A voice for Darfur
Mohamed Yahya spoke of his personal losses in the ongoing genocide    
By: Desiree Aflleje | Freelance Reporter |

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

More than a decade before the slaughter in Darfur appeared in national
newspaper headlines, the Sudanese government-supported "Janjaweed" militia
burned a Massaleit village in Darfur to the ground. Of the thousands of
people killed in attacks that day, 21 were relatives of Mohamed Yahya.

Yahya was studying in Egypt at the time, and when he heard about the
destruction of his family and home, he immediately began speaking out about
the attacks. After the Egyptian government blacklisted him for his
vocalization about the atrocities in Darfur and Sudan government supporters
threatened his life, he received political asylum in the United States.

"It is so sad, not because I lost my family members," Yahya said, but
because so many years later the conflict continues to take lives in Darfur.

On Saturday, Yahya spoke in Eugene and held a burning torch during a Lane
County Darfur Coalition hosted event, "Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur."
The coalition held Saturday's torch relay as a part of an international
effort to bring attention toward China's support of Sudan as Beijing gears
up to host the 2008 Olympic Games under the slogan, "One World One Dream."

The events opened with a prayer from Lyda Pierce of the First United
Methodist Church.

"May leaders of nations, tribes, parties and bands work together for a peace
that benefits all," Pierce said.

On the ground in Darfur today, the complicated conflict persists between the
corrupt Sudanese government, the Janjaweed, and more than 20 rebel groups.
The murdered members of Yahya's family are included in the 200,000 to
400,000 people that humanitarian organizations estimate have been killed as
a result of the violence. The United Nations estimates that more than 2
million people have been displaced by the violence.

As the Sudanese government participates in the calculated murder of its own
people, China continues to purchase a majority of Sudan's largest export:
oil. Sudan uses 80 percent of this money to purchase arms, said coalition
member Bob Proctor.

"China wants to use the Olympics as a debut on the international stage,"
Proctor said. "We want to engage China to act responsibly."

Gabriel Stauring of Stop Genocide Now spoke at the event about his three
trips to refugee camps in Chad.

"Its been almost five years that this genocide has been going on, and the
world has not shown up," Stauring said. "It's going to take regular people
like you and I."

Katie-Jay Scott, also from Stop Genocide Now, urged attendees to use their
unique knowledge and situations to create change. She suggested that runners
start a running club for Darfur and for teachers to educate their students
about the crisis.

"This is Rwanda in slow motion," Scott said. "We need to take action. As
citizens we have that power."

Speakers at the event had to project their voices without a microphone
because the audio system was not working. Coalition members said that having
a working sound system could have drawn more people to the event, but they
were encouraged to see new faces.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't have a larger crowd," said coalition member
Rachel Jordan. "But we are not going to quit."

Demie Shiferaw, a University junior, walked away from the event touched by
Yahya's story.

"It feels good to know that it's not being ignored," Shiferaw said.

After spending more than a decade working to end mass murder in his home
country, Yahya's frustration has not drowned out his hope that the genocide
will end soon. Today, he heads Damanga, an organization dedicated to
promoting human rights in Darfur. He has traveled to nearly every state in
the nation talking about his plight.

"Don't say that you are little and that you are small," Yahya said. "You
have the power to make change."

He spoke with passion and enthusiasm, telling attendees that they have an
obligation to history and to the next generation to end the genocide in
Darfur.

"Right now we have no excuse," Yahya said. "It is our moral obligation as
human beings."