Tag: Damanga

Mohamed Yahya October 17 Remarks – United Nations

UN Book Wish Foundation Organization Conference October 17, NYC

Mohamed Yahya, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy

See also

Video link of October 17, 2011 conference – John Prendergast, Mohamed Yahya, Udo Janz, and Grainne O’Hara– U.N. Conference on Libraries in Chad for Sudanese Refugees

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Ladies and Gentlemen –
Good afternoon. My name is Mohamed Yahya, and I am a survivor of the genocide in Sudan and Darfur. I lead the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. I would like to thank the UNHCR, the UN Office for Partnerships, and the Book Wish Foundation for the invitation to speak to you today. I am deeply moved and grateful that proceeds from the book “What You Wish For” will be used to develop libraries in Eastern Chad refugee camps where many of my fellow Sudanese refuges live. They need hope, they need dreams, and they need their culture and history. I too was a refugee from Sudan, before ultimately coming to this country, and so I can tell you it means a lot to me. This is a great initiative by the Book Wish Foundation, and we can’t thank you enough for this program to help provide libraries of books to help the lives of the surviving refugees in Chad. We express our great gratitude in your efforts to help Sudanese refugees in Chad who had lost hope in getting an education. With the ongoing genocidal war, they lost the lives of their loved ones, lands, farms, belongings, animals, and properties. We also extend our thanks to those you who visited Darfur and Chad several times, putting your lives in the front to save the lives of others, providing them with the necessary means for survival or education.

As human beings, we are inspired by our wishes, our ideas, and our dreams. Many of these we find in books. Books help us grow. Books help make us who we are. Books help give us freedom.

In the West, I have read books that speak of great ideas and philosophy, including writing by Nelson Mandela. I have read great poetry and I enjoy Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry. I have read great books of drama and struggle such as those by Leo Tolstoy. I have read great religious books from people of all faiths and different philosophers. I have read many inspirational and historical books from around the world and in different languages. These books tell great stories, provide great education, and inspire great ideas.

I ask you to imagine this. What if you were not allowed to read them? What if you were not allowed to read books, poems, history books about your culture and your heritage? Books help us grow. But what if someone refuses to let you read them? This is what has happened in Sudan and Darfur, under Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir.

Imagine if someone tried to take your imagination, your history, your culture, and your books away from you? That has been the case in Sudan and Darfur.

Sudan’s Omar Al-Bashir has led a long genocide against people in Darfur and Sudan. But the genocide is not just killing my brothers and sisters there. The genocide is also trying to erase their culture, their heritage, their ideas, and their dreams.

Imagine if someone tried to prevent books on your culture, your history, and your dreams – to try to erase your identity. That is how genocide begins.

It is a crime against all of humanity, including all of you here. We need the genocide to stop, and we need to heal the Sudanese and Darfuri people who have suffered.

This is why the work you are doing with this initiative is so important not only just for the Sudanese refugees, but also for humanity. We thank you and humanity thanks you.

I wish to recognize all those involved who have sought to defend in some way, the struggle of the Sudanese and Darfuri people from the genocidal war. I wish to recognize all those even killed, raped, or kidnapped while performing their duties, from UN peace keepers to individuals, workers, staffers, teachers of the World Food Program, UNHCR, US AIDS, International Rescue Committee, Enough, Our Humanity In The Balance, Darfuri Associations, African Union, European Community, Physicians for Human Rights, I-ACT, Stop Genocide Now, Save Darfur, American Jews Service, Mia Farrow, human rights organizations, UNICEF, Save the Children, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Darfur Interfaith Network, Eric Reeves, Humanity United, Responsible for Equality And Liberty, Change the World It Just takes Cents, American Jewish World Service, Jewish World Watch, Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, Refugees International, Radio Dabenga, Amnesty International, US Holocaust Museum, Sudan Now,Africa Action, and more.

Someday, you too will be in the books of history. We need to finish the job to end the genocide and to bring freedom to Darfur and Sudan, so that those people will be allowed to read such books.

The Darfuri refugee camps have asked me to bring to your attention, including the UNSC and the US Mission through the UNHCR, the following actions that are urgently needed:

1- The Darfuri refugees are asking for a Non-Fly Zone over Darfur and all the affected areas to stop the Sudanese government’s bombings and protect their lives outside and inside camps and villages.

