Written from an interview with VOM-Project Officer over Sudan who escaped the genocide occurring; he lives now only to help his people.

– Struggling to mitigate the genocide occurring in the Sudan has been the driving force behind the efforts of Mr. Hamilton Lugor, Voice of the Martyr’s Project Officer over Sudan.  Lugor, 33 years of age, unmarried, whose home is Nairobi, has become known as the “resident siren” on behalf of the people in this region.

Lugor said, “Voice of the Martyr’s is an international organization that comes to the aid and assistance of families throughout  the world who suffer torture, death, loss of privilege, property and family at the hands of radicals.”

“In this instance, it is Muslims who partner with the Sudanese government to exterminate very dark skinned people,”  Lugor said.  “The hostility against the people in this region is the basis for the current political and economic disasters that are lending to the genocide.  United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan recently said that “reports from the Sudan filled him with a sense of deep foreboding, recalling warnings of mass murders that were ignored by the global community during the Rwanda genocide of a decade ago.”  The ethnic and perceived racial basis of this violence has been clearly documented by the United States, the United Nations, human rights organizations and journalists from all over the world, and yet it continues seemingly undeterred and unabated,” Lugor said. 

Lugor believes the dead must open the eyes of the living.  The murdering and raping of civilians that he has witnessed firsthand is chilling.  Sudanese government soldiers and members of the government-supported militia, known as the Janjaweed, are responsible.  Lugor has personally seen the destruction and pillage of this people, as the Sudanese government primarily targets the civilian population.

Lugor states, “My people have lost everything, and some have lost everyone close to them.  The Sudanese need hope, and that is what I bring.  Everything I do is vital to another’s existence in my country,” Lugor said, “something the western world does not understand.”

Lugor agrees it is difficult to imagine the grave situation of his people, but this is greatly due to the one-dimensional world view most westerners possess, thinking the world revolves around them. 

Further reasons Lugor cites are sobering, indeed.  He states, “Most westerners are at ease, content with enjoying the comforts and benefits of prosperity and freedom.”

Lugor said, “It is human to flee unpleasantness, particularly if it is vicious savagery and brutality against the totally innocent.”  He chooses, however, to swim right out into the bloody waters rather than doing nothing.  He greatly disdains feeling bad about something, yet doing nothing about it.  He calls this a product of government gone very, very bad. 

“Equally so,” he said, “is the vast landscape of individuals who turn their heads, pretending this genocide is not occurring!  If the Sudan were your home, and the government orchestrated a campaign to stamp out and destroy you and your children,” he asked, “what would you do?”

“My people are hungry, not only for physically nourishing food; we are hungry for the food of freedom,” Lugor said. 

 “I wear this necklace to remember a child who died at the hands of the militia who gang-raped and beat her to death with the butts of their rifles.  The tooth is hers,” Lugor said with much emotion. 

“Let the bones and corpses lie in full view of the world.  Let men and women everywhere observe and SEE the result of doing nothing!  We don’t want lip service; we need foot service.  We must confront the pillars of this genocide and uproot everything participating in the siege on the people of this country.  World outcry must explode now before it is too late once again!”