More Than 1,000 Shot and Hacked to Death in Ivory Coast Town
- Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:12pm by
Scott Baker
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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Roman Catholic charity Caritas says more than 1,000 people were massacred in a western Ivory Coast town.
The U.N. mission in Ivory Coast says it has nearly 1,000 peacekeepers in Duekoue but no information of mass killings.
Spokesman Patrick Nicholson told The Associated Press that Caritas workers visited the town of Duekoue on Wednesday. He says one neighborhood was filled with bodies of victims killed by gunshots and hacked to death with machetes.
He says the workers “estimate over 1,000 killed.”
The International Federation of the Red Cross said more than 800 were killed there in “intercommunal violence,” apparently Tuesday. The town had been seized a day earlier by rebels moving south in a bid to oust the entrenched incumbent leader.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — More than 800 people have been massacred in a western Ivory Coast town where hundreds of U.N. peacekeepers are based, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Saturday, but the U.N. military spokesman said he has no information about mass killings there.
The government of internationally recognized President Alassane Ouattara meanwhile denied its forces were involved in any atrocities including in western Ivory Coast, without referring to the latest allegations. Previously, the United Nations put the toll at 492 from four months of fighting to install rival leaders following disputed November elections.
Col. Chaib Rais told The Associated Press that nearly 1,000 peacekeepers at Duekoue, the town where the killings allegedly occurred, “are protecting the Catholic Church with more than 10,000 (refugees) inside and we have military camps in the area.”
But he said “I have no special report of (mass killings).”
Rais said there was fighting in and around the town on Sunday and Monday, between forces loyal to the rival leaders.
On Monday, fighters loyal to Ouattara took Duekoue.
ICRC spokeswoman Dorothea Krimitsas said “communal violence” erupted there, apparently on Tuesday.
International and Ivorian Red Cross teams visited Duekoue Friday and saw a “huge number of bodies,” estimated at more than 800, she said.
“We think there is a risk that this kind of event can happen again and hope that by calling today again for protection for the civilian population, we hope that such events can be avoided in the future,” Krimitsas told The Associated Press by phone from Geneva.
The area has been a hotbed for conflict between two tribes that support rival leaders vying for power in Ivory Coast, the democratically elected Ouattara and incumbent Laurent Gbagbo, who refuses to accept his defeat at November elections held after numerous postponements.
The International Organization of Migration said Friday that tens of thousands of refugees have overcrowded Duekoue and that others who had fled the violence in Duekoue “are now stranded along the route, in fear for their lives.”
It said some of those slaughtered apparently were killed by “mercenaries” from nearby Liberia. Liberian mercenaries have been reported to be fighting for both Gbagbo and Ouattara.
The Roman Catholic bishop for the area, the Right Rev. Gaspard Beby Gneba of Man, said he was called by a priest from Guigloo, a town near Duekoue that also is sheltering refugees. He said the priest told him refugees were dying and that they were burying two people Saturday.
Gneba said tensions in the area are a mixture of political, ethnic and land rivalry, aggravated by the influx of tens of thousands of new Ivorian refugees and long-established refugees from neighboring Liberia. In January, an unknown number of people were killed in violence in which some homes were torched and others looted, he said.
Gneba said more than 30,000 refugees had flooded the town of about 50,000 since January. Many are being sheltered at the Salesian priests’ Mission of St. Theresa of the Baby Jesus.
“There’s a traumatic humanitarian situation there,” Gneba said. “They need everything: food, medicine, water, sanitation. People have lost everything, houses, clothes, they do not even have a mat to sleep on.”
Rais, the U.N. colonel, said there are nearly 400 peacekeepers based at Guigloo who were doing what they could to help with water and food.
Ouattara’s government, in a general statement Saturday responding to allegations of abuses by Amnesty International, blamed any killings on Gbagbo forces acting as they retreated.
Ouattara had long tried to distance himself from the northern-based fighters taking up his cause who fought in a brief civil war almost a decade ago that left the country split in two. Those fighters were accused of many atrocities at the time.
