Free French and Moland!

A rumour earlier in the evening said that I wouldn’t be able to go to the prison Friday evening. Well, well, I just had to wait and see. Then a message came from Rune Edvardsen on my mobile phone. “Don’t mention this. Be ready at any time”. Things take time in Congo, but finally Rune came and we went to the prison. The journalists managed to understand what was happening, but they did not make it in to the prison.

The drive from our place to the prison was about 10 minutes. Outside the prison there was a huge crowd. Wow, I thought to myself, is this because of my visit? Luckily it wasn’t. There was an outdoor trial; which is quite common here someone told me later. With Elisabeth Slåtten from the Foreign Ministry, Rune Edvardsen and Dr. Terje Erlid we went in to the prison. Through the blue prison door that we’ve seen so many times in the media. Through another gate and then into the prison area. To the right, we walked over some of the courtyard, prisoners everywhere, I saw Tjostolv. I threw my arms around him I hugged him harder than I’ve ever done in my life. Joshua wasn’t far behind. He too got a motherly hug. What did Tjostolv say, people have asked me. He said, “hey mommy” like he always does. Joshua welcomed me and apologized for not having taken a shower after the trial.

It wasn’t a private meeting. We sat together in the courtyard outside Joshua’s cell. There were guards all around us, and other prisoners, Rune Edvardsen, Terje Erlid and Elisabeth Slåtten. A guard told Tjostolv and me that we had to speak English. Both mother and son objected heavily. We spoke Norwegian and it was never mentioned again during the other visits. I brought 2 half breads with me, one for each. One of them I had to take back with me, and take with me again the next time. The photo album was a huge success. Tjostolv saw through it several times, and he was very moved. He made a comment that little Knut who was born on August 4th looked like him. Of course he’s right. I also had “smokeless-tobacco” for both of them and some things from Kari Hilde. From his big sister Tjostolv got the book “Plankeneger” by the author Halvard C. Hanssen from Vegårdshei. The visit lasted for about 15 minutes. Rune Edvardsen filmed the whole meeting.

The press had of course noticed my visit in the prison and stood just outside the prison when I got out. Rune suggested a short “press conference” outside the prison to spare me for having to repeat myself to all the media. It’s not allowed to take pictures outside the prison, so the journalists stood with their backs to the prison. I don’t remember what I told them, but there were many (happy) tears. Friday 13th was a lucky day.

Saturday November 14th, Elisabeth Slåtten came to pick me up. After eating breakfast at the hotel, we went back to the prison. I brought footballs, a pump, crackers, bags of soup, gingerbread and other cookies, tubes with cheese, chocolate and books that considerate people sent me.

When we got to the prison Tjostolv was busy making an African type of porridge. It looked like spaghetti when he put it in the casserole. He cooked on charcoal. I had a taste, but it was too spicy for me. Joshua had just woken up, and wasn’t ready for breakfast yet.

The evening before Tjostolv had started reading “Plankeneger”. The bookmark was on page 35. After breakfast Tjostolv showed me around in the prison. He showed me where he sleeps, his thinking cell, where historical prisoners had been incarcerated, the latrines and the sick ward. The tour of the prison was a positive experience. Tjostolv introduced me to a lot of his fellow inmates. Other prisoners greeted me as well, and yelled “Mummy Moland” at me. That would not have been the case 5 months earlier. When they were transferred to this prison in June they yelled “kill the white skinned, kill the white skinned!” But with consideration and care for their inmates Joshua and Tjostolv have turned the hatred into respect. They’ve shared their belongings and helped others with medical help.

Before the sightseeing Tjostolv kicked a football out to a group of prisoners. They started playing right away. I’m guessing Joshua sent them more footballs eventually. 7 footballs were left in the Central Prison.

After the prison-tour Tjostolv and I had a chance to speak alone. He was tired so he lay down on Joshua’s mattress. Joshua was outside, talking to Elisabeth Slåtten from the Foreign Ministry. I suspect that my visit in the prison caused many prominent people to visit Joshua’s cell that Saturday. The warden of the prison, Wawara, someone I didn’t know and the prosecutor came for a visit. It was the first time the prosecutor had visited them in prison. He gave the warden a long lecture that all communication to French and Moland should go through him…

As mentioned, Wawara showed up, dressed in civilian clothes. Tjostolv had a gift for him that I brought from Norway. He had asked me to bring a beret from his room. When I heard who it was for, I wasn’t sure. Was this a symptom of his mental stage? I did what he asked, it didn’t take much space. Rune told me on the trip down, that there had become a kind of friendship between Tjostolv and Wawara. Wawara got the beret from the Norwegian Home Front, and was very happy. I wanted to take a picture, but he said no. He had to be in his uniform! I also gave him a cookie. He took a bite, but didn’t eat it. Scared I would poison him?

