Darfur Alert Coaliton
News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jamilah Brown 2672579354
Violence Against Sudanese Refugees in Cairo
December 31, 2005 (Philadelphia, PA) - On the Eve of this New Year, one cannot help but ache for those who lost their life yesterday at the hands of the Egyptian Police Force. People seeking an opportunity, which more than likely many in the U.S. are taking for granted at this very moment; the right to live without persecution.
What a sad day for humanity to see over twenty unarmed people die and more than seventy injure while seeking refuge. These Sundanese refugees bravely evoked something that has been denied to them thus far, the humane right to protest against an unjust hierarchy. To be put simply, the right to BE.
For three very long months, 2000 brave refugees led a very long and successful strike to bring the worlds attention to their just cause. They were seeking resettlement abroad after UNHCR officials disregarded their previous request, due to January's Peace agreement in the Sudan. However, the Peace agreement did not halt attacks in Darfur by the government backed militia, the Jangaweed, who is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Now, after the UNHCR decided to address their concern the Sudanese refugees faced this brutal death. They escaped the local Jangaweed in Darfur only to end up at the mercy of global Jangaweed forces, who do not care about the crises of more than 45 million refugees/IDPs.
The DAC is demanding an arduous independent investigation against the Eygptian government for this disgusting crime. They must be held accountable for their actions.
We implore you to contact your local government officials with a phone call or letter requesting an independent investigation of yesterdays occurences.
Lets start 2006 with a progressive effort.
Jamilah Brown
Media Outreach Director, Darfur Alert Coaltion
Mohamed Ibrahim
Co-Chair, Darfur Alert Coalition
Lou Ann Merkle
Co Chair, Darfur Alert Coaliton