Last month we covered Sudan Revolts (#SudanRevolts), and you can read all our news on this dedicated In Focus page. In our News roundup from October 2, 2013, we mentioned kashiff111 who wrote: ‘We have over 200 of our youth who died for us… if i cant be with them then i will not eat till i either see them or see this corrupt government fall under our feet‘.
A couple of weeks later, kashiff111 posted on his blog:
It’s the morning of the 21st of October… a day every Sudanese, young, old or even dead and gone hold so dear to their hearts. A pretty bold statement don’t you think? Cause sometimes I wonder where did all what our fathers and mothers fought for on that day go? Not just in Sudan, but to the world as well. Why is our struggle now in the back pages of news papers or at the end of news reports? The hottest story these days is the Arab spring… But where did the country that achieved that twice go from all this… Why is it being treated like it doesn’t even exist while it’s being robbed by probably the worst government known to mankind… I bet if we put that to the test it will turn out to be accurate, from social, to economic, and political. If it takes for media to give us attention through several people starving them selves then so be it. But the catch here is this nation did it twice without media propaganda and slick names such as Arab spring.
Other Sudanese like Mimz joined the strike. She explains on her blog:
Last month a powerful wave of protests swept across Sudan after the National Congress Party announced a lift on subsidies; making it almost impossible for law-abiding citizens to eke out a living under such harsh economic conditions. This time around, the turnout was much bigger, where thousands took to the streets throughout various Sudanese states. Seemingly panicked and unprepared, security forces took it upon themselves to murder hundreds of peaceful, unarmed protesters. This was all done amid a media blackout after the authorities decided to shut down internet services for more than 24 hours. Following further protests security forces also went on an arresting spree; kidnapping, detaining and torturing thousands of activists. Many media outlets covering these events, including Sky News Arabia and Al Arabiya, were shut down.
[…]
I started a hunger strike on 21 October 2013 and will resume the strike for 5 days. I am often asked why I am doing this, how this will create an impact, and if anyone will even know that I’m on a hunger strike. I was told that Bashir doesn’t even know that I exist, that he let millions starve before me and he wouldn’t care if I jumped off the Kober bridge and killed myself. I don’t care for these passive comments. They represent everything that is wrong with a large apathetic portion of our community.
We will update this post with information related to this Hunger strike for Sudan. You can also follow #Strike4Sudan on Twitter.
Sign the Petition
Avaaz.org: Stop Human Rights Violations in Sudan
Articles to Read
– #Strike4Sudan Website
– #Strike4Sudan-Day 1
– Strike4Sudan : The Sudanese Won’t give up
– #Strike4Sudan 101…مقدمة #إضراب_للسودان
– Sudan Martyrs
– On Alex de Waal’s view of the uprising in Sudan: A brief critique
– Where Did the Sudanese Go Wrong?
On Twitter
#Strike4Sudan – a hunger strike initiative by Sudanese activists & relatives of detainees calling for release of many still under arrest
— dalliasd (@dalliasd) October 20, 2013
Our three demands: release of detainees, bringing those responsible for killing to justice, and freedom of expression #Strike4Sudan #Abena
— Maha Elsanosi (@MimzicalMimz) October 20, 2013
Joins the #Strike4Sudan for freedom, justice & peace. For better Sudan free of NCP, where freedom of speech is granted
— Sara (@saraayacoub) October 24, 2013
@HamidMurtada explains why activists launching hunger #Strike4Sudan Monday @girifna @SudanTribune_EN @islam_altayeb https://t.co/krgR2qBQVb
— Michel Arseneault (@miko75011) October 20, 2013
