On March 28, 2010, at Responsible for Equality And Liberty’s (R.E.A.L.) public awareness event on human rights at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Damanga Executive Director Mohamed Yahya spoke on the pressing issues of Darfur and Sudan. Mohamed Yahya passionately conveyed to the public the continuing suffering of the people in Darfur and Sudan. He addressed the continuing genocide of the Darfuri people, and their suffering and poverty, including the attacks by the Janjaweed and the refusal of the Omar Al-Bashir government to respect the Darfuri people’s human rights.
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks at Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial on Darfur
While crowds around the Lincoln Memorial stopped to listen, Mohamed Yahya told them of the continuing need for Americans to get involved in helping the Darfuri people, and he urged them to call for the Obama administration to take action on Darfur. He reminded the public of pledges made by members of the administration during the electoral campaign, and then the failure to take aggressive action to bring justice to the Darfuri people today. He reminded the public of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) indictments against Sudan president Omar Al-Bashir. Moreover, Mr. Yahya pointed out, as he did in his recent article “A Deal with a Devil,” that there can be no peace in Sudan without justice and human rights for Darfur.
As volunteers passed out fliers on Damanga and the Darfur genocide, Mohamed Yahya asked the public to consider the importance of “saving just one human life,” and how taking such personal responsibility would provide an indelible sense of accomplishment, purpose, and meaning in our lives as individuals. “Then imagine,” Mohamed Yahya added, “how much more would it mean to help save a million or more lives?” Over 400,000 have been killed in Darfur, countless women have been raped and abused in Darfur, and there are an estimated 2.6 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) at risk. Despite an abundance of oil and other natural resources controlled by the Omar Al-Bashir government, the vast majority of Sudan’s people live in poverty, and many children die daily from malnutrition and poverty.
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks of Need to Save Lives from Genocide in Darfur
Members of the public were moved to show their support and joined Mohamed Yahya on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps holding signs calling for justice and human rights in Darfur.
Washington DC: Public Passerby Demonstrate Solidarity for Darfur Justice and Human RightsWashington DC: American Young Women Stand in Support of Justice and Human Rights for Darfur
Mohamed Yahya pointed out the solidarity of people of all races and religions opposing the genocide and the human rights abuses in Darfur, standing with Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s Jeffrey Imm.
Mohamed Yahya and Jeffrey Imm Grasp Hands in Solidarity Together on Lincoln Memorial Calling for Justice and Human Rights in Darfur
R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm then concluded the public awareness event with an inter-faith prayer and moment of reflection from people of all beliefs and conscience on behalf of the Darfuri people. He invited members of the public to join them on the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps to pray for peace, justice, and human rights for the people of Darfur and Sudan.
The March 28, 2010 Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) public awareness event was held on the Washington DC Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool steps as R.E.A.L.’s annual remembrance of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, and who R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm praised as a hero for human rights everywhere who gave his life for all of us. As Easter Sunday falls on April 4 this year, R.E.A.L. was holding this event on March 28.
The R.E.A.L. message at the March 28 Lincoln Memorial event was that while Dr. King had a dream, we have a responsibility to human rights for our fellow human beings. Jeffrey Imm stated “human rights are our rights, and human rights are our responsibility. This responsibility includes the responsibility to speak out, to not stay silent, and to demand action by our government and international bodies on the continuing oppression, continuing genocide, and continuing injustice in Darfur. Be responsible. Be responsible for equality and liberty.”
We are saddened by the so-called Doha Peace Negotiations that were signed in Qatar last week between Al-Bashir of the Sudan Government and other groups. This included Dr. Khalil Ibrahim from the JEM- Justice and Equality movement and Dr. Tigani Sessi from the smaller LJM- Liberation Justice Movement.
This was a very controversial agreement that completely neglected the concerns of the majority of Darfuri people. JEM and LJM should have rejected any deal with the ICC Indicted war criminal Omar Al-Bashir. Al-Bashir’s arrest warrant was announced by the prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo on March 4, 2009.
The Darfuri people can’t accept such deals with a government that has slaughtered more than 450,000 innocent civilians in Darfur alone from 2003 to date. This is a Sudanese government that has not respected its own people or any agreement made before – from South Sudan to Darfur and Beja at the Eastern Sudan.
Peace and human rights are not mutually exclusive choices. We know that real peace begins with respecting our human rights, respecting justice, and respecting human dignity. The process for peace will begin with justice and human rights for the Darfuri people.
We strongly believe that no peace was honored before, especially when made with splintered rebel groups, and when the main core demands of the Darfuri people were not addressed.
• Both parties deliberately ignored even mentioning justice and the accountability in their negotiation agenda.
• They ignored the disarmament of the marauding Janjaweed militias, who are the allies of Al-Bashir government in Darfur.
• They failed to address the replacement of those settled in the villages of the IDP’s and refugees.
• Moreover, they failed to recognize that security and ceasefire agreements were never honored by the Al-Bashir government.
Al-Bashir took advantage of the Doha meetings and ordered his Janjaweed and Sudan Popular Defense Army-to attack the “Jabel Marra” area by airplanes and tanks with massive campaign and destroyed more than 36 villages within a week. This resulted in more than 400 causalities, and over 100,000 displaced from the whole Jabel Marra area.
Despite all of this destruction, Al-Bashir has been allowed to continue violating the Darfuri people’s human rights of free expressions, movement, assembly, and life itself. The people of Darfur are targeted inside and outside their homes and forced to register to vote for Al-Bashir even by using their food distribution cards. Otherwise, no food or aid is allowed. All kinds of Intimidation and brutal harassment are used against Al-Bashir’s opponents.
It is immoral that the whole civilized world leaders are watching this shameful scenario of “honoring the criminals” of the Sudanese government beginning with Doha peace negotiations that seek to legitimize Omar Al-Bashir, who is a man worse than Hitler and Saddam Hussein, coming to power in a fake democracy.
It is also terribly sad to see the U.S. government and the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan, General Scott Gration, giving support to Al-Bashir and his rogue NIF-National Islamic Front regime that hosted Osama Bin Laden in the Capitol Khartoum in early 1990’s for almost five years. This is the same Sudanese government that has terrorized its own people, as well as hosted international terrorists.
It is unfortunate to see the Obama administration, United Nations, African Union, Arab Leagues, European Union, and the Islamic world to come together this time to support this genocidal regime, when they never came together before to support the victims of Darfur. Where has such world unity been to restore justice and human rights in Sudan for a lasting peace? Darfur has largely been abandoned, while the Darfuri people’s human rights have been taken away. Too many have accepted a policy to “let Darfur die.”
The most shocking phenomena was that even those leaders, such as Dr. Khalil in JEM and Dr. Tigani Sessi of LJM, have shown a lack of leadership because of their power ambitions, their narrow visions of the people’s needs, and their unwillingness to prioritize human rights and justice for all of the Sudanese people. At the Doha peace negotiations, these leaders have acted in their own interests, regardless of what the ultimate results will be. Their focus has instead been their personal selfish goals wrapped by tribal circles and political Ideological agendas.
Dr. Khalil was known as a former Mujahedeen leader who fought against our own Christians in South Sudan, inspired at that time by Dr. Hassan El-Turabi. This was before he was being kicked out of power by Al-Bashir, which was the main reason for Dr. Khalil to escape Khartoum to form JEM. It is an issue of personal vindication for him, rather than Darfur cause for him. Both Al-Bashir and Dr. Khalil are old friends and Students of El-Turabi, so they are simply” two faces for one coin” of NIF/NCP.
In addition, Dr. Tigani Sessi of LJM has not been engaged in actively defending Darfur since he left Sudan over 20 years. He has not been popular even with his own FUR Tribe. He was only imposed and recommended by the Sudan government to lead a small group of the LJM at the Doha negotiations. He was engaged because he is willing to listen to the genocidal regime of Al-Bashir and could easily used to pass their agenda through him against the people of Darfur. He has not demonstrated strength and hasn’t fought with the rebels anywhere.
This peace is nothing more than a ceremony as many have said. The people of Darfur can’t afford another war, but that will be imminent. The new coalition of the National Islamic Front will turn the war against their own people of Darfur.
A “Darfur versus Darfur” war is on the horizon. The Khartoum Arab government will claim to steer clear of such a war, while they also fuel the upcoming phase of the war between the SLA- Abdulwahid faction and other possible alliances from those Darfuri rebels rejected the deal in Qatar. “Slaves against slaves” will be the Al-Bashir government’s policy of divide and rule.
The future may also see other possible wars with the same new Islamic alliances against Southern Sudan, even if the South secedes due to the referendum that is scheduled for 2011. There’s no guarantee for any lasting peace in Sudan since this NCP/NIF remains in power in the country.
History is repeating itself again In Sudan and it could be for the worst. This is especially true for
Darfur and other marginalized areas that have never enjoyed any significant representation to share power or wealth in their own country since the independence of Sudan in January 1956 from United Kingdom.
This time, the worst form of colonialism will be from fascists and fundamentalists within Sudan itself. Mr. El-Turabi will have renewed influence with Dr. Khalil’s arrival to Khartoum or Darfur. Mr. Sadiq al-Mahdi, the former Prime Minister and “Umma Party” leader that pulled out of the power in Al-Bashir’s June 1989 coup, will also have renewed influence and power. Dr. Tigani Sessi, who signed on behalf of the LJM in Doha, will be back to Khartoum. It is very sad news for major Darfuri people who will never forget what Sadiq al-Mahdi and Tigani Sessi did to them while the Umma Party was in power. The Umma Party has created the first conflict in Darfur when It favored Arab tribes in Darfur against the black African tribes, and created special militias called in that time ” Al-firs an.” “Al-firs an” is an Arabic version of the term “the Knights” in English.
Weapons were provided by Sadiq al-Mahdi to arm this “Al-Firs an” militia, which started the attacks against the black farmers while they grow their crops These weapons came from the Umma defense minister and General Fadlalla Burma Nasser, who at that time was part of the Arab tribes. The Arab Firsan militia drove their animals into the farms and started shooting anyone who blocked their animals. It was the beginning of the Darfur war era during that time in the early 1980’s .
Then the regional conflict was exacerbated by the war between Libya and Chad. Thousands of pro-Libya fighters (the so-called “Arab Gathering Forces,” “Arab Islamic Army Corps,” “Olad Salih Group”) were allowed by the Sadiq al-Mahdi government at that time to use Darfur territory to attack Chad from East. This happened while Libyan troops were attacking Chad from Libyan borders with Chad. The war between Chad and Libya was known as the “Ouzo War,” because both Libya and Chad claimed the Ouzo area belongs to its territory
After being defeated by Hussein Habry of Chad, these forces scattered in the area from Chad to Darfur and Central Africa looking for safe haven. This situation contributed to the disaster of extensive distribution of cheaply sold arms to Arab herders in the area; some Arab herders were given such weapons as free gifts as well. This helped to create the chaos in Darfur from that time, with the Umma Party playing a big role in that conflict.
