22 Darfuri refugees from 8 camps in Chad to participate at Doha

Twenty-two (22) refugees went to Doha yesterday as representatives to the negotiations between rebels and the Sudanese government being hosted there. The delegates claim to represent the eight camps in eastern Chad, despite objections to their participation in the negotiations that were voiced from some of the camps. Three of the refugee leaders spoke to Radio Dabanga from Abeche Airport as they were preparing to travel with the delegation to Qatar. They said that they are going to Doha in order to meet their brethren, the representatives of internally displaced persons, to consult with them about their common concerns and their future. It will be the first meeting between the refugees and displaced persons since the war began in 2003, they said. The three men represented Touloum, Bredjing and Farshana camps.For her part, another delegate at the airport, the chairwoman of women of Iridimi Camp, reiterated that the delegation is heading to Qatar to consult with the displaced about their just cause and to discuss about the future of Darfur. She also responded to remarks aired on Radio Dabanga earlier from camps Djebel, Abu Nabag and Gaga, where a group of sheikhs announced that they leaders would not participate at Doha.

(Radio Dabanga file photo from Gaga Camp, eastern Chad)