I had been told about the Russian pilots that fly Russian planes and drink a lot of “whiskey”. I saw one result of this as we approached the airport in Loki at dawn as I spotted a crashed plane on the side of the runway. Makes you feel safe; but at least a priest blessed our departure from Juba, so I knew I’d be ok. As soon as I arrived in Rumbek, Charles, the driver, had a great welcoming speech prepared (this is right after he pointed out yet another crashed plane). He started by telling me that there had been “chaos” and 1,000 bullets had been shot a couple days ago. He wasn’t very clear, but something about student protests. Then, as we approached the center of town and he told me to put away my camera, he mentioned that today there was a hanging scheduled. Well, actually, 3 people were supposed to be hanged. Not only 3 people, but 2 Kenyans and an Australian. His story was that they had been in the same accommodation as a guy who had committed suicide, so they were all sentences to death. Now I’m starting to freak out!
But thank goodness Gertrude at the office has cleared things up for me and explained more about the riots; about how the bullets had been fired in the air (not at people); about how certain people had complained that bullets shot in the air was meant for animals, not for people, and that things were being resolved, even though the students had destroyed the ministry of education and finance’s office because they were not paying teachers, who therefore weren’t coming to school. As for the hangings, it sounds like they were acquitted thanks to consular and ambassadorial interventions. It had been a Ukranian drunk (sounds about right) who had died in the first place and everything was going to be ok.
I guess it’s time for dinner and anti-mosquito stick… The curfew they’ve imposed is from 12-5, but I plan to be sleeping then... I'm just not sure how deeply.
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