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The Citizen
21 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Malema should apologise for 'Kill the Boer' chant
Pastor Mark Burns said Malema singing the song is "hurting my white brothers and sister" in SA. An American pastor who is a fierce ally and supporter of US President Donald Trump believes the EFF and its leader Julius Malema should not be taken seriously and are attention-seekers for chanting the 'divisive' 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer'. Pastor Burns has defended his stance that there is no white genocide being perpetrated against white Afrikaners in South Africa After recently visiting South Africa and speaking to white farmers, Burns said he does not believe there is a genocide being perpetrated against White Afrikaners in the country, adding everyone he talked to was 'extremely shocked to discover that this was the narrative being played out in Washington, DC.' Ambush Last month, Trump ambushed President Cyril Ramaphosa by playing a video of Malema's speech to support his claims of an alleged white genocide against farmers. He also questioned why the EFF leader had not been arrested. WATCH Pastor Mark Burns speaking about Malema ALSO READ: 'There is no white genocide happening here,' says Trump's top pastor after SA visit Meeting Malema Burns said he believes 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' is a chant 'designed to pull people apart and not biblical'. 'The fact that we're talking about him [Malema] is not even good because, you know, that's spewing hate. Unless he wants to come and apologise and say, 'you know what, pastor, you're right, me singing that song is hurting my white brothers and sisters here in my beautiful nation, even though it is important, and it has historical evidence.' 'Yes, Mandela, whom President Trump spoke highly of, has great respect for him, and he spoke about him twice, did sing that song. Even your Constitutional [Court], I think, voted that it was his [Malema's] legal right to sing the song, it's still causing division in our nation, on a nation that is still pretty new from apartheid,' Burn said. Burns dismissed the EFF leader as 'just a character who is screaming, trying to garner attention for himself'. ALSO READ: 'There is doubt in Trump's head about genocide in SA,' Ramaphosa says [VIDEO] 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' In March, AfriForum suffered a final blow in its attempt to have the controversial chant 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' declared as hate speech. The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) delivered a brief ruling dismissing AfriForum's application for leave to appeal. Malema said he would never be intimidated by Trump. 'Well, I'm not fearful. As a revolutionary, part of being killed is one of those honours you must wear with pride, but I'm not going to be reckless. 'I will never stop singing a song that Winnie Mandela sang. That would be a betrayal to the struggle of our people'. 'False propaganda' Burns said he has been accused of spreading 'false propaganda' about no white genocide taking place in South Africa. 'To those accusing me of spreading false propaganda because I don't believe there is a white genocide happening among South African farmers, I say this: go speak to the White Afrikaans farmers and former apartheid leaders I met with. 'Some of them are strongly anti-ANC, yet they still shared serious concerns about safety in their communities. If that is considered false propaganda, then they are being accused of spreading it about their own people, which doesn't make sense,' Burns said. ALSO READ: WATCH: Donald Trump ambushes Cyril Ramaphosa in Oval Office Killing of white people Burns added that he is not denying that some white individuals may have been killed because of their race. 'But based on what I saw and what was shared with me, far more black South Africans are being killed by the same criminal elements that are thriving in a weak and struggling economy. 'Let's be clear. There is only one South Africa. The days of racial division under the apartheid government are over. South Africa is the Rainbow Nation, built on unity, diversity, and hope. 'White Afrikaans, Black Africans, and all others are South Africans together. The future of the country depends on people standing together, not apart,' Burns said. Who is Burns? Burns is the minister of Harvest Worship Centre in South Carolina and a Republican who ran for state governor. He served as a board member of pastors for Trump. An early supporter of Trump in 2016, Time magazine named Burns one of the US president's top advisors. ALSO READ: Piers Morgan slams Ramaphosa for defending 'Kill the Boer' chant [VIDEO]
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- General
- Times of Oman
Nepal's longest-reigning chariot procession of "Red God" ends with showing of 'Bhoto'
Lalitpur: Nepal's longest-chariot procession, dedicated of Rato Machhindranath, the valley's "Red God" has concluded for the year with the showing of 'Bhoto' or the jewel-studded vest, which has remained unclaimed for ages. The chariot procession of Rato Machhindranath is observed for at least a month to the four months' end with showing the 'Bhoto', expecting the rightful owner to come and claim it. Historians are yet to determine the exact origin date of Bhoto Jatra. However, many mention that the chariot procession of Machindranath started around 1,300 years ago. As the legend goes, shortly after the procession started, the queen of the serpent king Karkotak developed an eye ailment. While searching for a healer, Karkotak mistook a farmer working in the fields for a physician and brought him to Taudaha, a wetland on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Frightened, the farmer prayed to Machhindranath and rubbed his hands on the soil to make an herbal paste. He offered it to Karkotak