The Foreign Service Journal, June 2004

call a “crushmobile.” You guessed it: a small sedan maneu- vered its way into the intersection blocking our heavy truck. Ahead of us lay the open road. In the midst of a gentle rain, I jumped out of the vehicle and, taking advan- tage of my thick American accent, appealed to the driver’s sense of patriotism. “We’re international election observers here to support Nigeria’s democratic dispensa- tion; please let us pass.” (I later learned that was too much grammar. I could have just said “ejo-o” or “A-beg-o.”) Finally, she relented. Relieved, I signaled to our driver to move, but no sooner had the first obstacle been removed than another took its place. Finally, we reached the airport, which was, in a word, chaos: people, cars, luggage. Our travel assistants said that as they did not have our tick- ets, they could not get boarding pass- es and that we had to talk to the air- line manager, Chase. Despite our appeals, he did not or could not help us. At last he said, “Just go. We’ll work it out.” We waited and waited, until finally the call came: “EAC Airline announces its flight to Enugu.” The ground crew had us queue in about four different lines and locations, ever careful to keep us off the plane. “Mothers with young children, please form a line here,” one attendant said. This game went on and on for an hour and 25 min- utes. We could have flown to Enugu in the time it took us to queue. At one point, the word came that there were no more seats. Sorry-o. Kate was beside herself: she, Larry and Sara left. Then, as the ground crew began to remove the stairs, a rich oga clad in a beautiful agbada appeared asking for seats for the family. I believe he ordinarily would have succeed- ed in getting his way but his entourage, including a wife and three children, was just too big. Watching the oga, my hus- band Zac said: “Wait here. We’re going to make it.” And, almost as if by magic or divine intervention, Nigeria again surprised me. The crew returned the stairs and allowed us to board. A member of the flight crew gave me his seat and escorted Zac to the cockpit. We had boarded the last flight to Enugu. The journey, I believe, holds lessons for Nigeria’s democratic dispensation. There will be obstacles along the path to national development. No sooner do you clear one than another will emerge. There will be points along the way where you won’t agree or don’t communicate effectively. Nevertheless, drawing upon your spirit of cre- ativity, resourcefulness, persistence and love of country, I am persuaded you will soar to even greater heights. Atim Eneida George Public Affairs Officer Consulate General Lagos Protecting Child Witnesses in South Africa Thousands of child witnesses pass through South Africa’s courts. As 33 courts handle sexual offenses alone and crime is endemic, the justice system depends to a great extent on the testimonies of young witnesses and victims of crime. Child witnesses, many of whom have endured abuse and emotional trauma, lack an under- standing of the court process. As a result, they provide ineffective testi- mony which, in turn, leads to fewer convictions. With the support of USAID, the Unit for Child Witness Research and Training has developed and piloted South Africa’s first child witness preparation program. Dr. Karen Muller, a lawyer and researcher who has devoted her career to assisting child witnesses, stores her most useful tools in a plain white plastic box in the office she and a colleague share at Cape Town’s Vista University. From the box emerge a puzzle, a court procedure timeline, role-playing games and “Zack and Thandi,” characters from a story of two child witnesses that allows children to feel they are not alone in witnessing crime. Extensive research, 500 interviews with young witnesses and consultative workshops with judges, prosecutors, defense lawyers and police, have helped Child Witness Research gain an understanding of the fears and misper- ceptions that hamper children in the court room. Common misunderstandings relate to court terminology; many chil- dren, for example, confuse prosecutor with executor. Ninety percent of young witnesses wet themselves on the stand. Most children suffer emotional stress during long waiting periods before trials. By law, child testimony in South Africa must take place in a separate room and be broadcast live in court on a closed- circuit TV system. Only the most distraught youngsters have access to an intermediary — a trained social worker who simplifies complex questions. Most children endure the intimidating trial process alone. Child Witness Research developed a witness preparation program for children between the ages of 6 and 12. The chil- dren are introduced to the courtroom and its procedures; they are told how to talk, what to wear to trial, the meaning of an oath, their role in court and what happens on trial day. J U N E 2 0 0 4 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 59 The journey, I believe, holds lessons for Nigeria’s democratic dispensation.