Damanga condemn the actions of the Egyptian government

Jan 01, 2006 — 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

Alexandria Alsahrawy, a desert area between Cairo and Alexandria

The Almukattam Mountains

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.

We at Damanga cry out to the world. The United States, the EU, HRW and yes,
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.

Mohamed Yahya, Chairman, Damanga Coalition for Freedom and
Democracy