SUFOI Intern - 1998 05

Magazine Overview

Title: SUFOI INTERN
Issue: APRIL 1998
Volume: 747
Publisher: Skandinavisk UFO Information
Country: Denmark
Language: Danish

This issue of SUFOI INTERN, a monthly newsletter for SUFOI representatives, focuses on recent UFO observations and activities within the organization. The cover headline highlights a significant sighting by two young girls in Vor Frue, Denmark.

SUFOI HEADLINES

The headlines announce several key events and reports:

• Two girls were frightened by an experience in Vor Frue.
• A report-taking course was a success.
• Physicist Holger Bech Nielsen attracted approximately 50 attendees to a meeting in Copenhagen.
• An intensive SUFOI campaign targeting Danish schools is underway.

Article: OBSERVATION FRA VOR FRUE (Observation from Vor Frue)

Author: Toke Haunstrup

This article details an investigation into a UFO sighting reported by two teenage girls, Sarah (12) and Katja (13), from Vor Frue, a small village near Roskilde, Denmark. The investigator, Toke Haunstrup, initially expresses caution regarding reports from children but was intrigued by a phone call from Sarah.

Background:

Haunstrup notes that children can be unreliable witnesses, citing studies by Elizabeth Loftus. However, Sarah's call prompted him to travel to Vor Frue to interview the girls. The incident came to SUFOI's attention when Sarah, encouraged by her mother, contacted SUFOI's alarm center.

The Observation:

The observation occurred on Sunday, March 15, 1998, around 8:00 PM. Sarah and Katja were walking when Sarah asked Katja if she believed in UFOs. Shortly after, they spotted what they initially thought was the moon, but quickly realized it was something else. They described the phenomenon as three green lights forming a triangle, surrounded by a circle of red and green (possibly white/yellow) lights that blinked irregularly. The object appeared to turn a couple of times.

Initially stationary, the object then moved across the sky above the girls, emitting a constant humming sound described as similar to a "humming oil burner." The sound was only noticed after the object became visible. The surroundings were otherwise silent.

During the observation, both girls experienced unusual physical sensations. Sarah felt nauseous and had the urge to vomit, while Katja felt as if "someone was lifting her legs," making her walk as if being compelled by an external force. This frightened them, and Sarah had to stop Katja from walking away.

As they hurried home, they saw two more phenomena: two white lights moving towards each other from opposite horizons. These lights circled each other once before continuing in their respective directions. Later, they observed two more lights that initially hovered and then moved away.

Upon reaching Sarah's home, the girls were visibly distressed and cried. They initially hesitated to tell Sarah's parents, but the parents' concern led them to share their experience.

Complexity:

Haunstrup highlights the complexity of the case, not just due to the visual observations but also the accompanying strange occurrences and the young age of the witnesses. He reiterates Sarah's nausea and Katja's feeling of being compelled, adding two more peculiar experiences:

• While observing the main phenomenon, two older women, whom the girls did not recognize and who seemed to walk stiffly and did not respond, approached them, nearly colliding before passing by.
• On the way home, they noticed a bundle of newspapers by the road. The newspapers seemed unusual as they were not normally found there on a Sunday evening. The front page featured a "green man," which turned out to be a person in green cycling attire.

Haunstrup notes that Sarah's account remained consistent even when re-interviewed a week later.

Investigation:

Following the initial phone interview, Haunstrup conducted a minor investigation to rule out military exercises or unusual flight activity. He contacted Flyvestation Værløse (which ruled out all military activity on Sjælland except for fighter jets), Flyvestation Skrydstrup (which ruled out fighter jet activity), and Roskilde Lufthavn (which ruled out activity from its premises). This investigation excluded military flights and those from the nearby airport, leaving the possibility of ordinary civilian flights.

The Girls:

Haunstrup describes the girls as good friends who seemed to have grown closer after the experience. Both girls stated they believe in UFOs, with Katja clarifying "not like green men," and Sarah suggesting "maybe [beings] like in the movie E.T.". Both girls had previously followed the TV series "Strengt Fortroligt" (Strictly Confidential), which their parents later banned them from watching due to its perceived scariness. Sarah also recounted a movie plot involving alien abduction and experimentation. Katja had read about a family seeing something in a backyard in a UFO magazine about a year prior.

These details suggest the girls had a pre-existing interest in UFOs. Their experience was shared at school, leading to teasing from classmates. They now frequently look at the sky for UFOs.

Assessment:

Haunstrup concludes that the girls likely witnessed unusual aerial phenomena (possibly aircraft) that triggered psychological mechanisms. The initial sighting, combined with Sarah's question to Katja, may have created an "unsettling atmosphere." Their thoughts turned to UFOs, spaceships, and media portrayals, potentially leading to shared anxiety. The subsequent sightings were also interpreted as UFOs. The encounter with the older women and the newspapers, which might have been ordinary under different circumstances, were also perceived as unusual.