When Al-Bashir came to the power by coup in 1989, he recruited these same elements, reorganized them, trained them, and paid them salaries, and provided them logistical support to use against the same black Darfuris from Massaleit, Fur, Dajo, Zagawa, Gimir Tama Bargo and other minorities.
Under Al-Bashir’s rule, the only difference was that the militia’s name of Al-Firsan was changed to “Janjaweed,” and the renamed “Janjaweed” militia began using more sophisticated weapons and trucks, in addition to horses and camels.
Most Darfuris will never forget these grievances. They will never forget how Sadiq al-Mahdi of the Umma Party humiliated them in many ways during his two terms ruling Sudan in 1964 and 1986. Mr. Mahdi never made any development in Darfur; no schools, hospitals, or even wells for water were built in Darfur. He advised Darfuris to send their children to” Koranic Khalawas” instead of schools, to prevent them from learning about science and politics, so that would not have the chance to understand their human rights or develop the ambition to demand power for Darfuris.
This is the same mentality of all Arabs of the ruling parties in Sudan. It is their ultimate policy to keep the black African Sudanese — from Darfur to South Sudan, Nuba Mountains, and the Beja of East — as illiterate and marginalized so that it will be easier for them to rule over forever.
These tactics have not changed and have only become worse with the Al-Bashir government. They are all the same: NCP, Umma, DUP, Communist, Bathists, and the rest of Arab’s current new parties. Sudan and Darfur doesn’t need more Mahadis, Turabis, Communists, or Islamists.
Let the people of Darfur and the rest of those marginalized people in Sudan have justice first, then they will decide who they will choose to govern them. Flawed peace agreements have been beginning with Abuja in 2006 with Sudan and SLA splintered factions of Arkuwi Mennawi in Doha. Such flawed peace agreements choose a version of peace that ignores justice and ignores human rights. There is no lasting peace that does not begin with justice and human rights. The only ones who benefit from such flawed peace agreements are the Sudanese genocidal government that seeks to stay longer in power to kill more people and destabilize the entire region.
The US and the United Nations along with the international community must stop the Sudan government from committing more atrocities. We need to hold them all accountable, instead of promoting them. No peace will be without justice, and the only way for long lasting peace in Sudan would be through Justice.
Middle East Online reports on the views of ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo who states that the elections planned for April 11 through 13, 2010 in the Sudan are similar to a “monitoring a Hitler election.” Middle East Online also reports that ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo told them ” it was the duty of the Sudanese government in the first place to arrest” President Omar al-Bashir.
Middle East Online reports:
— “The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Tuesday likened Sudanese elections scheduled for next month to ‘a Hitler election.'”
— “The comment came the day after Sudan threatened to expel foreign observers after rejecting their call to delay the country’s first multi-party polls in 24 years over concerns about the way they are being organised.”
— “President Omar al-Beshir issued the warning in an address to supporters in the eastern city of Port Sudan on Monday after the electoral commission decided to press ahead and stage the elections next month as planned.”
— “The EU’s observers on the ground are facing ‘a big challenge,’ Moreno-Ocampo told a press conference in Brussels.”
— “‘It’s like monitoring a Hitler election,’ he added.”
— “The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president on five counts of crimes against humanity, including genocide, and two of war crimes committed in Darfur — its first-ever warrant for a sitting head of state.”
— “Moreno-Ocampo said it was the duty of the Sudanese government in the first place to arrest Beshir.”
— “An ICC appeals chamber last month ordered a review of Beshir’s arrest warrant for alleged atrocities in the war-torn western Sudanese province of Darfur.”
— “It directed judges to reconsider their decision to omit genocide from the warrant issued in March last year, saying they had made ‘an error in law.'”
— “The Sudanese legislative, regional and presidential elections, is scheduled for April 11-13.”
Sudan: VOA – “UN: Clashes on Rise in South Sudan as Polls Near”
— VOA: “A U.N. official says incidents of inter-tribal violence have escalated in South Sudan before key elections, killing 450 and displacing nearly 60,000 since the beginning of this year. The April vote is to be Sudan’s first multi-party polls in 24 years”
As the International Criminal Court ruled that Sudan President Omar al-Bashir may be charged with genocide, Damanga, Sudan human rights activists, and their supporters rallied in Washington DC at the Capitol and the White House on February 3, 2010. The Sudan human rights activists supporters called for the U.S. Congress, President Obama, and Vice President Biden to do more to end the genocide in Darfur and Sudan. Activists at the rallies came from around the country, including some from San Francisco, California.
Sudan and Human Rights Activists Rally in Washington DC - February 3, 2010
The human rights rally began in the morning at the Capitol building on the Capitol West Lawn, where activists turned up despite a late night snow that brought 3-5 inches on snow on the roads.
Sudan Human Rights Activists Rally Outside Capitol to Stop the Genocide in Darfur and Support Human Rights for All
At the Capitol, Damanga’s Mohamed Yahya spoke about the current situation in Darfur and why every day mattered, calling for U.S. Congressional representatives to take action on Darfur.
