Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Mixed Plate

Media Credit: Courtesy of savedarfur.org Abu Asal is one Darfur refugee who stood up for his home, and is traveling the globe as part of Save Darfur Coalition's voices from Darfur tour.

Media Credit: Courtesy of STAND Hawai'i

Although Abu Asal is now halfway around the world from the ongoing crisis in Darfur, he cannot escape the painful memories of rampant murder and widespread suffering. The government-backed Arab militia first launched its campaign against ethnic Africans in February 2003, and since then more than 2.5 million civilians like Asal have been displaced and about 400,000 have perished.

Asal, a Darfuri refugee and former prisoner of the Sudanese government, will be speaking tomorrow evening at UH Mānoa's Art Auditorium about the genocide that continues to devastate his homeland.

"There's been no actual change in the situation on the ground there," Asal said. "Nothing."

Asal said that although people seem to genuinely care about the conflict, and while he praises humanitarian efforts to stop the genocide, he said that people in Darfur continue to die every day.

"But I believe in young people, especially students," Asal said. "They have the energy, the motivation. Why don't they come up with something to push politicians to act against the (Sudanese) dictatorship?

"Most people in Darfur are just like them. They just want to live a normal life. They want to have a career, they want to go to school," he said.

In response to similar cries for help, STAND-Hawai‘i, UH Mānoa's chapter of the Student Anti-Genocide Coalition, is working to educate students about the reality of genocide by hosting Asal for a series of events where he will share his story of survival.

After being arrested in 2003 by Sudan's National Security Agency, a state-run police force, Asal left Darfur for refuge in Worcester, Mass. Asal said he began sharing his story of survival within a week of arriving in Massachusetts.

Before chaos erupted in February 2003, when the government teamed with the janjaweed, a tribal Arab militia, to suppress rebel uprisings in Darfur, Asal worked as a veterinarian for a mobile clinic. Because educated civilians are rare in the impoverished Darfur region, Asal also tutored children, an activity that drew much suspicion from the government.

"You have a huge responsibility when you're educated," Asal said. "You have to help your people."

Despite Sudan's apprehensive political climate, he continued in his effort to empower the children of Darfur until he learned that Sudanese authorities were pursuing him.

He escaped Darfur and walked to Sudan's border with Chad, a 120-mile hike that took him 25 days.

Asal said he was about 16 miles away from the border when state policemen overtook him. He said they took away his identification card and held him in prison for four days without telling him why they arrested him.

Upon release, Asal fled to Egypt and eventually to Massachusetts, where he taught English as a second language last year. Asal now tours the U.S. speaking at events sponsored by organizations like STAND.

"We hope to ignite people to take action," said Alicia Kagawa, a UH Mānoa student who chairs STAND-Hawai‘i with Corey Jamieson, a UH chemistry professor.

Jamieson said that students can do their part to stop the genocide by petitioning politicians to discourage investment in Sudan's government.

Asal will be the feature speaker at "Voices from Darfur," a STAND-Hawai‘i event on Friday, Nov. 16, at the Art Auditorium from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The event will also feature a free screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback," a film about the genocide in Darfur, which will be followed by Amnesty International's film series.

Opportunities to hear Abu Asal's story

Thursday, Nov. 15
Welcome Asal to UH Mānoa at the Hot Rain concert

• Free plate lunch provided by STAND-Hawai‘i and the UH Mānoa Activities Council


• Hemenway Courtyard from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16
"Voices from Darfur"

• Asal will share a real-life account of the genocide in Darfur


• Free screening of "The Devil Came on Horseback"


• Followed by Amnesty International's film series


• Art Auditorium from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 16
"Bands Against Violence" concert hosted by GiRL FeST

• Anna Bannana's from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Asal will speak at 10:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 17
"Showdown in Chinatown" hosted by GiRL FeST

• Next Door from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Asal will speak at 9 p.m.

Go to www.myspace.com/standhawaii to find out how you can help.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools