Three witches burned alive in Africa.

Binomate

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1269807,00.html

Three Burned Alive After Witch Hunt

Updated: 10:28, Sunday June 10, 2007
A lynch mob has stoned and burned to death three women they accused of being witches in a Ugandan refugee camp, police have said.

The police chief of Kitgum district Charles Oumo said the victims were attacked after the mysterious death of a motorcycle taxi driver.
Mr Oumo said: "His skin started swelling up and blistering, he had pains all over.
"He died in hospital after his condition worsened."
Mr Oumo said police did not know the cause of the man's death, but locals assumed he had been poisoned.
"They thought he was bewitched by someone who had sprinkled a potion on his boda-boda (motorcycle)," he said.

In a harrowing echo of Europe's witch-hunts in the late middle ages, camp elders conducted a "trial" in which they determined who they thought was the witch by secret ballot.
The police chief said: "They hunted down the top three and a mob descended on them.
"They beat them with stones, sticks and axes before setting them ablaze, still alive."
Belief in witchcraft is common in sub-Saharan Africa, where alleged witches are frequently blamed for deaths from sickness.
The Kitgum district houses hundreds of thousands of people displaced by Uganda's two-decade war with the feared rebel Lord's Resistance Army.

So Glad

I though this was dated when Monty Python's The Life Of Brain came out? ****in' freaks...

tallaght01

This is far from the worst atrocity committed in Africa this week. Having said that, I'm not trivialising it. Just saying that there are crimes of unimaginable brutality committed on a daily basis throughout Africa.

Winters

Those wimminz are clear failure at being witches if they were unable to magic themselves away from the fire...

newbs.

Thrill

It's weird to be reading of something like that happening in the 21th century.

Newaglish

Too right! I'm sick of the Irish justice system, it's a revolving door for witches at the moment. It's time to crack down!

Seriously though, that's pretty weird, you forget that people can be so backward sometimes.

insafehands

Newaglish wrote:

Too right! I'm sick of the Irish justice system, it's a revolving door for witches at the moment. It's time to crack down!

lolz.

Winters wrote:

Those wimminz are clear failure at being witches if they were unable to magic themselves away from the fire...

newbs.

lolz.

Duy tuk orr jawbs!

Dave!

Newaglish wrote:

T
Seriously though, that's pretty weird, you forget that people can be so backward sometimes.

Who's to say it's them that are backward and not us?

Just putting that out there.........................

¬_¬

nobodythere

Put it back in....

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Sounds like witches to me.

Burn em all i say!

Fremen

Put it back in....

...nice

Guy:Incognito

I like their efficiency. They cant get a unanemous decision on who the witch is so you make sure you get her by burning the top 3 candidates.Also prevents the possible emergence of 2 more future witches.

GhostInTheRuins

****ing hell, what year is it again?

philstar

*NEWSFLASH* there about to burn three witches in Los Angeles

Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan;)

Rabies

Winters wrote:

Those wimminz are clear failure at being witches if they were unable to magic themselves away from the fire...

newbs.

They were only a level 20 witch.
You get that ability at level 31 uber witch

Thrill

philstar wrote:

*NEWSFLASH* there about to burn three witches in Los Angeles

Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan;)

Paris got caught trying to escape

MooseJam

owned

Kinetic^

thrill wrote:

Paris got caught trying to escape

Rofl!!!

Oriel

They clearly didn't have the internet.

OctavarIan

Not shocked really. Different culture, different stage of evolution. I would love to organise a trade between their 'witches' and our scumbags though

dermo88

They need to be colonised by proper civilised countries. They can hardly type their own names, and think that Dollar Sterling is an actual currency.

One of the monkeys wants my bank details for 16.5 Million of them!

o1s1n

dermo88 wrote:

They need to be colonised by proper civilised countries. They can hardly type their own names, and think that Dollar Sterling is an actual currency.

One of the monkeys wants my bank details for 16.5 Million of them!

My spidey senses feel a ban coming...

seamus

dermo88 wrote:

They need to be colonised by proper civilised countries. They can hardly type their own names, and think that Dollar Sterling is an actual currency.

One of the monkeys wants my bank details for 16.5 Million of them!

Because colonisation worked so well last time didn't it? :rolleyes:

This is what happens when a country doesn't educate its people. Simple as. It's nothing to do with evolution, intelligence or culture.

empirix

****NEWSFLASH*******

These people are human beings, just like you and me, just cause we're over here with a silver spoon stuck in our ass, others are not so lucky - w*****s the lot of you for taking the piss

Tar.Aldarion

dermo88 wrote:

They need to be colonised by proper civilised countries. They can hardly type their own names, and think that Dollar Sterling is an actual currency.

One of the monkeys wants my bank details for 16.5 Million of them!

Banned.

Wibbs

seamus wrote:

Because colonisation worked so well last time didn't it? :rolleyes:

The sad fact is that many Africans were far better off in many respects when run by colonial powers. Enough African countries have gone to shíte in one generation. The degeneration into corruption and chaos is all too common on the unhappy continent.

This is what happens when a country doesn't educate its people. Simple as. It's nothing to do with evolution, intelligence or culture.

It is more complex than that. Are you serious, culture is obviously a huge influence on this kind of madness. Witches being killed is not that uncommon in Africa either. In South Africa alone 300 have been done in and many 1000's more thrown out of their houses. Education is the key alright. The longer the world keeps Africa dumb and backward, the more likely it's going to come back and bite us on the arse.

Wibbs

http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_afri.htm

LundiMardi

Binomate wrote:

boda-boda

hee hee

joe_chicken

OctavarIan wrote:

...different stage of evolution...

hahaha... so should we kill them all off because they are less "fit" than us?

You really need to read up on evolution and maybe some early 20th century politics (with special emphasis on Nazi Germany)

jackdaw

joe_chicken wrote:

hahaha... so should we kill them all off because they are less "fit" than us?

You really need to read up on evolution and maybe some early 20th century politics (with special emphasis on Nazi Germany)

That sounds like witch talk to me ?? !!

NeMiSiS

The age old adage "People are idiots" is proved once again.

I hate hearing about things like this, I saw a video recently of a girl being kicked, stoned, and beaten to death for going out with a guy who was a different religion than her. A beautiful 17 year old girl, pretty much at the start of her life as an adult, looking forward to some kind of life with this guy she had fallen in love with, having bricks thrown at her face, until she was dead. With people watching on, and letting it happen.

I dunno what the world is about some days, I find it all very sad.

TK

Dyr

those wacky africans..always up to something

OctavarIan

joe_chicken wrote:

hahaha... so should we kill them all off because they are less "fit" than us?

Hahaha, where are you getting this from?

joe_chicken wrote:

You really need to read up on evolution and maybe some early 20th century politics (with special emphasis on Nazi Germany)

I view them as being at a different stage of evolution because I count economic, education status and all as part of 'evolving'. I'm looking at the country as a whole. I'm not really interested in 20th century politics, or politics in general for that matter. And as for the Nazi comment, you got something to say we can take this to PMs yeah?

RandolphEsq

I don't see what the big deal is, I wouldn't want to live amongst witches

seamus

Wibbs wrote:

It is more complex than that. Are you serious, culture is obviously a huge influence on this kind of madness.

Sorry, what I actually meant what that it's not a cultural difference in the same way as Italian culture is different to Irish culture. They are certainly ignorant "side-effects" of the culture, in the same way as burning effigies over small matters are ignorant side-effects of extremes of Indian culture, so too is burning witches a side-effect of extremes in Ugandan culture. My main point was that this can't really just be brushed away as "Ah sure it's their culture".

Fizman

Stekelly wrote:

I like their efficiency. They cant get a unanemous decision on who the witch is so you make sure you get her by burning the top 3 candidates.Also prevents the possible emergence of 2 more future witches.

The three who finished 4th 5th and 6th must be hoping that nothing dodgy happens for the remainder of their days

joe_chicken

OctavarIan wrote:

I view them as being at a different stage of evolution because I count economic, education status and all as part of 'evolving'

Maybe you should have made that a little clearer then.

It's still not right though... their culture is different to say it is less evolved shows a lack of understanding for both a) evolution and b) African culture.

OctavarIan wrote:

I'm not really interested in 20th century politics, or politics in general for that matter.

Maybe you should be...

greenkittie

Stoneings are a very common thing in Africa.

