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| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Organ traffickers say nuns are bad for business |
| 2004-02-13 |
| Four Catholic nuns say they have received death threats after exposing an organ trafficking network allegedly operating in northern Mozambique. The traffickers are said to target the sex organs of children, which are sold to make magic charms. As Sam Kinnison used to point out, some guys don’t want to wait in line when they go to hell. These guys deserve the Express Lane treatment. The nuns from the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate order say they have gathered evidence of the trade. They say they have spoken to victims who managed to escape and photos of dead children with missing organs. Ritual murders have been reported in many African countries, as some witchdoctors say using human organs in magic charms makes them more powerful. These are believed by some to bring financial or sexual success to those who use them. "We have received some very clear threats," order spokeswoman Sister Juliana told Portuguese radio. "Several countries are involved in this iniquitous game and the victims are the poor, those who have no voice or defence, or the strength to defend themselves, we are convinced that Nampula is part of an international ring," said Sister Juliana. She said there have been several attempts to abduct children from the orphanage they run in Nampula. Mozambican, South African, Brazilian and Portuguese nationals were involved in the ring, she said. The BBC’s Jose Tembe in Mozambique says the government had sent a team of investigators to the area to probe claims of the existence of the network. The organs are reportedly smuggled into neighbouring Zimbabwe - anyone surprised? and South Africa. The Spanish Embassy in Mozambique is also investigating the claims after receiving reports from the nuns, who have lived in the area for 30 years. |
| Posted by:Super Hose |
| #2 Unfortunately, this isn't new. It's been going on for at least twenty years, and involves several dozen groups. There are organ-doner abductions in India, Bangladesh, all of Southeast Asia, Latin America, and even some unconfirmed cases in the United States. There have been rumors for years that Chinese prisons were a ready source of non-donated organs used in transplants. There are too many people who have far more money than they have scruples. If they need a transplant, they don't care where the organ comes from, as long as it works. There are other unscrupulous people who are willing to harvest those organs, and have no thought for where - or whom - they come from. It'll get a lot worse before there's enough attention brought to bear to overcome the bribes that keep police looking the other way. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-2-13 4:09:29 PM |
| #1 At least 10 different comments, mostly snarky, came to mind, but this is just so incredibly disgusting and beyond the pale that I can't do it. I swear, Kin Du Toit's take on Africa, though depressing as hell, is spot-on. Every bend in every river... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-2-13 1:55:56 PM |