The last time I spoke to Tjostolv in freedom must’ve been in the beginning of April -09. It was now about time to update him on everything and bring him regards from the family, friends, people we know and people we don’t know. During the conversation Tjostolv gave me a challenge: “We are going on a Pilgrim voyage to Ethiopia”. When???? Agreed upon later.

After about 2,5 hours it was time to go. I had a box of Coca Cola in my hand on my way out. Just before I got to the gate a young prisoner approached me. His eyes were on the box. I gave him the box, and a huge smile came over his face. Half a box of Coca Cola was his!

I was coming back on Saturday evening.

Elisabeth and her driver picked me up, and we went to the prison. Outside there was a man with a hat talking a lot. I was told that he was the colonel in the judge panel. He said Edvardsen didn’t seek his promotion with the project “Inmate to Inmate!” He asked me if I could prove that I was Tjostolv’s mother. I had a picture of Tjostolv in my wallet, but before I could show it to him he talked about something else. He’d made up his mind. I wasn’t going to get in to the prison this evening. I comforted myself that tomorrow were family day, and I could be there the whole day.

Saturday night it rained heavily, and it kept on raining Sunday morning. There was going to be a catholic mass in the prison. After that the bishop of Kisangani and Rune Edvardsen were going to hold protestant worship. It took longer than anticipated to get into the prison this morning. We probably waited for a couple of hours before we could get in. I met the guys when they lined up to listen to the bishop and Rune.

After the service Tjostolv carried his mother on his back. There was so much mud on the ground after all the rain, and mum didn’t have the right shoes. We sat for about half an hour outside Joshua’s cell, and we ate potato chips. Joshua gave the press a tour around the prison. All of a sudden a delegation came, and the female representative from the mayor’s office says I have to leave the prison. The official visit is over. But I’m on a family visit, I object. The lady, who’s probably a mother as well, shows no mercy. After I had given Tjostolv a hug, I took my bag and left. One more visit left, the goodbye on Monday morning.

Rune had something else in mind. He worked under cover and later that afternoon he says it’s time for another visit tonight. Around 6pm the car came and Rune and I got in. The driver is surprised when Rune says we’re going to the prison. He stops the car, and don’t believe it. But it is true. Rune has an agreement with Wawara. We go to the prison. It’s dark. Wawara shows up. He accompanies us into the prison. On our way in I hear prisoners sing. I didn’t have anything with me this time. Joshua, Tjostolv, Rune and I had a nice time together.

Monday morning at 8am, Elisabeth came to get me. It’s time to say goodbye. I’ve thought a lot about this moment and cried. We were met in the warden’s office with: “why were you in the prison yesterday?” Me giving out more footballs was a bad answer. After he’d blown off some steam we were allowed in. Tjostolv came from his cell. Joshua was still in bed, under the mosquito netting and covers, but as the gentleman he is, he was on his feet in no time.  

Now it was all about saying all the things that hadn’t been said already. What do you want the next group of journalists to bring with them? Mashed potatoes were one of the requests. I got some ice cold feet in my hands. “Warm socks” Tjostolv said. So all of a sudden I had to make sure he got some new sandals (Øistein from Dagbladet got it for him two days after I had left). Other than that I had to give their greetings and thanks to a lot of people.

2 times we got to say goodbye. At first I had to leave, and then we got “granted” 10 more minutes. So the goodbye wasn’t as tearful as it could’ve been.

Joshua states clearly, that this is going to work out. “We’ll be out in 2010” he says firmly. I admire him. He’s been through a tough time himself, and in addition he had to take care of Tjostolv. When Tjostolv got so sick from malaria in October, he was the one that hit the alarm. It probably saved Tjostolvs life. He also had to take care of Tjostolv when he was mentally unstable. He is a real friend.

Rune Edvardsen is the man behind my visits in the prison. He initiated the trip and took care of everything. I can’t thank him enough for all that he’s done.

Mathilde, Vegårshei, December 6th 2009