2- The Darfuri refugees are in need of help to build them more schools, libraries, and a refugees’ university near the Chad border with Darfur to absorb students, who might otherwise end up on the streets or become recruited as a child soldier after high school.

3- We appreciate your ongoing efforts for a peaceful settlement to the Darfur conflict. But the real lasting solution to Darfur conflict should start with justice. Therefore, we need you to support the ICC to bring Al-Bashir and all suspects to justice. Then peace will come and all refugees will peacefully returns back home.

4- We ask all to give full access to the humanitarian organizations and aid workers to reach all refugee camp with shelters, medicine, clean water and food supplies.

Once again we thank you all for your efforts and this wonderful initiative for libraries for the refugees. We share your commitment to ideas, learning, education, and hope for a future of peace, respect, dignity, and human rights for all people.

Mohamed Yahya

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Mohamed Yahya, Damanga Coalition Speaks on Human Rights, at National Press Club on Human Rights Day Event, December 9, 2010 (photo: Epoch Times)

DC: White House Protesters Call for Action on Sudan’s Omar Al-Bashir for Genocide

The Sudanese diaspora and a wide range of human rights activists protested outside of the White House today, sometimes during the rain on a hot July afternoon, calling for U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration to take action on the International Criminal Court (ICC) July 12, 2010 warrant against Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir on three charges of genocide.

July 14 was also the second anniversary of the July 14, 2008 ICC decision to issue an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President al-Bashir for his role in orchestrating and perpetrating war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

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Protest groups at the White House included the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy, Africa Action, Darfur Interfaith Network, Voices for Sudan, Save Darfur Coalition, Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG), Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Our Humanity in the Balance, and Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). (See online photo album of photos of protesters.)  The protesters also delivered a statement to the White House calling for the U.S. government to take action to end the genocide in Sudan and to ensure justice against Omar Al-Bashir and those responsible for genocide.

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At times standing in the rain in front of the White House in Washington DC, human rights groups demanded that the U.S. government take responsibility for it influence as a world superpower to bring Omar Al-Bashir to justice.  The protesters chanted “Peace and Justice in Darfur,” “Al-Bashir to the ICC,” “War Criminals to the ICC,” and “Peace and Justice in Sudan – Yes We Can,” and they urged President Obama, Vice President Biden, and U.S. Sudan Envoy General Scott Gration to take serious steps against the genocide of the Omar Al-Bashir government.

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Africa Action protesters provided a banner calling for an end “global apartheid,” and the Damanga coalition’s banner called for “Freedom for Darfur.”  R.E.A.L had placards calling for “Justice and Human Rights for Darfur” and “Peace in Sudan Begins with Justice.”

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Damanga Leader Mohamed Yahya spoke of the need to ensure justice for the Darfur people and Sudanese people, and urged the American government to do the right thing and “make history” by taking action against the genocidal architects within the Omar Al-Bashir government.

Damanga Leader Mohamed Yahya Speaks Outside White House
Damanga Leader Mohamed Yahya Speaks Outside White House

Niemat Ahmadi, with Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG) and the Save Darfur Coalition, spoke to urgency need for action in Darfur and thanked the human rights activists for their continued commitment to the cause of struggling for human right in Darfur and Sudan.

Niemat Ahmadi, with Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG) and the Save Darfur Coalition, Speaks
Niemat Ahmadi, with Darfur Women’s Action Group (DWAG) and the Save Darfur Coalition, Speaks

Jimmy Mulla, leader of Voices for Sudan, called for the American government to recognize the importance of the July 12 arrest warrant by the ICC for Omar Al-Bashir and to take action to ensure Al-Bashir faces justice.

Jimmy Mulla, leader of Voices for Sudan, Speaks
Jimmy Mulla, leader of Voices for Sudan, Speaks

Meryl Zendarski, with Africa Action and Our Humanity in the Balance, led protester chants, and called for the American government to recognize the need for justice to achieve peace in Sudan.

Meryl Zordanki, with Africa Action and Our Humanity in the Balance Speaks
Meryl Zendarski, with Africa Action and Our Humanity in the Balance Speaks

Jeffrey Imm, founder of Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.), led protester chants calling for justice in Darfur and Sudan, and spoke of the need for all people to act against genocide as a fundamental violation to human rights.  Jeffrey Imm stated that “just like we rejected Adolf Hitler, so we also reject Omar Al-Bashir.”  He stated that “genocide is our problem,” and that just like we cannot have peace and security without justice anywhere in the world, we must have justice to achieve peace and security in Sudan.  He called for the American government to action against those responsible for genocide, and stated that enforcing our universal human rights is a law enforcement responsibility for the governments of the world, and is part of our shared responsibility for equality and liberty.

