Witchcraft Rumor Sparks Soccer Riot
KINSHASA, Congo (Sept. 15) - Accusations that a soccer player was using witchcraft during a match in eastern Congo sparked a riot that killed 13 people, a U.N.-funded radio station reported Monday.
Most of the victims were between the ages of 11 and 16, Radio Okapi said. They were suffocated as panicked crowds ran for the exits during the mayhem Sunday in Butembo in eastern Congo's North Kivu province.
Radio Okapi said police tried to control the violence at Matokeo stadium by firing into the air to protect their commander, who was hit in the head and wounded by fans.
The two local clubs involved were Socozaki and Nyuki System, the radio said.
Dozens of teenagers marched through Butembo's dirt streets Monday in protest, and the regional governor, Julien Mpaluku, paid a visit to the hospital.
Mpaluku said the government was investigating.
He made no mention of witchcraft, but confirmed that soldiers had fired into the air to calm angry crowds. The shooting prompted panic instead, which became fatal "when the crowds all tried to leave at the same time."
"Most of the dead were children, only two or three were adults," Mpaluku said.
North Kivu has been the epicenter of violence between Congo's army and rebels over the last year which has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
Human beings screwing up again! Over a freaking game! How come this crap only happens at soccer matches? Are soccer fans that jacked up or ignorant? What's the deal with this?
Global Neighbor Congo,
1 comment:
great post,the independance party was defeated so congo is very divided,a democratic republic its called.no such thing as a democratic republic.united nations created form of govt.expect the worst for the people of the land still stuck in old tribal conflicts,they are divided an conquered by their superstitions.muhammed ali defeated george foreman in independant zaire now again rebranded as the democratic republic of the congo,an old belgian colony.voodoo dancers did come to foremans an put a spell on him so he thought.don king tried to remove it.
Post a Comment