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May 1, 2007  Marie Therese Freed
 
Dear Friends
 
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness – Psalm 86:15
 
We have just learned that Marie Therese Nlandu has been freed!
 
After five months spent in some of the worst prison conditions in the world, the human rights lawyer, committed Christian and mother of four, as well as her indicted colleagues have all been set free.
 
You will remember that even as late as last week we thought that a guilty verdict on the terrorism charges might still be likely, with the prosecution requesting sentences of 10 and 20 years to run concurrently.  It appeared that political interests had already decided on the outcome of the case.  In January several prosecution witnesses had declared in court that they had been paid to incriminate Marie Therese.  The judges had even failed to turn up to court throughout much of February and March, and recently the chief prosecutor himself had acknowledged an absence of any incriminating evidence.  Yet still the court case continued and appeals by the British Government, the European Union and others appeared to have had little impact.
 
Yesterday those charges were dropped and Marie Therese walked free.  She should be home again with her family in London within days.
 
Please accept CSW’s and the family’s sincerest thanks for your time, particularly in prayer, on behalf of Marie Therese.  It is truly a testament to the miraculous power and faithfulness of God that Marie Therese walks free.  We will be in touch with further information when we receive it.
 
God bless you.

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April 25, 2007  Urgent Action - Update Marie Therese Nlandu 4/25

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him - Acts 12: 5

I will go before you and will level the mountain; I will breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron - Isaiah 45: 2 

Dear Friends,

Many thanks for your continued prayers for Marie Therese Nlandu.

There have been several developments since our last update. 

Two weeks ago, and despite a total collapse of its case, the prosecution concluded by requesting sentences of 10 and 20 years to run concurrently for each of the accused, including Marie Therese.  Incredibly, while acknowledging the absence of any incriminating evidence, the chief prosecutor justified his demand for a heavy sentence by contending that due to Marie Therese’s support for Jean Pierre Bemba's Presidential campaign; she could not possibly be a woman of peace.

On Wednesday April 12, five of the 15 defense lawyers began their representations.  They started by pointing out that the only evidence against Marie Therese existed in the imagination of the prosecutor.  One lawyer concluded by stating: "there are many outstanding women in our country.  However, Me Nlandu possesses an extremely rare quality. Please do not destroy this exceptional woman". 

The military tribunal reconvened on Monday 16 April, when the 10 remaining lawyers, and Marie Therese herself, continued to skillfully dismantle the remains of the prosecution’s case.  The final hearing on Friday 20 April concluded with a request for the case to be dismissed due to lack of evidence and the trial was adjourned until Monday 30 April, ostensibly to give the judges time to deliberate over a verdict.

Unfortunately, despite the total absence of incriminating evidence, a guilty verdict may yet be a possibility, as it increasingly appears that President Joseph Kabila may have a personal grudge against Marie Therese.  Her family fears that without sustained prayer and international pressure, the case may still go against her.  However, we trust in a God who is able to overrule the plans of the most despotic of leaders, and the events of Acts Chapter 12 illustrate that earnest prayer can result in miraculous escape. 

Please Pray

  • Thank God for the effectiveness of the defence lawyers, including Marie Therese.
  • With Isaiah 45:2 in mind, pray for the complete removal of any remaining obstacles to Marie Therese’s freedom.  Ask for prison bars to be shattered, prison gates to be opened and for Marie Therese and her co-accused to be declared innocent and set free.
  • Pray for the complete restoration of Marie Therese’s health - last week she was reported to be suffering from malaria, high blood pressure and the persistent lung infection.
  • Continue to lift her husband and children before the Lord, particularly the two young sons who are said to be suffering deeply.  Pray that the family will soon be reunited.
  • Finally, continue to pray for political stability to return to DR Congo, and that President Kabila would desire justice, reconciliation and the prosperity of his people above all else.

Many thanks for all your efforts. 

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April 5, 2007  Urgent Action - Latest on Marie Therese court case 4/5

I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God – Psalm 38:15


Dear Friends,
 
Your continued efforts in prayer are certainly being rewarded!
 
