The Interrogation (2000)

Excerpt from the draft of "Apostle to the Pygmies – The Doctor Jerry Galloway Story"

(Note: The November 28 post tells of Jerry's arrest by the government security agency)

On Friday evening, the ANR agent and his secretary arrived to interrogate me. I soon discovered why they arrested me. A group of Ekonda had always been against me because of my work among the Botoa. They asked me many questions and made accusations. They asked me about the "Pygmy Project" and where I got the money to finance the barefoot doctor program, the Batwa education program, the two boarding homes, and the Batwa country store.

Then they questioned me about my relations with the traditional chiefs and village elders. The agent said I caused a conflict between the Pygmies and the Bantu, and the Pygmies no longer obeyed their Bantu masters. He then accused me of encouraging the Pygmy boys to date the Bantu girls and that Father Daniel and I criticized the local Bantu authorities.

Then they said they had information that I went into the forest with the Pygmies for a week at a time. The agent asked for the names of the Pygmies that went fishing with me. Next, they said they had information that I went into the forest and stayed there by myself for three days every month. They wanted to know what I did in the rainforest. They added that they had information that every time I left the forest, I went to Kinshasa.