papers Quaderns de treball - No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Papers d' Ovnis - Recull de premsa" (Issue 3, January-February 2009) focuses on UFO-related news and investigations, with a cover headline emphasizing "CASUÍSTICA" (Case Studies).

LAS DIABÓLICAS LUCES DE ALCOLEA

This article details the mysterious lights that appeared in Alcolea, Spain, between April 24-26, 1987. The phenomenon attracted significant media attention and local curiosity, with many residents visiting the area to witness the lights. Witnesses described the lights as reddish-orange, varying in size from a fist to an egg, and exhibiting highly variable intensity. The appearances typically occurred after 11 PM. Local folklore offered explanations, including a priest drowning a baby in a well 20-30 years prior, and older residents stating such phenomena were not new to the area. One witness, Agustín Utrilla, claimed to have seen a supernatural being in black clothing behind the lights in 1953. Another account mentioned a man who abandoned his farmhouse due to neighbors thinking he was crazy for reporting an orange light, a buzzing sound, and movement of tree leaves. Three young men, Cayetano Galafat, Francisco Ruiz, and Manuel Escudero, recounted seeing the lights while irrigating a nearby farm. The article notes that no visual documentation exists to definitively prove the lights. Cayetano Galafat described the phenomenon as silent, gaining and losing intensity, and moving in a straight line. Francisco Ruiz, another witness, stated it wasn't an invention and ruled out reflections from vehicles, emphasizing the lights' visibility even when moving away. He described the light as 'red, tending to yellow, very ugly and very bright.' Another companion suffered a nervous crisis. The article also touches upon the theory of a UFO, but notes that ufologists did not strongly pursue this due to a lack of evidence, leaning instead towards explanations involving a murder during the civil war or the death of a solitary resident in 'strange circumstances.' The event generated divided opinions, with some considering it a prank and others a paranormal phenomenon.

AGENTES SECRETOS DE LA DICTADURA BRASILEÑA INVESTIGARON SOBRE 'APARICIONES' DE OVNIS

This piece reports on investigations into UFO sightings by Brazil's military dictatorship (1964-1985) by the National Information Service (SNI). Declassified documents reveal secret missions conducted by agents, particularly in the Amazonian states of Maranhao and Pará in late 1977 and early 1978, under an operation named 'Operación Plato.' These investigations were prompted by persistent media reports of 'mysterious lights' causing deaths, hallucinations, paralysis, burns, and intense heat. The operation was commanded by General Joao Batista de Figueiredo. The article mentions that the Air Force humorously named the operation 'Operación Plato.' Reports described 'blue-colored lights' moving at high speed. Some documents included drawings of observed objects, with the SNI referencing common images from TV shows like 'The Jetsons' and 'Lost in Space.'

Ciberespía víctima del síndrome de Asperger

This article discusses Gary McKinnon, a British individual accused of the largest cyberpiracy operation in US history. Simon Baron-Cohen, a professor at Cambridge University, argued that McKinnon's actions stemmed from Asperger syndrome, a form of autism, and should not be considered criminal. McKinnon allegedly hacked into 97 US military and NASA computers, admitting to the intrusions but claiming no malicious intent. He was reportedly searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life and manipulated NASA data. His mother, Janis Sharp, is fighting his extradition to the US, where he faces up to seventy years in prison. McKinnon's interest in extraterrestrial activity began in childhood, joining the British UFO Research Association at age ten. The article highlights the unequal extradition treaty between the UK and the US. McKinnon has appealed to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the UK, pleading guilty to a computer abuse offense under British law in an attempt to be tried in London.

LOS CONSERVADORES BRITÁNICOS PUBLICARÁN LOS ARCHIVOS SECRETOS SOBRE OVNIS SI LLEGAN AL GOBIERNO

David Cameron, leader of the UK Conservative Party, pledged to reveal all secret government files on UFO sightings if he becomes Prime Minister. Speaking to citizens in northern England, Cameron admitted he was 'convinced' that Earth had been 'visited by extraterrestrial life forms.' He was responding to a citizen's question referencing claims by astronaut Edgar Mitchell that the US government had maintained contact with extraterrestrials since the Roswell incident in 1947. Cameron promised to be 'open and frank' about extraterrestrial matters, emphasizing his belief in freedom of information and that no government should hide such information.

AIR FORCE OPENS UFO ARCHIVE!

This section reports on the opening of the British Ministry of Defence's UFO archives in 2007. Tactical Air Command (ATC) has since received frequent press inquiries. The files, contained in a pale blue folder, are accessible to the public. The article mentions a report from January 1990 by a man in Aarhus, Denmark, who observed a 'bright, shining object' moving at an estimated speed of 18,000 km/h. Most reports involve powerful light sources exhibiting unusual movement patterns. The forms filled out by military personnel include assessments of the witness's reliability, such as 'sober' or 'solid.' The article also touches upon Russian rocket launches potentially being mistaken for UFOs and mentions the work of Ole Henningsen from Scandinavian UFO Information, who receives and investigates UFO reports. A 1974 sighting of a 'jellyfish-like cloud' over Viborg was attributed to local industrial activity. The article notes that while authorities are often suspected of hiding information, Ole Henningsen himself does not believe in alien spacecraft but finds some sightings fascinating and inexplicable. It also mentions helicopter pilots occasionally using lights to create stroboscopic reflections, potentially fooling observers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores UFO phenomena, government secrecy surrounding the topic, and the role of ufologists. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various cases and perspectives, from eyewitness accounts and folklore to official investigations and political promises regarding transparency. There's a clear interest in declassified documents and the potential for governments to withhold information from the public.

