21 Sept 07 – 26-year-old Darfuri survivor, Abdo Yahya Abdullah, yesterday received a standing ovation from the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton following his speech to delegates about personal tragedy and loss in Darfur and the continued suffering Darfuri asylum seekers face in the UK.

Abdo urged Britain’s third largest political party to back a conference resolution calling on the Government to end the forcible removal of Darfuri asylum seekers to Khartoum, and throwing the party’s weight behind the Darfur Divestment campaign. The resolution was voted through unanimously, and has now been formally adopted as official policy by the Liberal Democrats.

The Aegis Trust thanks the Liberal Democrats for their strong backing of these two important campaigns.

Abdo’s speech, and the text of the resolution, follow.

SPEECH

“Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Abdo and I’m an asylum seeker from Darfur and a survivor of genocide.

“In August 2003 the Janjaweed, who rode on horseback and camels, and the Sudanese Government attacked my village, Jeemy. My father-in-law was killed on that day.

“We escaped with my family to Terbiba. In February 2004 we were again attacked, this time with land-cruisers with machine guns. My brother and my pregnant wife were killed, and afterwards I could not find my father or my sister.

“A few months later we were attacked again. I was running to escape with what was left of my family, but when the heavy machine gun targeted us I got separated. I have not seen my mother or my son, who would now be six years old, since. After this I knew I had to leave Sudan.

“Living in the UK has been very difficult and still is difficult. For nine months I was sleeping on the streets and was given no support or money. I was able to make a fresh asylum claim and now I am given thirty-five pounds per week in vouchers to buy food.

“But what is worse is that as a refugee from genocide with no legal status, I could be deported to Khartoum at any time where the Sudanese Government would be waiting for me, where I would be accused of being a spy because I lived in the UK. I would be interrogated and tortured, and could be killed.

“In February this year, the Home Office sent Sadiq Osman to Khartoum. The Sudanese intelligence services were waiting at the airport for him. He was tortured for two days. He thought he would die. With the help of the human rights organisation, the Aegis Trust, he was able to escape – fleeing for his life for the second time.

“Conference, it is not enough to care about the Darfuris on your television screens, hundreds of miles away. There are Darfuris in your towns, villages and cities who also need your help.

“By supporting this motion we send a message to the British Government that it is wrong to risk our lives by sending us to Khartoum as we are Darfuris. With this motion, you give us hope. On behalf of Darfuris both in the UK and Sudan, we thank you and ask you to support it.”

LIB DEM CONFERENCE RESOLUTION ON THE DARFUR CRISIS:

Conference welcomes the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 of 31 July 2007 authorising the establishment of an African Union/United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the largest operation of its kind in UN history, comprising 26,000 troops and police, which is to be deployed by the end of 2007.

Conference condemns the gross human rights violations that continue to be perpetrated by all sides of the conflict against the civilian population in the region of Darfur.

Conference condemns the deplorable record of the Government of Sudan (GoS) to cooperate fully with humanitarian aid workers and agencies in facilitating their work in the region by the use of delaying measures and obstructions by its officials.

Conference believes that:

a) Long term peace and security for the people of Darfur cannot be achieved without a lasting settlement between all parties to the conflict which can best be secured through multilateral co-operation under the auspices of the United Nations and African Union.
b) The current humanitarian crisis can only be addressed effectively with the full deployment of a UNAMID force that is properly funded and supported by member states of the United Nations.
c) Without a concerted effort by the international community and civil society to continue to put pressure on the GoS and the governments of the member states of the United Nations to meet the ambitious timetable set for the deployment of the AU-UN hybrid force, the humanitarian crisis will continue to worsen in the region.
d) In the current climate, the deportation by European member states of Darfuri asylum seekers to Sudan is both deplorable and unacceptable.

Conference calls on:

1) The Government to satisfy fully and speedily their obligations under Resolution 1769 to facilitate and assist with the deployment of UNAMID.

2) The Government to continue to exert pressure on its Security Council partners, and especially China, to use all available lawful means to ensure that the GoS:
i) Fully complies with its obligations under Resolution 1769.
ii) Adheres to its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
iii) Takes immediate measures to provide security and protection for the civilian population, and in particular women, children and humanitarian aid workers in the region, and to end the sexual violence and recruitment of child soldiers.
iv) Co-operates fully with the international community to facilitate without any further delay all humanitarian support and aid to the civilian population affected by the conflict.

3) The Government to halt all deportation of Darfuri asylum seekers back to Sudan until it is safe for them to be returned.

4) The Liberal Democrats to launch a nation-wide campaign of targeted divestment in enterprises or financial institutions which are engaged in commercial relationships with the Khartoum regime in the event of the GoS’ failure to meet its obligations within the timetable set under Resolution 1769.