Another African Atrocity
The African Union clearly is as effective a body as is the Arab League, in mediating and conciliating. But on the other hand, tribalism, ethnicity, clan relations and religious divides in both the Middle East and in Africa are issues that are closely shared as cultural and social and political imperatives.Creating and consolidating the divisions that seem so necessary to the psyches of those who must have enemies to make life worthwhile.
South Sudan, so recently separated from Northern Sudan, which created a geographical border between Muslims in the North, and Christians and animists in the South, should have created an aura of peace, but obviously it did not. For what is left, what is always there, are other critical divisions, those of tribe and clan, sect and culture.
"There have been mass killings, a massacre. We have been out counting the bodies, and we calculate so far that 2,1982 women and children were killed and 959 men died."Those who feel justified in attacking villages, in clearing them of their inhabitants by destroying those lives which are so balefully inimical to their own well-being because vengeance must be wrought on those who it is claimed, were responsible for slaughtering those of the other's clans and villages, of pillaging and torching, of laying crops waste, must see their brand of justice done.
Thousands of armed young men on the rampage from the Lou Nuer tribe marched on the remote town of Pibor. Where the rival Murie people live. Who were responsible - so those who have just recently slaughtered them wholesale claim - for cattle raiding, and abductions of the Lou Nuers. They earned their ghoulish extermination.
The intervention of government troops came somewhat late to save the thousands who perished. And the huts that were torched and the hospital that was looted were mere casualties. That will be repeated, however, to even greater effect, should the Murie now make any attempt to march on the Lou Nuers. They have been forewarned.
None should make any plans to restore to themselves the tens of thousands of cattle taken. Nor to rescue the thousand missing children. The United Nations is prepared to launch a "massive emergency operation", for it is well skilled at launching such operations on the countless occasions when tribal antipathies result in wholesale slaughter and pillage.
Retaliation is not to be countenanced: "If they did that, we will launch surprise attacks which will lead to more bloodshed and displacements ... any attempt to disarm the Nuer White Army will lead to catastrophe.""There are enormous needs, some people need every single item. Our first priority will be medical care, but we are planning to provide non-food items as well so people can start rebuilding." Doctors Without Borders (MSF - Medecins Sans Frontieres).
It's business as usual in Africa. Life is somewhat more complex than simply coping with the Arab North Sudan raiding, butchering, raping black Sudanese Darfurians, for Africans of every description, ethnicity and religion are quite capable on their own of visiting mass atrocities on themselves.
Labels: Africa, Conflict, United Nations
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, January 08, 2012
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