Dignity for the Dead: Lessons from Malaysian Plane Crash over Ukraine

The tragic fallout of the Malaysian flight originating from Amsterdam shocked the entire world. The very circumstance of the crash made the incident even more heart wrenching and an unbearable horror for affected families, friends and nations of the deceased. Almost 300 innocent souls literally dropped off the sky and plummeted to an unimaginable and painful tragedy in a situation devoid of any fighting chance for survival; devoid of any opportunity to send distress calls; and devoid of any preparedness. It was certainly one of the most unwarranted, preventable and painful disasters in recent times. 

The whole world of humanity (unfortunately, we must acknowledge there are relatively few people who believe and live in a world of brutality and savagely, who daily grab media headlines with atrocious acts for whatever reasons or cause) rose up in condemnation, not only of the horrific act itself but also of the treatment of the bodies of the deceased and other evidence at the crash scene. Dead bodies are simply not dead object; these are children, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, grandparents, friends, colleagues and nationalities. They do not simply turn to objects by cessation of life. The victims were people who just a while ago, hugged their families and bade farewell to their families, friends and associates. Death only took away their lives but not their personhood; not their dignity; and not their right. The intransigence of the pro-Russian rebels by limiting access to care for the bodies of the victims and secure other evidence was roundly condemned by the humane world. 

The contrast, which is a standard for treatment of the dead, could be seen in the manner in which the bodies of the dead were prepared and transported to Netherlands for forensic investigation. Each body was placed in a separate coffin and carried into transport aircraft with solemn air and decorum. On arrival at destination, there was a formal procession to welcome the dead bodies. They were treated with the dignity they deserved even in death. Each coffin was carried by a separate hearse and accorded utmost respect. It would have been “convenient” and “cheaper” for just one cargo plane to have carried all the bodies/bodies parts bundled together, but a decent world would not do that. Two or more bodies could have fitted into a coffin; after all they were just being transported to a facility for further investigation. And that would have been very 
inappropriate. The way any society treats the dead is a reflection of level of civilization of such society.  

Africa has a lot to learn from the crash over Ukraine. Most governments in Africa do not reckon with expending resources to manage the dead. Once a disaster occurs and after some feeble rescue and recovery operations, the next move is usually to quickly dispense with the dead to “avoid epidemic”. Such unfounded assertion and unchallenged myth has been promoted even by government officials.  Any attempt to advocate for proper management of the bodies of the dead and disaster victim identification (DVI) is usually met with the cold attitude of the dead not being in any priority for “scarce resources”. The next action is usually mass a burial of largely unidentified and unclaimed bodies, and the penchant to “move on”. To nowhere! Families, friends and communities are left permanently in a pit of devastation without any opportunity to achieve closure. The resultant deep resentment, suppressed anger and lack of closure fuel a vicious cycle of violence in Africa with attendant destruction of more lives and property. It therefore makes no socioeconomic sense to “save cost”, ignore the dead and “move on”.  Society never recovers in the true sense from such disasters and it is almost impossible to make any human progress where people are still stuck in a pit of despondency and unresolved cases.  

The lack of disaster preparedness especially with management of dead bodies in mass disasters is lacking in most of Africa. The use of refrigerated train coaches by the government of Ukraine to store and transport the dead underscored the essence of innovation, creativity and flexibility in disasters.  

And the dead never die as the pain, loss and reality of the sad incident still reverberates through affected families, friends, communities and nations. Only a process of closure which includes proper treatment of dead bodies with respect and dignity, appropriate investigation and justice for the dead and their families and loved ones, is a definitive step in soothing the pain of the affected community. Indeed, the dead cannot be forgotten because their families, friends and loved ones bear the scars in their heart. Dignity for the dead is at the heart of our individual personhood. Anyone could be a victim of disaster at anytime. Management of bodies of victims following disasters is therefore as important to the dead and their families and friends as rescue operation is to the living. This subject was the theme of the 2014 pan-African conference of the African Society of Forensic Medicine (ASFM) in Abuja Nigeria. It is a message that government and agencies in Africa desperately need to embrace especially through difficult times on the continent where a trail of bloody conflicts and man-made disasters leave numerous dead victims.

