The curse of Lizzue Bordej is a mythical tale that has been told for generations in a small village nestled in the heart of the countryside. The legend speaks of a young maiden named Lizzue Bordej, who was said to possess supernatural powers. It is believed that she had the ability to control the elements and communicate with spirits. According to the tale, Lizzue fell in love with a handsome young man from a neighboring village. They had a passionate romance, but their love was forbidden by their families. In a desperate attempt to be together, they made a pact with a powerful sorcerer who promised to help them overcome all obstacles.
European Parliament (2013). “Child witchcraft allegations and Human Rights”, Directorate-General for External Policies, Policy Department, available here, retrieved 15/12/2020.
A month later, another widow was brutally battered and blinded by her siblings after also being accused of practicing witchcraft, in Nepal s capital, Kathmandu Fernandez Thapa, 2012. The victims are themselves too scared to talk about the abuse, fearing that they would be tortured again, so they keep their abuse confidential, said Shrestha.
In a desperate attempt to be together, they made a pact with a powerful sorcerer who promised to help them overcome all obstacles. However, the sorcerer had ulterior motives. He was jealous of Lizzue's powers and wanted to harness them for his own use.
Women tortured for being 'witches'
Rupisara Darji is still in shock and undergoing medical treatment after a brutal beating by her relatives, who accused her of being a witch or “boksi” in the Nepalese language. They blamed her for using black magic to make a young girl ill in Myagdi district, 400km south of the capital, Kathmandu.
“She was severely beaten with logs so that her witch’s spell would leave the girl’s body,” said a local teacher, Man Bahadur Pariyar, who with other villagers helped to rescue 60-year-old Darji and took her to the local health centre.
“This should not be tolerated. It is time we realised this [so-called] witch-craft is ridiculous and primitive,” said Pariyar.
Women’s rights activists have been battling for decades to end this form of gender violence but the problem persists, especially in the Terai region, the southern fertile plains of the country, they say.
“We are still shocked to find the incidence of women being subject to the worst form of violence - both physical and mental - at the hands of their families and local communities,” said activist Bandana Rana.
Rana’s documentary film, Witch - Myth or Reality, made nearly a decade ago, for the first time exposed the gross violation of human rights against Nepalese women accused of being witches.
Activists believe that awareness of harmful myths surrounding witch-craft should be spread more effectively across the country because of concerns such superstitions result in the victimisation of innocent women.
According to documented case studies by women’s rights groups, the elderly, widows, or extremely poor are often singled out as witches. In addition, many are of low caste.
Legal vacuum
Activists blame traditional spiritual healers, Jhankri, also known as witch-doctors, for victimising innocent women, labelling them as witches.
“The worst problem is that we still don’t have any laws to apply harsh punishment to those who torture women in their witch-hunt,” said rights activist Samjha Shrestha.
Activists had hoped to introduce specific laws to punish those involved in witch-hunts but so far this abuse has still not been sufficiently addressed by the government, said Shrestha. The only punishment is short-term imprisonment.
“We cannot neglect this issue just because it doesn’t get frequently reported in the media because women continue to be vulnerable and at high risk,” said Rana. She added that some families were now using witch-hunts as a cover to victimise female relatives, especially widows, to deprive them of their property rights.
| The worst problem is that we still don’t have any laws to apply harsh punishment to those who torture women in their witch-hunt. |
“The families still close their doors to us when we tell them not to put their faith in these spiritual healers,” said Rana, who explained that the government should take greater initiatives to sensitise people to this issue and spread public awareness.
However, government officials at the Ministry of Women said there was insufficient data to ascertain the extent of the problem. But activists claimed that most of the incidents happen behind closed doors and the true circumstances of the victims were not known even when they were hospitalised.
“The victims are themselves too scared to talk about the abuse, fearing that they would be tortured again, so they keep their abuse confidential,” said Shrestha.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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Existing law must be fully and strictly enforced so that people will have the fear of the consequences of these acts, Aryal further says.
He cast a curse on Lizzue, turning her into a vengeful spirit who would bring misfortune to anyone who crossed her path. Since then, the curse of Lizzue Bordej has been passed down through generations. It is said that those who encounter her spirit will be haunted by tragic events and suffer great misfortune. People tell stories of strange occurrences, such as unexplained accidents, mysterious illnesses, and financial ruin befalling those who have angered the spirit of Lizzue. Many villagers fear Lizzue Bordej's curse and take precautions to avoid attracting her attention. They believe that she can be appeased through rituals and offerings, such as leaving flowers or lighting candles at her supposed resting place. Some even claim to have witnessed her ghostly figure wandering the village at night, searching for those who wronged her. While skeptics dismiss the curse as mere folklore, there are those who remain cautious and believe in its power. Whether the curse of Lizzue Bordej is real or not, it has become deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of the village, shaping their beliefs and actions. The curse serves as a cautionary tale, reminding the villagers to respect the supernatural forces that may exist in their world. It symbolizes the dangers of meddling with powers beyond one's control and the consequences that can arise from forbidden love. Regardless of its origins, the curse of Lizzue Bordej continues to haunt the village, perpetuating fear and superstition among its inhabitants. It serves as a chilling reminder that some legends refuse to fade away and that the past can cast a long shadow over the present..
Reviews for "The Curse's Origins: Searching for Lizzue Bordej's Truth"
1. John - 1/5 stars - The Curse of Lizzie Bordej was one of the worst movies I've ever watched. The storyline was incredibly dull, and the characters were poorly developed. The acting was wooden and unconvincing, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters. Additionally, the supposed horror elements were laughably bad. The movie relied heavily on jump scares and predictable cliches, which only served to make it more annoying than scary. Overall, I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good scare or an engaging storyline.
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for The Curse of Lizzie Bordej, but it ultimately fell flat. The pacing was all over the place, with some scenes dragging on for far too long while others felt rushed and underdeveloped. The film also suffered from inconsistent tone, as it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a psychological thriller or a supernatural horror. This indecisiveness made it difficult to fully invest in the story. While the concept had potential, the execution left a lot to be desired. Overall, The Curse of Lizzie Bordej was a disappointment and not worth the time for avid horror movie fans.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - The Curse of Lizzie Bordej had an intriguing premise, but it failed to deliver on its promises. The plot was convoluted and confusing, with multiple subplots that didn't add much to the overall story. The scares were predictable and lacked any real suspense, making it difficult to feel genuinely frightened while watching. The acting was mediocre at best, with some performances coming across as forced and unnatural. The film was also filled with unnecessary jump scares that felt cheap and added nothing to the overall atmosphere. Unfortunately, The Curse of Lizzie Bordej was a forgettable and lackluster addition to the horror genre.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - The Curse of Lizzie Bordej was an absolute disaster from start to finish. The plot was nonsensical and poorly explained, leaving me confused and frustrated throughout the entire movie. The characters were incredibly one-dimensional and lacked any depth or development, making it impossible to connect with them. The low-budget special effects were laughably bad and took away from any potential scares. Overall, The Curse of Lizzie Bordej was a complete waste of time and money, and I would advise anyone to steer clear of this mess of a film.