U.S Citzens Abruptly Detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Concerns for Safety Paramount in Midst of Historic Presidential Election
Three U.S. citizens, all consultants for Orlando-based AQMI Strategy Corporation, were detained and are being held by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since last Friday, May 18.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) May 25, 2006 -- Three U.S. citizens, all consultants for Orlando-based AQMI Strategy Corporation, were detained and are being held by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since last Friday, May 18. Two were forcibly removed from a plane while attempting to return to the U.S., released and then subsequently rearrested along with the third man at a private home the following morning.
The three men are part of a team providing high-level consulting and security services to Presidential candidate, Dr. Oscar Kashala, certified as one of the candidates for the Presidency of the DRC in its closely watched, first-ever democratic election to be held on July 30, 2006.
A U.N. spokesman in Kinshasa, capital of the DRC, told the Associated Press today the arrests “…appear to be a case of political manipulation by the Congo’s government.” AQMI CEO, Frank Amodeo stated, “these arrests are of great personal concern to AQMI and the families of those detained.” He added, “Our people should be freed immediately because they have done nothing wrong.”
Dr. Kashala has been summoned to Military Police Headquarters tomorrow, Thursday, May 25 at 10am local time in Kinshasa. He is permitted to bring a lawyer with him. “We hope this will fully resolve this very troubling issue and reset the stage for a presidential campaign free from interference and arbitrary arrest. We hope this meeting will be very much in the public eye tomorrow,” said Amodeo.
Dr. Kashala is one of 32 certified candidates for the DRC’s presidency. He was born in Lubumbashi, Congo in the early 1950s, enrolled at the University of Kinshasa Medical School in 1974, at the time the best medical school in Africa, graduating Magna Cum Laude and first in his class. He also trained at the University of Lausanne in Internal Medicine and the University of Geneva in Pathology. Additionally, he studied at Harvard University and MIT and has worked at the World Health Organization, among his many other professional credentials.
Corporate Contacts
Woody Johnson
407-454-5101
WJohnson@nexiastrategy.com
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Beat of the Congo at Extra Extra
from www.thiswayplease.com on May 30, 2006
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