As you will remember from Tuesday's update, Marie Therese was once more to appear before the military tribunal.  This time the court was due to hear from two further witnesses, with the prosecution attempting to prove that Marie Therese had enlisted them to take part in an attack on the Supreme Court and insurrection. 
 
The hearing began with Pastor Lifumba once again attesting to Marie Therese's innocence.  Next, the first new witness denied every allegation put forward by the prosecution.  Video footage was then played by the prosecution, supposedly portraying the second witness in incriminating activity.  In a further example of the farcical nature of the case against Marie Therese, the second witness pointed out that the figure in the video was clearly not him as the man in the recording was too tall.  And, further to the revelations of intended perjury in January, these witnesses also confessed under oath to having been bribed.
 
This court case has now been running for fifteen weeks and the judges have yet to see anything in the way of significant evidence or hear a reliable testimony against Marie Therese.  The prosecution is expected to close its case within the next two weeks, and the most consistent statements issued so far have been from Marie Therese's co-defendants who have each declared, under oath, that she is entirely innocent of all charges made against her.  Indeed, the most intriguing aspect of this case has been the fact that it has been drawn out over such a long period of time without any substantiated proof and on dubious legal grounds.  This highlights once again the vested political interests in the Democratic Republic of Congo to silence such independent voices as Marie Therese.
  • But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! - Amos 5:24
  • Let this update serve as an encouragement for us to persevere in prayer.
  • Thank God that the latest witnesses have sought to speak the truth.
  • Thank God for the growing coverage of this court case in Britain (The Times Newspaper 4/04/07 for example), France and around the world, and pray that such interest would add to the mounting pressure upon the Kabila administration to end this charade.
  • Ask that justice would be done and seen to be done: that Marie Therese would be declared innocent, set free and restored to full health.
  • Ask for political stability to return to DR Congo.  Pray too that the heart of President Joseph Kabila would be miraculously transformed, desiring justice and reconciliation above all else.
  • Thank God for the continued faith and courage of Marie Therese and her family and ask that they would be reunited soon.
 Many thanks for all your efforts in prayer!
 
CSW Advocacy Team

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April 3, 2007  Urgent Action - Update on Marie Therese 4/3

Dear Friends,

Many thanks for your prayers for Marie Therese Nlandu.

In our last update we informed you of an outbreak of serious fighting in Kinshasa between soldiers loyal to President Kabila and the guards of Jean Pierre Bemba, the former presidential candidate.  Prior to her detention Mr. Bemba had retained Marie Therese's legal services to challenge the results of the presidential elections.  We therefore specifically asked you to pray that this situation would not affect Marie Therese adversely.

It is now estimated that tragically several hundred people may have died in the two days of fighting.  However, it would appear that the unrest has not had any noticeably negative impact on Marie Therese’s plight.  On the contrary; following your prayers, the military judges actually convened two hearings in one week after having previously failed to attend court for six consecutive weeks. 

Despite the lack of corroborating evidence, the prosecution now appears bent on proving that Marie Therese was aware of incendiary devices that were allegedly found in the car of colleagues who were detained the day before her own arrest.  Independent munitions experts who have seen television footage of the devices assert that they are teargas canisters and not grenades as the prosecution contends.  Moreover, during the first, albeit brief, hearing on 28 March it emerged that although Marie Therese and her colleagues are being tried for possessing illegal munitions, their initial charge sheets make no mention of this allegation; consequently there are no legal grounds for prosecution.   However, instead of releasing Marie Therese and her colleagues on bail, the judges adjourned the hearing.

When the trial resumed on the following day a pastor who had been arrested along with Marie Therese, but who had subsequently become the main prosecution witness in the attempt to incriminate her, informed the court that Marie Therese was innocent of all charges and that he had been offered money to implicate her in an alleged conspiracy to set fire to the Supreme Court.  The prosecution was furious.

The hearing was adjourned once again, and is due to resume tomorrow (Wednesday), when two prosecution witnesses unknown to Marie Therese will attempt to prove that she had enlisted them to take part in an attack on the Supreme Court.

