The following story from the Springfield, Illinois (US) paper, State Journal-Register, was seen via a Google alert. There is mention of language toward the end. Don
Refugee says Darfur needs American aid http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/16985.asp By AMANDA REAVY STAFF WRITER Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007 Mohamed Yahya was a university student in Cairo, Egypt, in 1993 when he learned that armed forces had wiped out his native village in western Darfur. A letter from his mother detailed how his grandparents were burned alive, two of his brothers were killed, two of his sisters were raped and their home was reduced to ashes. His surviving family members didn't know where to go and urged Yahya to remain in Egypt where he was safe. Their village was one of 50 destroyed in Darfur, in the east African country of Sudan, during attacks by government-backed Arab militia known as the janjaweed, the refugee recalled Tuesday night during a presentation at Lincoln Land Community College. Yahya was immediately spurred to action, starting a grass-roots effort with other Sudanese students in Cairo to raise awareness about the atrocities terrorizing Darfuris. They formed what later became the Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. But the international community has failed to act as genocide continues to plague the region, leaving an estimated 400,000-plus dead and 3.5 million displaced, Yahya said. "The U.S. was the first government to label it a genocide (in 2004), but still nothing has been done ... Still the killing is going on while you sit here tonight," he told an audience of nearly 50 people gathered in the school's Student Union. "... Action is needed immediately." Yahya, who sought political asylum in the United States in 2002, now travels the country, spreading his message for action on behalf of Darfur. He said the United Nations has failed to protect Darfuris, passing 19 resolutions on the conflict that have yet to be fully implemented. A recent U.N. resolution provides some hope for the region, promising to send a joint force of 26,000 U.N. and African Union peacekeepers to protect civilians, he said. It would be the United Nations' largest peace-keeping operation to date. However, Yahya fears that its execution will be continually delayed like the other peace-keeping efforts before it. Yahya said Darfur is the victim of a double standard when it comes to the U.N.'s response, which was swift during conflicts in Lebanon and Iraq but has stalled with Darfur. He cited the problem of China, a superpower that supports the Sudanese government and provides weapons because it receives more than 60 percent of its oil from the region. He urged Americans to write letters to their political representatives to support sending U.S. aid. Yahya said he realized problems existed in the Sudan as a schoolboy when an Arab teacher badly beat him for speaking his African language in class. Such racism has led to the brutality targeting Africans and non-Arab Muslims, he said. Now, the Sudanese government must be held accountable, Yahya said. "Because we are all connected, because we are all human beings, Darfuris are just like you, and we can't allow this to continue," he said. **************************** Disclaimer ****************************** Copyright: In accordance with Title 17, United States Code Section 107, this material is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material posted to this list for purposes that go beyond "fair use," you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. Content: The sender does not vouch for the veracity nor the accuracy of the contents of this message, which are the sole responsibility of the copyright owner. Also, the sender does not necessarily agree or disagree with any opinions that are expressed in this message. ********************************************************************** Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
