Global Voices » Thalia Rahme

Hackers in Arab Cities: Fab Lab and Tech in Egypt

Thalia Rahme — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:56:45 +0000

Sabine is a journalist, Ophelia is a photographer and a videomaker: both are former contributors to OWNI (a Global Voices media partner in France) and are currently shooting a web-documentary entitled ”Les hackers dans la cité arabe (Hackers in Arab Cities) about technology, applications, hacker labs and maker spaces, that are blossoming nowadays in the Maghreb and the Middle East.

Ophelia Noor (left) and Sabine Blanc (right)

Sabine and Ophelia are currently taking part in the World Social Forum in Tunis (March 26-30). They will speak about “hacking”. In the West, hacking is more or less considered part of a geeky and rather privileged culture. On the other side of the Mediterranean, it is rather the product of revolution, giving a new impulse towards collaborative practices and innovations, spaces that are open to everyone.

Over the next weeks, Global Voices will re-publish and help translate in three languages (Arabic, French, English) excerpts of their journeys and encounters with young open source developers from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon and Iraq. We begin this series with an interview with Mahmoud El-Safti, co-founder of a hacker space in Giza, Egypt.

Mahmoud El-Safti on the creation of a hackerspace in Giza

Mahmoud el Safty (Photo Ophélia Noor, used with permission)

Mahmoud El-Safty co-founded Giza Hackerspace and Fab Lab Egypt, the first of their kind in Egypt, with both projects located in Giza, in the suburbs of Cairo. This young, smiling engineer speaks with enthusiasm about his faith in hackerspaces/makerspaces.

To listen to the podcast in English click here. Below is a transcript of the interview.

I think starting initiatives like having maker spaces and hacker spaces, where people can gain practical experience and share knowledge and practice theoretical information they have, will have a great impact on society and on the educationnal system, and changing people's minds as well. When people collaborate in a fun atmosphere, not gathering to study for an exam but rather to work on projects they are passionate about and interested in, of course they will make it the best they can. Probably later, a lot of projects to come out of such spaces will be products and start-up companies. In fact, we have open source products, software and hardware, that are currently available in the market that come from hacker spaces et maker spaces.

Text and sound by Sabine Blanc.

Mauritanians Protest Tahrir Square Assaults

Thalia Rahme — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:16:29 +0000

A protester saying “No Harassment” by “Mauritania Today” on Facebook.

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Are Yemen Youth Marginalized in the National Dialogue?

Thalia Rahme — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 11:21:26 +0000

Global Leadership Awards Winner, Yemeni Journalist Shatha Al-Haraz comments through her blog, on the poor representation of the youth in the National Dialogue Conference.

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Argentinian Patagonia: Favorite Among Travel Bloggers and Tourists in Argentina

Thalia Rahme — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:32:49 +0000

(Note: all links are in Spanish, unless otherwise stated)

For this 2013 summer vacation, Argentinan have chosen Argentinian Patagonia [en] as one of their favorite tourist destinations. On its Tourism section, the newspaper Perfil explains that one of the reasons behind that choice has been the relatively fair prices and its diverse range of touristic attractions.

But Patagonia is also a place for those eager to discover it on bycicle, as the bloggers from La Vida de Viaje (Life of Travel), who depict their journey, adventures as well as misfortunes on their blog:

Después de pedalear unas cuántas horas para llegar a Tolhuin, paramos dos días en la casa de la familia quien nos contactó a través de Facebook para conocernos y para que tengamos un lugar donde parar al llegar.

Descubrimos que este pueblo le da un valor especial al cicloturismo. Se organizan pedaleadas autoconvocadas llevadas a cabo por el movimiento Cicloturismo por la vida en memoria del Doctor René Favaloro. En la panadería La Unión, un clásico por sus paredes llenas de fotos de famosos que pasaron por ahí, hay un cuarto especial para que los biciviajeros puedan pasar la noche y un cuaderno donde todos dejan su huella (¡LVDV inauguró el tomo 2!).

After biking for a few hours to reach Tolhuin, we stayed for two days with the Ullua Family who contacted us through Facebook to get to know us and for us to have aplace to stay.

We found out that this village gives great value to bike-tourism. Self-organized bikings by the movement Cicloturismo por la vida [Biketourism for life] are held in memory of doctor René Favaloro. A wall of La Unión bakery is known for being full of photos of celebrities who passed by the place. The same place has a special room where bike riders can stay the night, and a copybook where everybody can leave their signature. (LVDV opened volume 2!).

