I couldn't believe this story when I first heard it.
"A state-sponsored witch-hunt has begun in Gambia where as many as 1,000 people have been kidnapped from their villages and taken to "secret detention centres" then stripped, beaten and poisoned.
The campaign launched in the tiny West African nation is the latest manifestation of the increasingly brutal and bizarre rule of President Yahya Jammeh, who has claimed he can cure people of Aids. Now the President is thought to believe he is under attack from witches."
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/18/gambia.amnesty.witchcraft/ That's really sad that things like this are still happening in today's day and age but they are not the only country that is completely backwards in what they do and who they kill. Just look at the countries that are still ruled by Muslim extremists.
First we had the article about the goat in Nigeria and now this in Gambia. Wonder when this is going to catch up in Nigeria? Sounds pretty scary. Some parts of the world is still deep in the dark ages, and there has to be lots of lacks in basics of survival including food and shelter, and even basic education. While the world is discussing bail-outs of trillions there are people starving and likely due to the recession, this is going to get worse for Africa.
This has almost nothing to do with hunting for witches I think, I read that the government and especially the president is trying to use this method to arrest people of the opposition party as well as other innocents.
| Roald wrote: |
| This has almost nothing to do with hunting for witches I think, I read that the government and especially the president is trying to use this method to arrest people of the opposition party as well as other innocents. |
Like Bush's search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq? 
| deanhills wrote: |
| Roald wrote: | | This has almost nothing to do with hunting for witches I think, I read that the government and especially the president is trying to use this method to arrest people of the opposition party as well as other innocents. |
Like Bush's search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq? |
Not really, Bush's war/search was mainly to make Iraq an American base in the middle east as well to gain control over oil reserves. | Roald wrote: |
| deanhills wrote: | | Roald wrote: | | This has almost nothing to do with hunting for witches I think, I read that the government and especially the president is trying to use this method to arrest people of the opposition party as well as other innocents. |
Like Bush's search for Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq? |
Not really, Bush's war/search was mainly to make Iraq an American base in the middle east as well to gain control over oil reserves. |
Awesome insight this .... 
.... millions of people have written pages of analytical theories about Iraq and you've sorted it out in one sentence. Simple, straight and to the point. I like it. 
| deanhills wrote: |
Awesome insight this .... .... millions of people have written pages of analytical theories about Iraq and you've sorted it out in one sentence. Simple, straight and to the point. I like it. |
I hope this was no sarcasm 
, but it's just my point of view on it. | Roald wrote: |
| I hope this was no sarcasm , but it's just my point of view on it. |
No sarcasm, I truly enjoyed your point of view. I thought it was excellent in its brevity and simplicity. Quite a number of people have been writing millions of words about the subject, and yours was so on the mark, honest and sincere, like a breath of fresh air What a story in this modern day, some people still believe their weakness is caused by a person or group of people believed to be witches 
I think the united nation should swing to action by invading that country and give everyone there an opportunity to live a free and wonderful life.As y'all know, life is too short 
| kanokkv wrote: |
I think the united nation should swing to action by invading that country and give everyone there an opportunity to live a free and wonderful life.As y'all know, life is too short |
I think the UN should first try to stop this using diplomacy and only after this has failed invade with force (see Iraq and Afghanistan for military failures due to haste). And the UN will surely have better things to do, some countries have even bigger problems than an irrational hunt for witches...This happened in the dark ages... Not again. The world cannot let this happen.
Amnesty is doing a great job at stopping crazy things like this in the world.
"She turned me into a newt! But I got better..."
Lets hope that wasn't in the testimony. Witches just sounds like a thinly veiled cover for an ulterior motive...I doubt that the President is crazy, just sounds like he's figured out a fool-proof way to maintain his power and crush the opposition. If he's only insane, why should we bother with him?
And for those who mentioned the United Nations stepping in, I'd pray to the big man himself for a couple of thunderbolts before trying to use the UN...you'll have much better chances. 
| Roald wrote: |
| I think the UN should first try to stop this using diplomacy and only after this has failed invade with force (see Iraq and Afghanistan for military failures due to haste). And the UN will surely have better things to do, some countries have even bigger problems than an irrational hunt for witches... |
I don't have much faith in the UN. Usually they are always too late as they drag their feet, and they are always the first to bale out when they are needed, viz Rwanda. 
its their culture and customs
funny how the west has problem with EVERYTHING and every country
I can't see why you don't see the problem, it's obvious those people are NO witches. And several sources pointed out that most of the 'witches' where member of the opposition party.
| gandalfthegrey wrote: |
I couldn't believe this story when I first heard it.
