It was a crappy Christmas for the two Norwegians in the Ndolo-prison. The ward where they are were used as an infirmary for the “minor” injured from the escape attempt that took place little over a week after their arrival at Ndolo. “Minor” injured meant among others that several had gunshot wounds and some had their arm broken by the guards. In addition they had an aids sick prisoner present and a mentally ill person who yelled and screamed around the clock. The three prisoners they share the cell with are very loud as well and it has been almost impossible to get some peace to read a book. They hear screaming from female inmates from a building close by when “discipline” are being executed. It’s very stressful to see others suffer without doing anything about it, like they eventually did in Kisangani.
December 22nd I got a report from the British foreign ministry. Joshua gave it to the British vice council who sent it via London to me. It went to lawyer Furuholmen and the foreign ministry. Josh wrote about their first two weeks in the Ndolo-prison. It turns out that killed and wounded in connection to the escape attempt a week after they arrived at the prison was higher and more severe than reported in the media. The situation in the prison is not easy and prisoners with mental problems are not getting the right treatment as they should. It’s a lot of noise and Josh and Tjostolv get headaches from all the noise and load talking, music at highest volume and mentally ill prisoners who shouts and screams. We also struggle with communication and that’s been a problem. They don’t get to use a phone. After a lot of effort from both foreign ministries they still don’t have their own cell. There is a vacant one next to where they are now. They have a small place where they can exercise, and I think they exercise an hour a day.
As in Kisangani the families are responsible for their prisoner relatives. So we are still depending on help to assure that they get what they need to survive. The Salvation Army hasn’t managed to keep up with the food supply so I’ve worked on other arrangements for that matter. Now it seems like we have two good people to do this for us. They also write and speak English, which is so much easier with communication. The warden is very engaged in them. They are the only white prisoners and create some interest. Josh and Tjostolv share the cell with three former wardens from the Makala prison. It’s not nice to share the cell with them and they are like the spies for the prison management. They are kept in this area because they will probably be killed among the other prisoners. They have as wardens not been very nice to prisoners they were responsible for in the Makala prison.
Our local lawyer in Kinshasa, Kibambe, was denied visiting them but finally today he got in to see them. He has told them that he has never heard of any white prisoners in Congo who’ve been incarcerated for as long as they have. Most get out (with some kind of negotiating) after 6-12 months.
Josh and Tjostolv are getting close to 3 years in captivity.
Apparently there was a successful escape attempt in Kisangani the night before Boxing Day. 19 prisoners were involved. Other places like Bakavu (east in Congo) an escape attempt ended with many dead and wounded.
I few days ago we read that the drama around Joshua and Tjostolv are going to be theater in Molde! (A city in Norway) I don’t like this. We didn’t know anything before reading it in the media. Maybe the actors could trade places with Joshua and Tjostolv for a few weeks to see reality, so they can get it authentic!
The new government in Congo is supposed to be in place in the middle of January as far as we know. That means new ministers in at least some of the departments. It will be exciting to see if there will be a new Justice Minister. We heard that there will be.
Kari Hilde French, January 10th 2012