Major issues addressed by Damanga at the Capitol rally included topics such as urging the U.S. government and Obama adminstration to:
* STOP ICC-indicted President Omar Al-Bashir’s bid for re-election
* STOP sentence issuance for Darfuri Opposition Leaders without guaranteeing them rights to a fair trial
* STOP unfair elections & promote free and legitimate FUTURE elections including a freed Darfur.
* CANCEL the Doha Negotiotians for Peace that lack proper Darfuri representation
* IMPLEMENT UNSC Res.1769 that calls for 26,000 UN troops to be deployed to Darfur.
* REMOVE Arab Janjaweed and their families out of Darfuri land.
* GUARANTEE PROTECTION and compensation for Darfuri villagers wanting to return to their homes.
* ALLOW expelled humanitarian organizations back in Darfur to help genocide victims
* CLARIFY the US policy towards Darfur.
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks into Megaphone at Capitol Rally
In addition, Ibrahim Tahir, President, Beja Congress organization from East Sudan spoke and called for urgent action by the world community on the Darfur situation.
Ibrahim Tahir Speaks in Support of Sudan Human Rights at Capitol
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)‘s Jeffrey Imm called upon the American people to realize that we cannot tolerate another day of genocide in the Sudan, and that stopping genocide is the responsibility of every human being as part of our shared responsibility for equality and liberty for each other, stating that in the face of genocidal conflict, “we are all Darfurians.”
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya, R.E.A.L's Jeffrey Imm, and Other Activists at Capitol
After the Capitol rally, many of the activists then marched to the White House, where the rally continued.
At the White House, Ms. Niemat Ahmadai with the Darfur Women Action Group spoke out in support calling for action to protect the Sudanese people and calling for an end to the Genocide in Darfur. Mr. Khalid Graise, Director, Nubia Forum of North Sudan, also spoke calling for the the international community to support the ICC’s warrant against Sudanese President Al-Bashir. Damanga’s Mohamed Yahya had a message for President Barack Obama asking him not to forget his campaign promises to take action in Darfur.
The Obama campaign had stated that: “As president, Obama will take immediate steps to end the genocide in Darfur by increasing pressure on the Sudanese and pressure the government to halt the killing and stop impeding the deployment of a robust international force.”
Ms. Niemat Ahmadai, Darfur Women Action Group, Speaks in Support of Darfur Human Rights at White House
After the rally, Damanga’s Mohamed Yahya sought to present a letter to U.S. President Obama at the White House to address Damanga and other Darfur human rights activists concerns on Darfur and Sudan. The U.S. Secret Service could not accept the physical letter at the gate, and Mohamed Yahya agreed to fax the letter to President Obama.
Mr. Yahya thanked the activists for coming out in the winter weather for the Capitol and White House rallies, and appreciated their friendship. He also thanked American people and people around the world, including the Jewish and Christian communities, that have come out to support the Sudanese people on the issue of human rights in Darfur. Mr. Yahya hoped that the in the future, rather than future rallies, we could get together to celebrate the end of Al-Bashir’s crimes against the Darfur and Sudanese people and that we could celebrate freedom and human rights for all in the Sudan.
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February 2 Letter from Mohamed Yahya to Supporters:
Dear Friends and Darfur Supporters,
We would like to let you know that what we have anticipated was happening now. THE SNOW. We have encouraged by many of you who
decided to come out to the rally this morning despite the bad weather. Challenging the snow and deliver the letter the president. We know that
the Congressmen and Women who wanted to attend might not able to make it. However, We are trying to do our best and take this challenge for the Victims living in Hell in Darfur. Thank you for those coming from outside the area, Philadelphia, Virginia , Maryland and New Jersey. We are so proud of you even if you are not able to make it for the weather for cast changes. Your spirits will be with us.
Thank you for the media, Specially PBS and other TV Chanel’s who wanted to come.
Please stay in touch and let’s to have some fun together if this snow will witness to write a new victory for those suffering in Darfur, Specially while we observing the ICC announcement this morning regarding genocide in Darfur.
Please check your letter that you all signed to be delivered to President Obama. The letter attached here also as a witness and evidence for your enormous support. Also find the list of the confirmed speakers below:
1- Mr. Mohamed A. Yahya, Founder/ Executive director,
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.
2- Mr. Andrew Eiva, Director of Freedom 4 Sudan.
3- Ms. Niemat Ahmadai, Liaison Officer, Save Darfur Coalition,
4- Mr. Ibrahim Tahir, President, Beja Congress organization from East Sudan,
5- Mr. Garelnabi Abusikin, Out reach Director,
Darfur Human Rights of the USA, Philadelphia,
6- Mr. Khalid Graise, Director, Nubia Forum of North Sudan,
7- Ms. Faith McDonnell, Director of the Religious Liberty Program.
8- Mr. Nouredin Mannan, Nubian Community Organization- MD.
9- Mr. Hayder Abdalla, Charlottesville Darfur Community.
10- Mr. Jeffrey Imm, Director of R.E.A.L. Responsible for Equality and Liberty.
We, the Undersigned people from Darfur, along with our fellow Sudanese brothers and sisters and American activists working in solidarity, would like to thank you and the people of America for your voiced commitment and action to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur in an effort to bring about needed change for all of Sudan. During the election campaign, you insisted that the “Darfur problem is a stain on our souls and we need to stop it.” We are still counting on you and your leadership to act on this statement. A year has passed since this initial statement, but little has changed in Darfur. Despite news reports that consider the situation in Darfur improving, Sudanese airplane attacks, Janjaweed raids on Darfuri civilians, and fighting between rebel and government forces has continued leading up to the Doha, Qatar talks scheduled for later this month, the April 2010 elections, and the 2011 South Sudan referendum decision.
