The claim against Norway, of course we’re not going to pay. Even a third grade lawyer knows that you can’t lead a case against another country in a local court. What is special here is that the claim is coming from the government attorney in Kinshasa. He’s not doing this on his own. Who sent him? Is it the government? If so, the government will probably push this, and demand the money in an official note or something. Then what? Norway can of course still refuse to pay, but then what? Will Congo break the diplomatic connections? What other sanctions could they have? No one I think.
If they break the diplomatic connections, it must be considered a hostile act that will have big consequences. Maybe Great Britain will react as well, since Joshua is a british citizen. Their contribution is about 1 billion NOK each year as far as I know. Norway with 1.43 billion over 10 years I read somewhere. That will probably increase when we start giving from the Rain Forest Fund. EU contributes with many billions. Does Congo dare to go up against that? I hardly think so. It will probably just whisk away. Where are they really going with these stupid accusations of espionage? Can it be just to mark their territory? That the lunatics in Kisangani threw around them with their accusations are no surprise, but it seems very strange that Kinshasa takes these chances for nothing.
Knut Moland, November 21th 2009