Terrorism in Nigeria: Victims Support Fund

It is a good development that the government of Nigeria has established a Victims Support Fund for victims of ongoing terrorism and other conflicts in the country. Terrorism is not a familiar terrain in Nigeria and members of the Victims Support Fund Committee will need to work with a technical committee that will ensure that the Victims Support programme achieves the intended purpose. The need for accountability and objectivity in the disbursement of the funds and other support facilities for the victims should be a core aspect of this intervention if the objectives are to be realized. I'll needs to focus on forensic medical management of victims and their families and reiterate that trampling upon  fundamental human rights are at the core of the tragic incidents going on in parts of Nigeria. The victims of the terrorism and other conflicts in Nigeria are not only those who are alive, the survivors, but also the dead and their families.

The Victims Support Fund should therefore articulate a broader approach in ensuring that funds are also made available for appropriate disaster victim identification (DVI). The current disaster management in the country especially with regards to terrorism and armed conflicts apparently excludes DVI. Mass burials, chaotic and indiscriminate claim of bodies by families and relations have further complicated the picture. The  prevailing sociocultural mindset, often laced with religious interpretations negate the principles and essence of disaster victim identification,  and government officials often do not see reasons why resources should be deployed in death investigation and DVI "after all the dead is dead and nothing can bring them back to life" being the usual justification for this sorry state. However, this unfortunate disposition has failed to appreciate that treating the dead in that manner means how much we devalue life itself, and counters the right of victims to dignity and justice. The Victims Support Fund should cater for the dead in facilitating DVI, proper storage, handover of bodies to families and relations and decent burial. Families, relations and dependents of dead victims should also receive adequate financial support. Living victims in addition to adequate medical intervention to restore their health following injuries sustained, also deserve appropriate forensic medical management for injury interpretation, psychosocial care and compensation for trauma, disabilities and lost property. It is therefore imperative that a technical committee comprising of relevant expertise be put in place for expert and objective assessment. Transparency, accountability and probity must be the key words.

Good News: How an Interconnected World Promotes Human Rights

Decades ago, the death sentence passed on an innocent woman in Sudan, based on an obvious travesty of justice and our humanity, would have been executed without the world noticing. It would have been another despicable routine with hapless victims having no chance, whatsoever, for justice. Now, with the interconnected world, any cell phone can transmit information from even the remotest areas to the rest of the world. Thanks to our interconnectivity and to ongoing debates and questioning of some acts that have outlived any usefulness in humanity. The death sentence passed on an innocent woman, ironically by a “court of justice”, defiled any logic or justice. The basic ingredient of our humanity, which is freedom to be whom we choose to be, has been encroached upon from ages by some obnoxious human inventions. Notable of these tools of oppression, are “culture” and religion. And when one considers “culture” closely, it could be seen as a projected dominance usually from a more powerful person or group to the rest of the community. It should therefore not be taken as a given that “culture” always is right. It is only right to the extent it aligns with basic human essence. A culture that inflicts pain; that oppresses the weak and vulnerable; and which does not acknowledge our differences as elements of beauty and flow, deserves the trash can. This also applies to religion, which is usually in some amalgam with culture.

The interconnected world has put the spotlight on these practices which have subjugated people for ages, and now people around the world are questioning the legitimacy of these authorities in our global village. Users of these tools of oppression, who are apparently cowards, have usually tended to escape accountability and natural justice by invoking the name of god or tradition. Discrimination and stigmatization have leveraged on fabricated class or caste differences to desecrate humanity, but our inter-connectivity is exposing this corruption of values for the grave danger it portends to the survival of the rest of humanity. We must keep up the pressure for change. It is working.

