Do you know what just happened in Guinea? It's about as horrifying as it gets.

[cali]

Protestors in Guinea assembled at a sports arena. They were viciously attacked by gov't troops. 125+ were murdered.

Here are a couple of articles about this nightmarish incident:

Guinea army 'bayoneted victims'

The military leader said even he could not control all the soldiers
Eyewitnesses say Guinea soldiers bayoneted and knifed opposition supporters after opening fire at a rally killing at least 125 people.

The reports emerged as the military leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara admitted some of the security forces had lost control.

But he denied any knowledge of women being sexually assaulted by soldiers.

Victims and witnesses told US-based Human Rights Watch women were stripped and abused by the security forces.

"I saw the Red Berets catch some of the women who were trying to flee, rip off their clothes, and stick their hands in their private parts," one witness said.


I saw several women stripped and then put inside the military trucks

Eyewitness at rally
"Others beat the women, including on their genitals. It was pathetic - the women were crying out."

Another eyewitness said: "I saw several women stripped and then put inside the military trucks and taken away. I don't know what happened to them."

An estimated 50,000 people were at the stadium to protest at rumours that Capt Camara wants to run for president next year.

Demonstrators carried placards reading "No to Dadis" and "Down with the army in power".

Guinean human rights activist Souleymane Bah told Reuters news agency that people trying to escape from the shooting were "caught and finished off with bayonets".

<snip>

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8280115.stm

Guinea junta condemned over stadium killings
By Mouctar Bah (AFP) – 2 hours ago

CONAKRY — The death toll mounted on Tuesday in Guinea after security forces opened fire on demonstrators in a stadium killing at least 87 people.

The United Nations, African Union, European Union and leading powers all condemned the killings which Guinea opposition said was a deliberate attempt to eliminate them.

Tens of thousands of people were in the September 28 stadium in Conakry -- at the rally against junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara -- when shots were fired on Monday.

A Red Cross source said military commanders ordered all bodies at the stadium to be taken to the Alpha Yaya Diallo military camp, the junta headquarters, rather than to morgues.

But a police source said 87 bodies were collected in and around the stadium. The official said 47 bodies, including four women, were at the Samory Toure military camp in Conakry.

<snip>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iD7V_XxvLFvEx9AuFKENLUxMytZA

[tekisui]

1. Last I had heard it was 87 dead. It is just getting worse as the

numbers are updated. Reminds me of the banana strike massacres. Disgusting.

[cali]

2. really awful

the protesters were sitting ducks in the stadium.

[Soylent Brice]

3. fucking horrible.

i can't think of anything else to say.

K&R

[LeftishBrit]

4. This is just horrific.

[rd_kent]

5. Savages!

[scheming daemons]

14. Whole new meaning to "Guinea PIGS"

[EmilyAnne]

6. What a nightmare. nt

[Odin2005]

7. There are no words.

:grr:

[proteus_lives]

8. Awful.

Why doesn't the AU or UN do something?

[Chulanowa]

9. The UN refuses to touch Africa

They're afraid the black will come off on their hands.

And the AU is stretched extremely thin and is weak besides.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. No, the UN operates in Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Nations_peacekeeping_missions#Africa_2

However, the UN does not send in troops to take over a country, no matter what it's doing to its people; the Security Council can vote to send in troops in a dispute between countries (eg the Korean War, or the 1990 Gulf War).

[HamdenRice]

17. Generally, the international community looks to regional African groupings for peace-making

and peace-keeping.

The UN does almost no "peace-making" -- that is sending troops under UN command to stop ongoing violence. That is the job of individual countries or groups of countries. The UN Security Council may authorize countries or groups of countries to engage in "peace-making." Once the violence ends, the UN may send "peace-keepers" troops who for the most part are simply observers, or who stand pretty much passively between armed groups.

