Umm, wow

[Guest MikeSC]

UN troops buy sex from teenage refugees in Congo camp

By Cahal Milmo

25 May 2004

 

Teenage rape victims fleeing war in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being sexually exploited by the United Nations peace-keeping troops sent to the stop their suffering.

 

The Independent has found that mothers as young as 13 - the victims of multiple rape by militiamen - can only secure enough food to survive in the sprawling refugee camp by routinely sleeping with UN peace-keepers.

 

Testimony from girls and aid workers in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp in Bunia, in the north-east corner of Congo, claims that every night teenage girls crawl through a wire fence to an adjoining UN compound to sell their bodies to Moroccan and Uruguayan soldiers.

 

The trade, which according to one victim results in a banana or a cake to feed to her infant son, is taking place despite a pledge by the UN to adopt a "zero tolerance" attitude to cases of sexual misconduct by those representing the organisation.

 

One girl, Faela, 13, whose son, Joseph, is not yet six months old, has described how the social stigma of her fatherless child, the result of repeated rape by militiamen in her village, mean she is treated like a pariah in the chaotic and violent Bunia camp, which is home to 15,000 people.

 

She said: "It is hard in the camp for the girls like me with little babies and no husbands. We have no men to look after us. We have been dirtied by the soldiers who came to our villages. No one will take us as their wives and it is hard to get food in the camp for us."

 

She added: "It is easy for us to get to the UN soldiers. We climb through the fence when it is dark, sometimes once a night, sometimes more."

 

During a five-day period, The Independent spoke to more than 30 girls, half of whom said they made the 20-metre journey from the camp to gaps in the wire fences of the compound run by Monuc, the UN mission in Congo.

 

One worker, employed by Atlas, the aid group that manages the camp, confirmed that staff were aware of the trade in sex but were too frightened to tackle it.

 

He said: "There is nothing to stop them and the girls need food. It is best to keep quiet, though. I am frightened that if I say something I may lose my job and I have children of my own to feed."

 

The UN has announced its own inquiry into the allegations, warning that it will apply "all available sanctions" against those responsible. But doubts remain about the effectiveness of the investigation and the ability of the UN to bring those responsible to justice.

 

Dominique McAdams, the head of the UN in Bunia, said she believed that there was sexual violence in the camp, but said she had yet to see any evidence.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa...sp?story=524674

Somehow, I don't expect to see a lot of punishments come down from this tragedy.

-=Mike

[NoCalMike 0]

well this is certainly disturbing.

[muzz 0]

Now, now, I'm sure the inquiry will put this right.

 

Or not, probably not.

[DerangedHermit 0]

claims that every night teenage girls crawl through a wire fence to an adjoining UN compound to sell their bodies to Moroccan and Uruguayan soldiers.

But they're Uruguayan!

[Guest TheAustralian]

Disturbing? Yes.

 

But it is expected, I challenge anyone to come up with an example of any peace keeping force that hasnt had cases of rape, sex etc ?

 

for example the Australian (UN) peace keeping force has also been accused of such things,

 

It is bound to happen when a major portion of the armed forces are young men with only one thing on there mind, certainly not condoning this but people need to remember this is the minority.

 

also of note is just because people are accused of something doesnt mean it happened,

[nl5xsk1 0]

I'm more grateful that your subject explained what the article was about than I am shocked what the article said. This kind of stuff happens all over the world; we just now have names to go with the stories.

[Guest Cerebus]

It happens with American troops in Korea and Japan as well. Not uncommon.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Well when the UN peace keepers catch AIDS, then the last laugh will be on them...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Someone's being intentionally vague in their subject line.

 

You just caused me to have to put aside a very good Lynndie England joke, I hope you'll know.

[Guest MikeSC]

Someone's being intentionally vague in their subject line.

 

You just caused me to have to put aside a very good Lynndie England joke, I hope you'll know.

People bitch that my subject lines are too partisan.

 

And I assumed most would assume it'd refer to Abu Gharib.

 

Just pointing out that REAL problems exist elsewhere.

-=Mike

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

 

I'm not saying that it isn't wrong these workers are taking advantage of these girls...it is wrong.

[justsoyouknow 0]

...are you fucking serious, David?

[Guest MikeSC]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

 

I'm not saying that it isn't wrong these workers are taking advantage of these girls...it is wrong.

They "sold their bodies" to GET FOOD TO EAT. The UN soldiers didn't just give them food --- they made them SCREW THEM to get money to buy food for their babies and themselves.

 

Jesus Christ, you can't ACTUALLY believe that Abu Gharib is worse.

 

Has the left completely lost their ever-lovin' minds?

-=Mike

[Internet Warfare 0]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

wow, this question beats any of the ones I had at school today.

 

Raping women or putting humiliating men by putting panties on their heads. Both will have scar the people forever.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Someone's being intentionally vague in their subject line.

 

You just caused me to have to put aside a very good Lynndie England joke, I hope you'll know.

People bitch that my subject lines are too partisan.

 

And I assumed most would assume it'd refer to Abu Gharib.

 

Just pointing out that REAL problems exist elsewhere.