Recent news from Sudan suggests that common sense may have prevailed after all. Local and international pressure on the government since the news broke out appears to be gaining some traction. Thanks to our inter-connectivity, a global outcry against this travesty of logic and justice has spread through conventional and social media, and blogs creating global awareness for people to question these religious anomies that humanity has put up with for so long. Our inter-connectivity is engaging people across all facets of life and awaking consciousness on the need to protect our freedom from misguided elements who masquerade under religion and god to commit all sorts of atrocities against humanity.

Extremism, bigotry and hatred are toxic to humanity. We can share some light and rake up support in our collective ability through an interconnected world to neutralize this poison and preserve human rights and dignity. There will be great challenges no doubt as inter-connectivity is also a double edged sword, amenable to be used in radicalization of impressionable youngsters and in promoting extremism and violence, especially against women. However, there is a greater opportunity to share common sense and perspectives that respect the essence of humanity and turn the table against destructive tendencies in the name of religion or culture or any other guise. This is good news.

Some Monster Virus has Infected Humanity!

I’ve had a very bad time for a couple of days now. It is still a futile attempt trying to make any sense of this hogwash. I can’t just comprehend it, in the name of anything, that a family could, without any forms of reservation, savagely bludgeon their daughter to a brutal death in Pakistan simply for not marrying family preferred suitor against her own wish. They killed her in broad daylight for “honour”?! No, this act is obviously sub-human and shame on all the people that have condone this level of violence against women for all times; shame on such culture that destroys the very reason for a culture; and shame on government agency which has demonstrated a lack of interest to intervene and save the defenseless. “We were shouting for help, but nobodylistened. One of my relatives took off his clothes to capture police attentionbut they didn’t intervene. They watched Farzana being killed and did nothing.”

Humans are not made for culture or religion; rather these fluid concepts exist because humans give them life and their controlling power. We created this dehumanizing monster and it has literally caused obvious insanity. Even animals protect their own.  And the most chilling of this all: she was pregnant at the time of this utmost degradation of human dignity. This absurdity has been overlooked for too long. It has to stop forthwith!

On this side of the world, another woman is awaiting the hangman’s noose for both the "crime of adultery" (because her marriage to a Christian is not recognized by Islamic Sharia law of Sudan) and "apostasy" (because she renounced the religion of her father who, as reported, abandoned her and she was raised by her Christian mother). Ibrahim (Meriam Ibrahim) denied the charges, telling the court shewas the daughter of a Sudanese Muslim man and an Ethiopian Christian woman, andhad been brought up as a Christian after her father left when she was six. She refused to renounce her faith. Incidentally, she was also pregnant at the time of her cruel sentencing to 100 lashes for adultery and to be hanged for apostasy. Recent news indicated she has given birth in shackles. Indeed, humanity is in shackles for watching helplessly as deranged individuals and their systems desecrate fundamental rights that confer on us the very tag of humans.

In all these instances across the world, a common underlying factor is being a woman; being a female. From religion to culture and to other tools of oppression, women have been regarded as “objects” for possession; a property of their family to trade off for some goods or favours or a property of a man who buys her (is it married?) to indulge his pleasure at the expense of her dignity and equality in status. Therefore her life must be controlled. She is to blame for the failings of any man and she becomes a problem from which a man must be saved. It is all in the twisted teachings of most of these religions which have imperceptibly become “culture”. Violence against women, in the name of culture or religion or any other discoloration must be stopped if humanity would not go into extinction earlier than expected. We are fast driving to the cliff by this unwarranted, uninformed and bestial attacks and violence against women. Biology or any other science has not proven any inferiority of women to men. If anything, it is more of greater capacity of women to undertake functions that preserve humanity.

I am calling on younger generations, most of who have been brought up in one form of religion/culture or the other, to rise up in unison, hold hands together and condemn violence against women. We have seen through the manipulative and divisive tendencies of these religions and cultures and when we look at ourselves, we all share the same attributes of humanity irrespective of our gender or other tags that have been placed upon us. This monster virus wants us to see ourselves differently, violently and in class segregation, but we can work together to destroy this germ and rid our system of this vicious infection that has turned us against ourselves and ultimately strips us of our humanity through some bestial acts. It is time we administered a massive dose of appropriate therapy in curtailing this monster as we make a bold and truthful declaration of our stand.

