How ridiculous can the media get? Now the headlines in the press are that Joshua and Tjostolv have been arguing and now live in separate cells. Tjostolv has been very sick with malaria falciparum. These malaria parasites can go to different organs including the brain and create problems. Depression is also normal when it comes to malaria. Tjostolv has not wanted to talk to anyone, whether it was his cellmate, doctors, the Foreign Ministry representative or others. Either he suffers from depression as the doctor says according to the media, or there is something else, or a lot of reasons. It is ridiculous and irresponsible of the media to write that they are fighting. That they are in different cells at the moment and Tjostolv hasn’t been able to eat and drink etc is part of his disease(s) and has nothing to do with their relationship.
I have received different inquiries that indicate that the media wants to create a distance between the families French and Moland. We have stood together for nearly 6 months now, and will still stand together in our fight to get the boys released.
So to the media: please don’t make problems were there aren’t any. It will of course increase their circulation figures if they can bring a story of two friends who are not friends anymore, but use some common sense and read about tropical diseases and reactions in crisis situations and maybe you will understand more of what’s going on.
Kari Hilde French, October 20th 09