"A state-sponsored witch-hunt has begun in Gambia where as many as 1,000 people have been kidnapped from their villages and taken to "secret detention centres" then stripped, beaten and poisoned.
The campaign launched in the tiny West African nation is the latest manifestation of the increasingly brutal and bizarre rule of President Yahya Jammeh, who has claimed he can cure people of Aids. Now the President is thought to believe he is under attack from witches."
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/18/gambia.amnesty.witchcraft/ |
a few points.
your quotation is neither from the cnn article you are referring to or from the amnesty international press lelease. i just wonder where you pick up such biased garbage -oooo yes, sensational press i am sure.
could you please for curiosityy sake reveal your source for that quote?
i try to look at all things i see and hear as objectively as i can, without making judgements on people. sometimes - like in YOUR case, this is not easy.
there are 2 kinds of ignorance in this world.
the first one is due to lack of opportunity or access to information for whatever reason. or lack of the opportunity of education. these people can not help being "ignorant"
the second one is a very dangerous affair in my mind. these are the people who have all the opportunity to learn and educate themselves. often they have even done that. but STILL they are ignorant. they either close their eyes to what is going on around them. or they just don't care. or have no compassion or love in them. or are just so arrogant that the ONLY correct way to live is theirs - so all other ways MUST be wrong.
in my mind, you are such an arrogant and ignorant person looking at your statemet:
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
this is not intended as an insult - merely an observation.
ignorant and arrogant sods like you, wherever YOU live, are even below insulting - you still wouldn't THINK but just carry on chewing and regurgitating what you are being fed.
and by the way.
I LIVE IN THIS BACKWARD COUNTRY AS YOU CALL IT
AND WHO TF ARE YOU TO WANT TO SUGGEST TO INVADE US? | gandalfthegrey wrote: |
I couldn't believe this story when I first heard it.
"A state-sponsored witch-hunt has begun in Gambia where as many as 1,000 people have been kidnapped from their villages and taken to "secret detention centres" then stripped, beaten and poisoned.
The campaign launched in the tiny West African nation is the latest manifestation of the increasingly brutal and bizarre rule of President Yahya Jammeh, who has claimed he can cure people of Aids. Now the President is thought to believe he is under attack from witches."
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/18/gambia.amnesty.witchcraft/ |
a few points.
your quotation is neither from the cnn article you are referring to or from the amnesty international press lelease. i just wonder where you pick up such biased garbage -oooo yes, sensational press i am sure.
could you please for curiosityy sake reveal your source for that quote?
i try to look at all things i see and hear as objectively as i can, without making judgements on people. sometimes - like in YOUR case, this is not easy.
there are 2 kinds of ignorance in this world.
the first one is due to lack of opportunity or access to information for whatever reason. or lack of the opportunity of education. these people can not help being "ignorant"
the second one is a very dangerous affair in my mind. these are the people who have all the opportunity to learn and educate themselves. often they have even done that. but STILL they are ignorant. they either close their eyes to what is going on around them. or they just don't care. or have no compassion or love in them. or are just so arrogant that the ONLY correct way to live is theirs - so all other ways MUST be wrong.
in my mind, you are such an arrogant and ignorant person looking at your statemet:
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
this is not intended as an insult - merely an observation.
ignorant and arrogant sods like you, wherever YOU live, are even below insulting - you still wouldn't THINK but just carry on chewing and regurgitating what you are being fed.
and by the way.
I LIVE IN THIS BACKWARD COUNTRY AS YOU CALL IT
AND WHO TF ARE YOU TO WANT TO SUGGEST TO INVADE US? | icecool wrote: |
a few points.
your quotation is neither from the cnn article you are referring to or from the amnesty international press lelease. i just wonder where you pick up such biased garbage -oooo yes, sensational press i am sure.
could you please for curiosityy sake reveal your source for that quote?
i try to look at all things i see and hear as objectively as i can, without making judgements on people. sometimes - like in YOUR case, this is not easy.
there are 2 kinds of ignorance in this world.
the first one is due to lack of opportunity or access to information for whatever reason. or lack of the opportunity of education. these people can not help being "ignorant"
the second one is a very dangerous affair in my mind. these are the people who have all the opportunity to learn and educate themselves. often they have even done that. but STILL they are ignorant. they either close their eyes to what is going on around them. or they just don't care. or have no compassion or love in them. or are just so arrogant that the ONLY correct way to live is theirs - so all other ways MUST be wrong.
in my mind, you are such an arrogant and ignorant person looking at your statemet:
How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them.
this is not intended as an insult - merely an observation.
ignorant and arrogant sods like you, wherever YOU live, are even below insulting - you still wouldn't THINK but just carry on chewing and regurgitating what you are being fed.
and by the way.