Please pray:

  • Thank God for Pastor Lifumba’s admission of Marie Therese’s innocence
  • Pray that the two new witnesses would also feel compelled to tell the truth and vindicate Marie Therese, leading to her swift release
  • Ask God to continue restoring Marie Therese to full health
  • Pray that He would strengthen and encourage her family in the UK
  • Pray that the international community will maintain it’s focus on Marie Therese’s case and continue to exert pressure for her release
  • Continue to pray for the peace of Congo.
    • Pray that the country would finally experience peace and that it’s people would all be able to benefit from the prosperity that the country’s vast resources should afford them. 
    • Ask God to comfort those who lost friends, family members and/or livelihoods during the recent fighting, and heal those who were wounded. 
    • Pray for reconciliation between the various warring factions in Congo, and particularly for an end to militia activity in the north of the country. 
    • Finally, pray that the Congolese government would truly embrace democracy, human rights and the rule of law; that it would exercise power justly, allow for the expression of dissenting views, and that in future disputes would be settled through negotiation, not violence 

Thank you!

CSW Advocacy team

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March 26, 2007  CSW Urgent Action - Update on Marie Therese 3/26
 

Dear Friends,
 
Thank you for your continuing prayers for Marie Therese Nlandu.  Thanks also for your efforts to get her case heard in the international secular press.  Since the last update there have been special features on Marie Therese in The Sunday Times and on Radio 4 amongst others.  This media attention is important as it raises Marie Therese's case to a wider audience as well as sending strong signals to politicians to add their voices in this fight.
 
Unfortunately there have not been any positive developments with regards to Marie Therese herself.  She has now entered her fifth month of detention in dreadful conditions and continued ill health.  Equally as disturbing six weeks have passed without any hearing in court and with the judges declining to even turn up to the court house.  This after the case against Marie Therese and her colleagues collapsed in late January when three prosecution witnesses admitted accepting bribes in order to incriminate her.
 
It appears more evident with every passing day that the Congolese authorities are determined to see an end to Marie Therese, with or without the charade of a court case.  With the judges refusing to reconvene to order her release, it would seem that Marie Therese's detention is now indefinite.   Sadly the state of her health will mean that her life may not be.
 
Finally, the political situation in Congo remains precarious.  On Thursday serious fighting broke out in Kinshasa between soldiers loyal to President Kabila and the guards of Jean Pierre Bemba, the former presidential candidate who had retained Marie Therese's legal services to challenge the results of the presidential elections.  Mr. Bemba's guards had refused to abide by an ultimatum to disband and join the national army, and had instead taken over the streets surrounding his residence. At least 60 people died during the two days of fighting that ensued.  President Kabila has issued an arrest warrant for high treason for Mr. Bemba, who is currently taking refuge in the South African Embassy. 
 
Please continue to pray:
 
*           That God would bring about a just conclusion to this case, with Marie Therese and her colleagues being declared innocent and set free.
 
*           That Marie Therese would continue to seek God for her hope and security.
 
*           Ask God that he would miraculously restore Marie Therese to full health. 
 
*           That Marie Therese's family, despite the situation, would truly have divine comfort and maintain their hope.
 
*           Pray for the peace of Congo, that the dispute between Mr Bemba and President Kabila would be settled amicably, that it would have no adverse affect on           Marie Therese's case, and that God would protect her for the duration of this crisis.
 
Please also take further action:
  
*           Consider writing and sending an encouraging letter or card directly to Marie Therese.  Remember not to say anything negative about the authorities in Congo to ensure that it reaches her.
 
                        It can be sent to:
 
                        Marie Therese Nlandu
                        Centre Penitentiare et de Réeducation de Kinshasa  
                        Kinshasa 
                        Democratic Republic of Congo 
                        AFRICA
 
 
Thanks so much for your continued support.
CSW Advocacy Team

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February 23, 2007   CSW Urgent Action - Update on Marie Therese Nlandu 2/23

UNRESTRICTED – Can be used in general mailing lists, press, church newsletters, open meetings.

Dear Friends

Many thanks for your continuing prayers for Marie Therese Nlandu.