But Ouattara’s repeated calls for an international military intervention to force out Gbagbo and end the violence have gone unheeded and he appeared to change tack as the fighters, known as the “Republican Forces,” this week began a swift advance on Abidjan.
“The government firmly rejects these accusations and denies all implication of the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast in any possible violations,” a government statement said Saturday.
Human Rights Watch issued a statement Saturday saying it had documented abuses, with the vast majority perpetrated by forces loyal to Gbagbo against real or perceived Ouattara supporters, as well as against West African immigrants and Muslims.
“The documented abuses include targeted killings, enforced disappearances, politically motivated rapes, and unlawful use of lethal force against unarmed demonstrators,” the statement said. “These abuses, committed over a four-month period by security forces under the control of Gbagbo and militias loyal to him, may rise to the level of crimes against humanity.”
It was not immediately possible to reach Gbagbo or his ministers.
But the New York-based organization said atrocities committed by pro-Ouattara forces also could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including three detainees burned alive and four whose throats were slit, all in Abidjan.
“Human Rights Watch has also received credible reports of abuses committed when Ouattara’s forces took control of several towns in western (Ivory Coast),” it said.
In one village near Abidjan, the statement said, at least nine civilians were killed “in an apparent case of collective punishment against alleged civilian supporters of Gbagbo.”
It added, “The killing of civilians by pro-Ouattara forces, at times with apparent ethnic or political motivation, also risks becoming a crime against humanity should it become widespread or systematic.”
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Comments (151)
BetterDays
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:27pmIt seems that Africa, all of it has had war, genocide, and famines since time began, for at least all of recorded history. Yet they intellectual elitists seem to think redistributing your and my money over there is a good idea. I surmise it is so insane leaders, insatiably covetting power, can buy the bigger better weapons by which to make war, commit genocide, and cause mass starvation. Does any one actually believe that a mass infusion of “ misappropriated ” money will in any way stabilize Africa, I didn’t think so.
Two things we can bet on to occur over this tragedy:
A. We won’t go rescue these people from their humanitarian disaster and wholesale slaughter, and
B. We will pore money into UNESCO, whom will promptly mismanage and make a typical boondoggle of the relief effort as is required of them to do so Soros and his UN climate change panel can steal the preponderance of the funds.
My prayers go out to Africa.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:25pmWhere is the no fly zone? This is meant to be! What I mean by that is mans hipocrisy is being exposed at all levels. All his plans, logic, philosophies, corruption, transgressions are all being exposed. before to long there will be no one who can prop up what we are doing to each other. We have no national interests in the Ivory coast so they can go right ahead and die. It is trully sad to see all this unfolding. I believe the innocents will be spared the wrath of God for they are ignorant of God’s purpose and grace, but those who murder and cause mayhem will receive their earned punishments.
Have even 1000 civilians been killed before we put up the socalled no fly zone and how many innocents have we killed? Just wondering.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:24pmOh, God help the innocents in that area. Satan is on the move. Jesus help us.
Report Post »Todd Kinsey
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:20pmNow even Glenn Beck is afraid to point out that Muslims are executing Christians.
Report Post »niterider
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:14pmSo when do we go with the no-fly zone and special ops ? Sounds like another U.N. “Responsibility to Protect ” situation to me. Oh wait, that only applies to countries that are not below the Sahara desert on the African continent (that is just another way of saying Not countries that the Muslim Brotherhood/Al Quada want to control this month).
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:05pmThe gene pool is corrupted. It’s time to go Darwin on their asss……………………..
Report Post »Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:03pmJust a little man made disaster– Nothing to see here. move along!
Report Post »robx
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:55pmThe U.N. mission in Ivory Coast says it has nearly 1,000 peacekeepers in Duekoue but no information of mass killings.
Nice the UN doesnt even notice mass killings with 1000 troops… and someone thinks we should value the UN? Just as they stayed out of it in Rwanda. Do you remember the President of Rwanda blasting the UN in the run up to the Iraq war. He said why should we listen to the UN they talked while his countrymen were slaughtered.
