Reader comments
African empress in S.L. suburbia aims to set dad's record straight

Anonymous | 12:00 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

An explanation for Africa's misery, summed up in a single human being.

"Empress" Macias sounds like a truly rotten person. Rotten not because of what her father did, but because she defends what he did and embraces the man. Rotten because she "prefers" not to work, and instead lets her young daughters (and perhaps the taxpayers?) support her.

Sadly enough she's not that rare. I knew a family of Ethipian "refugees" who had fled that country after some despotic regime with which they were connected was overthrown. They left behind mansions and yachts. My support for refugees continues to wane.

Anonymous | 12:10 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

Holy smoke, what a story.

Thanks for writing this Elaine.

Wilkey | 12:22 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

"much larger than the triptych of three other heroes: Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X."

She considers Malcolm X a hero? Wonderful. She's been living in the US 10 years, doesn't work, and barely speaks English (she's had plenty of idle time to learn). Fantastic! What a great treasure the US has acquired in this "refugee."

"In 1979 he was overthrown in a coup"

She survived the coup. She was standing next to her father when he was shot, but they didn't shoot her. She managed to survive in that country for 18 years after - until 1997. How could her life have been in jeopardy? How does that make her a refugee?

America's refugee programs are a joke. The organizations that run them are little more than for-profit corporations supported by taxpayer money and naive contributors. And huge numbers of the "refugees" are economic refugees, not people in any actual danger. The programs should be scuttled and any real refugees resettled in nearby countries with cultures similar to their own.

Comments continue below

Marie | 1:33 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

So she had false papers/passport and is here illegally?

Lisa | 3:41 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

How does one say "delusions of grandeur" in Bella's native language?

jr | 4:22 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

Sad that she preys for sympathy of USA folks, her false royalty is not an excuse to live here and not speak the language or get a job to support herself. There are many good immigrants that deserve in spot as a refuge. She must have inherited a lot of her father to think she is above working and supporting her children. Sorry I have a hard time that she chooses not to find her other children.

Heidi | 4:27 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

I never knew anything about her or her country before. Thank you for this educational article. What horrible things she went through. She sounds like a lovely and courageous person and I wish the Empress and her children here and abroad well. What can I say?

Wilkey | 4:36 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

"She sounds like a lovely and courageous person and I wish the Empress and her children here and abroad well. What can I say?" - Heidi

How 'bout "I plead insanity, your honor."

Karma | 4:51 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

Lisa, Marie, Jr. and group. Your compassion astounds me. I would not be surprised if your family came from Sweden or Denmark that your great grandmother and grandfather died without learning more than a little English and would have spoken it with a strong accent! Yah?

Maybe after so much horror and fear, she doesn't feel like getting out much to socialize? Especially if she might meet up with some neighbors like you.

Perhaps she wasn't shot because she was a pretty young thing that would make a nice toy for a while? Maybe they ran out of bullets? Or maybe God said enough.

I hope that you and your family never experience what she has gone through. But, if there is such a thing as Karma, I wouldn't count on it.

Anonymous | 5:29 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

"Maybe after so much horror and fear, she doesn't feel like getting out much to socialize? Especially if she might meet up with some neighbors like you." - Karma

Thanks, Oprah. I would refer you to the following:

"Bella Macias, who looks more like a flamenco dancer perhaps ï¿½ exotic and stylish, a woman who loves short skirts and high heels, a woman who owns many pairs of fancy eyeglasses. Macias understands some English but mostly speaks Spanish, the official language of Equatorial Guinea, and relies on her children to translate."

And have you ever heard of Berlitz?

She isn't psychically damaged - she's spoiled, stubborn, lazy. The usual things.

Kayla | 6:01 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

To Karma:

You don't suppose Utah's other refugees, some whom have survived horrors equal to the horrors Bella suffered, would like to live as Bella lives?

"Macias is supported by three older daughters who work, but Macias herself prefers not to have a job. The totality of her work experience in Utah amounts to two weeks and two days ï¿½ two days frying chicken at McDonald's and two weeks at Little Caesars, arranging pepperonis on top of pizzas. It's a job for teenagers, she says simply, and smiles."

There comes a point where we have to say "yes, terrible things happened but we are stronger than that". What do you think the refugees from Darfur, Iraq or Myanmar who aren't lucky enough to land in Utah are doing? I can guarantee they aren't sitting around the house for 10 years.

Megan | 7:02 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

You can comment nagative feeback all you want about Macias, but that doesnt mean that is gonna change the fact of who she was or how is she living today, your comments are just gonna stay on a local piece of paper while her story her real story not what is written here, will go on.
People write according to what they percieved about a person and their personal point of view not what is true.

