Archive for November, 2007
Our mission
The Save Yar Campaign is a coalition of student and community organizations committed to ending child abductions in South Sudan and returning abducted children to their families. We support only nonviolent means to this end. We are guided by international human rights standards, in particular those set forth in the United Nations Convention on the [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )A call for reconciliation
Hopeful news: One of our Murle contacts (Mary Boyoi, the musician and intellectual) says she and others are trying to gather all Murle leaders in Juba on December 10 for an emergency meeting to discuss child abduction and the case of Yar and Ajak specifically. We hope that other Murle leaders will agree with this [...]
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )Getting through to Ismael Kony
We fear that time is running out to rescue the girls before a military confrontation. We have been moving deeper into South Sudanese politics in an attempt to motivate Ismael Kony to find the armed group holding Yar and Ajak and negotiate for their release.
We have succeeded in getting through to Mr. Kony, albeit indirectly. [...]
Forum Monday in Minneapolis
We will discuss this case in a public forum on Monday, November 19 in the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs’ Cowles Auditorium on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank campus in Minneapolis. (Flyer)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Now it’s Ismael Kony’s turn
President Salva Kiir has made it clear he is paying attention to the issue of child abduction in Jonglei state. He has indicated that, in his opinion, the Murle are beyond reasoning with.
The hope of a peaceful resolution, in our estimation, now lies with Ismael Kony, once recognized as the leader of the Murle [...]
Support from Senators Klobuchar and Coleman
We are indebted as well to Minnesota’s Senators, Norm Coleman and Amy Klobuchar. The senators and their staff very swiftly sent a letter to the South Sudanese diplomatic mission raising Yar and Ajak’s case, expressing concern over the wave of child abductions, and supporting our team’s request for a meeting.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Congresswoman McCollum raises our profile again
Already indebted to Congresswoman Betty McCollum, D-Minn., for raising the case of Yar and Ajak directly to South Sudan President Salva Kiir, we find ourselves grateful again. Rep. McCollum issued a statement Friday that elaborates on her support and will draw further attention the case.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Back from D.C.
The fantastic four are back from Washington, elated from having gotten through to the national and international figures we knew we needed to reach in order to save Yar and Jak and stop child abduction in general.
As the weekend wanes we come to terms with the fact that President Kiir gave us the fatal answer [...]
THEY MET WITH PRESIDENT KIIR!
A great leap forward:
Gabriel Kou Solomon and Amanda Lyons just got out of a 45-minute meeting with South Sudan President Salva Kiir in D.C. this morning.
Gabriel and Amanda showed great tenacity in getting in attaining the meeting — including hanging out in the lobby of his hotel until close to midnight last night until the [...]
Television coverage
Cable subscribers in the Twin Cities can see an interview with Gabriel Solomon and Amanda Lyons about this case and the larger issue. The show is “Our World Today: Child Abduction in Sudan” on public-access television.
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