Other Argentinan bloggers, like Juan and Laura from Acróbatas del Camino (Acrobats of the road), decided to travel by hitchhiking and ended up not only going through Patagonia, but the whole world. In one of their posts, they share their experience in Puerto Madryn and their concern about the environment. Every year at the Península de Valdéz, it is possible to see the whales coming from the Southern Hemisphere, reaching the coasts of Patagonia in order to procreate:

Aún antes de ver la primera ballena, no podía alejar de mi conciencia dos pensamientos. Primero, que mientras que el humano considera a los cetáceos criaturas inteligentes, mamíferos sensibles dotados de un lenguaje indescifrable, las ballenas deben considerar al bípedo un ser chismoso, un merodeador entrometido, un paparazzi de la escala zoológica. El ser humano anda como voyeur festejando especies a cuyo acorralamiento suscribe con el resto de sus hábitos sociales. Hay verdades incómodas, pero cargar el tanque del auto es fomentar el calentamiento global que disminuye la concentración del krill del que se alimentan las ballenas.

Even before seeing the first whale, two thoughts haunted me. First, while the humans consider the cetaceans as intelligent creatures, sensitive mammals gifted with an illegible language, the whales must look at the biped as a busybody, a meddler, a paparazzi of the animal kingdom. The human being is like a voyeur celebrating species whose confinement fits in with the rest of their social habits. There are some inconvenient truths, but fueling up tank of a car results in increasing the global warming which in turn reduces the concentration of the krill the whales feed.

The post goes further:

Por supuesto, todos los turistas llegan en auto, y muchos aceptarían tener uno para cada miembro de la familia si fuera posible. Porque claro, hay que llevar a los chicos a la escuela. Para que les enseñen que hay que cuidar el medio ambiente por ejemplo… Incluso nosotros caemos en parte en esa contradicción, al viajar a dedo y utilizar automóviles, aunque me consuelo pensando que sólo ocupamos un lugar vacío en un automóvil que ya está en movimiento. ¿Y las ballenas? Claro, estaban ahí, mononas, ingenuas, aleteantes, con un géiser montado en el lomo, algunas solas y otras con sus ballenatos. Alguna vez cazadas por balleneros ingleses que procuraban el aceite para iluminar su imperio, hoy sobreprotegidas y finalmente valoradas.

Of course, all tourists arrive by car and many would accept have one vehicle for each family member, if possible. As it is obvious, you would need to drop kids at school. To teach them to take care of environement, for example… Even us, we are kind of contradictory, hitchhiking and using cars, although I do comfort myself by thinking that we are occupying an empty spot in an already moving car. What about the whales? Of course, they are here, pretty, naive, flapping around with a geiser on their back, some of them alone and other ones with their whale calves. Sometimes coupled with English whalers seeking oil to light up their empire, today overprotected and finally valued.

Photo taken by the author of this post.

There are also bloggers, like the ones who contribute in Magia en el Camino (Magic on the road), who within the framework of the Proyecto Educativo (Educational Project) visit schools, hospitals, suburbs to perform magic tours:

Siempre nos gusta que en los shows haya muchos chicos, pero en el caso de los hospitales es muy diferente: cuanto menos haya mejor. Los chicos no deberían estar ahí, deberían estar jugando en una plaza, por eso es que siempre nos despedimos de los hospitales con la misma frase: “les deseamos de todo corazón que se vayan de acá lo antes posible” y cada vez que decimos eso los padres cierran sus ojos y asienten con la cabeza. Ojalá así sea.

We always like that shows are crowded with children, but in the case of hospitals it's quite different, the less kids there are, the better it is. Children shouldn't be here, they should be playing outdoors. This is why we always use the same expression to say good bye in hospitals: “We wish you from the bottom of our hearts that you may leave this place as soon as possible”. And every time we say this, parents close their eyes and nod full of hope.

Argentinan Patagonia is a region which brings together a wide array of places and unique natural aspects in the world.

Blogging for UAE Detainees

Thalia Rahme — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:17:26 +0000

“UAE Detainees” [ar] sheds light on the plight of more 68 Emirati political detainees who demanded reforms in their country. By doing so, the blog tries to attract solidarity with the arrested activists, to lobby and advocate for their release, in addition to gathering and recollecting everything that has been written on their cases. Click here [ar] to read about the regression of the basic rights in the UAE and pleas for the United Nations to interfere.

