#FreeJeanMarie #Telema #Ingeta #Yebela #Filimbi I wanted to take this time to provide our supporters, especially those who contributed financially to help with legal fees for Jeanmarie Kalonji's case to know what has been happening on the ground. For safety and helping get his case through, I decided to not post much about his case online. You can learn more about Jean Marie Kalonji here: http://standnow.org/2016/02/16/freejeanmarie/ Today, Jean Marie appeared before the judge to hear the charges against him. He is being charged with distributing images on facebook to cause civil unrest, mobilizing against the national dialogue organized by Congolese president Kabila and for infringing on Congo's national security. While this is deplorable, it is still a huge update from the last post we made on him. Jean Marie Kalonji was kidnapped by unidentified armed men on December 15, 2015. We have found out that he spent 3 days in a military camp, then was transferred to the Congolese Intelligence agency (ANR in French) and held incommunicado until April 25 when his lawyers were informed that he will finally be transferred to a regular prison. On April 28, 2016, he was finally transferred to the Makala prison and has been there since. His lawyers are continuing to fight to get him out of prison. I am so moved by his courage to stay on the ground and fight the system. He has been able to write a few letters in French to supporters and his family. It was a joy to receive a photo of him, after he had spent 6 months in jail with no charges and no communication with everyone. In one of his letters, he said that he understands the challenges of being a prisoner because of what he and his comrades stand for but he is willing to sacrifice his youth for a better Congo. The outcome of today's court date is that there will be another appearance in the near future to find out the next stage. His lawyers are fighting for his temporary release until his trial. More to share, but for now, we are encouraged to see our brother still standing tall against all odds! Once more, thank you for all of you for lifting up Jean Marie's name.