Report Post »CaptainSpaulding
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:52pm….so we’re sending in US troops?
Report Post »FactOrFiction
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:52pmIt’s always the civilians who suffer, these “rebels” are nothing but pillagers and pirates. Sound familiar?
Report Post »Thevoice
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:50pmHold on Obamaman is on his way with the “people protectors league” …
Report Post »geonj
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:49pmno surprise the UN didnt see any bodies.
Report Post »Hepcat
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:46pmIf only they exported oil instead of cocoa, maybe Obama would be moved to help.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:45pmWhat, pray-tell, does it take for any of these killings, rapes, politically motivated atrocities, to rise to the level of crimes against humanity? I don’t get it. These things have been going on for at least months on the Ivory Coast (after the elections), the UN is present but denies any mass killings (against the testimony of a Catholic Charity and the IC Red Cross) and THIS does not get Ohbummer’s attention? Instead, he muddles us in a country (that could burn to the ground for all I care), for who knows how long, ignoring the plain evidence in front of him.
The UN is corrupt. The Ohbummer administration (including clinton) are corrupt (and have an evil agenda). Man, I feel so powerless to stand for what is right…and it seems to only be getting worse.
Report Post »DaveOregon
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:39pmGee – why is not NATO and the Arab League protecting them? Can you say racist???
Report Post »Diamond Girl
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:36pmShhh…don’t tell the msm yet- they haven’t had a chance to spin this yet…let alone report it, which we all know they won’t…agenda matters for their messiah who Walks on Water in their eyes.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:06pmMaybe they will find the story on the Fogel family’s massacre at the same time … weeks later!
Report Post »Rob
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:34pmSomeone burned a Koran I guess… blame whitey.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:13pmDon’t worry .. I have no doubt they will TRY .. . people must speak out and continue to speak out .. defund the UN!
Report Post »supertas
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:32pmThe UN protecting the civilians. They should feel safer already.
Report Post »chickenlittle
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:29pmThere is so much of this sort of thing going on, I can’t even sort out which tribe, faction or religion is on which side. The absolute barbaric extremes are atrocities at their worst. What has been happening to the billions of dollars in aid we have been pouring into these countries for decades? It’s the mindset of these barbaric people to be violent (and I’m including the bulk of the Middle East and Afghanistan). Until the civilized world comes up with a plan to deal with the mindset, throwing more money at, intervening in their wars and generally playing after-the-fact policeman is not going to change anything.
Report Post »V-Forge
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:36pmReally? you can‘t tell that peaceful Christians don’t hack people up? This looks pretty clear to me. Simple solution. Kill the bad guys and stop trying to push them back. Welcome to reality. No man will live free unless he is willing to kill the ones that would deny him that freedom.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:37pmHave no fear Little Chicken, Obama’s are going to Church tomorrow to be seen, then make a speach prior to NCAA game Monday that we’re involved in too many disputes and the United Nations and the Red Cross will be providing a full report.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 1:23am@poverty.sucks:
Report Post »“Have no fear Little Chicken, Obama’s are going to Church tomorrow…”
____________
Bet Jesus will be glad to see him, huh? Wonder if he’ll remember who he is? What a hypocrite!
Psychosis
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:28pmanother epic example of the failure of the U.N.
a once peaceful area, is now rife with violence………..funny thing, this all happened AFTER THE U.N. CONFISCATED ALMOST ALL SMALL ARMS AND FORCED AN ELECTION
this is happening all over the world, where the U.N. has forced private citizens to give up their only means of self defense ie small arms under the guise of international treaty and “hope” of peace
sadly, the oppressors didnt get the message and give up their guns too…………..kinda how our criminals here view our gun laws
Report Post »randy
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:45pmLove to see someone try to get me to give up my firearms
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:49pmI have a funny feeling the UN has given back, or supplied arms to the perpetrators in this case, at least in part.
