There have been a lot of negotiations in Congo the last weeks. It makes sense that all parties concerned want this case to be over. We don’t know who’s stopping the transfer to Kinshasa, but fact is that nothing has happened. The deal with the widow that the Congolese government demanded has been met. They have promised a transfer many times.
The warden in Kisangani has written letters asking about a transfer. The Governor has apparently given up, probably on orders from the government. The military commander is apparently not resisting a transfer. The widow wants a transfer as soon as possible so she can have the two houses. The lawyers do not want a transfer, they want money for themselves. But they hardly have the influence to stop what the government wants.
The Foreign Ministry is negotiating with Congolese Foreign Ministry and there is no problem with the transfer. The order is apparently going through the Defense Minister because they are in Military captivity. The president is fully informed about the case. He is probably just as tired of it as we are. So it’s hard to say why nothing is happening.
Now the Foreign Ministry’s State Secretary is going to Congo today. She is going to address the case in between other cases. We hope something happens soon. But we’ve done that for the past 21 months. The financial aspect of the case is more and more desperate. They don’t get anything! No free water, soap, food, medication or anything. It has to be bought, and it is very expensive. Guards have to be bribed to get food in to survive! Not getting food and life essentials in prison are severe human rights violations on a daily basis. It’s strange that we haven’t heard anything from Amnesty Norway regarding this, and every other violation made against them. They are usually so good at this. Latest now in the case regarding Marie Amelie, even though no human rights violations were really made there? We’ve contacted Amnesty Norway and they don’t even answer us. That’s strange. We know that the Foreign Ministry is working at it. It has to end soon!
Knut Moland, February 1st 2011
