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| Africa: East |
| Sudan rebels: Militia leader decapitated |
| 2003-12-25 |
| At least it’s possible to infer which African country this one is EFL KHARTOUM -- Rebels battling government forces in western Sudan said Wednesday they had decapitated the leader of a government-armed militia and showed civilians his head as proof of his death. His career may be in jeopardy Rebels in the arid Darfur region say Arab tribesmen in the west of Africa’s largest country are armed by the government to fight them, but also turn against civilian farming communities Took the car, too. They must’ve been very angry. Government armed forces spokesman Mohammed Bashir Suleiman denied Shukrsalah had been killed Not killed, just -- a really bad haircut and added his forces were not connected to what he called "revenge killings." We deny everything! A merchant living in rebel-held Tina on the Chadian border said SLA forces drove into town last week in the distinctive black jeep known to belong to Shukrsalah. We also demand our jeep back! "Rebel forces were driving through town in Shukrsalah’s car and were shouting he was dead ... then they hung his head from a tree," he said. No guys, you’re supposed to leave the head attached when you do that "We need people to know we are protecting them and that this man who cursed their lives was actually dead," the SLA fighter said. Not dead, just -- shortened a little bit The SLA signed a truce with Khartoum in September, but talks in Chad failed last week with both sides blaming each other. The other main rebel group in Darfur, the Justice and Equality Movement, has not entered talks with Khartoum. We don’t know which side we want to be on yet. A Sudanese legislator [said] ... President Omar Hassan al-Bashir had sent a letter to parliament requesting an extension to Sudan’s four-year-old state of emergency for another year. Hitler’s was called an "Enabling Act" Bashir cited unspecified threats to "national security" to extend the law which gives the president sweeping powers, such as an ability to order indefinite detentions and appoint officials who should otherwise be elected. I’m not really up on this private war, but looks almost self-explanatory. I did once read the turbans in North Sudan were using the black population further south as a source of slaves, etc. They might have let the country divide, but southern Sudan has OIL and the turbans want the oil to flow north and the money for it to stay north. |
| Posted by:Glenn (not Reynolds) |
| #11 After I put this up I recalled Allan Sherman: If you had been a nicer King / We wouldn't do a thing / But you were bad, you must admit. We're going to take you and the Queen / Out to the guillotine / And shorten you a little bit. |
| Posted by: Glenn (not Reynolds) 2003-12-25 5:27:53 PM |
| #10 I dunno, Glenn.. Maybe it belonged in SAST; after all, I'll bet his attention span is pretty short by now. Rest of him, too... More seriously, does anyone know where I could find a breakdown of the deathtoll in the Sudan, by year and by ethnic group? I'm wondering if it would be a good contrast to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, which the usual suspects tend to portray as the only conflict of note going on in the world. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2003-12-25 5:03:55 PM |
| #9 Probably, being short on doctors, TV cameras, a broadcasting system, and maybe tounge depressors to stick into the guy's mouth, they probably went with the next best thing. Of course, one wonders if the sudanese have the better idea: Cutting Sammy's head off and sticking it on a pike in the place of that statue that got pulled down on international TV is an effective way to say that Sammy's dead. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-12-25 3:58:07 PM |
| #8 Steve: The trouble is, that's where it is now. |
| Posted by: Glenn (not Reynolds) 2003-12-25 3:39:24 PM |
| #7 No Steve, only the Northern bit... |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2003-12-25 3:15:30 PM |
| #6 Glenn NR, you might think Sudan belongs in East Africa, but I think it belongs in hell :-) |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-25 1:06:40 PM |
| #5 Patty Hearst was rescued How about that chick Tanya? |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-12-25 1:02:18 PM |
| #4 Beheading prevent muslims from entering heaven and is the ultimate mutilation; that's why "neo" islamists (starting with the algerian AIS & GIA in 90's, but that goes for chechens, kashmiris,...) are so fond of beheading instead of "traditionnal" throatslitting. That's a common trademark. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-12-25 12:39:09 PM |
| #3 I thought the SLA disbanded after Patty Hearst was rescued :-) Merry Christmas! - I'm here all week, try the veal.. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-25 10:19:07 AM |
| #2 I am the only one who seems to notice that the SLA seems much better organized than your average third world rebellion and capable of strategic moves such as this. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2003-12-25 5:11:10 AM |
| #1 Oops I did it again. Fred can you please move Sudan back to East Africa where it belongs? |
| Posted by: Glenn (not Reynolds) 2003-12-25 12:22:40 AM |