Peter Pal Jola’s daughter revealed that he departed from Kitchener, Ontario, to Ethiopia in March for a brief journey to distribute supplies. Despite his intentions, the 67-year-old Canadian national never departed from the airport.
According to Nyarieni Pal, in an interview with CBC News, her father had no plans for an extended stay and was simply intending to visit friends and family.
Pal mentioned that her father aimed to provide supplies to individuals in his hometown in South Sudan, a region plagued by ongoing conflict and hunger. She noted that among the supplies were a few pairs of walkie-talkies purchased by Jola from Amazon. However, the possession of these devices, which are restricted in Ethiopia, led to Jola facing three charges of importing military equipment, each carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence.
Initially, Jola was informed that he could leave the devices at the airport and retrieve them on his return to Canada. However, the situation changed when authorities discovered his intention to transport them to the South Sudanese border.
Expressing her frustration, Pal emphasized that Jola’s sole aim was to assist individuals affected by the conflict, as they needed a means of communication to stay connected with their loved ones.
Canada’s Role in the Situation
Pal shared that her father is currently detained at Kaliti maximum-security prison in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Inmates at this facility are required to cover their basic necessities, including medication, using their own funds.
Pal highlighted that her father suffers from diabetes, a suspected kidney tumor, and mobility issues following a previous car accident. She mentioned that they send approximately $300 to $400 Canadian dollars per week to cover his expenses for necessities like food, water, and potentially medication.
While Canadian Embassy officials have visited her father multiple times, Pal noted their limitations in intervening in the judicial process but expressed a desire for more substantial efforts.
Aaron Shull, the managing director and general counsel at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, emphasized the limitations of the Canadian government’s actions in such circumstances, noting that their role primarily involves providing consular support.
Shull elaborated that while the government can advocate and engage in diplomatic processes, they cannot compel a release or overturn local laws.
He pointed out that Ethiopia’s Information Network Security Agency has a list of restricted items, including walkie-talkies, which severely restricts the options available to the Canadian government in this case.