SFL | 8:38 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

The LDS church and its local members should be commended for their efforts of compassion and charity towards this family and many others like it.

ignorance! | 10:20 p.m. Jan. 6, 2008

I hate all the ignorant comments I find on the Deseret News forum. Whenever I want a good laugh, I start reading them.
Have ya'll ever read the Bible? You may have heard a couple stories about Sodom and Gomorrah. Now, of course, they are almost synomomous with homosexuality, but the Bible also refers to their inhospitality, as evidenced by their treatment of the angels sent to Lot. Okay, now, think for a second, how hospitable and welcoming are you being? Just a thought. If you really want a brain cramp think of all the illegal immigrants you've judged the moment you hear "Ola."
Back to the story- who cares if she doesn't work? I don't. I prefer to keep my personal feelings about her story to myself since I don't know all the facts.
Ya'll should do the same.
Go do something useful! I'm gonna go reread Ezekial.

Sarah | 12:45 a.m. Jan. 7, 2008

This is a reply to Wilkey who wrote. "She was standing next to her father when he was shot, but they didn't shoot her. She managed to survive in that country for 18 years after - until 1997. How could her life have been in jeopardy? How does that make her a refugee?"

I don't think you read that article too carefully or you wouldn't be making snide comments about her refugee status. First her father was killed in front of her, her baby disfigured, and her mother murdered. Then while she was "surviving", her sister is killed, her husband is arrested, and she was TORTURED. She even had to leave nine of her children behind during her escape.

Being tortured alone is enough to make her a genuine refugee, and she has a genuine fear of being executed herself. What more do you want from her? For her to die?

Carole Knowles | 4:36 a.m. Jan. 7, 2008

It's hard to feel sympathy for a person who chooses not to work. I work, my husband works, our kids work and go to school and raise families, and we certainly cannot afford fancy clothes and glasses like the empress does. There seems to be a lack of humility and way too much controversy in her family's story. If she was truly afraid of being murdered by her family's enemies, she would not have given that interview.
I think this article belongs in the National Enquirer.

Dr. Jorge Salvo | 6:21 a.m. Jan. 7, 2008

I am surprised that a newspaper related to LDS Church would published so many lies and missrepresentations without checking out the facts. Her father, Francisco Macias Nguema, has the doubtable honor of being a contender for the most cruel dictator of Humankind at the level of Hitler, Caligula o Herodes. Among other 'records', he persecuted and killed every single boyfriend of his many mistresses. Is well known the fact that his father was not shot, but hanged by Teodoro Obiang Nguema, his nephew (therefore, Bella's cousin), and his chief torturer.
Obiang's regime is the continuation of Macias dictatorship without the flashing crazyness of cruelty of his uncle Macias. This was the only reason why he was overthrown, because his regime (don't forget that the US STATE DEPARTMENT says that he killed ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTRY'S POPULATION, equivalent to 100,000,000 (one hundred million) Americans) was putting in jeopardy the control that the family has excercised over the country for 40 years.
It is great that the Church wants to help her and her family, but taking her delusional reccount of History as truthfull is a sign of unprofessional ingenuity.
SHAME ON YOU Deseret Morning News!!!!!!!!

Interesante | 2:06 p.m. Jan. 7, 2008

It's really a sad situation. Unfortunately there is truth probably to both sides. Before I visited Guinea Equatorial I was instructed not to discuss politics. And I heard first hand the fear of people. The country has made a lot of progress. I can only hope that the human rights abuses will stop and the country will forgive each other as Christ ordains and develope the country to the fullest with all the oil wealth. The Spanish government and all that have exploited Africa should accept their resposibility.

JLR | 2:42 p.m. Jan. 8, 2008

To Dr. Jorge Salvo-

If you have such a problem with the information the Deseret Morning News posts, then DON'T READ IT!!! Don't give time to it and worry about it. You obviously have a problem so go read a different paper. This was a story that she wanted told, it is HER STORY! Not a list of facts and research, just a story about a lady that has had some rough times. Let her BE!

Anonymous | 11:10 a.m. Jan. 14, 2008

To Wilkey and company-
Is very sad to read comments coming from womens. maybe f you stop to think the reason why Bella is not working it doesn't have to do becuase she dosn't want too. You forgot that that lady has teenage kids and other that they are still in elementary,she doesn't have any other family that could watch her younger sibblings while the oldest one go to school or work.She doesn't have a husband that who will took some kids to the doctor and other to the school and I'm pretty sure that she has to do it by herself.Also why don't you stop to think that there is more side of the story that writer did not put there for her own(writer)personal interest?Plus you can't compare the type of refugees they are.Americans we are used to see people that suffers dressing like homeless but this lady and her kids are royalty.
And I do belief that if she wanted to get money from all this,she could published a book or maybe make a movie but she waited until now. I feel compassionate for her and her kids.

