Miners close ordeal with ceremony
CHILE: Thirteen of Chile's 33 rescued miners returned Sunday to the
mine that nearly became their tomb and thanked God for their freedom in
an emotional religious service.
The miners, their families and friends attended a ceremony led by
Roman Catholic and Protestant clergy at the mouth of the San Jose gold
and copper mine from which they were hoisted to freedom on Wednesday in
a flawless rescue operation watched by hundreds of millions of people
around the world.
The private service was held in the area known as "Camp Hope," the
tent city where family members gathered to pray and await news about
their husbands, sons and fathers trapped for 69 days at 2,050 feet (625
metres) underground.
"It was inspiring," 52-year-old Juan Illanes, described by many as
the group's spokesman, said after the ceremony as miners' relatives
dismantled the tents that became their homes during the ordeal.
"Seeing this camp I feel I've had incredible support," he added. "It
gives you strength."
As the miners sang hymns inside a cordoned-off tent, some of their
co-workers who were not caught in the cave-in protested, blowing horns
and holding up banners to demand that the mine's owners compensate them
for the jobs they have lost. "We are not 33, we are 300," read one
placard. "Trapped on the surface," said another.
After the ceremony, Mario Gomez, who at 63 is the oldest of the 33
men, helped his family pack up their tent and voiced support for his
out-of-work colleagues.
"We always had faith that we were going to get out. Now it is time to
rest," he said.
The service was closed to the press. During the ceremony,
participants could be heard clapping loudly and singing Chile's national
anthem.
So far, the miners have not revealed many of the details about what
it was like after the cave-in left them huddled together in a dark, damp
cavern. Some have said they are saving their stories for a book.
Copiapo, Reuters |