Report Post »tankerBigRed1
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:02pmThe UN seems to be real good @ disarming the populous =peace—and then stand by while the slaughter begins- you would think that by now people would figure out giving up their means of self defense [small arms]= suicide when the UN is involved..
Report Post »QuietTexan
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 1:27amHumans dont need firearms to kill each other. However, one person might save themselves from a mob with the threat of a gun. But then the UN is not really about saving people is it? Its about letting the people that might stand in its way kill each other.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:23pmThe UN is on the scene. We can all relax now.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:29pmthe U.N. was on the scene to begin with…………..they are stationed there
must of been on a union break
Report Post »ColoradoDad
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:03pmThe U.N. guy standing there telling the onlookers “Okay people, there’s nothing to see here just move along!”
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:18pmDoesn’t this fall under Responsibility To Protect ?
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:26pmNO, because those being killed are Christians. By muslims
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:36pm@Cheez ~
Report Post »Muslims?! You don’t mean that the Muslims are killing Christians?! But they are such PEACEFUL people!
cheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:51pm@ Showtime
Report Post »Thi sthing has been simmering for a long time with no too much media attention.
Everyone was hoping that the blue helmets had it under control.
But when has UN ever come in the way of a good old fashioned genocide ?
http://www.islamfortoday.com/ivorycoast.htm
The above was the trigger. The rest is just a massacre of Christians. Just like the janjawid .
Now here is link which answers the question :
Why US forces didn’t go in in Darfur
http://www.islamfortoday.com/ivorycoast.htm
Notice the author of this ode to the arab killers.
http://www.assatashakur.org/forum/breaking-down-understanding-our-enemies/12808-who-janjaweed.html
How she is related to the black liberation theologists, communists and jihadies a k a
Obama‘s ’inner circle ‘ is another long story, with 2pac Shakur mixed in
NOBALONEY
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:18pmThey held elections, the loser doesn’t want to give up power. This is another fine mess the the united nations, jimmy carter, george soros, and obama will get us into.
Report Post »BecksADweeb
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:31pmNot to mention Abbot, Costello, and that guy from the Bob Newhart Show.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:44pm@beck…………
and your a fool
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:52pm@Psychosis
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:44pm
@beck…………
and you’re a fool
Report Post »~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don’t let the Weeb bother you. Nobody cares what he says. Weeb is a nut case!
AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:54am@NOBALONEY:
Report Post »“They held elections, the loser doesn’t want to give up power. This is another fine mess the the united nations, jimmy carter, george soros, and obama will get us into.”
_______________________
You forgot Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski (you know…Nat’l Security Adviser to Carter)…AND…he is also another one of Obama’s foreign policy advisers…you know…along with Mrs. Sunstein…He isn’t talked about much…and…you can bet that Carter and Brzezinski were both involved in the Egyptian uprising and overthrow of Mubarak…
Thevoice
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:16pmDid the UM send up the Obama signal yet ….
Report Post »CatB
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:59pmUniversity of Michigan? Maine? Massachusetts? Montana? Maryland? Minnesota? … I know Mohammad!
Report Post »booger71
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:14pmA lot more than was killed in Libya.
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:23pmWhere is Mrs. Sunstein ? I‘m sure they are crafting an excuse why they won’t go into help now .
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:23pmIts the moosies who are killing Christians in the Ivory Coast. WhyTH are we hiding that fact ?
Report Post »Remember the “ janjawid” ?
I wonder whose side this WH will be on …hmmm…
A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:35pmThe Left will use this as another excuse to attempt to legitimize the UN.
THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT! The UN has no legitimacy because there is no such thing as an “international community”.
Don’t fall for this, America.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:40pmYou need a damned scorecard to figure out this manmade antagonistic quarrel.If this is the best of African Ethics keep it in the third world.God help these people cause Barry has no friends( MOMAR) in this area
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:44pmSend congress in to do the fighting and leave our military out.