Mauritania: Workers March 700km for Justice

Thalia Rahme — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:15:35 +0000

On Saturday, January 5 [ar], a group of illegal or “Journalia” (temporary or seasonal) workers, started a long march from the city of Zouerat in order to reach the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott. In total, these workers would have walked 700km in order to protest against the injustice they are being subjected to and the deceit of President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who had promised to solve their problems and put and end to their suffering. These workers wanted to convey a message centered about the fact that journalia are persecuted in their own country and deprived from benefiting from any modest wage increment, in addition to being left as preys to a group of business tycoons who don't apply the laws.

According to activist Mohamed Salem Oul Kilani, the plan was to cross this distance within 22 days and thus reach the presidential palace. At the start of the march, many sympathizers bid good bye to the protesters, expressing their solidarity and warning the authorities from turning a deaf ear to their plight. Last year also witnessed a number of protests held in mining cities by those workers demanding the improvement of their dire conditions.

Photo by @mezid_cheikh on Twitter showing some of the participants in the march

This is not the first time that such an event takes place. Two similar marches took place last year, the first one being in March 2012, when a group of Mauritanian activists walked more then 470km to demand justice for their city, Nouadhibou, eventually reaching the presidential palace. The second was when Mouzarzra residents embarked on a 50km march demanding to put asphalt on the road between their town and the city of Tikend.

Ahmed Salem blogged about the march:

من هم هؤلاء ؟ إنهم الجرنالية كما يعرفون بالصطلح المحلي لدينا هنا في موريتانيا. ظل الجرنالية لعقود يعملون في مناجم الحديد عندما كنا نشاهدم ونحن صغار كنا نقول إنهم أبطال لأنهم يحملون الحديد لكننا وبعد أن كبرنا ومرت علي آذاننا قصصا عن المستعمر, أي مستعمر يضطهد سكان مستعمرته تذكرنا هؤلاء وتذكرنا حملهم للحديد والحجارة فهمناهم وفهمنا عملهم إنهم في مستعمرة نعم مستعمرة داخل دولة إستعمار العصر( تاشرون)مقاولة الباطن ذلك الوسيط الذي يتبع له هؤلاء في غالب الأحيان يكون شخصاواحدا أومؤسسات صغيرة موجودة داخل حقيبة وصفهم مناديب العمال ذات يوم ب(التيفاي) البائع المتجول , كيف لنا أن نتخيل العامل لدي هذه المستعمرة الصغيرة كيف لنا أن نتخيل حاله ؟؟؟؟ إنه يعيش في جحيم إنه معرض للخطر أكثر من غيره في هذه المستعمرة وحتي في هذا البلد وينتج للبلد من أحد أكبر وارداتها الإقتصادية الشركة الوطنية للصناعة والمناجم كل هذا وبراتب شهري زهيد 70 ألف أوقية أي أقل من 200أورو.

Who are they? They are the Journalia, as they are known here in Mauritania. For decades, journalia worked in iron mines and when we used to watch them when we were kids we used to say they are heroes because they carry iron but now that we are older and we've heard stories on the colonizer, which persecuted the inhabitants of his colony, we remember them and we remember them carrying iron and we understand their work. They are in a colony, yes in a colony within a colonizing state (Tachron), held by a sub-contractor, this intermediate to whom these people are most affiliated, is usually one person or small companies. How shall we imagine the worker in this small colony? How shall we imagine his situation? He is living in hell; he is subjected to danger more than anyone in this colony and even in this country; and yet produces one of this country's most important economic export resources at the national company for mining and industry in return for a monthly salary of less than 200 Euros.

Abdellahi Med Abdelrrahmane also sympathized with the workers, criticizing the way the regime and the media dealt with their cause:

المسيرة انطلقت و تحمل رسالة معبأة بكل المعاني في دولة لم تعرف أن تنصف أبنائها من العمال، و إعلام و حقوقيون لم يصلوا مرحلة من النضج يتفهموا فيها مواقف كهذه.
كلنا مطالبون بالوقوف مع هؤلاء لإستعادة حقهم و علينا أن نعمل معهم جنبا إلى جنب حتى يحققوا غاياتهم و تعود إليهم كرامتهم كعمال يحترقون و يسهرون و يتألمون ليحمل الحديد من الموانيء فيتحول دورا و سيارات و قصورا في العالم اجمع، هؤلاء الذين على اكتافهم حملوا كل عبئ…

كان الله لعمال لم يتنصفهم دولتهم و لم ينصفهم إعلامهم……

The march started and carries a letter full of all meaning in a country which didn't know that half of its people are workers and journalists and lawyers who are not mature enough to understand such a situation. We are all asked to stand by them to retrieve their rights and we should work with them hand in hand till they attain their objective and their dignity as workers who stay the nights, burn and suffer in carrying iron which is then transformed into houses, cars and palaces in all over the world. Those who on their shoulders have carried every burden. May God be with workers whose state and media didn't give them justice.