A couple of years ago I was driving about in Kenya with the radio on when there was a news broadcast with a cheery sounding woman saying "A guy walked into the marketplace with an AK47 but its ok! The people cornered him and stoned him to death" like it was an everyday type occurance.

5starpool

But I wonder did they evn try to weigh them against a duck?

Zillah

OctavarIan wrote:

Not shocked really. Different culture, different stage of evolution.

You are very ignorant. Rather than ask me why I say that, just go learn about "evolution" and "social darwinism". Then come back and we'll have an exam to see if you're not tossing idiocies around anymore.

crybaby

still stuck in the dark ages, more stories like this need to be reported in Europe so we can understand just how far behind Africa is behind the rest of us

Wibbs

seamus wrote:

My main point was that this can't really just be brushed away as "Ah sure it's their culture".

No I take your point, but when you get 300 odd killings of witches in south Africa alone the culture or more certain aspects of that culture do need serious examination. Does this mean I think African culture is primitive and bereft of value? No. In much the same way I don't disregard the renaissance just because they were using witches for fuel then too. Pussyfootin around the whole "cultural" aspect as some are wont to do isn't helping either. And yes before anyone asks, I do think certain cultures are more highly advanced at any given time. The horror the horror!:rolleyes: . In certain aspects many African groups would have much more advanced regard for care of the elderly/orphans etc than our own. In other ways such as belief in witchcraft and acting violently because of said beliefs is less advanced.

joe_chicken wrote:

It's still not right though... their culture is different to say it is less evolved shows a lack of understanding for both a) evolution and b) African culture.

I think the very word evolution is what is getting backs up here. I would say that certain cultures are less advanced than others, in this case with respect to the rule of law/right to appeal/proof an all that fine guff.

If it wasn't for a decent education we would probably have similar scenes here!

These people are mainly uneducated not stupid, but being lead by uneducated "wise men"

OctavarIan

joe_chicken wrote:

Maybe you should have made that a little clearer then.

I probably should have, but it was past 1am and I was tired.

Zillah wrote:

You are very ignorant. Rather than ask me why I say that, just go learn about "evolution" and "social darwinism". Then come back and we'll have an exam to see if you're not tossing idiocies around anymore.

After looking more into evolution I'll have to agree with you, it was the wrong word to use and not a good way to phrase what I was trying to say. I do feel that those people in the link the OP posted are less advanced in many ways, not necessarily physically or mentally but academically, socially and culturally. I also read up on social darwinism and I don't really agree with the majority of it, it could just be the article I read but it seemed pretty racist in my eyes.

Zillah

OctavarIan wrote:

After looking more into evolution I'll have to agree with you, it was the wrong word to use and not a good way to phrase what I was trying to say. I do feel that those people in the link the OP posted are less advanced in many ways, not necessarily physically or mentally but academically, socially and culturally. I also read up on social darwinism and I don't really agree with the majority of it, it could just be the article I read but it seemed pretty racist in my eyes.

Ah, excellent, you passed

Evolution indeed does not refer to academic, social or cultural advancements, but to genetics. And the people of Africa are genetically identical to Westerners for most intents and purposes. As you say, culturally/morally they have a long way to go in certain regards, but using a word like evolution is very misleading.

And social darwinism is indeed not a very smart theory, but using the word evolution in regard to social trends sounds quite similar to social darwinism. Which we now know was not your intent.

Lazare

Nothing has been mentioned here about the children, it's them I feel sorry for.










This surely limits their options at halloween.

Dudess

Wibbs wrote:

The sad fact is that many Africans were far better off in many respects when run by colonial powers. Enough African countries have gone to shíte in one generation. The degeneration into corruption and chaos is all too common on the unhappy continent.

I would have thought that colonialism itself - not being granted independence - is the direct cause of so many African countries going "to shíte".

Dudess

Dudess wrote:

I would have thought that colonialism itself - not being granted independence - is the direct cause of so many African countries going "to shíte".

It created countries where there were previously "territories" occupied by individual tribes, the current boarders between thece countries bear no relation to the boarders between the territories.

Thus most african countries have several tribal groups (ethenic groups if you prefer) within the boundaries and there is almost always a power struggle between these groups.