Mr. President, Our gravest concerns are the followings:
1. Your administration is currently supporting superficial Doha peace negotiations that lack Darfuri representation. NCP representatives that support the current regime are replacing Darfuri victims’ representation at the negotiations. The major faction groups within Darfur, as well as NGOs from the region, also lack representation. The Doha Forum is thus fully dominated by NCP, the Arab League, and the African Union, not to mention that Qatar itself is partial to the regime. Darfuri’s simple demand, “give justice a chance first,” will continue to be left unanswered in Qatar. No concrete or lasting peace can be achieved in such conditions, reinforced by the fact that indicted war criminals Ahmad Horoun and Salih Kusheeb remain at large. Peace cannot be formulated without this important restoration of justice.
2. The undemocratic election process in Sudan is allowing indicted Al-Bashir and his NCP party to run for presidency in April 2010. In the months leading up to the election, the NCP government has forced protesting Darfuris to register for the election (people of Darfur stated clearly that they will never accept or register for unfair elections that do not respect their right to restore justice, peace, and democracy) and have further arrested, beaten, and killed individuals that have voiced public opposition or have demonstrated for free and fair elections. Without taking action regarding this gross violation of human rights and failing to enforce the ICC indictments, the U.S. is sending a strong political and moral message to both Sudan and the rest of the world that a government indicted for crimes against humanity is a legitimate, justified administration of a modern day country. Al-Bashir must be rightfully arrested and charged for his crimes against humanity and prevented from using intimidation tactics and fraudulent methods to win the April 2010 elections.
3. Since 2007, the implementation of special resolution UNSC 1769 that would send a powerful and robust force of western peacekeepers to Darfur has not been fulfilled. We ask that the full mandate of this resolution be implemented.
4. On January 21, Al-Bashir government has revoked the licenses of 26 humanitarian organizations working in Darfur, accusing them of “breaking the law” without any further specification. Furthermore, the government sent warnings to other 13 charitable organizations, that they must comply with the country’s laws through 30 days or face the same consequences. This action follows his previous expulsion of 13 NGOs in March 2009 following the announcement of his indictment. Little (if any) help is left for Darfuris as Al-Bashir continues expelling NGOs and harassing peacekeepers and poisoning Darfuri water resources. We thus urge you to implement the following: form an international committee co-directed by the US & the UN to stop expulsion of NGOs from the region (and return those that have been expelled), and free all Darfuri and Sudanese detainees and grant them free and fair trials.
5. We need to see a clear and well-defined US policy towards Sudan and its current government. Since The Secretary of States, Ms. Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice and General Scott Gration announced your administration’s policy towards Sudan last year, we have never witnessed a palpable implementation or effective execution of these policies towards Darfur.
6. The Janjaweed and their families that have resettled on land that belongs to the people of Darfur must be removed immediately. After this initial evacuation, subsequent protection and compensation should be granted to Darfuris planning on returning to this land where their villages once existed.
7. Mr. President, The best solution for Sudan is to be united as one country, with respect to the CPA agreement that gives South Sudan rights for self-determination and a vote to secede under the 2011 referendum. It is imperative to realize that the South’s desire to secede arises from a foundation of complaints similar to the people of Darfur: unfair (and lack of) adequate representation in the Sudanese government, infringements on basic human rights at the will of the regime, and continual violence and destruction of their homeland. We can thus use the situation in South Sudan as a form of political leverage to restore justice, peace, and democracy for all of Sudan and thus create a harmonious, unified state.
Finally, Mr. President, we want to reiterate that we fully understand the difficult challenges facing all of our nations at this critical time in history. However, this is not an excuse to distract us from restoring justice for the people in Darfur. We want to remind you of the commitment you made when the whole world was watching: “Darfur will be my priority when I take office”. Mr. President Obama, we urge you to live up to your promises.
You are not only the leader of America, but you are the leader of the world as the face of America. Please do not let us, the citizens of America, the people of Sudan, and the citizens of the world, down.
Thank you.
1- Ms. Janette Lane Bradbury, California
2- Mr. Mohamed A. Yahya, Founder / Executive Director, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
http://www.damanga.org
Falls Church –VA
3- Ms. Mastora Bakheit, Director, Darfur Women for Peace and Development, Indiana.
4 – Ms. Munira Mohamed, Director, Miram Dar organization, Minnesota.
5-Mr. Andrew Eiva, Director, Freedom 4 Sudan, Washington DC.
6-Ms. Supriya A.Desai, Darfur Activist, New Jersey
7-Mr. Daowd Salih, President, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, New Jersey.
8- Dr. Adam Gaiser, Professor of Religions Studies and Islamic Research, University of Florida State.
