Deception, Death and Darfur

Sources confirm that hundreds of people were arrested and more will continue to be over the next few days.

(EL FASHER / PORTLAND) - The citizens of Darfur came together in protest on Tuesday, April 27 in El Fasher. Although their protest ended after an hour, many felt that they had begun to send their message that, “the government that is killing innocents must stop”.

Our source says the police came in force using tear gas, batons, live and blank AK-47 rounds, against those protesting.

A source on the ground describes the situation: “We stood together and did our best. After the army got involved and used machine guns, we had no choice but to run and save ourselves. 12 of us were arrested for 6 hours and questioned and beaten by the security men. We were released late evening.”

On Thursday 29 April, information was released regarding what is being called Africa’s first Ponzi scheme, as explained by those on the ground.

"Nine months ago (August 2009), the government of Sudan (GoS) knew that Darfur citizens are donating a huge amount of money to support our rebel groups. Therefore, the government came up with a perfect idea to seize Darfurians' money, or at least control Darfur businessmen’s money. GOS immediately formed a company in ElFasher called 'the pipes market'" (Mawaseer market- in Arabic).

Our source continued: "The company was mainly formed for the money-generating scheme in which customers sold goods at a higher than market values – but were paid with money vouchers rather than cash. The scam ran until March this year when customers began to be unable to redeem their money vouchers. The company is masterminded by two GOS parliamentary men, Adam Ismail and Musa Sidiq. GOS' north Darfur governor is also certainly part of this Khartoum plan. The governor made his announcement and said those seeking compensation should take their case to the prosecutor, but his government does not owe anybody any money. Although the governor said in another statement that he had arrested those who are accused of having participated in this market scam, he is lying, and the two NCP parliamentary men are enjoying the good life after finishing their task, which is to find a way to seize Darfurians money... and they certainly did."

With the recent information came a wave of tensions. Today, Sunday May 02, El Fasher and the GoS saw another wave of protesters. This time however, many were killed and injured. The reasons and outcome are from an on-ground supporter:

"We do not want the current El Fasher governor. He is an NCP guy who enjoys seeing Darfurians slaughtered and raped every day. That is why we wrote on our signs today 'A million martyrs or a new Governor'. He ordered his security men to torture anyone who says anything about elections or the money scam in Darfur - including the order of torturing us last week. We protested for the market scam in El Fasher. Eleven people have been killed so far by GOS army - and about 68 are injured. They shot them in front of us and are looking for anyone that was holding a sign, a camera or a phone. They are coming after all of us. Of those 68, 7 are women and three are considered to be in critical condition."

Sources confirm that hundreds of people were arrested and more will continue to be over the next few days. “They are looking for us and they will do whatever they want to do to us. They cannot kill us all, even the whole army.”

A Darfur Diaspora here in the States relayed the following “I received phone calls this morning at 4:00am, all I could hear was gunfire, there was no one I could call to help them. Many were injured, and information is not getting out; that is what the GoS wants.”

Alysha Atma spends many hours working on projects that support and benefit the belegured people of African nations who spend way too much time off the western media radar. This writer explains that she is a culmination of all her experiences, most importantly knowledge she says, and all that she still needs to learn; lessons of love, laughter and the extraordinary giving of both young and old. She says she has the enormous fortune of learning from the best; every person around her, and the amazing strength and fortitude of those she has never met but will always strive to listen to. "I continue to work and write because I believe in the power of community and the power of one, both contradictory to each other and yet can move together in a very powerful way. I feel a responsibility to use my place, freedoms and connections here in the US to stand up and yell for those who need my voice and actions. I have seen such strength in my fellow humans that I cannot even begin to comprehend, they have traveled distances, have gone without food, water, shelter and safety for days and weeks at a time. I have a responsibility as a fellow human to put our common humanity before anything else. Everyone deserves to look towards tomorrow, to dream of a safe future and to have a peaceful present." You can write to Alysha Atma at: alyshann78@comcast.net