Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy has been closely following the human tragedy unfolding and recently deteriorating into terrible violence in Cairo, Egypt. Early Friday morning, 12/30/05, what amounted to a police riot was perpetrated against peaceful Sudanese refugee protestors. This occurring in the wee hours of the morning, away from the eyes of the press. Damanga has been in close contact with committee members until minutes before the police attack. The following is their report.

According to our direct sources, President Mubarark gave a direct order to the police to act against the refugees. This was following Murbarak's statement last week that he wanted the refugees out of Egypt. Friday morning, at 3:30 A.M., without any warning, fire trucks arrived and began blasting the refugees with high pressure fire hoses in the cold night of the Egyptian winter. This was quickly followed by a wave of policeman, gassing, kicking and beating indiscriminately and men, women and children. Current reports note a death toll of 25, with many others injured and/or arrested.

Damanga correspondents who where on site and interviewed included; Amir Gabir, Bahar Adam and Mohammad Hussain. A woman, who refused to be identified for fear of further retribution, was also interviewed. All parties concurred that a cruel bloodbath took place. After the attack, the refugees, approximately 3,000 in number, were organized into 4 groups and forcibly moved to areas outside of Cairo. These areas are reported to include;

• Torra Albalad Cemetery located between Cairo and Holwan
  

A fourth group was reportedly split up and taken to various army and police sites and forced indiscriminately into small crowded rooms with no regard for sex, family, marital status or age.

Refugees are comparing the treatment to that received at the hands of the Arab minority government of Sudan. Once again, Sudanese are being displaced, tortured and discriminated against because of race and ethnicity. Human rights and basic human decency are being ignored. The UNHCR has all but ignored the plight of these people. The Egyptian UNHCR, being manned primarily by Egyptian employees, is certainly a contributing factor to the lack of support for these suffering people.

The destruction, the genocide, of the people of Darfur and individuals in the South and East of Sudan continues. The UN remains mostly silent as does the majority of the world. Our people need help urgently. There is little food and water and sanitary conditions are intolerable. Disease will develop and spread. There is no work and no money. There are no ears to hear the cries. People are living and dying in misery. Where is the conscience of Egypt, of Sudan, of the world?

We strongly condemn the actions of the Egyptian government, the aggression, the arrogance and the complete lack of humanity. We condemn, in the strongest of terms, the use of violence and discrimination against a weak and helpless population, the denial basic human needs such as safety, food, water, sanitation, medical care and simple dignity. We condemn the United Nations for their complete lack of responsibility and the misuse of their power for political reasons.

Damanga cries out to the world. We urge the United States, the European Union, and other nations including the UN and Egyptian government to immediately put a stop to this callus assault on helpless group of humanity. This incident must be investigated and referred to the ICC. This horror must stop, these people must be saved.

Dearest reader, we continue to follow the situation in Egypt and in Sudan closely. Your support, input and contacts are always welcome. For those of you who care, God bless you in all that you do.