September 2nd 2011 was a big day in Vegarshei. The Crown Prince and Princess were visiting the county and this day they were in Vegarshei. The children were free from school and the community was decorated for the party. The weather was great and a lot of people were there to get a glance at the couple. After a tour through an industrial area, the Crown Prince and Princess were taken to the arena where they would see what Vegarshei has to offer on the cultural arena. Here, the Crown Prince were reminded what the lanyard cord is attached both to the boat and the body!
I think he remembers that comment for a long time!
What has this to do with Joshua and Tjostolv? This was a joyful occasion, where Tjostolv’s situation was forgotten for a little while.
Late in the afternoon that same day I was visiting a friend. The phone rang, it was Dagbladet. The Norwegian delegation, 6 Norwegian diplomats and bureaucrats had meetings with Congolese authorities. The journalist tells me that Congo opens for a transfer for Joshua French and Tjostolv Moland, under the condition that the two death sentenced Norwegians comes to an agreement with the driver’s kin about a settlement. Ok. I haven’t heard anything about this from anyone else, but I know there is a delegation in Kinshasa. Soon the phone rings again and again. Media wants my comment to the deal that has been made. Some journalists wonder why I’m not more thrilled about the news. I remember that I perceived the message as positive and saw a little light at the end of the tunnel, but when the journalist asks me if the flag is hoisted or if I have champagne on ice, ready to celebrate Tjostolv’s transfer you have followed the case superficially and have little knowledge about Congo.
It’s about 9 months since the deal with the widow and the death sentenced Norwegians were complete. During this period there has been much contact between Norwegian and Congolese authorities. In an e-mail from the Foreign Ministry dated April 12th they waited for a date in which ambassador Vea was meeting President Kabila, something that hasn’t happened yet. Several times, Joshua and Tjostolv have been informed that a transfer to Kinshasa is coming up soon. Its empty promises every time. They are still sitting in the same prison in Kisangani.
On august 10th ambassador Vea states to a local newspaper “we shouldn’t give up hope, but there is reason to fear that there will be a standstill in this case until the election is over at the end of November”. If it goes as the ambassador states, Joshua and Tjostolv will spend their 3rd Christmas in prison in Kisangani. In addition to more months in 2012 until a new administration takes over the case.
Since Thursday August 25th the newspapers are writing about the case again; attempted escape and hunger strike has dominated the headlines. Maybe the claim of the attempted escape and Joshua and Tjostolv’s answer to the punishment can lead to something positive?
Today, it’s September 2nd 2011. A year has passed since the “heavy” Norwegian delegation was in Kinshasa and negotiated. Until the latest events in the prison in Kisangani, the little light I saw at the end of the tunnel a year ago was completely gone. The move the Norwegian and partly British authorities have made to the Congolese authorities hasn’t had any effect what so ever.
What now? Will recent events give some movement in the case? Minister Alida Endresen from the embassy in Angola is going to the prison for a visit soon. I assume that the boys will be in their own routine again. It’s a good thing that they get some visitors. They will appreciate some more food and something new to read. But when the representative leaves after a couple of days Joshua and Tjostolv are left there, no closer to a transfer to Kinshasa. Lawyer Morten Furuholmen states to Dagbladet on August 28th: “I think Foreign Minister Støre has to go there. Now is the time for the heavy guns”. Yes, Jonas Gahr Støre, will you accept the challenge?
Mathilde Moland
Vegarshei, september 2nd 2011
