The newspapers here cause me some amusement. Not to mention some consternation. In fact I have been chided by colleagues for perusing them before coming into the office. For the most part they reflect a tendency to bolster the government line. I make this as a value-free observation which may be interpreted by observers as they wish.
There was a story in yesterday’s paper that gave me cause to reflect briefly on justice. I think it gives a suitable insight into the modus operandi of the systems here, as well as a few other parts of the world I have been.
A few weeks ago, a six-year-old girl was kidnapped by some bandits in one of the districts. Tragically, her body was discovered dumped a few days later. Four suspects were identified and arrested. Before they could be brought to trial, one of the suspects commited suicide while in police custody. A second was later killed while trying to escape.
Yesterday’s paper article finished off the story, which had concluded a day earlier. Apparently, while the two surviving suspects were being transported through the bush by police to another location, the convoy was unexpectedly ambushed by, and I quote, ‘terrorists’. These terrorists attacked the police, who returned fire and chased off the attackers. Unfortunately, the terrorists were never caught or identified. Luckily, none of the police in the convoy were seriously hurt. But sadly, the remaining two suspects happened to die in the crossfire.
Who would have thought it? It looks like justice prevails after all.
