Monday, April 11, 2011

Sudan talk in Camberwell

A meeting coming up in Camberwell later this month focuses on the plight of the Dinka Ngok people in Sudan, suffering violence in the drawing up of the new border between the north and south of the country. It seems that they would prefer to join the south, but live in the disputed border region. This from the organisers:

'ABYEI: NEW BORDER, SAME OLD STORY
7pm, Wednesday 20th April, Ratstar, 298 Camberwell Road, London

Hear first-hand reports from Abyei, Sudan, of struggles over a new national border, watch video & photos of the aftermath of recent attacks on Abyei villages & discuss how we can support the Dinka Ngok people of Abyei who are calling for solidarity

Speakers:

Richard Biong: Dinka Ngok activist & former Abyei resident
Tim Flatman: UK activist recently returned from Abyei

The imposition of a new national border dividing North & Sudan Sudan is exaggerating tensions between neighbouring Dinka Ngok and Misseriya communities as the Government of Sudan manipulate the situation to grab land, resources & increase their bargaining power in negotiations between political elites in North & South Sudan.

The Dinka Ngok people cannot defend themselves alone, when faced with superior weaponry provided by the Government of Sudan. Their calls to relations in the South to defend their land and homes as villages are burned & they are forced to flee are being resisted by international governments who insist on negotiating a solution themselves, constantly redrawing borders in response to fresh waves of state-sponsored violence, in effect rewarding ethnic cleansing.

Come to Ratstar on Wednesday 20th April to hear more and discuss what we can do to answer the Dinka Ngok’s call for solidarity'.

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