I LIVE IN THIS BACKWARD COUNTRY AS YOU CALL IT
AND WHO TF ARE YOU TO WANT TO SUGGEST TO INVADE US? |
You have a point in saying that invading and trying to establish a western way of live has no point (see Iraq).
| Quote: |
| How backwards is this country? The United Nations should invade or impose sanctions on them. |
This is of course a wrong quotation: it doesn't come from the source and it's most likely that the author himself has written it. It's not because of a few persons that commit cruelties that a whole country is "backwards". If it would be that way, a lot of countries should be invaded by the UN, including America.
But you have to admit that arresting people just because they are witches, and putting them through tortures, isn't a very civilised act.The UN can't invade any country. They can go in and watch, but not a whole lot more.
Secondly, this story may or may not be true, but let's not forget that things like this are not representative of the country as a whole. Suggesting invasion or sanctions based on one story of human rights issues is just plain stupid. Especially when the source of the story is dubious.
If this story is true, then the people of Gambia can deal with it, if they really felt like it was out of their hands and needed help, we would have heard about that all over the news.
I don't put it past any country to commit attrocities like this, but we need more evidence than one misquoted and elusive news bite.
The story sounds pretty bad. Even if the content is doubted (viz Icecool), we hear about brutalities from quite a number of countries in Africa all the time. Maybe the witch hunting was just a pretext, and the local army was looking for an excuse to loot its own people. Innocents are slaughtered and raped all the time. For example in Congo people were first slaughtered by civil war, and then in the end, after the war ended, its own army went round to loot and rape. Total anarchy. The UN has no power to do anything. Except mop up the damaged people and try and protect the medical people who are helping them:
http://www.terroristplanet.com/congo.htm
http://www.terroristplanet.com/africa.htm
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5771
I have not seen or heard urgent international missions to solve the problems. Obviously the Government leaders of those countries are not to be trusted either. I would not trust the President of Sudan for example. Its own people do not trust him. Neither would I trust Mugabe from Zimbabwe. We can go from country to country. Worst parts seem to be Congo and the areas of Rwanda that border Congo. Looks as thought the world has given up on them. | deanhills wrote: |
| I have not seen or heard urgent international missions to solve the problems. |
This is the part that kills me.
Not to beat a dead horse by bringing up the invasion of Iraq again, but it's relevant. Actual genocide was happening in Darfur, it was being broadcast all over the news, and nobody did a thing. All the while, a bunch of countries got together and decided that Saddam Hussein was too much of a danger to the world and his own people to be tolerated. We had to liberate the people from Saddam. But Darfur somehow didn't warrant the same treatment.
Wonder why the preferential treatment to some countries, and the complete lack of help offered to... well, any African country being slaughtered by their own leaders. It seems very inhumane. | Solon_Poledourus wrote: |
| deanhills wrote: | | I have not seen or heard urgent international missions to solve the problems. |
This is the part that kills me.
Not to beat a dead horse by bringing up the invasion of Iraq again, but it's relevant. Actual genocide was happening in Darfur, it was being broadcast all over the news, and nobody did a thing. All the while, a bunch of countries got together and decided that Saddam Hussein was too much of a danger to the world and his own people to be tolerated. We had to liberate the people from Saddam. But Darfur somehow didn't warrant the same treatment.
Wonder why the preferential treatment to some countries, and the complete lack of help offered to... well, any African country being slaughtered by their own leaders. It seems very inhumane. |
True, and Omar El-Bashir is still President of Sudan. On the other hand, it took several years of Saddam Hussein atrocities before the US finally decided to do something about him. I always wondered why it had to take so long to apprehend him. Think someone mentioned that there could have been a special agreement between Saddam Hussein and the West to the extent that they were arming him up to the point when he attacked Kuwait. And then it was downhill for him viz a viz the West right to the point of having to look for weapons of mass destruction that they had probably been responsible for supplying in the first place. Just did not think that it needed to take a war to accomplish that. Neither should it take a war to sort out El-Bashir.