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:52pmWe wont intervine in africa on any meaningful level because they dont have anything we need. we intervine all the the time in south america and the middle east…why is that? Because we need cheap sugar, fruit, and oil. Aside from diamonds, which are controlled by europe (surprise europe is alway intervining in africa) africa is simply not worth much to us. This is not a right or left issue, it is a corperate issue.
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:54pmCorporate issue that is.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:58pmYou want to get really pissed? The International Red Cross is mentioned in this Blaze article in paragraph #5…The article linked below discusses activities of said same organization in Jerusalem…
International Red Cross Sheltering Hamas Terrorist Officials
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2011/March/Intl-Red-Cross-Aids-Hamas-Terrorist-Officials/
Although Hamas’s main headquarters can be found in Gaza and Damascus, over the past several months, three officials from the terror group have also set up shop at the International Red Cross office in East Jerusalem.
Israel suspects these three Hamas legislators had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. It ordered them to be deported from Jerusalem last summer.
Instead, the three found refuge at the Red Cross, where they’ve set up a tent and held court on a daily basis, with no protest from their hosts.
The three Hamas officials have been living there since July. During that time, they’ve held a number of press conferences and met with foreign dignitaries, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Every Friday, dozens of East Jerusalem residents gather at the Red Cross to hold prayers as a show of support.
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:04pmOnce again, the UN Blue-Helmet “Peacekeepers” solidify their reputation.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:06pmEnough already. Drag the 12th imam out of the well and dry him off. Prepare him for an ass whoopin
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:11pmGINSBERG, let us know when that evil corporate plot to obtain cheap oil works out. Idiot.
Report Post »GABlueStarMom
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:12pmExactly!!!!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:13pm@AzDebi
Report Post »I have always wondered how the Red Cross ( or Crescent) raises hell about Gitmo jihadies been given just one scoop of ice-cream, yet they have done NOTHING for Gilad Shalit . Now I kindda get it.
redneck
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:16pmObama speech will have to wait until after NCAA Final Four Championship Game.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:24pmhttp://r2pcoalition.org/
I find it interesting that Russia and China also signed onto this “coalition”…Really? Where are they in the Libya situation? So what’s next, we head up the next invasion and this time it’s off to the Ivory Coast? I swear, they are looking to end our national sovereignty, but they are also looking to bankrupt this nation!
I can not believe that it is impossible for We The People to put an end to this insanity!
Report Post »Hobbs57
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 10:48pmI guess forging your birth certificate is the TRENDY thing to do these days if your running for president -A little information that sounds strikingly familiar to Obama and what us so called “Birthers” and Donald Trumph are called fools for thinking — Check this out about Quattara( the UN supported puppet)-
Report Post »After leaving the IMF in July 1999, he was elected President of the RDR on August 1, 1999 at an extraordinary congress of the party,[17] as well as being chosen as its candidate for the next presidential election.[18] He said that he was eligible to stand in the election, pointing to documents which he said demonstrated that he and his parents were of Ivorian birth.
After leaving the IMF in July 1999, he was elected President of the RDR on August 1, 1999 at an extraordinary congress of the party,[17] as well as being chosen as its candidate for the next presidential election.[18] He said that he was eligible to stand in the election, pointing to documents which he said demonstrated that he and his parents were of Ivorian birth.
He was accused of forging these papers, however, and an investigation was begun.[19][20] President Bédié described Ouattara as a Burkinabé and said that Houphouët-Boigny “wanted Alassane Ouattara to concern himself only with the economy”.[21] Ouattara’s nationality certificate, issued in late September 1999,[22] was annulled by a court on October 27.[22][23] An arrest warrant for Ouattara was issued on November 29, although he was out of the country at the time; he nevertheless said that he would return by late December.
On December 24, the military seized power, ousting Bédié. Ouattara returned to Côte d’Ivoire after three months in France on December 29, hailing Bédié’s ouster as “not a coup d’état”, but “a revolution supported by all the Ivorian people”.[25][26]
poverty.sucks
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:15pmBarack Hussein Obama Jr will take a pass on the Ivory Coast, he will draw on diplomacy, development, and international norms and institutions to help resolve disagreements, prevent conflict, and maintain peace, mitigating where possible the need for the use of force. Alassane Dramane Ouattara happens to be a good friend Obama will say. He knows the United States of America supports him.
