Pygmies struggle to survive in war zone where abuse is routine

[emad]

The Times
By Jonathan Clayton
A threatened people are taken advantage of by everyone



NDONGO KAGANDA, a pygmy in his early twenties, tried to placate the soldier standing at the edge of the village, pointing his machete at a huge pile of banana leaves at his feet.

The soldier wanted a pygmy “mule” to carry the load over the nearby hills to the army camp a few miles away. Mr Kaganda quickly sliced strips of bark off some trees and neatly bound the leaves.

But seeing the Times correspondent, the soldier then swung the load on to his back and departed, muttering angrily that the army would expect more help in future.

Pacifique Nukumba, who represents a local organisation trying to protect the threatened pygmies in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), said that this sort of abuse was routine. “They are totally exploited and marginalised — everyone takes advantage of them.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1404601,00.html

[AndyTiedye]

1. I Wish They'd Stop Bullying the Pygmies

I call upon Bes to protect them.