Title: Papers d' Ovnis
Issue: 3 (Recull de premsa)
Date: January-February 2009
Publisher: CRÍTICA DE LA ARGENTINA
Country: Argentina
Language: Spanish

Pedro Romaniuk: Patriarch of the Flying Saucers

The magazine issue features an obituary for Don Pedro Romaniuk, who passed away at the age of 86 on February 21, 2009. Romaniuk was a prominent figure in the Argentine UFO community, often referred to as the "criollo high priest" of the flying saucer cause. He was known for his numerous prophecies, including several predictions of the end of the world, and authored 24 books on the subject.

Romaniuk's family had admitted him to the hospital due to a hip fracture resulting from a fall, compounded by kidney problems that required dialysis three times a week and respiratory complications. He believed he was moving to "another plane, where everything will be better." He was among the first Argentines to seriously engage with the topic of flying saucers in the 1960s, a time when interest in the paranormal was often viewed with suspicion. Romaniuk interpreted extraterrestrials as angels in spacesuits, drawing parallels from his readings of the Bible. He also prophesied that beings from the Pleiades were tirelessly working to address the problems facing humanity. He remained steadfast in his spiritual beliefs, viewing death not as an end but as a "return to true energetic, eternal, and immortal life." His ultimate aspiration was to be among the 144,000 who would form the New Kingdom of Heaven, ushering in "a thousand years of peace, light, and love under the new Messiah."

Romaniuk's Connection to Parravicini and Prophecies

At the dawn of the 21st century, as numerous "authentic heirs" of the prophet Benjamín Solari Parravicini (1898-1974) emerged, Romaniuk's voice resurfaced. He was considered one of the few legitimate disciples of the "Argentine Nostradamus," claiming that Parravicini whispered messages from the afterlife to him. Romaniuk frequently appeared on television programs eager for sensational claims, and he rarely disappointed. In late 2004, from his platform at the Fundación Instituto Cosmobiofísico de Investigaciones in Virrey del Pino, La Matanza, he predicted the end of the world. He specifically stated, "At 5 hours on the 5th day of the 5th month of 2005 – I predicted – there will be an 'assumption' of humans." He reaffirmed that on that day, "the ships will come to pick up the chosen ones." Despite the world not ending, Romaniuk and his followers emerged seemingly unscathed, their credibility seemingly unaffected by failed prophecies, perhaps due to his respected trajectory.

Conflicts and Spiritual Authority

Romaniuk's clashes with the Catholic Church also positioned him as a "living martyr" within the local spiritual landscape. In 1991, following the publication of his book "Aldys, el niño de la estrella Alcion," the Archbishopric ordered the removal of the book from bookstores. This action was reportedly suggested by the late José María Baamonde, a psychologist and president of the Fundación SPES (Service for the Clarification on Sects). Romaniuk referred to himself as a "professor," a title that led to confusion for many. He embodied the more religious wing of the movement that venerated flying saucers.

A Unique Doctrine in the UFO Landscape

While many UFO enthusiasts focus on the technological or governmental conspiracy aspects, Romaniuk distinguished himself through his profound passion for what he termed "extraterrestrial science." His doctrine, however, appears to leave no direct heirs, suggesting a unique and perhaps solitary path. The article notes that if Romaniuk had not existed, someone like Chiche Gelblung might have been tasked with inventing him, implying his significant impact on popular culture. However, the author posits that Romaniuk was more than a media creation; he reflected the spirit of his time. His four decades of attention stemmed from a persistent and sustained preaching. His ideas resonated with the prevailing narratives surrounding UFOs, the New Age movement, and beliefs about humanity's future, which were shared by thousands of Argentines. These included the notions that Jesus was an extraterrestrial, that aliens had been visiting Earth since prehistoric times, and that scientists and military powers were concealing the truth.

Romaniuk articulated his views with grandiloquent language, blending the jargon of "extraterrestrial sciences" with obscure biblical prophecies. This approach may have alienated some within the general public. Furthermore, his alarmist tone and the millennialist nature of his beliefs, which began with UFOs but extended to dire predictions about climate catastrophe, did not necessarily appeal to the masses. Nevertheless, if influence is measured by social impact, Romaniuk, alongside Fabio Zerpa, was one of the most influential figures in the field. He cultivated an image aimed at a select audience, publishing twenty-four books (many self-published) and benefiting from the assistance of television producers who often invited him as an authorized spokesperson for distant worlds. Skeptics, the article concludes, will not miss him.

Further Information

• The issue provides a list of Pedro Romaniuk's works available in the CEI Library:
• "Naves extraterrestres y sus incursiones a la Tierra" (Buenos Aires: Merlín, 1969)
• "La Tierra está temblando... causas y sus efectos" (Buenos Aires: Larín, 1973)
• "Ciencia extraterrestre" (Buenos Aires: Kiek, 1976) - This copy includes a dedication from the author to Pere Redón.
• "Discos voladores: la Tierra y el hombre" (Buenos Aires: Adiax, 1979)

It also lists the F.I.C.I. (Fundación Instituto Cosmobiofísico de Investigaciones) with its website: http://fici.com.ar/

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of "Papers d' Ovnis" focuses on the passing of a significant figure in the Argentine UFO community, Pedro Romaniuk. The editorial stance appears to be one of respectful reporting on his life and work, acknowledging his influence and unique perspective while also noting the controversial and sometimes sensational aspects of his claims. The magazine highlights Romaniuk's blend of religious and extraterrestrial beliefs, his prophecies, and his conflicts with established institutions like the Catholic Church. The inclusion of his bibliography and related organizations suggests an aim to provide resources for further research into the subject matter. The overall tone is informative, aiming to document the legacy of a prominent, albeit unconventional, UFO proponent.