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Damanga Leader Mohamed Yahya thanked all of the volunteers at the protest, including the student protesters that are always there in support of Sudan and Darfur human rights issues.  Mohamed Yahya urged all Americans to be part of history by making such human rights issues a priority in their government and their lives, and seeking to bring justice to those responsible for genocide.

Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks at White House
Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks at White House
Protesters at White House in Support of Justice in Darfur and Sudan
Protesters at White House in Support of Justice in Darfur and Sudan
Protesters Listen as Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks on "Historic" Opportunity for Justice in Darfur and Sudan
Protesters Listen as Damanga's Mohamed Yahya Speaks on "Historic" Opportunity for Justice in Darfur and Sudan
Protesters for Justice Undiscouraged by Rain
Protesters for Justice Undiscouraged by Rain

As the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) stated in its press release on the July 12, 2010 warrant for genocide against Sudan President Omar Al-Bashir, “Justice requires that President Al Bashir respond to these very serious charges against him.”

The Continuing Tragedy of Darfur and the Failure of America to Act

A recent R.E.A.L.  posting described the continuing tragedy in Darfur and Sudan and the failure of the U.S. government administration to effectively act to ensure justice for those victimized by Omar Al-Bashir’s genocide.

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.

Omar Al-Bashir Charged with Three Counts of Genocide by the ICC (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)
Omar Al-Bashir Charged with Three Counts of Genocide by the ICC (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Omar Al-Bashir was recently re-elected in an “election” that was widely disputed as fraudulent, with even the Sudan National Election committee recognizing irregularities, and was boycotted by many.  Washington DC area Sudanese diaspora and human rights activists protested the Sudanese elections in May 2010.  Sudan is listed as one of the “worst of the worst” nations in terms of human rights, by both the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) and NGOs such as Freedom House.

Despite promises from the Barack Obama administration to take action on the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudanese human rights activists have been disappointed in what many view as efforts by the administration to “normalize” relations with the Omar Al-Bashir administration, which the ICC has now charged with genocide (see more below ICC press release).   U.S. envoy General Scott Gration has stated that he views the Sudan “coordinated genocide” is over.  In May 2009 alone, 600 were killed in Sudan.

See also other R.E.A.L. postings on Sudan.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands with those seeking justice and peace in Sudan and Darfur, in support of our universal human rights.  R.E.A.L. knows that such human rights are mere words if we are not accountable for upholding them.  Such responsibility includes holding those responsible for genocide accountable for their actions.  We call for all of our fellow human beings to speak out on the tragedy in Darfur and Sudan, and to be consistently responsible for equality and liberty.

Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins.

Damanga Response to Opinion Piece on Sudan by George Clooney and John Prendergast

Damanga Response to Opinion Piece on Sudan by George Clooney and John Prendergast

By Mohamed Yahya, Executive Director, Damanga

Mohamed Yahya, Executive Director of Damanga
Mohamed Yahya, Executive Director of Damanga

As Darfur genocide survivors and American human rights activists, we are very disturbed by what Actor George Clooney and “Enough Project” activist John Prendergast has to say about war and peace in Darfur and Sudan. They jointly co-authored an article on June 9, 2010 titled “U.S. must help stop Sudan’s slow-motion war.” While human rights activists certainly seek an end to war and violence, we also recognize that compassionate nations and compassionate people seek justice, equality, dignity, and human rights as the building blocks of any lasting peace.

We are deeply troubled to read that the authors of the opinion piece seek “[p]arallel carrots and sticks are the key to this approach.”  According to the authors, on the “carrots” side, the U.S. should present a quid pro quo with an expiration date by the end of the year.  In exchange for peace in Darfur and the South, the U.S. would move to normalize relations with Sudan and work in the Security Council to suspend the war crimes indictment of President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir under article 16 of the International Criminal Court Charter. On the “sticks” side, the authors call for “a U.S.–led Initiative should build international support for severe consequences for anyone promoting war, whether they are ruling party officials, militias, rebels, or Southern Sudan’s leaders.”

