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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Mystical warriors terrify Liberians tired of war |
| 2003-06-11 |
| edited by me for brevity Some came wearing magic charms, some in loin cloths, some completely naked. The accounts told by fleeing civilians of the rebel entry into Liberia's capital might elsewhere seem bizarre, but in this war-blighted West African land they are all too familiar harbingers of death and desolation. "We saw guys with zeke (charms) on their heads. Some were in just loin cloths, some were just in T-shirts and some were completely naked," said Mary Ann, describing the rebels of Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). Africa. The cradle of man. A slight lull in the battle for Monrovia's northwestern suburbs on Tuesday allowed thousands more people to slink from a battleground between rebels and President Charles Taylor's forces, where they expect to be the main victims. "They had young children, really young children, to carry their ammunition boxes," Mary Ann said. Others had similar stories. They saw rebels carrying earthenware pots containing burning coals dosed with magic, which they placed in the road to help them in their combat. Magic has played a big part in Liberia's 14 years of bloodshed even if most of the killing is with assault rifles and knives. The aim of spells is to make fighters strong or invisible — why some still need to remove their clothes. Africa's modern civil wars are steeped in the mysticism that preceded the arrival of colonialists and missionaries. Congolese warriors believe magic water makes them bullet proof, some of Ivory Coast's fighters drink snake blood for fortification. Almost makes the Religeon Of Peace (TM) sound logical, huh? |
| Posted by:Secret Master |
| #2 So much for James Madison's Noble experiment |
| Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-06-11 17:36:04 |
| #1 Good grief... they're being attacked by the Mystery Men! Invisible Boy: I'm invisible! Can you see me? |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-06-11 17:03:57 |