When the justice system in a country goes unpaid by its government for any
length of time, I suppose it is only natural that the system devises its own
plan for paying itself. Thus, a system that may once have been just,
becomes a system of varied injustice. Lady liberty has thrown away her
scales and has replaced them with rather large pockets in her trousers.
There are some customs you learn in a foreign country that are easily
adopted, others that you adopt but they always remain a bit strange and some
that you never manage to adopt and whenever they are encountered they remain
as foreign as when you first saw them. To me the justice system shall
always be in that last category. Take, for example, last weekend. Constant
was in Berberati for the week having our agri truck fixed, buying supplies
like shovels and machetes as well as stocking up on spare truck parts. They
very moment he was getting set to return to Gamboula he had an accident in
the truck. We aren't exactly clear as to whose fault the accident was but
it seems that a motor bike with a driver and two passengers ran into the
rear wheel of his truck at high speed. The injuries were not serious to the
passengers, just a bruised ankle and some minor scrapes. The bike was
damaged but the driver didn't have a license or the proper papers of
insurance and such for his bike. Constant and his idea was that they were
both at fault and they both go on their way. Unfortunately, a police chief
(CB) or some such person happened to be on his motorbike only 5 minutes
behind them and as they were just picking up the bike from the ground the CB
came upon the scene and called the police in to investigate. (On an aside,
Berberati now has a cellular tower and has leaped into the future now armed
with cell phones. Good for most but unfortunate for Constant.) The result
of having the police know about your accident is that they have just found
their month's pay check. You see, it is a crime in CAR to have an accident.
Both vehicles were impounded, and Constant was delayed an extra 4 days while
they 'discussed' what his fine would be. In the end, after what might be a
small movie script, mostly comedy, each driver was required to pay the
police 30,000 CFA. That is like sixty dollars. What I don't get and never
will, is that they both had to pay a fine for the mere fact that they had an
accident. It is your bad luck that they happen to find out that you had
one. If the police were never informed, they would have gone on their way
as though everything were normal. Unfortunately for the other guy, he also
has to pay another 30,000 CFA because of driving without a license and
insurance.
Since the accident was partly Constant's fault and we do have 'insurance' on
the truck, technically the other driver could have filed to claim damages
from our insurance. He won't do this though, no one does. Why? Because
then you have to pay the police to write a report, then you have to pay the
court to have a hearing to process your claim. In the end, you end up
paying as much or more than you are claiming for, so why bother? Thus a
very efficient injustice system.
I have many other examples, some that make you want to cry in frustration
from the ludicrousy of it all. You can hardly believe that some of the
stories you hear are true, but they are. People who do not collect
legitimate salaries are very easy to pay off.
On the brighter side of life, I am enjoying how life always steers you back
to the things we are good at. I feel like I'm right back at ECHO today as I
became Roy and Constant's assistant in the office, devising a filing system,
cleaning up receipts and generally organizing things. I like to organize
things. Today is also the French service's Christmas special. Next weekend
is for the Sango service. Today we are treated to choirs, memory verses,
skits and, of course, food. Clarisse is in the French service so I am
looking forward to a good time. We are going to Berberati next week to help
paint a house in preparation for some new missionaries coming to Berberati.
I am looking forward to introducing Darren to my new friends there and maybe
he will treat me to a dinner out at the new restaurant in town-a Christmas
present of sorts. Will report on the trip when we get back.