Mejdi Ahmed tweeted on the conditions of Journalia workers:

@mejdmr يعمل الجرنالية في موريتانيا بدون عقد عمل ولا ضمانات سواء كانت صحية أو اجتماعية.. كنوع من الرق!

Journalia work in Mauritania without a contract or guarantees, either social or health ones, it is a kind of slavery.

Raby Idoumou also shares his solidarity with the protesters and writes:

@rabyidoumou5 نتضامن مع مسيرة زويرات الراجلة باتجاه نواكشوط.. في بلد على راس البلدان المصدرة للحديد في العالم، “الجرنالية” يفتقدون لابسط حقوقهم المشروعة!

We sympathise with Zouerat march towards Nouakchott. In a country among the leading exporters of Iron in the world, Journalia lack their basic legal rights.

Dedda Cheikh Brahim accompanied the march in its first hours:

@dedda04 عاجل: وصول مسيرة العمال الراجلة إلى مدينة افديرك #موريتانيا #نحن_معكم_في_رحلة_الحقوق 780 كيلو متر من أزويرات وحتى القصر الرئاسي بالعاصمة

Breaking alert: Journalia march reaches the city of Afdirk in #Mauritania. We are with you in the journey of rights. 780 km from Zouerat till the presidential palace.

Sid Ahmed Baba also posted on his Facebook page:

من مدينة أزويرات سيرا علي الأقدام .. لك الله من أمة منكوبة رئيسك يعد ويخلف ويتعهد ويكذب وعمالك وعاطلوك يدفعون الثمن كل يوم بفعل مرارة الظلم وكذب الرئيس

From the city of Zouerate, walking on foot. This nation is doomed by a president who lies and makes false promises while the workers and unemployed pay every day the price of this injustice and lies of the president

Mauritania: Anger over US Ambassador Statement

Thalia Rahme — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:59:24 +0000

Photograph of the protest facing the US Embassy in Nouakchott – Posted on the Facebook page of the Youth of Democratic Forces Gathering

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Twitter Suspends Cuban Encyclopedia Ecured's Account

Thalia Rahme — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 14:24:56 +0000

Twitter has suspended the account [en] of the Cuban Collaborative Encyclopedia Cubana EcuRed according to an announcement posted on the official blog of the Ecured website.

“Its only violation (of Twitter rules and regulations) has been registering with an e-mail belonging to the Joven Club de Computación y Electrónica (The Youth Club of Computers and Electronics), a Cuban institution removed from Twitter for having celebrated the achievements of the Revolution through the hashtag #Caravana54.”

Logotipo de Ecured. Reproducido bajo licencia CC

At least two Cuban bloggers have been also blocked since last week.

In a post on “Desde adentro de Cuba”, (From Inside Cuba), Arian Jesús Pérez recounts:

En la tarde del martes 8 de enero [Twitter] suspendió indefinidamente TODAS las cuentas que salían por las IP pertenecientes a los Joven Club de Computación.

On the evening of Tuesday, January 8, [Twitter] suspended indefinitely ALL the accounts originating from IP belonging to the Joven Club de Computación

For Perez, the suspension is also related with the coverage by the site of the 54th anniversary of the arrival of the caravan carrying Fidel Castro, among other leaders of the Cuban Revolution, into Havana.

Las etiquetas #Caravana54 y #Cuba que utilizaron tuiteros cubanos ocuparon lugares destacados durante varios días. El primero de estos dos hashtag hasta el 7 de enero tenía 30 574 tweets. Desde el día 3 de enero se había posicionado entre los 20 tags más populares del día. En las tendencias de los mensajes en español, el pasado día 5, se posicionó en el segundo lugar, y en las tendencias de los tags populares, en primer lugar.

The Hashtags #Caravana54 and #Cuba used by Cuban Tweeps kept trending for various days. Until January 7, #Caravan54 had generated 30,574 tweets. Since January 3, it has been among the top 20 most popular tags of the day. It was on second place among the trending messages in Spanish the second day and it was positioned first among the popular tags trends.

