In today’s paper VG presents a rubbish story that they planned an escape from the prison in Kisangani, and that’s why they were transferred. A total miss VG, nonsense and rubbish and just like VG’s other “stories” in this case. Here they present a “major” they’ve interviewed. As everyone can see this is a captain, not a major. So either it’s an old picture of this “major” or it’s someone else.
But of course VG, everyone can miss with this. The Congolese made Drammen Times photographer Folkedal into a spy chief. He is in the verdicts to this day. I’ve wondered a lot about how much is reliable about what VG writes about anything. In the Congo case there is in my opinion mainly wild speculations, wrongs, and wild fantasies. Now, it’s the second time they run the escape nonsense. I think it’s starting to look like the stories about the ticks, which were dangerous!
It’s enough to look at the map to see how likely an escape would be. It’s about 500 kilometers or so through wild jungle. They would be chased by hundreds of soldiers who would most likely kill them at first sight. They wouldn’t be safe if they got to a border either, unarmed and with no jungle equipment! Not even Indiana Jones would try this! Is it possible to be a little more intelligent than this!
The true circumstances about the transfer will come out eventually, but I don’t think VG will get the story. The problem for VG’s reporters in Congo is that they can’t come in to see the boys, and the riots in Kinshasa are not happening yet. When it’s so quiet now, maybe it won’t be as bad as we though, nobody know we just have to wait and see. VG’s reporters probably have to deliver something every day, and when they don’t have anything, they make it up. This “escape story” was very thin. Personally I think the accountability to VG’s Congo reports can be compared to “Comical Ali”. Who don’t remember that guy from the Iraq war?
Knut Moland, December 8th 2011
