Bangkok protesters adopt witchcraft to topple Thai government

Bangkok protesters adopt witchcraft to topple Thai government
Anti-government protesters in Bangkok have resorted to sorcery and black magic in their campaign to topple the elected administration.

By Thomas Bell in Bangkok Last Updated: 11:26AM GMT 10 Nov 2008
Many Thais are shocked by some highly controversial magical practices.
Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the group which is illegally occupying the seat of Thai government, claimed in a recent televised speech that a wicked wizard has blocked the protective power of some of Bangkok's holiest sites.
Mr Sondhi and his so called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) claim that they are protecting Thailand and its monarchy from allegedly corrupt democratic politicians.
The technique Mr Sonhi used to break the alleged spell sounds extreme.
He described how his own magicians removed six imaginary nails that had been placed around a towering royal statue in the city centre to block its power.
"I must thank the women of the PAD," he continued, "because after [the imaginary nails] were pulled out, to ensure they could not be replaced, they took sanitary napkins from menstruating women and placed them over the six points.
"Experts said the (evil wizards) were furious because they could not send their spirits back," Mr Sondhi boasted, "Their magic was rendered ineffective!"
In Thai superstition women's sexuality, and especially menstrual blood, is believed to have great destructive power.
"People who don't like the PAD will think they have lost it and gone quite mad," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist. But he added, "A lot of Thai people believe in this."
The PAD has occupied Government house since August, demanding the government step down. Last month Queen Sirikit, wife of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol gave the movement her public support.
Critics say that the PAD aims to disenfranchise the majority or poor voters whose power at the ballot box threatens the old elite.
This week Mr Sondhi denied that he believes in black magic. Dressed in white and sprinkling Government House with holy water he told the Bangkok Post, "The rituals I performed are paying homage to sacred spirits and my respected teachers."
Dr Thitinan said the magic is designed to appeal emotionally to supporters. "It's manipulation, it's spin, it's some genuine belief," he said. "Going around sprinkling holy water means things are not going your way, you want to chase the demons away."

Source:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/3415789/Bangkok-protesters-adopt-witchcraft-to-topple-Thai-government.html

Lessons on witchcraft in Assam school!

Lessons on witchcraft in Assam school!
Wednesday, 19 November , 2008, 14:48Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 November , 2008, 15:58





Guwahati: Little children in Assam may soon learn lessons on witchcraft in school - to combat superstitious beliefs that lead to a large number of people being hounded to death in the northeast every year.
The idea of introducing lessons on 'dayan pratha' or witchcraft in primary school was mooted by the National Commission for Women (NCW).
"The idea behind introducing 'dayan pratha' in primary schools is to bring about awareness from an early age to do away with the primitive practice of witchhunting based on superstitious beliefs," Niva Konwar, NCW member, said.
At least 300 people have been killed by rural mobs in the past five years for allegedly practicing witchcraft in Assam and Tripura. "Such gruesome killings have sent the very basis of human rights for a toss," said Birubala, an elderly Rabha tribal woman and a frontline rights campaigner.

Source:

http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14801309

Four of family charged with practicing witchcraft, lynched

Four of family charged with practising witchcraft, lynched
June 10th, 2008 - 7:22 pm ICT by IANS -

Guwahati, June 10 (IANS) Four members of a family in India’s northeastern state of Assam were lynched by a mob that charged them with practising witchcraft, said a police official Tuesday. A police spokesman said the incident took place Monday at Milanpur village in Sonitpur district, about 230 km northeast of Assam’s main city Guwahati.
“A large mob armed with crude weapons attacked a family killing 65-year-old Lakhan Majhi, his wife, their son and daughter-in-law,” police official Saurav Saikia said on telephone.
The mob then buried the bodies in a pit on the outskirts of the village.
Locals in the area accused Majhi’s family of casting evil spells on a youth who died Saturday after a brief illness.
“This is nothing but killings due to superstition,” said Saikia.
No arrest has been made so far.
The police Tuesday exhumed the corpses and began investigation.
“After the police arrived in the village, all the male members fled and just a few women and girls were around,” another police official said.
At least 200 people were killed by mobs in the northeast over the past five years for allegedly practising witchcraft.
Superstition, black magic and demonology are integral to tribal customs in parts of Assam, Tripura and other northeastern states.
The Assam police have intensified an ongoing drive to curb this social crime.
Codenamed Project Prahari (Vigilant), the crusade includes community-policing measures, besides regular awareness campaigns among tribal chiefs and village elders.
The police campaign is now focusing on educating villagers and holding meetings in areas dominated by tribals.
“We need to bring about a change in attitude rather than trying to enforce the law. We have to create awareness about this social evil to stop such barbaric incidents from taking place,” Assam Inspector General of Police Kula Saikia told IANS.

Source:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/four-of-family-charged-with-practising-witchcraft-lynched_10058622.html