This hypothesis is Haunstrup's personal interpretation based on the interviews and his experience.

Article: STOR ILDKUGLE OVER NORDEUROPA (Large Fireball over Northern Europe)

Author: Per Andersen

This article reports on a large fireball observed over Hamburg, Germany, on May 2, 1998, around 00:55 AM. The phenomenon was also observed from Denmark, with a report from an observer on Lolland describing a "spluttering" light moving slowly to the left and descending slightly before disappearing.

Article: AKTIVITETER (Activities)

RAPPORTOPTAGERKURSUS I KØBENHAVN (Report Taking Course in Copenhagen)

Author: Toke Haunstrup

SUFOI held a course for report takers on May 2-3 in Copenhagen. Six participants attended. The course structure and content were revised, with less emphasis on compass and angle measurement exercises and more focus on interview techniques, a new "Telephone Interview" exercise, a revised "Known Phenomena" segment, and a new point on observation and memory titled "To See and Remember."

These changes aimed to make the course more relevant and equip participants better for taking reports. Originally, Torben, Per, and Haunstrup were scheduled to teach, but Torben had to cancel due to work, increasing the workload for Per and Haunstrup.

The weekend was successful, with participants finding the course educational. Feedback included requests for more information on known phenomena and more time for interview techniques. The long-term engagement of these new report takers and the impact of the course revisions remain to be seen. Thanks are extended to Torben and Per for their contributions.

Article: KØBENHAVNSGRUPPEN (Copenhagen Group)

Author: Per Andersen

The Copenhagen group concluded its season with an event featuring physicist Holger Bech Nielsen from the Niels Bohr Institute. Approximately 50 people attended to hear his lecture on relativity theories and the concept of "wormholes" in the universe.

Article: STOR KAMPAGNE OVER FOR SKOLERNE (Large Campaign for Schools)

Author: Per Andersen

Kim Møller Hansen has initiated a campaign to promote UFO-Nyt magazine and engage with schools. A promotional flyer has been sent to about 600 Danish primary schools, with plans to extend to the remaining 1,600 if the response is positive.

Article: VIDEO OM DYREMISHANDLINGER (Video About Animal Cruelty)

Author: Per Andersen

SUFOI received an inquiry from US video company Artshark Productions about their interest in "animal cruelty" for a production. The documentary, titled "Papoose Meadows," concerns a 12-hour animal cruelty incident filmed in Papoose Meadows, Northern California, in the fall of 1997. The producers plan to visit Denmark/Sweden but noted that such incidents are rare in Denmark. It was also suggested they were primarily interested in financial support, which SUFOI declined.

Article: GRATIS REKLAME (Free Advertisement)

Author: Per Andersen

This section promotes Webguiden, a Danish search engine and internet portal, highlighting its "Dagens Link" (Link of the Day) feature. SUFOI's website was scheduled to be the "link of the day" on April 26th.

Article: AVISUDKLIP SØGER HJEM (Newspaper Clippings Seeking a Home)

Author: Per Andersen

Niels Krag is looking for a new home for his collection of newspaper clippings related to UFOs, estimated to be about 2 meters long. A volunteer is sought to help maintain the collection by pasting new clippings.

Article: KONFERENCER (Conferences)

Author: Per Andersen

Information is provided about two upcoming conferences:

• The CSICOP annual world conference in Heidelberg, Germany (July 23-26, 1998), featuring topics like doomsday prophecies and natural medicine, with speakers including Elizabeth Loftus and Paul Kurtz.
• The Israel Center for UFO Studies conference in Jerusalem (August 16-20, 1998), with speakers like Stanton Friedman, Roger Lier, Donald Ware, and Michael Hesemann.

NYT OM PERSONER (News About People)

EMAIL ADRESSER (Email Addresses)

A list of SUFOI representatives' email addresses is provided for future reference.

INDBERETNINGER GENNEM PERIODEN 1/4 - 30/4 1998 (Reports During the Period 1/4 - 30/4 1998)

This section presents a table of UFO/UAP reports received between April 1 and April 30, 1998. It includes the date, duration, location, number of objects, colors, and status codes. Notable entries include sightings in Herning, Viborg, Fos sur Mer (France), Dalum, Skive, Tåstrup, Århus, Lem, Silkeborg, Oksbøl, Låsby, Odense, Kolding, and Vinderup.

Status Codes:

A key explaining various status codes used in the report table is provided, such as 'E' for 'Skemaer afsendt til observatør' (Forms sent to observer) and 'F' for 'Skemaer modtaget fra observatør' (Forms received from observer).

