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From VOA Learning English, |
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this is In the News. |
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United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon |
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has appealed for international action |
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to stop religious violence |
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in the Central African Republic. |
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Mr. Ban asked the Security Council on Thursday |
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to deploy at least 3,000 more troops to the country |
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within the coming days and weeks. |
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He said, "When innocent civilians |
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are being murdered in large numbers, |
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deliberately targeted in the most brutal fashion, |
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simply because of who they are, the world must act." |
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More than 7,000 African Union and French forces |
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are already in the country. |
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The European Union has promised to send another 1,000 soldiers. |
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The Central African Republic is a former French colony. |
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This week, Mr. Ban also proposed $38 million |
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in financial and other aid for the AU forces. |
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He worries the religious violence could turn into genocide. |
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The unrest began a year ago after Muslim rebels |
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ousted the president, Francois Bozize. |
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His overthrow and resulting violence |
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led to a majority Christian militia. |
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Its members are accused of carrying out attacks |
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against Muslim civilians. |
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Since December, hundreds of people have died |
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in clashes between Muslims and Christians. |
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Tens of thousands have fled the country in the past month. |
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The militia men call themselves the anti-balaka. |
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Balaka is said to be a word for knife or machete |
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in a local language. |
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Militia members say they came to the capital, Bangui, |
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in December to oust the government of Michel Djotodia, |
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the country's first Muslim president. |
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But international forces have accused |
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the anti-balaka of being the problem. |
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They say its fighters are increasingly |
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turning to attacking homes and businesses. |
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Some fighters are only teenagers. |
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They have set up roadblocks on country roads, |
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carrying weapons and demanding money. |
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French and African troops have used force to disarm them. |
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The anti-balaka has been described as a loose alliance, |
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and several leaders claim to speak for the men. |
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Joachim Kokate represented the militia at a meeting in January. |
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He says it is time for justice. |
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He says those organizing theft |
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and extrajudicial killings should be targeted, |
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and they should answer for their acts. |
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Many anti-balaka fighters tell VOA |
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they want the same treatment the Muslim Seleka rebels are receiving. |
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That means they want food, shelter and financial aid. |
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They also want the chance to join the national army |
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as part of a disarmament agreement. |
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Some fighters consider themselves liberators of their country. |
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Others see the conflict as becoming a battle between religious groups. |
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But the militias are made up of both Christians and animists, |
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people who believe that natural objects have spirits. |
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They say they are motivated by nationalism -- not religion. |
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Anti-balaka leaders say they have tens of thousands of fighters. |
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And that's In the News from VOA Learning English. |
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I'm Steve Ember. |
