Congo demands 500 billion USD in case against 2 norwegian mercs.

[codeerror]

I've just got to let you know what's going on in Congo at the moment.
2 norwegian mercenaries, alledgedly shot their local driver while driving through Congo. A couple of weeks ago, the trial begun. It has all the way been a huge mixture of actual proof, fabricated proof and hilarious claims, regardless of the two guys being guilty or not.

This has been the top story in the Norwegian press the last couple of weeks. Today, the trial entered it's final phase. Today, the real circus begun.
Because the two men suspected of killing the poor driver have earlier served in the Norwegian national guard, the republic of Congo now sues the kingdom of Norway for no less than 500 billion dollars. (Congo GDP being 8,3 billion).

A collection of prosecution quotes:

* "Norway with its 2 agents wants to create institutional problems for this country. I feel both joy and sorrow. Sorrow because Congo has lost one of its countrymen, and joy because we have discovered this conspiracy agains the congo by Norway.

* "So we thank God that let us discover this conspiracy that was planned so far away from us."

* "We see the complexity of this case because they are soldiers that Norway has sent here as spies to the congo. They came here with all the necessary sofisticated instruments for this operation."

* "They are here to spy and have carried weapons illegaly"

In addition, large parts of the trial has been held in french, a language that none of the two Norwegians understand.

 

[lukylok]

I don't know anything about it and refuses to take side.
But ........... what would be the chances of a trial held in Norwegian in the States ?

 

[codeerror]

I don't know anything about it and refuses to take side.
But ........... what would be the chances of a trial held in Norwegian in the States ?

I'm sorry. I think they should have gotten an Interpreter. Maybe thats just me.

 

[CaptainJohn]

Why the hell would Norway want to spy on Congo anyway?

 

[unloadonme]

Exactly! If you go to places like Congo, you're asking for it.

 

[gsdx]

There was a post here not too long ago in which a deaf American was refused a sign language interpreter in court.

Hardly anyone took notice. . . or even cared.

Interesting that more people are pissed off about there being no interpreter for 2 Norwegians on trial somewhere in Congo.

 

[codeerror]

There is nothing saying two mercenaries from Norway were spying for Norway on whichever Congo it is that charged them. They're simply two morons who enjoy killing and who happen to be from Norway.

They could be working for any government, probably any of a dozen in Africa, or a multinational, such as Shell. Or strictly for themselves.

They had Norwegian military ID on them, even if it has been some time since they were in active service. They also had SIG (Special Intervention Group) ID's on them. One of the men started a company named SIG-Uganda, but claims that there is no connection between SIG and SIG-Uganda.

SIG is a Norwegian based company that does all the same jobs as for example Blackwater does.

The court showed some more 'evidence' the other day. They showed a picture of a man wearing a beret and pointing to Congo on a map. The prosecutor claimed that this man was a Norwegian general.

As it turns out, this picture was taken in December 2006 at a party, the person in the picture is an editor for a local newspaper in Norway.

 

[codeerror]

Enjoy..

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/08/congo.norway.death.sentence/index.html

btw, the money claim was changed a week ago or so. Evidently the first claim had a 0 too much in it