Because of the experimental nature of our approach, and the absurdity of what we were doing, some early actions taken against witnesses were laughable failures. I mean that, instead of silencing some witnesses, we effectively drove them mad. More often than not people were silenced by the absurdity of our approach.
Nobody particularly cares to be called insane.
Then a couple of really bizarre thugs visit your home and play head games with you. One of them has a black box which you think may be the reason why you feel dizzy and passive. Maybe these thugs distort, fade out a bit, or change shape right before your eyes. So you shut up about it for about 10 years, but eventually you decide you are out of danger, so you talk about it. The only people who listen to you or believe you are other witnesses.