Jonestown

:For other uses, see Jonestown (disambiguation)

Life in Jonestown

Many of the Peoples Temple members believed that Guyana would be, as Jones promised, a paradise. Instead, everyone (including children) ended up raising food and animals for the "People's Temple Agricultural Project" six days a week from seven in the morning to six in the evening, often when the temperature was as hot as 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit).

Related Topics:
Celsius - Fahrenheit

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to some, meals for the members consisted of nothing more than rice and beans while Jones ate meat and other refrigerated foods separated from the others. Medical problems such as severe diarrhea and high fevers struck half the community in February 1978. Other former members of the organization dispute that members received inferior or different food from Jones.

Related Topics:
Rice - Beans - Meat - Diarrhea - Fever - February - 1978

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Members considered to be serious disciplinary problems were imprisoned in a 6 by 4 by 3 foot (2 by 1.2 by 1 m) plywood box. Members who attempted to run away were drugged to the point of incapacitation. Armed guards patrolled the compound day and night to ensure that Jones's orders were followed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Children, surrendered to communal care, addressed Jones as "Dad" and were only allowed to see their parents briefly at night.  Jones was called "Father" or "Dad" by the adults as well.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Local Guyanese, including a police official, related horror stories about harsh beatings and a "torture hole," a well into which Jones had "misbehaving" children thrown in the middle of the night.  Jones had terrifed the children by making them believe that there was a monster living at the bottom of the well, where in fact it was Jones's henchman who pulled and tugged their legs as they descended into the well.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Older children were said to have been tied naked and electrical shocks would be administered to their genitalia.  Guyanese officials had attempted to investigate these allegations but they were denied entry to the compound.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The mass suicides that were to make Jonestown notorious were rehearsed during so called white nights.  In an affidavit, defector Deborah Layton wrote that during one of these white nights, people were told that they would die, and were forced to drink unsweetened Flavor Aid that they thought contained poison.  The few who were hesitant to drink were engaged in a debate and quickly complied.  Only after everyone drank the concoction were they informed that there was no poison, and that it was all just a test of loyalty and faith in Jones. http://www.deborahlayton.com/affidavit.html

Related Topics:
Deborah Layton - Flavor Aid

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~