In Europe, generally the country boarders are in sync with the ethenic groups. eg between France & Germany (ignoring the effects of many wars between nations over the centuries that enforced these divisions)

Wibbs

Zillah wrote:

Evolution indeed does not refer to academic, social or cultural advancements, but to genetics.

Evolution/survival of the fittest etc can be applied to other systems, not just genetics. In any event it's the transmission of the genetic material rather than the genetics. You can apply evolutionary theory to the survival and growth of ideas and culture(memes).

And the people of Africa are genetically identical to Westerners for most intents and purposes.

Yep I would say all rather than most btw.

As you say, culturally/morally they have a long way to go in certain regards,

I'd be careful with that one. The PC brigade may descend from on high. "How dare you say their culture is lesser. You racist!!". That kind of thing.

but using a word like evolution is very misleading.

Only if you misunderstand the concept and think it's only applicable to biological systems. More to the point, if you misunderstand the idea of evolution always making something subjectively more advanced.

And social darwinism is indeed not a very smart theory,

Actually it was quite a "smart" theory. It just happened to be in error on most of it's central points.

but using the word evolution in regard to social trends sounds quite similar to social darwinism.

As I've pointed out one can apply natural selection to such things as cultural memes and hence social trends. How do you think they become social trends in the first place? Religion is a biggy. It grows and evolves with built in self protection mechanisms almost exactly like a biological organism. So the concept of witches has "evolved" over time as the most successful/fittest idea to explain certain concepts in their culture. I would suggest rather than inviting others to research this stuff, maybe hitting the reference material would as much applied in your case.

Dudess wrote:

I would have thought that colonialism itself - not being granted independence - is the direct cause of so many African countries going "to shíte".

How so? They're all pretty much independent now. Have been for years. What happened since then. They did go to hell since. For many reasons. "White flight", corruption, despotism, etc. It's certainly not a lack of resources. Africa has among the highest and richest natural resources in the world. Look at Nigeria. Huge natural resources. Vast in fact. Oil, gas precious metals, great farmland etc and still the country is fubar. Zimbabwe the same. The list of successful sub saharan African states is a bloody short one.

A while back there was a good series of reports on Newsnight about how two different countries have faired since gaining independence at the same time from the UK. One in Africa, one in SE Asia(can't remember the exact countries). After 30 odd years the differences were stark. The SE asian country had precious few natural resources yet had stormed ahead in leaps and bound in that time. The African country was far poorer than before and was getting worse. They also had cultural/ethnic issues to contend with in both countries so the artificial borders angle usually trotted out by way of explanation and white man's guilt isn't the whole of the picture.

The most surprising thing was that both countries had kept in touch with each other as they "shared a birthday" as it were. One of the crops of the African country was some oil extracted from a particular nut native to the place. The SE Asians were given tokens of esteem in the form of some of these trees 20 years ago. Today? That SE Asian country is the worlds largest exporter of that oil while the African country where the damn trees are two a penny has little or no indigenous industry in the stuff. Unreal.

neuro-praxis

Wibbs wrote:

They're all pretty much independent now. Have been for years. What happened since then. They did go to hell since. For many reasons. "White flight", corruption, despotism, etc. It's certainly not a lack of resources. Africa has among the highest and richest natural resources in the world. Look at Nigeria. Huge natural resources. Vast in fact. Oil, gas precious metals, great farmland etc and still the country is fubar. Zimbabwe the same. The list of successful sub saharan African states is a bloody short one.

You seem to be implying that the Europeans brought a civility that has since dissipated.

The actual truth is that colonising nations defilesthem and what Africa is coping with is the aftermath of generations of defilement. The reason Africa is in the state it is is largely because of Europe. And not just in the abstract/in the historical. We currently rape them of all of their resources. And let's not forget their shocking, life-crippling debt.

And you're not talking to a cultural moral relativist here. I strongly feel that such behaviour as stoning etc. is completely unacceptable under all circumstances. However we have to take responsibility for the state that Africa is in. We are very fúcking rich and they are very, very poor indeed. Coincidence?

Two children died of hunger while you were reading this.

Dyr

So you're saying africans didnt burn witches until the colonists came along and forced them to? thats what it sounds like to me


Also that report had something about more witches being burned in the rainy season as they're blamed for people being struck by lightning. i wonder if a lot of people get struck by lightning in uganda..its a pretty funny idea actually