The last couple of days we as a nation has endured some horrific events. The way this has been dealt with, both by our Royal Family, our authorities, different organizations, the church and most of the nation I’m a part of has been outstanding. One persons’ enormous hate has been met with “love roses”. With the families and friends of those who were killed and every wounded in mind it’s also important to remember that they will need “love roses” expressed in words and actions for a long, long time to come. Our family’s deepest compassion is with everyone who is directly and indirectly affected by what’s happened. Just think of all the volunteers whose had to witness so much pain that have attached to their minds, and will follow them the rest of their lives.
In several speeches and appeals this weekend there has been takes about the human worth and that we have none to lose. In comparison to many nations Norway emphasizes the individual person and humanity. We who have lived with the “Congo-case” close to us for over two years knows little about the lack of these values and about the evil and atrocities that plague Congo in different ways. Joshua and Tjostolv experience this every single day in prison. One example is witnessing how their inmates treat each other. As a mother I’m proud that the two instead have helped their inmates for over two years with the clinic they run etc.
Congo has trouble understanding that Norway spends so much resource on two regular citizens from their country. That is the reason they maintain that the two Norwegians has to be important spies etc. It’s difficult for them to understand that a country bothers to do so much for two of their “non-important” citizens. But this is a manifestation of our nation’s emphasis on democracy and human rights. This is also the reason that a killer like Anders Behring Breivik will get a fair trial with a lawyer who will represent him in the best possible way.
The situation for the two Norwegians in Congo is unfortunately the same. Both Norwegian and British Foreign Ministries has worked very active without results. Congo doesn’t work like other countries, and it doesn’t seem like they have any intention of following diplomatic rules. It’s also corrupt all over which we notice from all the offers we get when it comes to money. This is frustrating and both the Foreign Ministry and we are anxious about the safety for Joshua and Tjostolv when the election starts this fall. They are electing a new president and the country is already unstable and we can expect that this election can lead to more instability.
The two in Congo sends their regard and condolences. They’ve paid attention to what’s happened in Norway through BBC’s broadcasts on the radio and what we’ve managed to tell them. Both Joshua’s girlfriend and her aunt were at their jobs close to the government building and experienced the pressure wave and windows close to breaking and the weird silence that follows a large bomb like this exploding.
Kari Hilde French, July 26th 2011