as medicine, and the paste cured the queen's eyes. Grateful, Karkotak rewarded the farmer with a jewel-studded vest (photo) and returned him to the human world. The farmer began wearing the bhoto while working in his fields. One day, a ghost in human form stole the vest. The farmer searched everywhere but could not find it. Later, while attending the Machhindranath chariot festival, he saw the ghost wearing the same vest and claimed it as his. When the ghost refused to return it, a dispute broke out. People summoned Karkotak to resolve the conflict. In the end, because neither party could prove ownership, they entrusted the bhoto to Machhindranath. Since then, devotees have followed the tradition of displaying the bhoto after the chariot procession, hoping that someone with valid proof of ownership will come forward. Each year, they display the sacred vest on an auspicious date. According to legend, no one has succeeded in proving ownership of the bhoto so far. Speaking to ANI, Rishil Shrestha, a festival goer, said, "The observance of the festival has passed down to generations. The Rato Machhindranath Jatra starts from Pulchowk and after the entourage of the city, the chariot is finally brought here to Jawalakhel and the procession ends with the display of Bhoto." The Bhoto displayed annually at Jawalakhel in Lalitpur has pearls and jewels attached on it. The jewel-studded vest is packed and kept inside the cloth pouch for a year and opened only in the presence of Sthe tate head on particular day fixed by the priests when the Rato Machhindranath Jatra commences. The showing of vest on that particular day shows it to be safe with the state, and who so over is the owner of the vest is to come and claim it. This practice which has run for a long now has become an integral part of month's long festival. Along with, there also exists another myth about the commencement of the festival in Nepal's oldest cities. According to Hindu culture, there is a myth that yogi Gorakhnath (Founder of Nath Hindu) came to seek alms in Patan. The people of that region did not provide him with any alms. Hence, he became very furious and captured all the rain-causing serpent and sat above them and meditated. There was no rain in Patan for ages. To solve problems, astrologers and Pandits advised the king to invite Machhedranath. Machhedranath is believed to be teacher of yogi Gorakhnath; knowing that his teacher was in town, he went to meet him freeing all the serpents which resulted in plenty of rainfall. So, this festival is also claimed as the symbol of rain and fertility. This festival is celebrated by pulling the wooden wheeled chariot along various parts of the city. A 60-foot-tall spire fabricated from bamboo poles raised from all four ends is carried by the chariot.
The Independent
25-05-2025
- The Independent
Remains found in search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Human remains found in the search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine have been confirmed as his. Partial remains were found last Friday at farmland owned by Mr Gaine. The 56-year-old sheep farmer with land near Kenmare in Co Kerry was reported missing more than two months ago. A crime scene was declared at Mr Gaine's farm in Carrig East after the remains were discovered. A major search operation on the land was instigated. On Sunday evening, the Garda confirmed that the remains were those of the farmer. 'Human remains found at farmland at Carrig East, Kenmare have been identified as being the remains of Michael Gaine,' said a Garda spokesperson. 'Gardai continue to appeal to the public for assistance in this investigation.' On Sunday last week, a man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder. He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney Garda Station.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Remains found in search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Human remains found in the search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine have been confirmed as his. Partial remains were found last Friday at farmland owned by Mr Gaine. The 56-year-old sheep farmer with land near Kenmare in Co Kerry was reported missing more than two months ago. A crime scene was declared at Mr Gaine's farm in Carrig East after the remains were discovered. A major search operation on the land was instigated. On Sunday evening, the Garda confirmed that the remains were those of the farmer. 'Human remains found at farmland at Carrig East, Kenmare have been identified as being the remains of Michael Gaine,' said a Garda spokesperson. 'Gardai continue to appeal to the public for assistance in this investigation.' On Sunday last week, a man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder. He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney Garda Station.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
Human remains confirmed as those of missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine
Human remains found in the search for missing Co Kerry farmer Michael Gaine have been confirmed as his. Partial remains were found last Friday at farmland owned by Mr Gaine. The 56-year-old sheep farmer with land near Kenmare in Co Kerry was reported missing more than two months ago. A crime scene was declared at Mr Gaine's farm in Carrig East after the remains were discovered. A major search operation on the land was instigated. On Sunday evening, the Garda confirmed that the remains were those of the farmer. 'Human remains found at farmland at Carrig East, Kenmare have been identified as being the remains of Michael Gaine,' said a Garda spokesperson. 'Gardai continue to appeal to the public for assistance in this investigation.' On Sunday last week, a man aged in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder. He was held for questioning for one day before being released without charge from Killarney Garda Station.