Martha | 11:20 a.m. Jan. 14, 2008

Is very sad to see how this poor lady is being judge.
-She isn't psychically damaged - she's spoiled, stubborn, lazy. The usual things. One of you wrote.

I bit we have meet this lady our even one of her kids,they lived in our neighborhoods and even went to school with our children. Maybe we have judged them of antisocial,but we didn't know who they were,what they had suffer. I feel tremendously sad when I think about her oldest daughter Whoppi,one of the kindness girls I have ever meet,but I did not imagine what happend to her

Equa-Gui Community,US. | 11:40 a.m. Jan. 14, 2008

Thanks to every comment received to this case.Not every note published to the Ex=President Macias is true.Our coutry is so tinny that we all know each other,if he killed so many people like Spain published we would be gone. The person that killed Macias is been doing it since he was working for Macias and still does it now President Obiang.
If they say that they were a lot of citizens in exile while Macias was the Lider that is not true,you can research how many refugees they were back then,and the ones right now. You will find the truth.
Bella and her brothers they have suffered a lot and we are impacted that she was still alive.Because as far as we knew she was killed 10 years ago with some of her kids.But we got a surprise when we found the Newspaper published that she was still alive. Since Jan,6,2008. "our" President is hidding up to the point that he canceled all his appts.The entire nation support her and will always do.He's afraid that if she keeps talking his irealistic castle will be destroyed.
I'm sure that Bella knows more than what we all think. Thanks

Cristina Obono Mba | 12:05 p.m. Jan. 14, 2008

This is Cristina Obono Mba Ecoro from Mongomo,Ecua-Guin. I live in Dallas,TX. My country has over 500.000 of population, we don't even reach 1,000.000 if Macias Killed that amount of people there wouldn't be any citizen left?Macias and Obiang Nguema "ARE NOT RELATED".The 1st president's name is Mr.Francisco Macias Nguema Biyogo Negue Ndong and the other one is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Eneme. Macias is from Nzangayong and Obiang Nguema is from Akua-Kam but from the same State of Mongomo,that doesn't mean they are relatives.Macias was shot with his ministers on Sep,29,1979.All of "us" viewed and watched what that lady suffered since they kill her dad. And is very sad the way her family lived after he was overtrown. Every Ecuato-Guinean that are exiled in other countries we are happy and give her our support for the decision that she has made on putting the record straight. Think a litle,why don't you "research"how many refugees from my country live in US?You belief that stupidity that the Spaniors put on the books to cover their backs from this whole thing? Macias took the Independence otherwise we will still be slaves.

Katherine | 1:48 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008

Hey guys is interesting how easy is to judge this lady without knowing the whole version of her story. It seems to me that someone might be jealous of her.

Thank you Elaine I wouldn't never imagine that we have such a neighbor.

Christopher | 2:16 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008

Is so weird to read that there is another of Macias kids alive, people verily talk about them. I was informed when I moved here to work, not to ask or talk about politics. I have been living in Malabo for several years now, and it seemed to me that when people read the interview given by "Bella" it caused some type of confusion on the Island.
People are talking about "Bella" coming back to the country with the help of the US Government to remove Obiang from the power and things like that. The citizens of this small Island are confused, even the same President has been more than a week that he disappeared. I feel very compassionate about this lady that sheï¿½s just trying to be heard.

Bahirah | 2:21 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008

To Ignorant people-

What do you know about being a refugee in another country?

You should be greatful that you will never have to be one.

No Name | 2:26 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008

Well I think that Utah residents should check who they welcome in their neighborhoods.

Anonymous | 2:38 p.m. Jan. 15, 2008

I can't imagine how that family must be feeling right now. If they were trying to hide before just imagine after this kind of critics coming from their own neighbors, people from a town that in some how they thought they love them.

Is sad that's all I can say.

Anonymous | 12:50 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I love this article, is very interesting. I don't think it's right to be judging Ms.Macias. You should keep in mind that she has teenage and adult chidren. I'm pretty sure they rather work and have their mother rest, since she is been through so much. Also,I'm sure it will take more than this little article to tell the details of her story. As I read the article I noticed that the journalist wrote things from her point of view, so please, let's not judge the poor lady. I"m looking forward on this story, I want to hear more.
Someone should contact Oprah...she will help Ms. Macias to tell more about her amazing story.
I give her all my support.