-=Mike

Because the Iraqi P.O.W abuse wasn't real enough, right?

[Guest MikeSC]

Someone's being intentionally vague in their subject line.

 

You just caused me to have to put aside a very good Lynndie England joke, I hope you'll know.

People bitch that my subject lines are too partisan.

 

And I assumed most would assume it'd refer to Abu Gharib.

 

Just pointing out that REAL problems exist elsewhere.

-=Mike

Because the Iraqi P.O.W abuse wasn't real enough, right?

NOTHING compared to this.

 

Apparently, raping women so they have enough money to eat is as bad as embarrassing people.

 

Wow, human rights isn't a big deal to the left any longer.

-=Mike

[Lord of The Curry 0]

In Macleans this month there is an article written by a journalist who recieved messages smuggled out of Abu Gharib that says rape was also present in that jail.

 

Now of course there is no proof that it happened but at the same time I wouldn't doubt it for a second.

[Guest thebigjig]

Jesus Christ... this whole fucking argument has turned into a finger pointing match... "well THIS is worse!" "oh yeah? Well THATS worse than THIS!"

 

Ladies and gentlemen... it doesnt fucking matter which is worse! It's completely fucking irrelevant!

 

Could you IMAGINE someone using this as an arguement with anything else?? To use a far fetched example... Robert Blake goes to trial, admits that yeah, he had his wife killed... his defense? "Well, at least I didnt slit her throat and kill her boyfriend like OJ! Thats REAL murder!"

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

People bitch that my subject lines are too partisan.

I loved the title and line. Bravo.

 

At least there are some people out there that U.N. Peacekeepers won't run away from...

[Guest MikeSC]

People bitch that my subject lines are too partisan.

I loved the title and line. Bravo.

 

At least there are some people out there that U.N. Peacekeepers won't run away from...

I guess we found the one group who can be made to serve as the U.N's bitches, since nobody else seems to.

-=Mike

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

wow, this question beats any of the ones I had at school today.

 

Raping women or putting humiliating men by putting panties on their heads. Both will have scar the people forever.

I'm sorry where in the article is the word "rape" mentioned? and I've yet to see the same concrete proof of these allegations tha the Iraqi scandal had.

[Guest MikeSC]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

wow, this question beats any of the ones I had at school today.

 

Raping women or putting humiliating men by putting panties on their heads. Both will have scar the people forever.

I'm sorry where in the article is the word "rape" mentioned? and I've yet to see the same concrete proof of these allegations tha the Iraqi scandal had.

Ah, apparently, forcing them to fuck you so they can get enough money to EAT is not as bad as rape in some people's eyes.

 

I remember in the good ol' days when liberals at least pretended to care about human rights for all, not just people who might make America look bad.

-=Mike

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

I'm not a liberal.

[BUTT 0]

hmm. People selling their bodies in echange for monetary gain

 

or

 

people being humilated and forced to pose with a dog leash on, etc.

 

So..which is supposed to be worst?

wow, this question beats any of the ones I had at school today.

 

Raping women or putting humiliating men by putting panties on their heads. Both will have scar the people forever.

I'm sorry where in the article is the word "rape" mentioned? and I've yet to see the same concrete proof of these allegations tha the Iraqi scandal had.

The girls are as young as 13. That's statutory rape in just about any civilized part of the world.

[Guest MikeSC]

I'm not a liberal.

I ALSO miss the old days where self-professed moderates also pretended to care about human rights for all, not just those who'll make America look bad.

-=Mike

[Guest FrigidSoul]

claims that every night teenage girls crawl through a wire fence to an adjoining UN compound to sell their bodies

Those are some damn determined hos

 

I'm sorry where in the article is the word "rape" mentioned?

 

Why right here

 

One girl, Faela, 13, whose son, Joseph, is not yet six months old, has described how the social stigma of her fatherless child, the result of repeated rape by militiamen in her village, mean she is treated like a pariah in the chaotic and violent Bunia camp, which is home to 15,000 people.

[Guest INXS]

At least these girls that were raped were paid for their services. I don't think the female prisoner in Iraq who was raped was. Seriously, don't every try to pass off the Iraqi torture scandal as trivial just because troops elsewhere in the world are doing awful things as well. These are two entirely seperate cases, both sickening. The Iraq torture wasn't limited to one guy having panties on his head - we all know that so let's not be deliberately ignorant.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I miss hunger4unger. He pulled off his insanity with a certain charm. Or maybe it was because of his boobie avatar?...

[Stephen Joseph 0]

Boobie avatar KKK.

 

Remember when the Repubs were criticized Bill for sleeping around...and then good ole Newt slept around too?

Pot.Kettle.Black

 

Both suck. Both are problems, and trying to argue about which is worse is utterly pointless.

 

I'm tired of this "US is bad" and then the retort "But the world is bad"

 

Take those responsible, put them in a ditch, shoot.

Rinse, repeat, until people get civilized, or we run out of people.

[Guest Anglesault]

At least these girls that were raped were paid for their services.

I just did a spit take. I've never actually done one unintentionally.

 

EDIT: It's quoted here, don't need it in my sig.

Edited May 27, 2004 by Anglesault