“Mohammed Adam Yahya is a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan and is the founder and Executive Director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. From 1995 to 2005, he was Chairman and spokesman of the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile, which was the first human rights group to alert the international community to human rights abuses in western Sudan. Mr. Yahya was born in a small village east of Al-Geneina, the capital of Darmassaleit (West Darfur state). Both as a child and adult, he experienced the brutal racism that permeates Sudanese society. In 1993, his village witnessed the first attacks of the Sudanese government’s Arab militia raiders, known as janjaweed. Yahya’s home was completely decimated and most of his relatives and neighbors were shot, raped, or burned alive in their huts. Yahya was studying at Al-Azhar University in Cairo at the time his village was destroyed. He received word that his parents were safe, but he lost 21 other family members. Yahya and other Sudanese students living in Cairo sought to alert the international community to the humanitarian crisis that had begun to unfold. In 1995, they formed the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile (RMCE). The RMCE’s founding members came from many different ethnic Sudanese backgrounds including the Massaleit, Fur, Dajo, Zagawa, Bargo, Gimir, Tama, Berty, Barno, and Meme, in addition to people from the Nuba Mountains, southern Sudan and elsewhere. The RMCE began this work by writing reports and circulating them on foot to all the international embassies in Cairo. Their first major open letter to the international community, “The Hidden Slaughter and Ethnic Cleansing in Western Sudan,” was distributed in 1999. Over the next couple of years it was widely referenced by the United Nations General Assembly and Secretary-General Kofi Annan, along with organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Between 1999 and 2003, working in Cairo with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Yahya and the RMCE were also able to sponsor more than 20,000 refugees from various parts of Sudan. They helped ensure that nearly 95% of the people fleeing Sudan received political asylum and resettlement in Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. In 2002, fearing reprisal from the Sudanese government for his humanitarian and advocacy work, Yahya sought political asylum in the United States. After his relocation to Charlottesville, Virginia, Yahya founded Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, in order to continue and expand on the work of the RMCE.”
The pro-freedom Damanga group is planning a rally and march to the White House on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 in Washington DC. The Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy is led by Mr. Mohamed Yahya, whose Damanga group was founded by leaders of the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile (RMCE), whose cause is to seek human rights for the Darfur and Sudanese people. They oppose the ongoing genocide in Sudan. They seek to provide a letter to President Barack Obama on their concerns regarding Darfur and the Sudanese people at the White House.
Damanga “promotes the human rights of the people of Darfur, Sudan and elsewhere in the world. We educate the people of the region, the United States of America and beyond about their rights to freedom, equality and participation in government. Damanga seeks to aid the disempowered, including the victims of the Darfur conflict, through charitable work supporting education and livelihoods, so these people can work for the preservation of their communities.”
Rally from West Capitol Hill from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
March to the White House at 12:00 Noon
Urge the Obama Administration to…
* STOP ICC-indicted President Omar Al-Bashir’s bid for re-election
* STOP sentence issuance for Darfuri Opposition Leaders without guaranteeing them rights to a fair trial
* STOP unfair elections & promote free and legitimate FUTURE elections including a freed Darfur.
* CANCEL the Doha Negotiotians for Peace that lack proper Darfuri representation
* IMPLEMENT UNSC Res.1769 that calls for 26,000 UN troops to be deployed to Darfur.
* REMOVE Arab Janjaweed and their families out of Darfuri land.
* GUARANTEE PROTECTION and compensation for Darfuri villagers wanting to return to their homes.
* ALLOW expelled humanitarian organizations back in Darfur to help genocide victims
* CLARIFY the US policy towards Darfur.
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.
—
Mohamed Yahya
Mohamed Yahya, Executive Director of Damanga
Founder/ Executive Director:
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy,
T-703-310-4424.
F-703-888-3364
E-mail: mohamed.yahya@damanga.org
=========================================
February 2 Letter from Mohamed Yahya to Supporters:
Dear Friends and Darfur Supporters,
We would like to let you know that what we have anticipated was happening now. THE SNOW. We have encouraged by many of you who
decided to come out to the rally this morning despite the bad weather. Challenging the snow and deliver the letter the president. We know that
the Congressmen and Women who wanted to attend might not able to make it. However, We are trying to do our best and take this challenge for the Victims living in Hell in Darfur. Thank you for those coming from outside the area, Philadelphia, Virginia , Maryland and New Jersey. We are so proud of you even if you are not able to make it for the weather for cast changes. Your spirits will be with us.
Thank you for the media, Specially PBS and other TV Chanel’s who wanted to come.
Please stay in touch and let’s to have some fun together if this snow will witness to write a new victory for those suffering in Darfur, Specially while we observing the ICC announcement this morning regarding genocide in Darfur.
Please check your letter that you all signed to be delivered to President Obama. The letter attached here also as a witness and evidence for your enormous support. Also find the list of the confirmed speakers below:
1- Mr. Mohamed A. Yahya, Founder/ Executive director,
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.
2- Mr. Andrew Eiva, Director of Freedom 4 Sudan.
3- Ms. Niemat Ahmadai, Liaison Officer, Save Darfur Coalition,
4- Mr. Ibrahim Tahir, President, Beja Congress organization from East Sudan,
5- Mr. Garelnabi Abusikin, Out reach Director,
Darfur Human Rights of the USA, Philadelphia,
6- Mr. Khalid Graise, Director, Nubia Forum of North Sudan,
7- Ms. Faith McDonnell, Director of the Religious Liberty Program.
8- Mr. Nouredin Mannan, Nubian Community Organization- MD.
9- Mr. Hayder Abdalla, Charlottesville Darfur Community.
10- Mr. Jeffrey Imm, Director of R.E.A.L. Rights for Equality and Liberty.
