The daughter of Peter Pal Jola revealed that he traveled from Kitchener, Ontario, to Ethiopia in March with the intention of distributing supplies briefly. However, the 67-year-old Canadian citizen found himself stuck at the airport.
In an interview with CBC News, Nyarieni Pal mentioned that her father had planned a short visit to see friends and family, not an extended stay.
She explained that Jola aimed to provide supplies to individuals in his hometown in South Sudan, a region severely impacted by ongoing conflict and hunger. Among the items were a few walkie-talkies purchased from Amazon, which are restricted in Ethiopia, leading to Jola being charged with three counts of importing military equipment.
Initially, Jola was informed that he could leave the devices at the airport to collect them on his return to Canada. However, the situation changed when authorities discovered his intention to take them to the South Sudanese border.
Pal expressed frustration, stating that her father’s sole purpose was to assist those affected by the conflict who needed a means of communication to stay connected with their loved ones.
She mentioned that Jola is currently detained at Kaliti maximum-security prison in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, where inmates are responsible for providing their own essential resources, including medication.
Pal highlighted her father’s health challenges, including diabetes, a suspected kidney tumor, and mobility issues requiring a cane after a previous car accident in 2022.
She mentioned sending around $300 to $400 Canadian dollars weekly to cover his basic needs such as food, water, and potentially medication.
Although Canadian Embassy consular officials have visited Jola multiple times, Pal stated that they have indicated limited intervention in the legal process.
According to Aaron Shull, the managing director and general counsel at the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, the Canadian government’s options in such circumstances are restricted. He emphasized providing consular support, advocacy, diplomatic engagement, and ensuring fair legal proceedings.
Shull acknowledged that countries have the authority to enact laws, even if some may seem unreasonable, like Ethiopia’s restriction on walkie-talkies.
Despite efforts to gather details on Jola’s charges and arrest from Ethiopian authorities and the judicial system, CBC News did not receive a response before publication.
Letter of support
Pal mentioned that her father was unaware of the illegality of carrying walkie-talkies into Ethiopia, affirming his adherence to the law during his decades in Canada.
Although hopeful despite the seven-month imprisonment, Pal stated that there is a long road ahead. The family has changed lawyers and is emphasizing the importance of a supportive letter from the Canadian government for Jola’s upcoming court appearance.
They have also initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid in covering legal costs.
Global Affairs Canada refrained from specific comments on the case due to privacy concerns but assured that they are assisting the family with consular support.
Pal urged the Canadian government to treat the case seriously, questioning how differently it would be handled if the detainee were a higher-ranking official and emphasizing the urgency of the situation.