What the hell are the Congo government thinking of?

[CupOfWater]

Hi.

As you most likely don't know, if you're living outside scandinavia, two male Norwegians, Tjostolv Moland and Joshua French, have been captured by the Congo government, accused for killing a Congo taxidriver. The two norwegian guys have denied all guilt, and just keep telling the court that they were attacked by robbers, who shot the driver. This case have been going on for some time now, and they have been charged the death penalty.

When I heard that they got the death penalty, I was shocked. But not as shocked as I got today, when I heard the demands for money, that the Congo court gave norway.
They say that they want 540 billion dollars! Am I the only one that's almost laughing over this? They're making themselfs look like idiots! "OH CRAP, you shot one of our taxi drivers, we require all your fucking money!!" They are also accusing them for being secret agents from Norway, which just makes them look even more stupid.

There's no english articles about this, so here is a translated one: http://translate.google.com/transla...tid=570859&sl=no&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1

 

[WolfAU]

Yeah, if thats more or less whats happening, then they're very very stupid, they most certainly WONT get the money, and if they do kill the citizens it will likely be seen as them trying to ransom them and trying to start some shit (it kinda hint that they know they didn't do it, but want to send some kind of political message).

I can see this ending very badly for Congo (trade embargo's etc). it does remind me of similar matters Australia keeps encountering, particularly with Indonesia, who just love to put Australian's on death row for the most petty of reasons.

 

[CupOfWater]

I agree, this will not end well for Congo.

Here's another translated article, which is easier to read for peole that know nothing of this case from before:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=no&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vg.no%2Fnyheter%2Futenriks%2Fartikkel.php%3Fartid%3D566830&sl=no&tl=en&history_state0=&swap=1

 

[ImprobableJoe]

Before someone else does it:

 

[Juuso]

I'm originally from Norway and I've been following this with what can only be described as shocked amusement, it's the country taking two people hostage and other than being disgusting it's hilarious they think it will work.

Interesting to see how it will play out though.

 

[Ciraric]

Why were Norwegians in Congo anyway?

A bit fishy methinks...

 

[WolfAU]

Why were Norwegians in Congo anyway?
A bit fishy methinks...

Possibly, it would make alot more sense than them trying to ransom two random guys for 540 billion.

What surprises me is that this isn't a bigger story.

 

[Giliell]

Although I'm sorry for those two guys, the whole story makes me smile a bit.
The western countries took so much pains and effort to make sure that the current congolese government wins the elctions and now they're getting rebelious and nasty. The demons I called...
What does the government think of? Well, it worked in other cases, didn't it. It seems to become an established form to make money: accuse westerners unjustly of a crime and then see how much their governments will pay.

 

[Don-Sama]

haha, so a country now keeps 2 innocent people actually hostage? wow. well gotta say they are really creative making a ''country'' a kidnapper.

sad for the 2 people..

 

[ilikeost]

I would like to see some really hard repercussions on Congo for this.

 

[ImprobableJoe]

I would like to see some really hard repercussions on Congo for this.

They have to keep living there... what more can you really do to them?

 

[ilikeost]

I would like to see some really hard repercussions on Congo for this.

They have to keep living there... what more can you really do to them?

I dont know... How about sending an army of old people with bony fingers who poke the inhabitants of Congo constantly for 10 years? That would be quite the punishment. Or you could do the standard thing, write an angry letter or two.

Honestly though I dont really know what they would do to them. I guess they could either threat them with trading embargos or do a hostage resque mission (you know, like in the movies!).