We, the Undersigned people from Darfur, along with our fellow Sudanese brothers and sisters and American activists working in solidarity, would like to thank you and the people of America for your voiced commitment and action to stop the ongoing genocide in Darfur in an effort to bring about needed change for all of Sudan. During the election campaign, you insisted that the “Darfur problem is a stain on our souls and we need to stop it.” We are still counting on you and your leadership to act on this statement. A year has passed since this initial statement, but little has changed in Darfur. Despite news reports that consider the situation in Darfur improving, Sudanese airplane attacks, Janjaweed raids on Darfuri civilians, and fighting between rebel and government forces has continued leading up to the Doha, Qatar talks scheduled for later this month, the April 2010 elections, and the 2011 South Sudan referendum decision.
Mr. President, Our gravest concerns are the followings:
1. Your administration is currently supporting superficial Doha peace negotiations that lack Darfuri representation. NCP representatives that support the current regime are replacing Darfuri victims’ representation at the negotiations. The major faction groups within Darfur, as well as NGOs from the region, also lack representation. The Doha Forum is thus fully dominated by NCP, the Arab League, and the African Union, not to mention that Qatar itself is partial to the regime. Darfuri’s simple demand, “give justice a chance first,” will continue to be left unanswered in Qatar. No concrete or lasting peace can be achieved in such conditions, reinforced by the fact that indicted war criminals Ahmad Horoun and Salih Kusheeb remain at large. Peace cannot be formulated without this important restoration of justice.
2. The undemocratic election process in Sudan is allowing indicted Al-Bashir and his NCP party to run for presidency in April 2010. In the months leading up to the election, the NCP government has forced protesting Darfuris to register for the election (people of Darfur stated clearly that they will never accept or register for unfair elections that do not respect their right to restore justice, peace, and democracy) and have further arrested, beaten, and killed individuals that have voiced public opposition or have demonstrated for free and fair elections. Without taking action regarding this gross violation of human rights and failing to enforce the ICC indictments, the U.S. is sending a strong political and moral message to both Sudan and the rest of the world that a government indicted for crimes against humanity is a legitimate, justified administration of a modern day country. Al-Bashir must be rightfully arrested and charged for his crimes against humanity and prevented from using intimidation tactics and fraudulent methods to win the April 2010 elections.
3. Since 2007, the implementation of special resolution UNSC 1769 that would send a powerful and robust force of western peacekeepers to Darfur has not been fulfilled. We ask that the full mandate of this resolution be implemented.
4. On January 21, Al-Bashir government has revoked the licenses of 26 humanitarian organizations working in Darfur, accusing them of “breaking the law” without any further specification. Furthermore, the government sent warnings to other 13 charitable organizations, that they must comply with the country’s laws through 30 days or face the same consequences. This action follows his previous expulsion of 13 NGOs in March 2009 following the announcement of his indictment. Little (if any) help is left for Darfuris as Al-Bashir continues expelling NGOs and harassing peacekeepers and poisoning Darfuri water resources. We thus urge you to implement the following: form an international committee co-directed by the US & the UN to stop expulsion of NGOs from the region (and return those that have been expelled), and free all Darfuri and Sudanese detainees and grant them free and fair trials.
5. We need to see a clear and well-defined US policy towards Sudan and its current government. Since The Secretary of States, Ms. Hillary Clinton, Ambassador Susan Rice and General Scott Gration announced your administration’s policy towards Sudan last year, we have never witnessed a palpable implementation or effective execution of these policies towards Darfur.
6. The Janjaweed and their families that have resettled on land that belongs to the people of Darfur must be removed immediately. After this initial evacuation, subsequent protection and compensation should be granted to Darfuris planning on returning to this land where their villages once existed.
7. Mr. President, The best solution for Sudan is to be united as one country, with respect to the CPA agreement that gives South Sudan rights for self-determination and a vote to secede under the 2011 referendum. It is imperative to realize that the South’s desire to secede arises from a foundation of complaints similar to the people of Darfur: unfair (and lack of) adequate representation in the Sudanese government, infringements on basic human rights at the will of the regime, and continual violence and destruction of their homeland. We can thus use the situation in South Sudan as a form of political leverage to restore justice, peace, and democracy for all of Sudan and thus create a harmonious, unified state.
Finally, Mr. President, we want to reiterate that we fully understand the difficult challenges facing all of our nations at this critical time in history. However, this is not an excuse to distract us from restoring justice for the people in Darfur. We want to remind you of the commitment you made when the whole world was watching: “Darfur will be my priority when I take office”. Mr. President Obama, we urge you to live up to your promises.
You are not only the leader of America, but you are the leader of the world as the face of America. Please do not let us, the citizens of America, the people of Sudan, and the citizens of the world, down.
Thank you.
1- Ms. Janette Lane Bradbury,
10817 Kling Street Toluka Lake,
CA 91602
2- Mr. Mohamed A. Yahya,
Founder / Executive Director,
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
www.damanga.org.
Falls Church –VA
3- Ms. Mastora Bakheit,
Director, Darfur Women for Peace and Development,
Indiana.
4-Ms. Munira Mohamed,
Director, Miram Dar organization
Minnesota.
5-Mr. Andrew Eiva,
Director, Freedom 4 Sudan.
Washington DC.
6-Ms. Supriya A.Desai,
Darfur Activist, New Jersey,
7-Mr. Daowd Salih,
President, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy.
Tell- 908-727-0128
New Jersey.
8- Dr. Adam Gaiser,
Professor of religions Studies and Islamic research,
University of Florida State.
13- Ms. Katie Scott, Director of Community Programming,
Stop Genocide Now. California.
14- Ms. Tragi Mustafa, Darfuri Activist,
Canada.