Avis Udklip (Newspaper Clippings)

Several newspaper clippings are included, detailing various UFO sightings and related events:

• Aarhuus Stiftstidende (April 4, 1998): Reports a UFO seen over Jens Baggesens Vej in Århus, described as a hovering object the size of a minibus with a red light, emitting no sound. A woman reported seeing the same object.
• Horsens Folkeblad (Date unclear, mentions 'last Thursday'): Inge Søgård-Jensen of Horsens reported seeing a large, egg-shaped object with windows near the ground, described as a "strange object" rather than a plane or helicopter.
• Fyens Stiftstidende (April 15, 1998): Karl Hansen (77) from Tommerup St. reported seeing a large, round, bowl-shaped object with lights, resembling a giant hubcap, hovering in the sky.
• Aarhuus Stiftstidende (April 1, 1998): Irma Rasmussen of Århus reported seeing a large, luminous object hovering and then moving towards the harbor, described as a fireball.
• Fyens Stiftstidende (April 16, 1998): Leif Larsen of Vestfyn reported that a powerful spotlight in a backyard was mistaken for a UFO by several people, including Karl Hansen and Inge Marie Lundgreen. The spotlight's beams on the clouds had initially frightened children.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, witness testimonies, and the investigative efforts of SUFOI. The magazine emphasizes the importance of collecting and analyzing reports, even those from young witnesses, while also employing a critical approach by attempting to rule out conventional explanations such as military aircraft. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, acknowledging the complexity of UFO phenomena and the psychological factors that may be involved. There is a clear effort to document sightings across Denmark and to share information through various channels, including their newsletter, website, and promotional campaigns. The inclusion of newspaper clippings suggests a broad scope of reporting and an effort to connect with public accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena.

This issue of Ekstra Bladet, dated March 28, 1998, features a prominent headline on its cover: "NÆRKONTAKT FORBUDT" (Close Contact Forbidden). The magazine explores the legal and social implications of UFO sightings and potential extraterrestrial contact, particularly within the United States, and touches upon the burgeoning online communities dedicated to these topics.

Cover Story: Close Contact Forbidden

The main article delves into the history of the US government's official stance on UFOs. It begins by referencing a U.S. Air Force press release from April 27, 1949, which acknowledged the existence of 'flying saucers' and did not rule out extraterrestrial origins, even considering the technological implications of such craft. However, just eight months later, on December 27, 1949, a second press release declared that flying saucers did not exist. This marked the beginning of what the article describes as the official policy for the subsequent 49 years: they do not exist.

The article then highlights a significant legal development: on July 16, 1969, the USA enacted a law, officially titled Title 14, Section 1211. This law explicitly forbids any contact between American citizens and extraterrestrial beings or their vehicles. The consequences for violating this law are severe, including prolonged medical quarantine, imprisonment, and substantial fines. The author humorously imagines a scenario akin to the TV series 'X-Files', where FBI agent Fox Mulder might find himself arrested for making contact.

The Internet and UFO Discussions

The magazine then shifts focus to the role of the internet in UFO discourse. It notes that online discussions range from highly serious investigations to 'drooling, unserious bickering'. Despite the scarcity of concrete evidence, the entertainment value of these discussions is highlighted, sometimes surpassing that of 'X-Files'.

• Several online resources are recommended:
• Legislation: A link to information on the relevant law is provided: `http://www.execpc.com/~vjentpr/etlaw.html`.
• Declassified Documents: The National Security Agency (NSA) has published 39 previously secret UFO reports, which can be downloaded from their website: `http://www.nsa.gov:8080/docs/efoia/`.
• Skandinavisk UFO Information (SUFOI): This Danish grassroots organization is presented as a serious source for UFO information, with its website at `http://www.sufoi.dk`.
• News and Sightings: A report about a teacher in Ebeltoft, Denmark, who allegedly witnessed two UFOs in aerial combat over Djursland on September 26, 1996, is mentioned, with a link to `http://www.nacomm.org/news/1997/qtrl/denmark.htm`.
• The Roswell Reporter: This publication is noted for closely following aerial events, accessible via `http://www.OrionWorks.com/roswell/`.

Alien Abduction and Mind Control Communities

The article also points to online communities where individuals claim to have been abducted by UFOs and subjected to 'unpleasant mind control'. Readers are invited to subscribe to a mailing list by sending an email to `[email protected]` with the subject 'subscribe MINDCONTROL-L' to follow these discussions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a growing public interest in UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena, juxtaposing official government secrecy and legal prohibitions with the open and often speculative discussions happening online. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious curiosity, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena while also recognizing the spectrum of credibility in public discourse. The magazine encourages readers to explore these topics through various online resources, including official archives and dedicated enthusiast groups.