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:30pmCheez, you‘re right that there’s a Muslim vs. Christian element here, but it’s really not fair to compare to the Sudanese janjawid. The Muslims involved in the Côte d’Ivoire are NOT doing things in the name of their religion. This is a NATIONALIST fight.
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:32pmWhat gets me is the rank ignorance of the UN delegation there. I don’t need more proof that the UN is a useless body, but their CYA attitude even WHEN they’re called in to intervene has just cost the waste of many human beings of infinite potential. Makes me angry!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:56pm@ HappyStretchedThin
Report Post »This thing has been simmering for more than 10 years now.
http://www.islamfortoday.com/ivorycoast.htm
Whatever the cover story is, whatever the coverup story is , it was always about muslims vs Christians in Ivory Coast . I just hope France doesn’t drag USA into that conflict too
AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:16am@cheezwhiz:
@AzDebi
I have always wondered how the Red Cross ( or Crescent) raises hell about Gitmo jihadies been given just one scoop of ice-cream, yet they have done NOTHING for Gilad Shalit . Now I kindda get it.
_________________
What we don’t know is staggering, isn’t it? Keeps my head spinning cause I get all these loose ends and I know they fit together SOMEHOW…it just drives me crazy…I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it…crazy…
But…one thing that I am ABSOLUTELY certain about is this global BS they are shoving down our throats…h*ll, we can’t keep up with the corruption in THIS country…wanna try to keep up globally? Can’t be done and I think that is exactly what they are counting on…
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:21amCheez,
Report Post »You have plenty of legs to stand on in criticizing Islam many places in the world.
But it does you no service to characterize this conflict this way. The Muslims are NOT killing Christians in the name of Islam, and the Christians there aren’t all saints either. And almost none of it is pure Islam or pure Christianity anyway because of the immense and broad influence of lots of varieties of Animism there. The site you cite is from an outside observer (who gets his BASIC facts wrong–CI is about 40% Muslim, not 60%) who is interested in coopting the story for his own agenda. Ivorians on the ground will tell you religion factors in, but is NOT the central concern.
Please, take it from me. This is my area of academic expertise.
ME
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:21amcheezwhiz
agree, this is muslim vs christian. The middle east is not about democracy its about sharia law and making sure the religious leaders or in charge with puppet governments, with a little ethnic cleansing where needed. Anyone buying the democracy thing needs to get there head out of the sand.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:38amHappyStretchedThin
Report Post »Ivorians on the ground will tell you religion factors in, but is NOT the central concern.
Please, take it from me. This is my area of academic expertise.
———–
So why are muslims killing Christians in Ivory Coast ?
Specially when the blue helmets are stationed there .
AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:43am“The United Nations, the U.S., the African Union and the U.K. are calling on Gbagbo, 65, to hand power over to Ouattara…”
Does this sound familiar America? Can you say L-i-b-y-a?
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-02/ouattara-s-forces-advance-in-abidjan-massacre-leaves-800-dead.html
Report Post »thepatriotdave
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:45amFor a second there I thought this was a story about a DNC meeting.
Ok Obama, do we go in here too for humanitarian reasons??? Or just where you have ideological buds?
Our proof CNN Tea Party Poll is Bogus!
Report Post »http://www.americasteapartynews.com/cnnpoll.php
thepatriotdave
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:50amcheezwhiz
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 9:23pm
Its the moosies who are killing Christians in the Ivory Coast. WhyTH are we hiding that fact ?
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C’mon cheez, you can’t be seriously asking this question. You are much too smart for that. Now if the religions were turned around so it was Christians killing Muslims, then Obama and his entire administration would be suiting up to go over and kick some evil Christian butt.
Our proof CNN Tea Party Poll is Bogus!