For years, we have heard the same philosophical slogans: “Peace Incentives,” “Door 1 vs. Door 2 scenario,” “carrots and sticks,” and so forth, as if we are dealing with a government of angels or peace-making leaders.  What “carrots” or incentives should people of conscience offer to the architects of genocide? If we accept an international code of Universal Human Rights for all people, is there no responsibility for human rights activists to call for action on such human rights, even in the face of genocide? How can people of conscience and commitment in human rights seriously argue for the need to offer incentives to the terrible government in Sudan, despite the massive crimes being committed against its innocent civilians from Darfur to the South all these years?

Why do we only see offers of incentives instead of serious consequences to a government that has been continuously violating human rights and systematically eliminating an entire ethnic community from their land? Why must the people of Darfur have to wait until the end of the year again over and over to implement such empty promises of action against human rights violators?

When will it be “Enough” of the denial of human rights, justice, freedom, and lasting peace for the victims of Darfur for the Enough Project’s John Prendergast and George Clooney? How much longer must the world continue to appease the genocidal regime of Khartoum and give them time and promotions to continue to strengthen their ability to stay in power to humiliate our people forever? It is unbelievable to hear such recommendations from influential activists and actors, who have visited Darfur refugees a couple of times in Chad or Darfur and who have gained all the respect from all of us for their dedication to fight against those obsessed persistent criminals of our time.

They suggest unbearable ideas to push the U.S. government to move towards normalizing relations with the indicted criminals in Sudan in exchange for peace in Darfur and South Sudan.  They further call for the suspension of “the war crimes indictment of President Al-Bashir under Article 16 of the ICC-the International Criminal Court charter.” Do such activists believe that after all the destruction and obstruction by such architects of genocide that the world should simply ignore Mr. Al-Bashir’s crimes?  Should such an indictment be dismissed against Al-Bashir because he is a “peace-maker?”

Mr. Clooney and Prendergast, this will never happen on our watch. We can’t let criminals who killed millions in Darfur and South and all Sudan to walk away free of charges.  That would be a terrible, intolerable mistake that ever the history could forgive. It is our responsibility as civilized people and democratic nations of conscience, transparency, and moral integrity to be honest and do the right thing to bring those killers to justice.  We cannot have any lasting peace without such justice.

We must not succumb to the fear of the catastrophic war that Al-Bashir would carry out against South if it is separated because of oil. It is better for you to work to separate Al-Bashir and his terrorist government instead of flattering him as the only one who can bring peace, referendum, and freedom. Al-Bashir and his National Congress Party (NCP) are the ultimate disaster for the Sudanese people and are the real threats to Sudan’s survival and the whole region’s well being.

The U.S. and the whole world will never end this growing problem by only supporting “peace” and ignoring justice. No good outcome will ever come without supporting the ICC first and foremost to do its work by arresting Omar Al-Bashir and his counterparts Ahmad Haroun, Salih Kusheeb and the other suspects to send them to the “Hague” headquarters of the ICC to be charged.

We say to activists that the rhetoric of appeasement for “peace” will only continue to hurt Darfuri refugees and prolong their endless sufferings. Don’t do this to those trusted you and welcomed you with cheers and smiles during your visit to their makeshift camps in that remote area of the world.

We understand all the challenges that this country is going through. But still America is the greatest nation in the world and is capable of leading the rest of the nations of conscience to fulfill the promises of change for a better and peaceful world that everyone can enjoy without fear.

We recognize the continued need for compassionate nations and people to seek mercy in the sake of peace. But compassionate nations don’t look the other way at genocide. Compassionate nations don’t abandon helpless victims and embrace cruel dictators. Compassionate nations must not abandon criminal law, justice, and human rights necessary for the consistent application of law for peace. They must show the world that crimes against humanity have consequences.

For too many years, the nations of the world have shown tolerance and silence to the war criminal Al-Bashir.  It is past time for the nations of the world to begin to show mercy towards Al-Bashir’s many victims and demonstrate enough compassion to care for justice for Al-Bashir’s victims and to tell Al-Bashir and other war criminals “Never Again.”

If the compassionate people and nations of the world fail to seek justice, dignity, and human rights in Darfur, what message will this send to those who seek to oppress others and rob them of their human rights around the world?  If we suspend the ICC indictment against Al-Bashir, why bother to have international law and a standard of human rights that rejects genocide and war crimes?

Mr. Prendergast and Mr. Clooney are concerned about a “slow-motion war.”  Who will be concerned about the “slow-motion” denial of human rights, dignity, and justice for the people of Darfur and Sudan?