Idi Amin, whose 1971 to 1979 reign in Uganda was one of the bloodiest in Africa's modern history, is in a coma and on a life support system in Saudi Arabia, one of his wives said today.The Saudis, being very devout Muslims, do not believe in euthenasia. He may well be undergoing "heroic measures" to keep his heart beating, despite humiliation and helpless agony.
"They have told me he is in coma and on a life support machine. We are still waiting for more information from there," Madina Amin said in a brief telephone interview with AFP.
By "they", Madina was referring to Amin's entourage in Saudi Arabia, where Idi Amin, a Muslim now in his eighties, has lived in obscurity for more than 10 years.
From "The Mikado" :
"Something lingering, with boiling oil in it, I fancy."No Boiling Oil as such, (though some illnesses are even more agonising), but lingering, certainly. With luck, they may keep the heart still beating for months. With luck, he may live for a long, long, long time. With luck, despite being comatose and unable to communicate, he still has full awareness of what's being done to him.
I wish them luck, and to Idi, a long, long, long life.
UPDATE : I should of course have used his official title, which according to at least two sites is :
His Excellency President for Life Field Marshal Al Hadji Dr. Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.
UPDATE: Looks like my wishes have been granted. Idi's out of a coma, possibly blind, possibly brain-damaged, certainly in intense discomfort from Renal Failure, and without a shred of human dignity. It doesn't fill me with joy, but I can't say I'm saddened by one scintilla. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
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