Pro FDLR blog at LakeMediaBloody Escalation in Gang-Bang Rapes of Congo Women
At least 179 Congolese women were gang-raped by a mob of Hutu rebels during a weekend raid on a community of villages in eastern Congo. The events represent a new escalation of rape in the Congo, already considered the rape capital of the world.
Stefania Trassari, a spokeswoman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said Sunday that the attacks represent a new escalation of violence in the area because of the large number of victims and the fact that they were simultaneously gang-raped. (via NYTimes)
On the evening of July 30 armed men entered the village of Ruvungi, in North Kivu province, telling the population not to worry about their presence. After dark another group of 200 to 400 men arrived and began to systematically rape the population.
When the chips are down, it’s time to call in our friends. They can be real but also our icons, the women who inspire us. For me these women are Angelina Jolie and Alicia Keys, sensual women who strive for success, but not at the expense of their values.
A few days ago, I received a detailed and upsetting letter (email) from my good friend Paul, who is working in his second Peace Corps assignment. This time he’s in South Africa.
The long history of our relationship summarizes the life contradictions expressed throughout my Anne of Carversville journal.
Split Personality
I’ve always moved in two worlds; my friend Paul has devoted his life to a single journey, with a constant focus and commitment to his core values and life’s work.
The first came in 1974 when Molly Melching, 24, landed in Dakar, Senegal to begin a six-month course studying African literature. Melching missed an important telegram from Dakar, telling her not to get on the plane, because the course was cancelled.
Cambodia’s Tiny Toones founder Tuy K.K SobilTuy ‘K.K.’ Sobil, a onetime member of the Long Beach Crips, whose amazing breakdancing skills serve him well as a role model for Cambodia’s kids. We should mention that K.K. didn’t go to Cambodia willingly, but was deported from the US in 2004 after serving eight years in prison for armed robbery.
We meet up with K.K. — short for Krazy Kat — as an adoptive parent worrying that his 5-year-old son, Unique, won’t eat his vegetables.
A quick Google search doesn’t put K.K. and Sokvannara Sar on the same dance stage, but we have no doubt they will meet in the future. Dancing in and out of Cambodia was the subject of our March review Bass | Sar’s Two Step in ‘Dancing Across Borders’.
Note from Anne: It’s a year ago this week that my own dialogue with the Muslim world began. It has been rich and fruitful, a real learning experience for me and many Anne of Carversville readers.
It’s my intention to write an update article over the weekend. I’ve pulled this article forward to anniversary it; because the burqa debate remains strong in Europe; and because a colleague posted an article on the Examiner this morning. My comments refer to this article.
Original Post|June 28, 2009
Before I share the latest designer style news about beautiful clothes for Muslim women, let me refresh our minds on the ‘burqa’ (aka burka) debate so far this week.
Simply stated, President Obama backs burqa wearing, as a form of religious freedom. French president Sarkozy condemns — and will introduce legislation banning burqas in France — as a women’s rights issue.
Inside Story - Burqa ban in France?
I wrote on my Facebook page earlier this week, that I struggle personally with the concept that the burqa, a garment totally enshrouding a woman, except for a slit or screen for her eyes, is wilingly chosen by Muslim women as a preferred form of dress.
It’s my understanding that neither President Sarkozy — nor myself — take issue with Muslim women wearing a headscarf in public. (I am confused by the French law passed a couple years ago, banning “conspicuous signs” of religious affiliation, including the hajib.)
Jonas Bendiksen INDIA. Mumbai. 2006. A girl walks along a water pipe in the Industrial Area of Dharavi. Although it functions as a throroughfare through this area of the slum, the water in the pipes is headed for the more affluent southern areas of the city.In 2008, for the first time in human history, more people lived in cities than in rural areas. One-third of these urban dwellers—more than one billion people—resided in slums. That number is expected to rise substantially: the United Nations forecasts that the number of slum dwellers will double to two billion people within the next 25 years. Poverty is urbanizing at breakneck speed, and there are few overarching plans to address how cities can accommodate this rapid influx of humans.
“Kampongs”, Indonesia. “We are all scavengers here. We live under the bridge, about 40 of us. I came here 7 years ago when there were no lights, no electricity. Now it is much better. I brought in my friends, cousins, nephews and neighbours. We are all here together with one common goal. We want to work, so we can eat… Most people think trash is disgusting. We don’t say no to it as long as we can feed our families.”
Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen has lived with families in four major global slums:
Anne
Anne
