Idi amin dies

[Major Fubar 0]

Ruthless dictator, boxing champ and military man Idi Amin dies today aged approximately 80

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=77569632&p=7757x338

Quote[/b] ]Former ruthless dictator Idi Amin dies

16/08/2003 - 08:39:12

Idi Amin, the ruthless former dictator of Uganda and one-time darling of the British army, died today.

Amin, who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of his countrymen in the 70s, had been on a life-support machine since July 18.

Amin was 80, Ugandan officials said, though other sources had him born in 1925.

Having suffered kidney failure, Amin passed into a coma and was admitted to the King Faisal Specialist hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he lived.

He died at 8.20am local time, (5.20am Irish time), hospital staff said.

Amin was a well-known figure in the British army and began his career in the King’s African Rifles of the British colonial army in 1946.

He rose through the ranks to lieutenant and was one of only two native Ugandans to receive a commission from the British army during colonial rule.

Despite his evident success, he was seen as a rather dim character by British officials.

In British Public Records Office documents written in the 60s and released in 2000, officials wrote: “Idi Amin is a splendid type and a good (rugby) player... but... virtually bone from the neck up, and needs things explained in words of one letter.â€

In January 1971, the one-time heavyweight boxing champion staged a coup while President Milton Obote was out of the country and swept to power.

But relations soured between the UK and Uganda.

In 1975, Amin wrote to the British Queen: “My dear Queen.

“I would like you to arrange for me to visit Scotland, Ireland and Wales to meet the heads of revolutionary movements fighting against your imperialist oppression.â€

He is also reported to have sent Her Majesty a telex which read: “Dear Liz, if you want to know a real man, come to Kampala.â€

During eight years of tyrannical rule, Amin ordered the execution of hundreds of thousands of Ugandans from rival tribes.

He expelled the country’s 50,000 Indians and Pakistanis and dramatically increased the size of the army, giving military tribunals preference over civil law.

In April 1979, Amin, who was a Muslim, fled to Libya and Iraq, before finally settling in Saudi Arabia where he led a relatively comfortable life in exile.

[Leveler 0]

Rest in pieces....

[Warin 0]

Good riddance to bad trash..

[blackdog~ 0]

Rest in pieces....

Heh, nice ;)

[theavonlady 2]

/avon spits on his grave - well - virtually, at least

[sanctuary 19]

There are few men and women that their death will not make me sad.

This dictator with this amount of blood on his hands is one this few .

I will not have a single tear on this kind of people death , sorry but even by forcing me i cant.

[Warin 0]

There are few men and women that their death will not make me sad.

This dictator with this amount of blood on his hands is one this few .

I will not have a single tear on this kind of people death , sorry but even by forcing me i cant.

Idi Amin passing away is a newsworthy event. However, I doubt anyone will fault you for not crying that ole Idi is dead. I certainly wont.

[sanctuary 19]

Thanks for not blaming me

I find bizarre that nobody asked for his extradition to be judged by an international court of justice for all his crimes.

Or maybe someone unsuccessfully tried but i didnt read anything about this

[denoir 0]

The Idi Amin I knew - a BBC veteran's recollections of his dealings with Amin.

[sanctuary 19]

Interesting reading in the link

Quote[/b] ]Despite Amin's crimes against humanity, he escaped justice for one reason only: the Saudi authorities shielded one of the monsters of our time.

Why this doesnt surprise me ?

Is it because it is not the first time we know that Saudi Arabia authorities cover or stealthy help monsters ?

[Koolkid101 0]

100,000 dead is alot.

[Tex -USMC- 0]

Couldn't have happened toa more deserving guy

[SpecOp9 0]

He reminds me of some kinda James Bond bad guy from the old movies.

[Renagade 0]

oh poo, i bet bis are upset they won`t be able to make him a new mod.

look he has the stars and everything

[killagee 0]

Why is Saudi Arabia not in bush's "Axis - of evil" for knowingly harbouring terrorists? Oh yeah, they are Allies...

Its seems years spent in the British Army is very character building...

May this mans soal find no rest and his legacy be forever scorned!

[MASTAKILLA 0]

only one bastard less...  

[bucket man 2]

I find Idi Amin to be interesting charachter although he was a murdering bastard.

Dont know why but hes like many movie bad guys. Someone should make a mini series of Idi Amins life from childhood to his death in Saudi Arabia.

[SpecOp9 0]

Check out the newest movie guys!

[The Frenchman 0]

[Major Fubar 0]

Have they made a movie of Idi's life story yet?

Ihf not, they HAVE to cast Yaphet Koto in the lead role...he looks just like him

[Mister Frag 0]

Idi Amin -- I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire.

[Die Alive 0]

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1403476,00.html

Quote[/b] ]"To say that Amin was the worst criminal, is to misrepresent the facts," a speaker said, reacting to government officials, whose eulogy he said was "un-African," a reference to the tradition never to speak ill of the dead.

Many government officials had used Amin's death to take a swipe at Uganda's former dictator, blamed for the death of over 300 000 people.

Amin 'did some good things'

"No body will make us waiver from the fact that Amin did a number of good things for the country," opposition politician Hussein Kyanjo told the gathering that included Amin's children, relatives and some government officials.

-=Die Alive=-

[Supah 0]

Good riddance to bad rubbish!

[Warin 0]

Have they made a movie of Idi's life story yet?

Ihf not, they HAVE to cast Yaphet Koto in the lead role...he looks just like him

Too late!

Yaphet played Idi Amin in Raid on Entebbe.

[Major Gripe 0]

Although I'm not wearing sackcloth and throwing ashes on myself in sorrow, I don't think that Amin fully understood what he did and why he was so reviled by the world. His naivety in particular seems to suggest he was a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic!! However I don't think this is sufficient to excuse his actions.