Posted on 12/16/2004 7:49:57 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- As many as 800,000 pygmies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being abused and killed, The Times of London said Thursday.
In regional conflicts spanning the past decade, the pygmies never took up arms, but have been targeted by virtually all the armed groups. The London-based Minority Rights Group said in a recent report it had evidence of "mass killings, cannibalism and rape" and called on the International Court of Justice in The Hague to pursue those responsible as war criminals.
The report linked much of the violence to beliefs about special powers held by the small people, known as Bambuti. One is that back pain or other ailments can be cured by having sex with Bambuti women, "a frequent justification for rape," the report said.
The pygmies' knowledge of jungle paths and hunting skills make them useful for various armed militia bands, which force them to work as trail-finders and hunt game. The pygmies are then subjected to revenge attacks by opposing armed groups.
"As many as 800,000 pygmies in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being abused and killed, The Times of London said Thursday."
What does THAT mean? Several hundred thousand being terated poorly and a couple dying for consequential difficulties (i.e., hunger or illness)? OR a genocidal campaign to wipe out 800,000, with some of the hardier ones surviving?
Is there anyplace in Africa that is not a disastrous sh**hole?
Ping.
Actually, Rwanda, "Zaire," "Congo," Burundi... it's all the same sh**hole. Unless this is a new conflict I haven't heard of, it's still the Hutu vs. Tutsi conflict at the Western (Rwandan) border of Congo (recently called Zaire.)
Of course, that still leaves the Sudan, Malawi, Mozambique, Liberia, Ivory Coast (Go figure...A french colony named after two kinds of soap!)...
OK, yeah, it is one big hellhole.
And the future only seems bleaker for Africa, as the Islamo-Facists carve out territory for themselves.
No.
What's your point?
And African pygmies have one of the highest murder rates on the planet.
They fit on the BBQ soooo much better.(sick humor)
They should keep their heads down.
But they can still stand tall!
Those poor guys always get the short end of the stick.
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