In West Africa, the "peace-making" force for the last several decades as been ECOWAS -- Economic Community of West Africa. The backbone of ECOWAS for the last 20 or so years was Nigeria, which despite its chaotic politics, has a fairly competent, professional army. ECOWAS was largely responsible for ending the war and genocide in Liberia. The actual military instrument of ECOWAS is ECOMOG -- Economic Community of West Africa Monitoring Group.

But several things have changed. Several formerly stable West African countries aren't stable any more and their armies are bogged down at home (most notably Ivory Coast), and Nigeria is wracked by instability.

Also, as bad as these latest events in Guinea, they don't rise to the level that would ordinarily cause ECOWAS to intervene. ECOWAS tends to be very protective of the sovereignty of member states -- even ones that are screwing up big time.

[Posteritatis]

18. The UN has 'peace-making' mechanisms, the UNSC just won't allow them to be used

Chapter Seven operations happen now and then, but generally in whiter areas of the world. MONUC's the main ongoing exception that I can think of, but even that operates in a fairly limited way.

Generally speaking the veto-holding members of the Security Council are terrified of the whole notion of enforcing responsibility to protect doctrines. The US in particular has been very actively opposed to humanitarian interventions in Africa since Somalia, even if those interventions involve no American forces.

[HamdenRice]

19. It's not just that they are afraid -- it's the way African states generally want it

They want to build up their multi-lateral military capacity. So the US has provided direct military support to ECOWAS at times during their operations.

It's true, though that the UN has the power to carry out "peace-making" (eg Korea), but almost all members are loathe to see it used.

[sabrina 1]

10. That is horrifying.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article6853982.ece

Guinea junta troops 'killed and raped hundreds at democracy rally'

The African Union threatened to impose sanctions on Guinea’s ruling military junta today as news emerged of more than 150 pro-democracy demonstrators killed, and hundreds more raped and butchered, in a brutal crackdown by government soldiers on Monday.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators had gathered at the main stadium in Conakry to protest against reports that the head of the junta, Captain Moussa Dadis Camara, had reneged on a deal to stand down in favour of free elections in the West African state.

Soldiers sent in to police the rally opened fire with live ammunition and tear gas, reportedly after a stampede broke out in the stadium. Witnesses reported that troops began bayoneting protestors trying to escape while others stripped and raped women in the crowd.

Souleymane Bah, a Guinean human rights activist told the Reuters news agency: “Soldiers were firing at people and those who tried to get out were caught and finished off with bayonets.”

I hope they are charged with war crimes and forced to step down as soon as possible.

[druidity33]

12. where is the twitter?

Why isn't this "the new Iran"? Has anyone been reporting about this?

It's humiliating that we here at DU have what, 30 threads going about fucking Roman Polanski with countless enervated and agitated individuals... and the response this news gets?

A few paltry replies consisting of "wow, that's horrible".

Ugh.




Oh yeah, K&R.

[Sultana]

13. It isn't the new Iran cuz the ppl of Guinea are black

[Matariki]

15. Guinea is one of the poorest nations in the world. Not a lot of personal computers.

I'm supposed to go there in January. Just bought my ticket. Oy.

[Electric Monk]

16. Polanskick

& R

[cali]

20. thanks for helping to keep this struggling thead alive.

[Electric Monk]

22. First I'd heard of this. If it was covered by mainstream media I somehow missed it.

I suspect it was the mainstream media that missed it though, not just me.

[H2O Man]

21. Important OP/thread.

Thank you for posting this. It's terrible, but important to be aware of.

[cali]

23. Thanks, Waterman.

Hope the season is treating you well. Looks like it'll be a cold one tonight. Smells like snow here.

[dogday]

24. It does not take a genius to figure out what they want with the women.

Strip them first, then put in a truck... What a terrible shame this is for all...

[WildEyedLiberal]

25. I'd read about this - it's disgusting

It's really too bad the international community doesn't do more than "condemn" the massacre. I'm sure that really hurts the junta leader's feelings.

[reflection]

26. k/r. I had no idea. This should be seen.

Thanks for posting it.

(on edit, couldn't rec. Started over 24 hrs ago. Sorry)