated Daniel Robinson to become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society !
George is still known as "Patterson of Tibet" because of his ride across the Himalayas during the winter of 1949 to alert the world to the fact that China had invaded the hermit kingdom.
Here is a link to George's page on the Classic Travel Books website - http://www.classictravelbooks.com/authors/patterson.htm
The Guild has also been contacted by French Long Rider Louis Meunier.
Louis currently lives in Kabul but has family in Delhi.
He wrote to say, "I have just sent a note to Simone to enquire about the situation and see what I can do. I still have family and friends in India who might be able to do something. I'll let you know."
If anyone has any legal contacts in India who might be able to assist or advise Simone and Louis, please contact via them these email addresses.
Simone - qalandars@hotmail.com
Louis - meunierlouis@hotmail.com
Simone and Louis's offer of assistance is extremely important because Christian Robinson, Daniel's brother, may be forced to travel out to India soon. The family is very concerned because they received word that Daniel is ill, needs blankets in the cold mountain winter and is losing hope. Nor is there any confirmation that mail or packages are being delivered to the prisoner.
If anyone has any travel experience in the remote Haridwar area of the Indian Himalayas, please contact Daniel's brother, Christian, via - c.robinson@clara.co.uk
Also, knowing the immense emotional pressure this situation has created, if anyone has any words of comfort for Daniel's mother, Angelina, she can be reached via - gordon.yolanda@virgin.net
Meanwhile, The Guild is attempting to find information about Daniel's horses, but as yet we have no news.
An English Member of Parliament named Martin Horwood has attempted to reach the Indian government on behalf of Daniel's mother.
If any of you could contact Mr. Horwood and thank him for his efforts, that would be great.
His office number is +44 1242 224 889.
His email address is: martin@martinhorwood.net
The Guild currently is meanwhile awaiting input from a number of friends in the international diplomatic community.
We are seeking their advice and input as to how to bring Daniel's plight before Her Majesty's government, as well the Indian government.
Further editorial help has been provided by the Czech journalist, Lenka "Lenx" Kerumova.
Lenx emailed to seek permission to translate and publish The Guild's editorial in her country.
The Guild has also sent an editorial appeal to the famous Pakistani explorer and journalist, Dr. Amjad Hussain.
Amjad is a respected columnist whose articles appear in American and Pakistani newspapers.
We have emailed Amjad to enquire if he could place a story about Daniel's treatment in those papers.
We have also enlisted the aid of Sanjay Sippy, a friend of The Guild, who has contacts in the Bollywood film industry.
Sanjay will be attempting to contact major Indian film stars and media figures, so as to enlist their help on a local level.
Finally, Basha and I are encouraged by the speed and strength which this international appeal has already raised.
While we hope to see Daniel released soon, this case has revealed the strength of our international community.
The first thing we want to say is that the case of Daniel Robinson is important to all Long Riders, because it demonstrates that the global community of equestrian explorers is alive, well and very proactive!
As you all know, Long Riders are by nature risk-takers.
So the majority of us can recall a multitude of close calls, near escapes, dodgy encounters and dangerous events which we have survived during the course of unpleasant meetings with a wide range of disagreeable humanity.
If we have learnt one thing from Daniel's case it is the realization that if any of us fall into trouble, then we no longer ride alone!
This vital realization was emailed to us by North American Long Rider Bernice Ende.
Bernice is currently out on the road, making a 5,000 mile solo journey through the western United States.
She happened to be in a small city library, picking up her emails, when she learned about Daniel Robinson's imprisonment.
While she wishes her fellow Long Rider well, she also expressed a thought which is important to all of the equestrian Argonauts of The Guild who risk their lives in the saddle.
"I am beginning to understand and feel the common thread, and kindred spirit, that runs through the veins of all the Long Riders," Bernice wrote.
A simple sentence and a noble thought from one who is out on the long grey road at the moment.
Though Daniel still suffers in prison, this unprecedented outpouring of support from the international Long Rider community, and its friends, is in itself an historic event, one which I want to thank all of you for having helped create.