In our last update we reported that the case against Marie Therese and her fellow defendants had been utterly discredited after three prosecution witnesses admitted accepting bribes to incriminate her.  In addition, an interview in which she was alleged to have incited violence had shown that in reality, Marie Therese had urged followers of presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba to air their grievances in a calm and disciplined manner.

The trial was again adjourned, and was set to reconvene on February 14.  However, although Marie Therese, her co-defendants, the defence team and several supporters and observers waited outside tribunal for four hours (including members of the UN Mission to Congo (MONUC) who reportedly wished to give evidence on her behalf), the military court never convened as the judges failed to show up. Marie Therese and her fellow defendants were returned to prison and received no explanation from the Congolese authorities for this unconventional development.

Yesterday, a very weak Marie Therese returned to the tribunal along with her defense team and co-accused.  Again the military judges failed to turn up, and again, no explanation for their absence was forthcoming from the Congolese authorities.

The Congolese regime appears determined to keep Marie Therese in prison, even at the expense of her life.  In fact, local sources describe the continuing non-appearance of the military judges as the latest ruse designed by the Congolese authorities to indefinitely extend her imprisonment and to deny her access to the medical attention that she so desperately needs.

PLEASE PRAY FERVENTLY!

  • Ask God to bring this appalling travesty of justice to an end. 
  • Ask Him to divinely heal Marie Therese of every physical ailment. 
  • Continue to pray that Marie Therese and her colleagues would miraculously and unequivocally be declared innocent and set free, despite the powerful political and spiritual forces arrayed against them. 
  • Please also remember Marie Therese’s family, who have been particularly demoralised by recent developments.

Finally, if possible, please consider attending a prayer meeting for Marie Therese that is due to be held on Friday 2 March from 8pm to 10pm, at All Nations Church, Bonneville Centre, 12 Poynders Road, Clapham Park, London, SW4 8NY.  If you are unable to attend, please remember her in prayer on that day.

PLEASE ACT!

Contact your MP asking him/her to support EDM 946, the Early Day Motion tabled in the House of Commons by Jeremy Corbyn M.P. that calls on the Congolese government to guarantee that the case of Marie Therese and her colleagues is dealt with fairly and quickly, and that she is given access to adequate medical treatment.

CSW is particularly concerned at the lack of coverage of a case that clearly constitutes an appalling violation of human rights and the rule of law by the international secular media, which had previously covered the Congolese elections extensively.

Please consider contacting the following members of the press asking them to urgently publicise Marie Therese’s case.  A sample letter follows below.

Channel 4 News: news@channel4.com
BBC News: Online form for feedback at http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/newsid_4030000/newsid_4032600/4032695.stm
Associated Press: info@ap.org
Reuters: editor@reuters.com
CNN: Online form for feedback at http://edition.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?39

Many thanks

CSW Advocacy Team

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February 13, 2007  Continued Prayer for Marie Therese 2/13

Dear Friends

Many thanks for your continuing prayers for Marie Therese Nlandu.

You can be assured that your prayers are having effect.

During last Wednesday's hearing, the remaining charges against Marie Therese were discredited.  The military tribunal played an interview in which she was alleged to have incited violence.  However, far from proving her guilt, the interview showed that Marie Therese had urged followers of presidential candidate Jean-Pierre Bemba to air their grievances in a calm and disciplined manner.

With the case in total disarray, the court was adjourned and Marie Therese was once again returned to prison.  However, the authorities appear to be persisting with the case against her, clearly showing that political powers are desperate to see Marie Therese silenced.  Such a situation is not unlike Joseph in the book of Genesis who, though acting honourably, suffered false accusations and was treated with great injustice.  However, we serve a great God who champions the cause of those who are suffering for righteousness sake.  Like Joseph, God has not forgotten Marie Therese.  The latest from Kinshasa is that Marie Therese’s case has finally been acknowledged by the United Nations Mission in the Congo (MONUC) who recently published a press release regarding Marie Therese on their website, which you can view by clicking here.

Tomorrow the military tribunal will reconvene once again. 

Please continue to pray that despite the powerful political forces arrayed against them, Marie Therese and her colleagues would miraculously and unequivocally be declared innocent and set free. 

