It’s Friday evening. Another exiting day in court is over. There was a crowd at the Kisangani airport too. Rune Edvardsen, Mathilde Moland, the Norwegian doctor Erlid and lots of journalists arrived in the “jungle-town”. Lawyer Kibambe came too, and according to a picture in one of the medias he and the two boys were very glad to see each other again. Yesterday it was decided that Tjostolv and Joshua had to have different lawyers because Tjostolv in his sick state says a lot of things that it destroys their case. Mathilde was supposed to see her son at three o’clock this afternoon. It didn’t exactly work out, but eventually she got to meet Tjostolv a little later in the day. It wasn’t a private meeting between the two in the prison yard but it good and special anyways. It’s good for us in the French family to know that she is there.
The British vice consul went back to Kinshasa today. We have been told that the representative from the Foreign Office is staying until November 23rd. Then she’ll be replaced by someone else. The trial continues Thursday next week. The cultural centre where the trial is held is rented to others for a couple of days. I’m counting on the British vice consul to be back by then.
Arild Øyen, a diplomat from Norway, had yesterday several meetings on a high level with authorities in Kinshasa according to information from the Foreign Office. He has addressed some questions regarding the two Norwegians safety, judicial safety, and other basic rights such as doctor aid. Again he got reassurances that the death penalties will not be effectuated.
The safety situation in the Eastern part of Congo is getting more and more difficult, especially in an area called Kivo. This does not yet apply for the area around Kisangani, but the situation can deteriorate and Tjostolvs statements in court didn’t help.
There have been some problems for Joshua to get needed help from a doctor and medication in his last two disease periods. The procedure now is apparently that lawyer Likwela (who has represented them both up until now) has to send a request in writing to the court. Then the court will have a doctor from the hospital to visit Joshua. This can take time, and with certain diseases like acute diarrea and malaria he should be examined right away. The Foreign Offices representative has asked lawyer Likwela to send a request on Joshua’s behalf to the court.
Now that Tjostolv is back in the prison I don’t know what will happen. Will the court accept that the local lawyer who’s now only Joshua’s lawyer can send a written request for Tjostolv also if necessary? Or does lawyer Kibambe, who normally doesn’t live in Kisangani, have to do it?
Kari Hilde French, November 13th 2009
