Joshua and Tjostolv went on a hunger strike Friday august 26th. The strike only lasted for 24 hours. The reason for the strike was the following: After being accused of an attempted escape the two Norwegians were moved to another cell. This was fair enough. The problem was that the prison management wanted two guards to live in the cell with them.
They managed to negotiate it down to one guard. But none the less it was a problem. They daily routine would be interrupted. They would have to sleep on shift for their own safety, things could’ve easily been stolen from them, and of course it would’ve been very crowded etc. The two Norwegians think its fine to have guards outside the cell, but not having any peace and quiet inside the cell was too difficult. The cells aren’t that big either. After 24 hours strike they got their got their claim, which was that the guards stay outside the cell. In the new cell they have two windows. One leads out to a disco/nightclub, the other one are facing the yard. (There are no glasses in the windows, just bars). One guard is outside the window facing the disco and I assume the other one is outside the door. The noise from the disco is worse than before. Josh and Tjostolv cover this window with the mattress as well as they can until the disco closes. On the plus-side, the cell is cooler now that they have two windows so the wind goes through. Josh and Tjostolv are now in the civil part of the prison, even though they are considered as military prisoners.
The prisoners have their own community in the prison and run everything themselves. Now, there has been an election for a new leader for the prisoners (a chief picked out by the prisoners). It wasn’t a democratic election!! As I’ve written earlier the two guards who look after Josh and Tjostolv are picked out by the group of prisoners.
The two Norwegians have bought a black hen that walks around in the yard, and as far as I know, not ended up in anyone’s pot yet. It’s called Field Marshall Idi Amin Dada!! I haven’t heard about the rat they named Kåre from the old cell for a while. Maybe he’s passed on a while ago.
Minister Alida Endresen visited the two in Kisangani on September 5-7th. She had a new watch for Joshua, because the one he had was broken. They appreciated her visit. There has been disturbance in some parts of Congo in connection with the election for a new president at the end of November.
Kari Hilde French, September 12th 2011
