Mohamed Yahya's presentation at the Sudanese Advocacy Network Meeting

November 13-16, 2009
Arlington, VA

More than 40 Darfuri and Sudanese organization"s representatives gathered to discuss ways to form a new Net work to advocate on behalf of Sudan's problems. It was supported and funded by the Humanity Organization of US, Sanfransisco CA.

The following is Mohamed's Presentation at the meeting:

Distinguished guests, and the representatives of SAN.
The respected organizers of this workshop,
The respected Representatives of the Humanity United organization,
Dear all,
 
Thank you very much for coming to this Important workshop,

It is an honor and privilege to be here with you today.
Thank you all very much for coming to participate in this historic
conference. As a Darfuri refugee, I represent an international human
rights organizations based in the United States called Damanga
Coalition for Freedom and Democracy. I'm very proud to be part of this
gathering and be among those fellow Sudanese-Americans who have worked
and are still working tirelessly to bring peace, freedom, democracy
and stability to our beloved people back home. I am also humbled by
the extraordinary support, respect, generosity and compassion that we
receive from our fellow Americans. Otherwise we wouldn’t be here today
to speak freely to seek ways in which we can resolve one of the most
tragic issues of our time, the genocide in Darfur. The threats
challenging the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, or the CPA,
marginalization against Darfuris, the Nubians, the Nuba and the
Angasana are all very grave concerns.
It is very important to take advantage of this opportunity to address
our most important issues, diligently, honestly and cooperatively.
Furthermore, we need to prioritize our problems regardless of our
differences in ideology, culture, language, region and religion. Since
our enemy is one, we should be one and our goals and missions also
should be one. The enemy in Sudan has always been successful in
exacerbating our differences and turning us against each other. Today,
we need to write history in our favor. Today we need to put an end to
fascism and extremism. We need to build a new coalition of
understanding, and collaboration between all those who have been
victimized by the National Congress Party and National Islamic Front
regimes.
Friends, as we all know, the election has been scheduled for April
2010, and the referendum is imminent. As a Darfuri, and on behalf of
Damanga, I feel that Sudan is not yet ready for elections next year or
even the year after simply because Darfur’s genocide remains
unresolved. No justice has been seen against those indicted, no
lasting peace has materialized, and no security is in place. Killing
and destruction in Darfur and other areas continues.
Therefore, we are very clear in voicing that we do not support this
election, and instead we ask it to be postponed until the Darfur war
completely ends, refugees and internally displaced persons return
home. Then and only then can we believe in an election that professes
neutrality and legitimacy. Otherwise we will be giving Al-Bashir and
his genocidal regime legitimacy to stay in power, to continue the
oppression, and abuse its own people. There are no guarantees that
Darfuris and other marginalized groups can be properly represented in
the next election. The NCP has already brought in millions of Arabs
from neighboring areas like Chad, Cameron, Niger, Middle East, the
Mediterranean, and Egypt, and has given them Sudanese Citizenship.
They are ready to vote in favor of perpetuating this corrupt regime.
They even began using government money, cars, and national resources
to support their campaign. They used Sudan Embassies across the world
to sell pieces of land in Sudan to those Sudanese living abroad for
only 1500 dollars, just to vote for Al-bashir. Unfortunately there
will be no independent observers to oversee the election process, so
one could only imagine what will happen.
Secondly, our fellow people in South Sudan and other areas should
think twice before participating in this venture. There is already
infighting amongst southerners as a result of inherent differences and
NCP interference. However, even the south has the right for both an
election and self-determination according to the CPA. The concrete
viable solution is to have the South, Nubia, Nuba, Beja, and Angasana
take a stand to support and work with Darfur, and ask for postponement
of the elections until peace comes to the region. Then will be the
time for national elections in Sudan that everyone can participate in,
as part of a cohesive whole and not as disparate pieces.
Dear friends, I'm not trying to exclude anyone’s rights or exclude
anybody. But overall justice should be our foremost priority. Even
peace that was promised in Qatar is not a solution, since justice was
denied, and the criminals given impunity and sovereignty. That is not
a solution, that is a bomb waiting to explode.
Ladies and gentlemen, let's get directly to the point. Our problems
are clear, and the remedies are also clear. If someone is bleeding to
death, we should ensure that we stop the bleeding, and then we must
turn immediately to those with less serious injuries like scratches
and bruises. This way we can contain the whole problem in an effective
way. Slowly, the fascist regime is draining Darfur of its lifeblood.
How can we save the life of Sudan if we fail to stop this oppressive
regime? Together, let us stop this now, let us heal Darfur. Then the
rest of Sudan will slowly heal naturally.
Finally, let me tell you about a common Sudanese saying: “Ainak fil
feal wa tat an fi dullue". Roughly translated to English, it means:
“You see the Elephant but you beat it's Shadows". Let us come together
to beat this elephant before it crushes it all.
Thank you



--
Mohamed Yahya

Founder/ Executive Director:
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy,
T-703-310-4424.
F-703-888-3364.
Direct:434-409-9638.
E-mail:mataryah@gmail.com
Website:www.damanga.org