You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Africa: Horn
Sudan militiamen face amputations
2004-07-20
Ten members of Sudan's pro-government militia have been sentenced to have a hand and a foot amputated for their role in attacks in Darfur. In the first convictions of members of the Janjaweed militia, they were also sentenced to six years in prison for offences including murder and robbery. The 10 convictions were passed by a court in the South Darfur capital, Nyala. The men will have their left hand and right foot sawed cut off, according to Sudan's version of Islamic Sharia law.
Not that I don't trust anybody, but could the court arrange to have the severed appendages dropped into jars of formalin and shipped here?
It is not clear when the sentences will be carried out.
My guess is the sweet by and by...
The Sudan Media Centre, close to the government, reports that another similar case will be heard later. It quoted a lawyer as saying the sentences showed the government's keenness to enforce the rule of law. Girls as young as eight and women of 80 have been raped, says Amnesty International, which wants an inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Thank you for noticing, finally...
Posted by:Steve White

#8  Whoa! Excellent BTQ... Is that a new nome?
Posted by: Shipman   2004-07-20 10:05:31 PM  

#7  Thanks BTQ!
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-07-20 1:55:44 PM  

#6  The Janjaweed (also known as Janjawid or Jingaweit) is an armed militia group in Darfur, western Sudan, comprising fighters of Muslim Arab background (mainly from the Baggara tribe). Since 2003 it has been one of the principal actors in the increasingly bloody Darfur conflict, which has pitted Arabs against the black African population (also Muslim) of the region. Its name translates as "a man with a horse and a gun," although it is more usefully translated as "armed men on horseback." The Janjaweed is the successor to an earlier Arab tribal militia, the Murahilin (literally "nomads"), which had existed for many years beforehand.
Posted by: Brett_the_Quarkian   2004-07-20 11:22:26 AM  

#5  So where does the term Janjaweed come from? I keep having visions of Ganja Weed by association, Bob Marley, etc etc.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-07-20 11:18:55 AM  

#4  explains why so few Janjaweed make the PGA tour
Posted by: Frank G   2004-07-20 10:08:10 AM  

#3  Those sentences are horrific, but I would say the militia's selection of appendages to amputate doesn't fit the crime. After all, a one-footed, one-handed Janjawid is still able to rape, isn't he?
Posted by: jules 187   2004-07-20 9:50:01 AM  

#2  And for double parking.....
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2004-07-20 1:22:26 AM  

#1  Ok now they have got the sentence for stelaing, now let's hear the sentence for the rapes.
Posted by: JFM   2004-07-20 12:52:17 AM  

00:00