Donkey passport pending
20 November 2003
IZMIR - David Hungerbuhler, who was refused access to Greece because his donkey was a
Cypriot, is threatening to swim, and force his donkey to swim with him, to the nearest
Greek island, according to the Anatolia news agency.
Hungerbuhler said that he was offended European animal lovers didn't support him. "If
the Turks practiced similar Donkey oppression, all of Europe would be up in arms,"
said Hungerbuhler. When Cesme officials heard Hungerbuhler was living in a park in
their city, they promptly provided a donkey-accesible flat free of charge.
Hungerbuhler set out from Switzerland in August 2002 on a trip he calls, "the Journey
to the Lands Where Jesus Christ Walked." He bought the donkey on a previous trip to
Spain. Hungerbuhler, who did not go to Palestine because of danger, was following the
same route on his trip home. When he reached Chios, Greek officials there refused him
entry to the island because his donkey was a Cypriot. He was asked to leave it in
Turkey.
Hungerbuhler said: "When I started my journey, with the donkey I bought in Spain, I
was very happy. However, when I started home, I experienced this unpleasant event in
Chios. I am very determined to get home with my donkey. For that reason, I am teaching
'Pepe' to swim. I want to swim to Greece. My parents are trying to help us. I am just
waiting for Greek officials to let us go."
Hungerbuhler stressed that if he was not allowed to go home, he would starve his
donkey, while embarking on a hunger strike of his own, in front of the Greek and
Italian consulates in Izmir.
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