Tutsis massacred in Burundi camp. - 156 killed.

[MikeG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3564358.stm

Gunmen have killed at least 156 people - mainly women and children - in an overnight raid on a camp for Congolese Tutsi refugees in Burundi, the UN says.

The Gatumba camp, near the border with DR Congo, provides shelter for 1,700 refugees who fled the country in June

***

"The scene is absolutely horrific. There are many people burnt - families, children, women and men burnt," she said. The camp is one of several run by the UN refugee agency near the border between the two countries

[Darranar]

1. A disgusting and despicable slaughter. n/t

[annabanana]

2. Alas..

This will receive so little attention. Blacks killing their own in Africa. It is heartbreaking.

[SuffragetteSal]

3. Horror

I was very saddened to hear this news this morning upon awakening. It just so happens I am reading the 'Poisonwood Bible' for the first time which although fiction describes a lot about the history of the Congo and its people and because of it I felt closer to this disturbing news.

Those poor people....

[Mara Steele]

4. So sad

so horrible.

:cry: :cry:

[DEMonstate]

5. UN troops arriving

The UN mission said it had recorded "summary executions, acts of torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention by armed men, targeting innocent civilians" since their arrival in the country.

Carolyn McAskie, special representative for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, urged all sides to observe an immediate truce, calling "on all warring parties to end the violence, respect human and humanitarian rights".

The UN mission arrived in Burundi on 1 June to take over from an African Union mission of 2400 troops. It will eventually have 5650 soldiers.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/88DBEA0E-8B4E-4042-84B7-84F200D88558.htm

[aquart]

6. Oh, enough.

Give those women guns and teach them to shoot.

Hell, give them flamethrowers. Peacefully living their lives just ain't working.

[rabbit2484]

7. Yet we're going after the real evildoers

[newyawker99]

9. Hi rabbit2484!!

WElcome to DU!! :toast:

[sofa king]

8. Reprisals are no doubt forthcoming.

I don't know if one side or the other has any sort of a moral high ground in this mess, but I do know that the Tutsis have already produced one of the greatest small-conflict generals of the 20th Century--Paul Kagame. As President of Rwanda, Kagame has plenty of weight to throw around now, and he's shown a predilection to do just that.

Right or wrong, when the Hutu fuck with the Watusi they tend to get maneuvered right off the dance floor. Kagame tends to work very fast so that he can alter the political situation before international elements can arrive to stabilize the conflict. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Rwandan push down the Congo side of the border to Lake Tanganyika, which will create more misery and more refugees, most of them Hutu rather than Tutsi. And lord help Burundians if they're behind this, because that little country could become Rwanda Part II in a week.