Bartolome | 1:18 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I'm from Spain and I've been living in United States for twenty-four years. First of all Equatorial-Guinea is a small country that has only 500,000 citizens. I'm referring this to Dr. Jorge Salvo; it's impossible that ex-president Francisco Macias had killed over 100,000,000 people. It sounds like you dislike Ms. Macias. Why not be honest and admit that this is just another false accusation against ex-president Francisco Macias.

Bartolome | 1:30 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I'm from Spain and I have been living in United States for twenty-four years. First of all Equatorial-Guinea is a small country of only 500,000 citizens. I'm referring this to Dr. Jorge Salvo's comment. So how do you explain that ex-persident Macias had killed over 100,000,000 people. It sounds like you dislike Ms. Macias; why not be honest and admit that this is just another one of many false accusations against ex-president Francisco Macias.

Wagner | 1:50 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I'm from Germany and I strongly agree with Bartolome's comment. I have actually study world history and Equatorial-Guinea is a very, very small country of 500,000 of population. I don't think Dr. Salvo has studied any world history. Your ethics make no sense to me. You should think before you open your mouth.

American Idol | 2:32 p.m. Jan. 16, 2008

I think that they just want to be on EXTRA TV. Some people would do anything to be on TV. If it wasn't not truth why SHE has her own collection of eyeglasses?

American Expat | 5:09 a.m. Jan. 17, 2008

I lived in Equatorial Guinea for over a year - 2005 - 2006. Nothing has changed. Obiang is nearly as ruthless as his predecessor, Macias. The people of this forsaken nation still suffer in poverty and disease under threat of violence from the present regime. While the people of Bioko Island starve, Obiang goes as far as to outlaw commercial fishing on his West African island capital, Malabo out of fear boats may return with arms to feed a revolt. Sadly, the people seem to lack the capability to mount any type of insurrection - regardless of the absence or presence of arms.

An article reporting on the plight of the lovely people - a few are friends - of this sad, African nation would be welcomed in this publication. While M. Macias is in intersting foot note to the story of Equatiorial Guinea, the most intersting chapters have yet to have been written.

Kenia | 2:01 p.m. Jan. 17, 2008

This message is for American Idol comment. Don't be a stupid full. Maybe here in America people use exuses to be on TV. I know this family, as soon as I saw the article I contacted them. They are not really happy with the article because the title of the article says: that she is trying to set father's story straight, but if you read the article carefully, the way that the journalist wrote the article she has only focus on Ms. Macias. Also there are a few details that had nothing to do with the story. Ms. Macias never mention anything about a collection of glasses. Not only that, but the journalist left many important facts out. I don't understand. I'm sad that because of the way the article was written, a lot of people are missjudging Ms. Macias.

History | 3:24 p.m. Jan. 17, 2008

It might be true that Obiang is ruthless but never compare him with his predecessor, Macias. When Macias took the responsibility to guide his nation through the process of becoming an Independent Nation, Spain wasn't happy about it. They left the country without providing him the economic support that "they knew" he will need. He had to create the country's own money and ask for help to Russian and North Korea. Spain was expecting Macias to leave the Presidency after 2 months on the power. He didn't even have a car to move around, if it wasn't because of the help of one man that believed in him,he couldn't do anything.
Right now people only see what the media wants them to see, the nation of Guinea should be grateful that because of him they have schools,hospitals,and the most important thing of all "FREEDOM".
If Obiang betrayed him and sold his soul for money,that's Obiang you can not compare a Heroe with a traitor.
Once a traitor, and will always be. He betrayed his Lider and his Nation.

Status | 3:48 p.m. Jan. 17, 2008

So, are they still illegal? how do they work? Does Macias children have all they need to become Americans?

Why Utah????? We already have enough Mormons!!!

Eliseo Rivas Bocoricho | 8:13 p.m. Jan. 17, 2008

Here the gentlemen who we should request responsibilities are not dead, they gave their hands and huged all our deads WITH the DEATH. In full knowledge that they were not prepared to pilot the responsibility to form a country to image and similarity of metropoliï¿½ Why we did not ask Manuel Fraga Irribarne a gentleman and professor who traveled to Guinea to give us an independence that he himself knew that was not mature before it diesï¿½ Why we did not ask Miguel Herrero de Miï¿½on a doctor in history that participated in the writing of the constitution of that one independent Guinea of which he himself laughed aboutï¿½.Why we did not ask to Luis Martin Villa?ï¿½ Why we did not ask Marcelino Oreja, since all these gentlemen are while still alive enjoying their children, grandsons and great-grandchildren in full knowledge that the parents of our independence were inexperience to govern. And they continue laughing at our deads with the cane in the hand because they are already old. In short, they killed us alive.
Warm greetings.
Sincerely.
ELISEO RIVAS BOCORICHO.

