It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
BANGUI (AP)—Thousands of Muslims who tried to flee the violence in Central African Republic’s capital were turned back by peacekeepers Friday, as crowds of angry Christians shouted “we’re going to kill you all.”
The convoy was turned back as France announced it would send 400 more soldiers to its former colony mired in unprecedented sectarian fighting.
The U.N. chief, meanwhile, warned Friday that in Central African Republic “the very fabric of society, woven over generations, is being ripped apart.”
“We must live up to the promises made around this table to act swiftly and robustly in the face of such bloodshed,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon told the Security Council on Friday. “We cannot claim to care about mass atrocity crimes and then shrink from what it means to actually prevent them.”
by Peter Biro
When the long-running civil war in the Central African Republic (CAR) ended in 2007, observers hoped that peace would usher in a new era of economic recovery and development. Instead the country, already one of the world’s poorest, faces a devastating humanitarian crisis that threatens to plunge the population even deeper into misery.
According to the International Rescue Committee, large swatches of the country lack clean water and adequate food supplies while suffering from high infant and maternal mortality rates, soaring rates of HIV infection and inadequate health care. Last year, the United Nations ranked the CAR 178th out of 179 countries in “human development”—an indice that measures a country’s ability to guarantee its citizens a long and healthy life, access to education and a decent standard of living.
Moreover, decades of misrule, fighting between the government and rebels, and the ongoing menace of banditry have left people weakened and extremely vulnerable, said Boris Varnitzky, the IRC country director in CAR.
“Mortality among the population is very high,” Varnitzky said. “In rural areas, there are no ambulances or public transport. People who are sick walk long distances to get care because the vast majority of the population lives more than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from a health center. And even if they reach a health center it is unlikely they will see a doctor— there is only one for every 15,000 people.”
The county’s crisis has been made worse by massive displacement. After the civil war started in 2004, tens of thousands of people in the northern Nana-Grébizi region fled into the bush or across the border into Chad. After the 2007 peace deal many of displaced people started moving back to their villages only to find ruined shells where their homes once stood.
"Ndele isn't far away" is the wishful name of a small Islamic shop selling prayer beads and copies of the Koran in Miskine, a bustling district in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui. Ndele, in the country's north, some 650 kilometers (400 miles) from Bangui, was the first city captured by the Seleka, an alliance of various Muslim rebel groups. In March, they marched into the capital, overthrowing the government.
Miskine has traditionally been the Muslim district in the predominantly Catholic capital. Before the coup, Muslims used to live in peace alongside Christians, with their giant mosque standing alongside three churches. Today, it is the scene of a civil war, with Christian militias fighting to the death in an attempt to drive out the Muslim rebels.
But Ahmet Adam, brother of a rebel commander and son of the Miskine mosque's imam, denied religion had sparked the war.
buster2010
This kind of blows a hole in the Christians crying we are being persecuted everywhere. Jesus would be so proud of what his followers are doing. As usual the UN wants to run help these people but turn a blind eye where this has been happening for decades.
Jesus would be so proud of what his followers are doing.
BenReclused
reply to post by buster2010
Mockery IS a form of persecution.
Would you care to guess what your use of the following was?
Jesus would be so proud of what his followers are doing.
See ya,
Miltedit on 966America/Chicago2RAmerica/Chicago2014-02-15T16:12:09-06:00Saturdayu09America/Chicago by BenReclused because: Typo
Sinter Klaas
I understand that the Muslims engaged the Christian people first, with violence and atrocities.
The Christian people simply took over the role of aggressor.
In this case, can you really blame them ? ethnic extermination is undesirable, but a logical response, after being the victims of the Muslim aggression.
With the deep roted fear and hate, build up from years of conflict, a civil war is a logical result.
I hope that the people find the courage to lay down their arms, and start communicating again. Only then their issues can be resolved, and they might find peace among all of them.
In the mean time, let every bomb and bullet be deadly. Sometimes problems can't be fixed, and they have to fight their war.
I say let them, until the people are done killing, and become open for a peaceful solution.
My condolences, and the best of luck to all innocent people, trapped between the fighting parties.
Please don't try and start to enjoy war. Stay a little human and find forgiveness for the others.
May the best be victorious !
buster2010
This kind of blows a hole in the Christians crying we are being persecuted everywhere. Jesus would be so proud of what his followers are doing. As usual the UN wants to run help these people but turn a blind eye where this has been happening for decades.
So the little troll never heard that Jesus promoted peace not killing people?
No sensible Christian would condone this sick display of human nature, just as no sensible Muslim would
Human0815
reply to post by DeadSeraph
No sensible Christian would condone this sick display of human nature, just as no sensible Muslim would
My Experience with/ in former Yugoslavia taught me
something different!
Everyone can be a Soldier, a Killer or a Mass-Murderer,
no matter if he is a Buddhist, a Muslim or a Hindu, Christian
or what so ever.
Everyone can be a Soldier, a Killer or a Mass-Murderer
The Thing is: Who deliver all the Weapons, Rockets, Bullets,
the whole Hardware, who is teaching this People to fight?
Who benefit from a Civil War in the Sub Sahara?
buster2010
So the little troll never heard that Jesus promoted peace not killing people?