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AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 1:05am@HappyStretchedThin:
“What gets me is the rank ignorance of the UN delegation there…”
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And Happy…the total CORRUPTION…have Americans forgotten the scandal engulfing the United Nations Procurement Department and the Oil-for-Food Program and its’ involvement in financing Al-Qaeda operations. Fox News broke the story…remember?
Why have Americans not demanded an end to our involvement with this corrupt organization? Why?
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 1:16am@HappyStretchedThin:
Report Post »Cheez,
“You have plenty of legs to stand on in criticizing Islam many places in the world.
But it does you no service to characterize this conflict this way. The Muslims are NOT killing Christians in the name of Islam, and the Christians there aren’t all saints either. And almost none of it is pure Islam or pure Christianity anyway because of the immense and broad influence of lots of varieties of Animism there. The site you cite is from an outside observer (who gets his BASIC facts wrong–CI is about 40% Muslim, not 60%) who is interested in coopting the story for his own agenda. Ivorians on the ground will tell you religion factors in, but is NOT the central concern.
Please, take it from me. This is my area of academic expertise.”
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I for one am thrilled to have your input…Don’t be too hard on us though…we’re doing the best we can to try to discern the various biases at all the sites…I think most of the regulars here have certain areas where we excel…your expertise will help us draw better conclusions quicker…I look forward to reading your input…Thanks!
SeanW
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 4:23amThis may sound heartless, but so what? I am so sick and tired of hearing about this that and every other gd country on the face of the earth and their gd problems. If there are that many people then maybe all of em should stand up to the “rebels” and fight for themselves! There are so many problems right here in our own backyards and we keep ignoring them. There are American children that are dying of starvation on the streets of our own cities, how many of them could we have fed and clothed with the money wasted on the missiles launched at Libya last week? It is time we actually do something about the problems here at home and let the rest of the world sort themselves out for once.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 5:00am@Cheez and AZDebi
You had it correct….Muslims killing Christians and the details will make your head spin….
“Was” a French colony
Always been a big division on immigrants vs Natives.
Northern is Muslim majority and is known to be close to 40% of the population and undeveloped part of the country. Due to immigration from Muslim neighboring countries, Muslims will be at a way higher majority. This group is known as the “Rebels” famous for using machetes to kill many Christians. Group is now led by former UN appointed PM Ouattara.
South is Majority Christian and home base for most of the Christian ministries in the region. It also houses the largest Cathedral if I’m remembering correct. This area is the economic area of the country.
President Gbagbo, who has ruled for quite a while, claims the election the UN says he lost, was flawed due to the north allowing immigrants to vote. Gbagbo had to go as far as launch air strikes on these rebels 10 years ago and the French in turn blew up every plane the countries Military had at the time.
The “war” the has been on going there has always been about one thing, taking majority of the country and it is divided down religious lines. If the Muslim leader Ouattara actually takes power he says he will grant over night citizenship to all those immigrants granting the Muslims victory with their major majority.
The US, EU and AU call for Gbagb to step down. The UN “tried” to pass a resolution stating this but Russia blocked it saying it isn‘t the UN’s role which I find extremely interesting.
This will be another front the French will have to deal with and unfortunately they are backing the Muslims. The US will only be involved if requested by France thru the UN, just like Libya. Apparently the Russians won’t allow that to happen as of yet.
To much sounds familiar and to much shows we thru the UN are backing our own enemies, once again.
Report Post »ZeitgeistBuster
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 5:20amSee what would happen to us if we loose our right to bear arms and then have an election stolen… Keep government just afraid enough that they stay closer to the straight and narrow than in just hauling off and doing whatever regardless of whether it is moral or legal.
I can imagine in the future the story being “1000 old guard rebellious Americans were cornered and slaughtered for contesting the legitimacy of the recent elections”.
If they have so little regard for you as a person that they will destroy your reputation, when that ceases to keep us quiet, I have NO DOUBT that once they feel safe to, they will escalate to quashing dissent by taking life here in America. If Wilson did it, I rest my case…
Report Post »ginsberg
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 5:30amWho said anything about corporations selling you cheap oil? As long as it is cheap for them, they dont care.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 6:24amI love people that condemn “Corporations”, LLC’s, Partnerships, etc.. They are showing their stupidity when they do this. A corporation is nothing more than neighbors joining together to get the money to run a business. And yes, their are bad corporations. This happens when bad neighbors form a business and we all know there are good, bad, and evil people in this world. There are also both good and bad neighbors forming unions or good and bad in cities. Without corporations, we would be back in medival times in our working relationships.
Report Post »HappyStretchedThin
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 9:23amAzdebi and Cheez,
Report Post »Hope I haven’t been sounding harsh. I completely agree the clash of religions is one of the most important issues of our day, and that this looks on the surface like just another instance of Muslim aggression. I‘m just passionate about the material and want to make sure everyone’s got the right info and analysis on this.
Okie’s got a good handle on the basics. I would just add a few under the surface points.
The religious divide falls roughly along an ethnic divide, which tends to be a little more primary in the fighting than the religion is. There’s a variety of Christian denominations, and nobody identifies as “Christian”, but rather Catholic, Assemblé de Dieu, Harriste, etc. and they come from a variety of the 60 ethnic groups in the CI. In the past 10 years, sadly, it’s been the Southern Christians doing most of the killing, but NOT in the name of religious cleansing, rather in ethnic terms and economic terms (The Dioula are Muslim, but they are also nomadic traders, and had set up shop in Christian Bété lands, to name the biggest event) who kicked them out in a massacre at one point to reclaim their lands. Gbagbo had revoked property rights of the Muslim immigrants in an effort to bolster support of his Bété base.
Now that there’s a Dioula in charge, the reprisals in Duekoué are still perceived as ethnic reprisals, having nothing to do with the religion of the victims.
If I can state it in general terms, the religion is just another marker of ETHNIC difference in this case.
And, like I say, even calling these Dioula Muslim is considered a stretch by the likes of the Sufis, Sunnis and Shiites in the Middle East and Maghreb. West African Islam is so mixed with Animism, it’s just a much different animal, much less of a force for centralized establishment of Shari’ah, much fewer honor killings, etc.
That’s on the ground.
In the seats of power, though… One of the reasons the UN is involved is because the French (who comprise 90+% of the blue helmet troops, never forget). Gbagbo’s a brutal thug, make no mistake, but he was an ANTI-FRENCH thug, which is why the French were happy to declare Ouattara the winner and gather the “International Community” to declare Gbagbo the loser. He’s a lying sack with no respect for human life, but he has supporters because he’s right that more than just Ivorians were involved in his ouster. Ouattara IS likely to be a force for peace and stability, as well as decent relations with the US in the long run, but he can’t control his troops right now, who are going beyond orders to exact revenge for the Bété-organized pogroms in too recent memory.
The Christian ethnicities are still a majority, but are not organized and consolidated as such, and they are surrounded by ethnicities from neighboring countries which, if they formed a bloc and intervened, would become a majority, as Okie notes. (btw, Okie, it’s a Basilica, actually–2nd largest, after only the Vatican)
One final note. The CI has an immigrant population of about 30%. It’s the poster child for why the US needs strong borders, and a govt that will make immigrants come in at the front door, get screened, and wait their turn for residency.
jhaydeng
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 10:59amI have never been strictly religious, but my mind is changing fast! I have always believed in God, but I am starting to think that something is changing that is not a typical generational occurance!
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 12:36pmWho cares about afreekan savages? Certainly NOT me! I care more about the dead squirrel in the road than these creatures with human features in africa. In a perfect world they would kill each other off and then we wouldn’t have to worry about sending food for famine relief, AIDS or any of the other devil’s products that come out of that hellhole.
Whatever we don‘t PLEASE don’t send more afreekan refugees to Amerika….we’re still struggling with the last shipment of 100,000 from Somalia that were sent to Minnesota and Wisconsin a couple years ago.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on April 3, 2011 at 6:08pmHere comes the Tomahawk missles. Duck!
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