Ask God that Marie Therese would receive the medical attention that she continues to need and that she would not be hindered from traveling abroad to be with her family. 

Please also remember Marie Therese’s family who have now for several months been suffering from the great mix of emotions that comes from having a loved one torn from your life in such dark and frightening circumstances.

With warm regards

CSW Advocacy Team

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February 2, 2007  URGENT ACTION - 2/2 Update on Marie Therese

Dear Friends,

Many thanks for your prayers and concern for Marie Therese Nlandu.

As reported in our earlier update, Marie Therese's trial, which resumed on January 24, was adjourned until January 31, ostensibly to allow the military court to review the defense team's application for her release on bail for medical attention. The defense team had also requested access to Marie Therese's medical records and, specifically, to results of tests carried out when she was briefly allowed treatment in a military hospital.

On January 26, and much to their consternation, Marie Therese's lawyers and family were notified unofficially that the court would not release her on bail, neither would it permit access to her medical records. At the same time her family received reports that Marie Therese could no longer cope with the conditions of her confinement. She was said be weak, unable to walk unaided and indignant that she, a civilian, should be compelled to appear before a military court that constitutionally has no jurisdiction over her case. Thus when the trial reconvened on the 31st, there seemed little hope of a positive outcome, outside of Divine intervention.

However, God is faithful. That day three prosecution witnesses who had previously stated on TV, radio and all other available media that Marie Therese had organized an insurrection, confessed to having lied after receiving money from the government! This confession occurred in front of observers, including the international media.

This unexpected turn of events appears to have revived Marie Therese. She rose up and challenged the withholding of her medical records as a flagrant violation of the law. In what one commentator described as a "ferocious exchange", she robustly refuted the charges hurled against her by the chief prosecutor, and concluded by stating: "I deny that I have ever been involved in any form of armed rebellion. There are those who wish to kill me politically and even physically, but I am not a barbarian; I am a civilized person. I am a member of the historic Nzeza Nlandu clan which has always fought non-violently. Consequently, my own struggle is non-violent."

The military tribunal was again adjourned and will reconvene on February 7. Observers state that by the end of the tribunal Marie Therese appeared once again to be strong, psychologically speaking. She encouraged her family and friends, insisting that all would be well.

CSW believes that in this case, prayer is making a difference. While Christians have taken up Marie Therese's cause through prayer and advocacy, despite the presence of the international media at the trial there has been a notable lack of reporting of the case in the international arena. At the same time, some foreign governments appear more interested in benefiting from Congo's rich natural resources than in championing the cause of human rights in that country.

Our hope, as always, is in God (Psalm 20:7).

Please continue to contend in prayer for Marie Therese. Pray that on February 7, given the collapse of incriminating evidence, the government will release her unconditionally so that she can return to her family in the United Kingdom and receive medical treatment.

Pray for the release of Marie Therese's co-defendants, who are also held on false charges. Some have even been tortured. Pray for their healing.

Praise God for the witnesses who finally told the truth!. Pray also that they will not suffer repercussions for their decision, and that they will not be persuaded to again change their testimonies.

Please continue to pray for Marie Therese's family, that God would continue to comfort and encourage them, assuring them that the situation is in hand.

Many thanks for your time and support.

CSW Advocacy Team
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January 26, 2007 Urgent Action: Update on Marie Therese

Dear Friends,

 
Following on from our email of January 5, we are able to provide you with an update on Marie Therese Nlandu, the human rights lawyer currently detained in the Democratic Republic of Congo on charges of inciting insurrection and possessing illegal firearms.
 
We had previously informed you that Marie Therese was due to come before the military tribunal on January 3, which was then postponed to January 24 as she had been too ill to attend the hearing.  Since then she has remained in a critical condition.
 
On January 24 her lawyers once again appealed to the reconvened tribunal.  They argued for Marie Therese's temporary release on medical grounds.  According to reports, the officials appeared much more favorable towards this application compared to previous appeals which they had dismissed out of hand.  A ruling on her release to seek medical attention is expected imminently.  Please pray that such a release would be forthcoming.  We believe it is in large part due to prayer that the tribunal is even considering such an application and so a concerted supplication before God now could mean the freedom for treatment that Marie Therese most desperately needs.
 