We are equals; we are humane; we are humanity!

CHIBOK GIRLS: SHAME ON US!

It’s been overwhelming on every front. We grapple daily with manmade problems in our part of the world. Sometimes, it appears there is no possible end in sight to this malady in this lifetime. The alleged abduction of over 200 Chibok girls preparing for exams in their school by a mindless and unconscionable group of deviants called Boko Haram, and the subsequent management of the sad incident by concerned authorities, say much about our state of “suspended animation” as a people. 

The Government: Mixed messages and an apparent lack of coordination and incompetence characterized the reaction of government at all levels to this incident that rather required strong leadership, decisiveness and urgency. It was not until about three weeks after the event that it was put on the front burner at the highest level of governance. It is inconceivable that a whole generation of children would be so violated in such a brazen manner and it was only met with an apparent feeble reaction from the authorities concerned. Indeed, leadership inspires confidence and this seems to be grossly lacking from the local government where Chibok is located to the central government in Abuja. We have seen how nation-states respond to disasters and events of even less calamitous proportion as this carnage that has been going on in Nigeria, especially in the northeast of the country. This deranged and phantom ideological drive pursued by Boko Haram and their sponsors has been allowed to fester for too long. The populace can only look to the government vested with all the resources and powers of the state for succour. The failure of the government is underscored by the present situation regarding our abducted children and the subsequent massacre of hundreds of hapless civilians by Boko Haram within the same geographic area shortly after the abduction of the girls. Our security apparatus appears feeble in the face of real challenges.  Securing the lives and property of citizens, which is a primary function of the State, appears to be guaranteed only for a few “elites” whose relevance to any national discourse is their undue access to the wealth of the nation and unfair share of the same, often through corrupt means.  Daily complaints, images and videos of either the police, military officers or paramilitary agencies brutalizing and maltreating ordinary citizens are on public display and most time they get away with it. Now that duty calls for real maintenance of law and order, protecting citizens from marauders and protecting the territorial integrity of the nation, all manner of excuses is being served for the abysmal failure so far in curtailing the onslaught of Boko Haram. 

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and NGOs: CSOs and NGOs could do more than merely organise some protests in major cities, mainly Lagos and Abuja, and other state capitals in safe places. Their research department (if any) should be able to present facts and figures about the state of Human Rights abuses and other issues militating against our civilization in this part of the world. Simply “going with the flow” may give them some visibility but does not help the cause of the downtrodden who are under the crushing weight of injustice and abuse, not only from Boko Haram but also from some institutions and agencies of the State. Relevant CSOs and NGOs should do more research, undertake fact-finding missions and carry out activities that directly impact victims of crises of this nature. We all know the noble activities of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and other charity organizations which step into fields of need to help save real lives and positively impact the course of events. Our CSOs and NGOs in Nigeria concentrate around Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other big cities and talk about “struggle” in the comfort of safe cities, and they appear to seize on any latest trending events, like the Chibot incident, to showcase some façade of relevance. There were no demonstrations on the street until after three weeks of the girls’ abduction. Where were the CSOs and NGOs before the somewhat belated “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign? That action came about 3 weeks late. With no concrete trace of these girls and with other catastrophic events engaging the attention of the world, soon another topic will replace the current interest. More focus, continuity and follow-up on issues should be the modus operandi of CSOs and NGOs as certain events have basic underlying factors, and until such factors are rigorously addressed, we’ll keep going through a revolving door as presently is the case.

