|
I swear that I don't have a gun... (Lucky for you guys)
DR Congo pygmies appeal to UN
Pygmy representatives have asked the United Nations to set up a court to try government and rebel fighters from the Democratic Republic of Congo for acts of cannibalism against their people.
Sinafasi Makelo, a representative of Mbuti pygmies, told the UN's Indigenous People's Forum that during the four-year civil war his people had been hunted down and eaten.
"In living memory, we have seen cruelty, massacres, and genocide, but we have never seen human beings hunted down as though they were game animals," he said.
"Pygmies are being pursued in the forests. People have been eaten. This is nothing more, nothing less, than a crime against humanity."
More than 600,000 pygmies are believed to live in the DR Congo's vast forests, where they survive by hunting and gathering.
Both sides in the war regard them as "subhuman", and some say their flesh can confer magical powers.
'Genocide'
UN human rights activists reported this year that rebels had carried out acts of cannibalism.
Some of the worst atrocities allegedly took place when the rebel Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) - which controls the northern DR Congo - tried to take the town of Mambasa from the rival Congolese Rally for Democracy last year.
Mr Makelo called on the forum to ask the UN Security Council to recognise cannibalism as a crime against humanity and an act of genocide.
There have been allegations of cannibalism during the recent conflict between Hema and Lendu militia in the north-western Ituri region but a spokesman for the UN mission in Kinshasa said these were difficult to confirm.
At least 300 people are said to have died in the fighting.
A mass grave containing the remains of more than 30 men, women and children was found near the town of Bunia, UN officials said.
Church leaders and residents have accused Lendu militiamen of killing civilians, cutting open their chests, removing hearts, lungs and livers, and eating them.
UN investigation
Father Joseph Deneckere, a Belgian priest who has lived in the DR Congo since 1970, said that traditional superstitious beliefs, entrenched hatreds and attempts to settle old scores lay behind the atrocities, the Associated Press news agency reported.
"Some of the victims had their sexual organs missing after tribal fighters cut them off to use as charms," he said.
Tribal fighters had also been seen wandering around the bush with human organs "draped from their weapons".
UN officials have opened a formal investigation into the allegations.
I wubs humanity, don't you?
Anyways, now that the tone is set for the day, I'm hungry.
*exhales breath in melancholy fashion*
(told you, didn't I? I'm always right when it comes to these things)
woo, I'm pulling two C's, and two A's in my classes...
Coming back to school next year anyways. Stupid Co-op thingy taking up so much space...
And I'm likely not going to Semi, nor the Music Banquet (despite the numerous awards I'll win)
Explanations are best left for another day.
Oh and Tomas expresses his thanks for the Russian Roulette thing. I swear, one of these days we'll end up playing each other in that game. If I win, I win. If I lose, I still win. What a great game. :p
...
Still wish I had that gun though...
last modified Jan 19, 2004 at 16:04
That was amusing Steve. However I have fixed my little spelling mistake and now it just looks funny. I must say I read it before I realized I had spelled gun wrong and it made no sense what so ever, I almost thought you had had your share of a bottle or two...
Ok, as amusing as I found that last comment Steeev, I think it was just a typo, and Marie actually meant to say 'gun' not 'gin'.
Does gin age well? Cuz if it's in there for a long time and it ages well it's be awesome by the time it came out. You'd get SO drunk...lol... I feel dirty for saying that..
I'm taking the gun away as soon as you get it! And it's getting locked in one of my safes never to be seen again. Got it?
*hugs*
You're way too fucking crazy for your own good, dude.
|