To "Status" | 8:45 p.m. Jan. 17, 2008

The Gospel teach us to that every member is a "family" without discrimination of race,origen and sex.

Thanks to the of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Days Saints, for the hospitality and the message they send to the world.

Amanda | 2:43 p.m. Jan. 19, 2008

To all those rude comments about the Macias family i Just want to thanks the LDS church for opening the arms to the Macias family, I known the Macias family for many years now, and i know they are good people and if they wanted fame they could have accepted one of those hundreds of movie offers they received daily from some well know movie directors including myself. The Church has been a great to this family and so I want to thank them, for helping them.

Anonymous | 4:06 p.m. Jan. 19, 2008

Being part from the army here in Utah, and just by reading the comments in here, I would protect the macias family If I can, I also want to send many blessing to the LDS church for doing one of the things they do the best, " Helping people" Welcome Macias family to Utah, I kind of understand your situation because of what I do, blessings and god be with you and your church.

David Wright | 10:11 p.m. Jan. 20, 2008

They are good people. I know them and they have treated me like family. I consider them my brothers and my sisters and they ARE. It takes a lot of courage to display your life for all to see. No oneï¿½s life is perfect; theirs, mine and yours. She put hers on the table and I believe anyone else would have as many aspects of their life that could be criticized. Most people making comments won't even put their real names down.

Luis Ondo Mansuy | 3:27 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I'm from Equatorial-Guinea and I'm here in Salt Lake City, Utah. I thoughtI should find of contact with Bella Macias. Even though I'm about to give you a bad new. For the last 10 years, the guinean citizens knew that she and some of her children were dead. The news were a big impact among the citizens. I just wanted to communitcate to her that some guy named Casimiro, who is the nephew of president Obiang killed her sister Clarita. They also killed one of her daughters last December, the one who was named Alda. We know that you don't have any idea of what is going on with your familia here. Is very sad, just remember the news of you coming out of hidding all of guinean citizens are with you. You must fight to free the rest of your family and remember that all of guinean citizens's lives are in your hands. We feel that you are the only hope with have, us the ones exiled out of the country and the ones still living in the country. You must fight cause someone will listen to you. God bless you. TO CONTINUE

Luis Ondo Mansuy | 3:38 p.m. Jan. 23, 2008

I'm going back to Washington DC tomorrow, remember that the guinean citizens are waiting to hear more news about Bella Macias.
DON'T BE AFRAID, DON'T BE AFRAID, DON'T BE AFRAID!!!

Mansuy - Help | 3:05 p.m. Jan. 24, 2008

Luis -
En este momento estamos tratando de ayudar a Bella Macias en su situacion. Nos gustaria platicar con usted. Si usted nos daria un medio por el cual podriamos platicar con usted, nos ayudaria mucho. Gracias.

Dr. Salvo | 11:51 a.m. Jan. 30, 2008

To those that made a huge deal of the typo about the number of citizens that Macï¿½as killed: it is obvious that was a misprint, not even the nazis killed so many. The number, and they know it, is around the one hundred thousand (100,000), according to Samuel Decalo, Linier-Gourmaz, Amnesty International, the US State Department and the UN. However, one person killed is one TOO MANY.

Daniel | 5:46 a.m. Feb. 1, 2008

Luis, Faustino, mi padre, quiere contactar contigo. Mï¿½ndale mail o algo....

David Casavis | 4:00 p.m. Sept. 12, 2009

The date in the piece is off. Macias went to the United Nations for Independence in 1968, not 1960.

I am writing a book on the Murder of an American in the US Embassy at (what was then called) Santa Isabel. The murderer was his boss, another American. So I have interviewed many people.

I was surprised to read that he converted to the LDS church at that time.

This would not be out of character for Macias. But he was with a group of others from EG. Surely someone would have recalled it.

There is no mention of this conversion in any of the literature either. Nor have any of the people I interviewed mentioned it to me.

LEGITWITTY | 9:43 a.m. Oct. 31, 2009

As far as I am concerned, Bella Macia is a damn opportunist. lazy and corroded liability to American society. She will prefet not to work, only to be using her children for her benefits. To all who care, her father's reputation was drearing and ill-fated with effete sense of all factors of egocentricism. The blood in her father hands down to the grave could never be appropiated and redemption cann't be ascertained to her father massacre. Bella Macia is a thoroughgoing narcist with confused ways of profligation and series of illegalities towards benefitting from American statutory of immigrants propitiousness. A heck of obsolete chargrin should be twarted away.

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