Religion: There is nothing that has posed more threat to our existence in the 21^st century than religion, religious “leaders”, their extreme views and bigotry followership. We are constantly inundated by the silly notion that all these stark atrocities and criminality are committed in the name of some god by followers who obviously have no faith in the ability of their god to fight for its own integrity. How could the sheer bestiality of beheading fellow human beings, other killings and wanton destruction of lives and property be a mandate of god? Unfortunately, religious “leaders” who claim not to share this warped mindset do not come out clearly in totally condemning in strong terms, this anomie and posit what exactly their stand is on such issues. Tacit support and ambiguous comments flow from their places of worship, usually breeding grounds for more deranged extremities who take on the communities that have given them a fair chance for survival otherwise they would not be around to wreak havoc. Whatever people choose to believe in should be within their private purview and should, by no means, be imposed on other people. Killing in the name of religion or god has become a worldwide scourge and when one takes a closer look, it could be seen that most depraved parts of the world cling to religion and extreme sentiments. One cannot rule out disillusionment, lack of leadership and accountability, and corruption as underlying factors pushing a significant population of young ones to the cliff. Religion and religious leaders should rather provide some moral compass for citizens to embrace the essence of our common humanity, charity, compassion and community ethos. Sadly, corruption, egocentric vestiges and vain pursuit of fame and relevance have also engulfed the religious bodies and their leadership, and the followers have become pawns in the fatal chess game that people have been made of, all in the name of god.

International Community: Terrorism knows no border and has no friends or foes. It is a scourge that only seeks to inflict terror, pain, destruction and disorganization and carve a niche to launch from one part of the world to another. It took the international community so long a time to acknowledge the danger posed by Boko Haram not only to Nigeria but also to the entire global village. Suddenly, everyone is talking about Boko Haram and their activities in Nigeria some weeks after the abduction of these girls (and the subsequent massacre of hundreds of local populations in one fell swoop shortly after the abduction), as if this monster has just evolved from outer space. Thousands of people have been killed since this madness began and property of unquantifiable proportion destroyed with massive displacement of local population and Human Rights abuses, yet there was no obvious coalition of any international effort to stem the tide. Now the world appears to have taken notice of Boko Haram at an advanced stage of this cancer. Summits, the offer of intelligence assistance and other measures that should have come earlier (and would have been cheaper in cost) have now been deployed when clearly Boko Haram has been allowed to take undue advantage of the present situation with over 200 girls and other human shield still in their custody. When politicians with an over-bloated sense of entitlement (combined with an apparently tepid government) were playing political and religious games with the Boko Haram insurgency, the world did not seem to be keen on stepping in to arrest the downhill to perdition and save ordinary citizens who are caught between a rock and a hard place.

All of Us: Often we are so busy trying to care for our immediate families, and sometimes amassing personal wealth for generations yet unborn, to reckon that it is only in preserving the common good of the present that the future has any chance for survival. If we ignore our neighbours because we are not directly affected, it is only a matter of time before our own abode is invaded. Looking out for the interests of our neighbours and communities is one of the best and most sustainable ways of looking after our own interests. We have not stood up enough to call our “leaders” to account and stand our ground against the evil being perpetrated in our communities by people we can clearly identify; people who have conferred on themselves the cloak of “untouchable” because they can perceive our docility; and people who have taken advantage of us because we have failed to appreciate and demand our common heritage in this nation-state; and people who have exploited us in the name of god and other divisive elements because we have allowed ourselves to be manipulated into antagonizing our diversity which is the very flavour of humanity. We’ve allowed ourselves to be led into that misguided path of fighting for gods when any god should have unlimited ability to fight for itself; we’ve indulged in self-delusion that we could solve our problems by simply wishing them away rather than by taking responsibility for our actions, interactions and other activities in building a viable community; we’ve become so dependent on “outside help” that we have failed woefully to account for the relatively vast resources at our disposal.

There is still so much we do not know about the abducted Chibok girls. Basic information like the actual number of missing girls and their identity is still a subject of controversy and contradictions. We do not seem to have any demonstrable capacity for excellence, professionalism and accountability on display in this situation. Chibok is a metaphor for our collective shame.