This is particularly pertinent as CSW continues to receive information on her medical situation.  Marie Therese is currently suffering from very high blood pressure and has “stabbing pains” in her heart.  She is also plagued by the remnants of her lung infection and only manages two or three hours of sleep each night on account of her health and the intolerable conditions of the prison.  Ask God not only for justice to be done in the freeing of Marie Therese, but also that he would miraculously heal her from her ailments as well.
 
Please also continue to pray for her family, for justice and the safe return of their mother/wife to their home in London.  They too are suffering.
 
Many thanks for your time and support. 
 
CSW Advocacy Team

 

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December 20, 2006   Urgent Action: Human rights defender facing possible execution in the DR Congo

Dear Friends,
 
CSW has been informed of a situation which requires urgent prayer.  Marie Therese Nlandu is a lawyer and prominent human rights defender who has been unjustly detained in Kinshasa and may be facing execution following a military tribunal this Friday 22 December. 
 
Marie Therese returned to Congo from London this year to contest the first round of the country’s presidential election. After failing to qualify for the second round, she was retained by President Joseph Kabila’s opponent, Vice President Mr. Jean Pierre Bemba, to challenge the provisional results of the second round run-off, which were announced on 15 November.
 
On 20 November Marie Therese began the presentation of Mr. Bemba’s case before the Supreme Court.  She was detained on 21 November when she went to the offices of the security services to inquire about the whereabouts of six of her male colleagues who had been disappeared along with their vehicle on the previous day.  She is currently held in Makala central prison in Kinshasa, where her health is reported to have deteriorated significantly due to her conditions of incarceration.
 
On the day that she was arrested, it is reported that Marie Therese’s colleagues were shown on television with grenades and other military effects which the police allege had been found in their vehicle.  After three weeks of incarceration without charge, on December 11 Marie Therese was herself brought before court and charged with inciting insurrection and possessing illegal firearms.  She was also deemed responsible for an attack on the Supreme Court on 21 November, during which the building was partially burned.  The charges appear to be politically motivated and moreover, according to reports, the attack on the Supreme Court took place on the afternoon of 21 November, when Marie Therese was detained at the Police Intelligence headquarters at Kin-Mazieres.  She remained there until the late afternoon of 22 November, when she was taken to Makala.
 
Marie Therese is married and is the mother of four children.  She has not been allowed any contact with her husband and children since her detention.  The family receives sporadic reports of her condition from lawyers, who were eventually allowed to visit her after she had initially been held incommunicado.  According to the accounts of those who have seen her, Marie Therese is held in extremely unsanitary conditions and there is a very great risk that she and her colleagues may face torture.  Since she was initially held incommunicado in a country that does not provide food for prisoners, Marie Therese was initially deprived of adequate nutrition and has since developed high blood pressure and a stomach ulcer.  In addition, there are reports that she may have suffered a heart attack during the last two weeks. Given her grave physical condition, Marie Therese’s lawyer applied for her to be temporarily released.  However, this request was denied.
 
In a particularly worrying development, a lawyer who visited Marie Therese in prison last Sunday states that she has been informed that she will no longer face a judicial trial, but will instead be appearing before a three-man military tribunal on Friday.  According to the lawyer, Marie Therese feels that the decision of this tribunal is a foregone conclusion, and is expecting to face execution by firing squad, barring effective intervention.
 
Marie Therese is a committed Christian whose professional record is a testimony to her lifelong commitment to human rights and passive resistance.  In 2003 she was even named Ambassador for Peace by the New York-based organization, the Universal Peace Federation (U.P.F).  However the fact that her trial is now due to be brought before a military tribunal indicates that her fate may have already been decided.
 
CSW is actively campaigning on behalf of Marie Therese although we would greatly appreciate prayer support for our work.  Please also pray for Marie Therese and her family.  Ask that God will bring justice to bear in this situation and that Marie Therese will miraculously avoid the fate she seems to be heading towards.  Ask that the Lord would bring peace to her family in this most distressing time.
 
Thank you very much for your time and prayers

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