Monusco, UN’s department in Kisangani has sent a report to the Foreign Ministry about the incident in the prison, where their people were part of robbing the guys. Can you imagine, they didn’t do anything wrong. Everything was correct! The money was placed into an account, and nothing was mentioned about the other thefts or the threats about “disciplining” racist harassment etc. Who do they think they’re kidding? Not us for sure, and probably not the Foreign Ministry either.
The money and the other items that were stolen will never be seen again. It’s really amazing what has happened. Norway pays 17 % of UN’s expenses in Congo, and they let their officers abuse Norwegian citizens like this then to deny the facts. This is of course totally unworthy of an organization like UN. We expect that Monusco in Kisangani will receive a warning that if anything like this ever happens again Norway will demand an independent investigation and consequences for the abusers. With Norway’s large contribution to UN, Norway can of course put power behind the demand, Monusco should understand that!
The Justice Minister lied to the ambassador. He was going to Kisangani and get them to Kinshasa. This didn’t happen, and the Congolese insult Norwegian authorities severely both with not answering political notes and worse. They hold two Norwegians sentenced to death for espionage in advantage to Norway, convicted with absolutely no evidence. A verdict everyone knows is a miscarriage of justice. The evidence for murder and “criminal association” was on the same level as the evidence for espionage. This has been a hostage situation from day 1. I think everyone starts to understand that now.
Money controls everything. Earlier one of the officers that arrested them came into the prison, now one of the judges from one of the “trials” against them is there, a major. These people buy their way out fast. Everyone knows they don’t have a lot of money, so it doesn’t take much. About the Norwegians, everyone knows that Norway is a rich country and then they fantasize about millions and billions. I think they’ve realized that the boys’ families don’t have the millions they want, but they know that the Norwegian state has it. You can find that out with a few strokes on Google. What’s amazing is they think they can get large funds from Norway and at the same time press Norway for money!
As far as I know Congo received 44 000 000 USD in 2010, Norway covers as far as I know 17% of UN’s expenses in Congo, and the rain forest fund is going in there with 92 million dollars. The same state that receives all this money is also trying to press Norway for more by taking hostages! At the same time as they treat Norwegian ambassadors with contempt by lying to them and Norway with contempt by ignoring diplomatic notes, something that is unheard of in diplomatic contexts. Is this really something a state with any respect for itself can accept!
Unfortunately I don’t think we will see a resolution in this case until the Congolese understands that they will suffer economical consequences if they don’t solve this case. It’s the only language they understand.
Knut Moland, July 7th 2011