15- Ms. Nell Okie, Darfur Activist,
Connecticut Coalition to Save Darfur.
Tel-203-415-0465
16- Dr. Howard Chudler, Darfur Activist,
17- Mr. Bakheit A. Shata,
Founder/ Executive Director,
Darfur Community Organization
1117 N 48 St. # 19 Omaha, NE 68132
Tel- 402-934-2617. www.darfur Community.org
18- Dr. Jerry Ehrlich
USA.
19- Mr. Yahya Osman, President,
Darfur Rehabilitation Project,
New Jersey.
20- Mr. Gafar O. Kangam,
Director of Public Relations.
Voices for Sudan, Virginia.
21- Mr. Ablelkarim Bacher,
Darfuri Activist, San Francisco- CA.
22- Mr. Abdulrahman Siddig Abdulla,
Darfuri Activist, Europe.
23- Mr. Garelnabi Abu Sikin,
Out Reach Director,
Darfur Human Rights Organization,
Philadelphia.
24- Mr. Hayder Abdalla,
Darfuri Activist, Charlottesville, VA.
25- Mr. Ibrahim Tahir, President,
Beja Congress of East Sudan,
Virginia.
26- Mr. Noureldin Mannan, Activist,
Nubia People of North Sudan,
Maryland.
27- Mr. Alghali Shigifat,
Sudanese Journalist and Darfuri Activist.
Philadelphia.
28- Mr. Ibrahim Ali,
Darfuri Activist, West Virginia.
29- Dr. Abdulgabar Adam, President,
Darfur Human Rights Organization,
Philadelphia.
“Mohammed Adam Yahya is a refugee from the Darfur region of Sudan and is the founder and Executive Director of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. From 1995 to 2005, he was Chairman and spokesman of the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile, which was the first human rights group to alert the international community to human rights abuses in western Sudan. Mr. Yahya was born in a small village east of Al-Geneina, the capital of Darmassaleit (West Darfur state). Both as a child and adult, he experienced the brutal racism that permeates Sudanese society. In 1993, his village witnessed the first attacks of the Sudanese government’s Arab militia raiders, known as janjaweed. Yahya’s home was completely decimated and most of his relatives and neighbors were shot, raped, or burned alive in their huts. Yahya was studying at Al-Azhar University in Cairo at the time his village was destroyed. He received word that his parents were safe, but he lost 21 other family members. Yahya and other Sudanese students living in Cairo sought to alert the international community to the humanitarian crisis that had begun to unfold. In 1995, they formed the Representatives of the Massaleit Community in Exile (RMCE). The RMCE’s founding members came from many different ethnic Sudanese backgrounds including the Massaleit, Fur, Dajo, Zagawa, Bargo, Gimir, Tama, Berty, Barno, and Meme, in addition to people from the Nuba Mountains, southern Sudan and elsewhere. The RMCE began this work by writing reports and circulating them on foot to all the international embassies in Cairo. Their first major open letter to the international community, “The Hidden Slaughter and Ethnic Cleansing in Western Sudan,” was distributed in 1999. Over the next couple of years it was widely referenced by the United Nations General Assembly and Secretary-General Kofi Annan, along with organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Between 1999 and 2003, working in Cairo with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Yahya and the RMCE were also able to sponsor more than 20,000 refugees from various parts of Sudan. They helped ensure that nearly 95% of the people fleeing Sudan received political asylum and resettlement in Europe, Canada, Australia and the United States. In 2002, fearing reprisal from the Sudanese government for his humanitarian and advocacy work, Yahya sought political asylum in the United States. After his relocation to Charlottesville, Virginia, Yahya founded Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, in order to continue and expand on the work of the RMCE.”
Travelers to Washington DC events frequently find parking to be either expensive or at a premium; many find that the most efficient way to get there is via the subway. The Washington DC subway is fast and efficient, and you will be able to park at a stop in Maryland and Virginia to come into the city. This weblink provides a map of Washington subway system. You can plan your trip from the Washington DC subway web site. While the DC subway is usually a reliable form of transportation, it makes good sense to double-check on any possible service disruptions before heading out to events, in terms of allowing sufficient travel time.
— CNN reports: ” Judges at the International Criminal Court ruled Wednesday that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir may be charged with genocide for his role in a five-year campaign of violence in western Sudan’s Darfur region.”
— “Al-Bashir, who remains in office, has already been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had the genocide charge on his original arrest warrant for al-Bashir, but the pre-trial judges left off the charge when they approved the warrant last March.”
— “The appeals judges said the pre-trial chamber had applied an ‘erroneous standard of proof’ to the genocide charge.”
— “The judges said they were not ruling on whether al-Bashir should be charged with genocide — only whether the charge could be added to the arrest warrant. They said it will be up to the pre-trial chamber to determine whether to add the charge to the warrant, which could take several weeks.”
— “The International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands, is a permanent, treaty-based tribunal dealing with the most serious crimes against humanity.”
Sudanese Candidate Al-Mahdi Wouldn’t Hand Over Bashir to ICC
— Bloomberg reports: “Sudan’s last elected leader, Sadig al-Mahdi, says he won’t hand President Umar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court if he wins the presidency in April in the country’s first multiparty elections in 24 years.”
— “Bashir, who overthrew then-prime minister al-Mahdi in a 1989 military coup, is wanted by the Hague-based ICC on charges of being responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the seven-year-old conflict in the western region of Darfur. ”