The author of El colimador blog says:

Ayer en la tarde descubrí con desagrado que mi cuenta de Twitter había sido bloqueada por los administradores de Twitter. (…) Me abstuve de hacer cualquier comentario al respecto, pues pensé que se podía tratar de algún error. Mas, hoy en la mañana descubro que todas las cuentas que accenden por el IP de Joven Club han sido suspendidas.

Yesterday evening, I found out unhappily that my Twitter account has been blocked by the platform administators. (…). I refrained from any comments on the issue and then I thought I could be some error. But today, I discovered in the morning that all accounts originating from the Joven Club had been suspended.

Numerous Cuban Twitter users asked Twitter to revise its decision and take into account that the owners of these accounts do not consider “having infringed any of the regulations which allegedly have been breached” and thus justify their suspension.

Last December, Eucured announced the launch of its first portable version, which can be installed on mobile phones, during the first quarter of 2013.

What Does Being a GVer Mean to You?

Thalia Rahme — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 18:46:53 +0000

A few days before the end of 2012, Gabriela, a Global Voices veteran and one of our oldest and most regular contributors suggested that I write a post similar to the one published last year under the title: The World is talking … We translate. So we called upon our community of translators. Below are some of their answers:

What does being a GVer mean to you?

María Angélica Marín provides a general picture:

Ser parte de una red en la que encuentro posts que me permiten mantenerme informada de aspectos que me interesan. Colaborar en una actividad constructiva. Ser parte de un grupo donde cada uno asume las responsabilidades en forma autónoma al ritmo que desea y una comunidad rica dese el punto de vista profesional así como personal. Encontrar gente con una amplia variedad de intereses que colabora con GV y entre ellos sin interés a tener un puesto mejor, ganar más u otro.

Being part of a network where I find articles that keep me updated on issues which interest me. Partaking and engaging in a constructive activity. Being part of a group where everyone assumes responsibilities independently and follows their own rhythm and that of a rich community from both professional and personal standpoints. Meeting individuals with a wide array of interests collaborating with GV and with each other without having the intent to obtain a better position, gaining more money or other things.

Laura Rebollo adds:

Traducir en Global Voices significa viajar post a post de Siria a Trinidad y Tobago, de China a Rusia, de Turkmenistán a Mozambique… Es la mejor manera de enriquecerse culturalmente y de compartir con el mundo lo que está pasando en cada rincón del planeta. Además, he tenido la suerte de conocer al equipo entregado, dispuesto y maravilloso con el que cuenta GV.

Translating for Global Voices means travelling between posts from Syria to Trinidad and Tobago, from China to Russia, from Turkmenistan to Mozambique ….It is the best way to enrich ourselves culturally and to share with the entire world what is happening in every corner of the globe. Moreover, I got the opportunity to meet the very dedicated, available and amazing team of GV.

Carolina Pirola believes:

Se dice que los periodistas, y más en concreto los medios, son las ventanas al mundo para el ciudadano. Pero muchas veces la realidad que presentan es parcial, sesgada y determinada por lo “que vende”. Como profesional de la informacion, pertenecer a Global Voices es para mí no solo una forma de ayudar al ciudadano a completar ese dibujo del mundo, rellenar los huecos que en el mapa quedan en blanco, sino también en parte una responsabilidad precisamente por esos mismos motivos.

They say that journalists and the media especially are windows to the rest of the world for citizens. But often, the reality they showcase is partial, biased and determined by “what sells”. As a professional in the field of information, belonging to GV for me is not only a way to help citizens complete their understanding of the world and fill in the gaps left blank on the map, but also entails a part of that responsibility for those same motives.

Romina Navarro points out:

En el corto tiempo que llevo traduciendo para Global Voices, gocé el privilegio de estar en contacto con colegas de todo el mundo y enriquecerme de sus conocimientos y opiniones, conocer y ayudar a difundir los acontecimientos más importantes que tienen lugar en cada rincón del planeta, y conectar voces, culturas e ideas a través de la traducción, que es lo que más me gusta. Para mí, pertenecer a Global Voices significa ser parte de algo mucho más grande que uno mismo, y que sigue creciendo con cada nuevo colega que se suma y cada nueva voz que hacemos oír.

In the short time, I have been translating for GV, I've had the privilege to get in touch with colleagues from all over the world and benefit from their knowledge and opinions, get to know and contributing in spreading the most important news that are happening in every corner of the planet, in addition to connecting voices, cultures and ideas through translation which is what I like the most. For me belonging to GV means being part of something bigger that our-self, and which keeps growing with every new colleague coming aboard and every new voice which we make heard.

Francisco Haces believes that:

Participar en Global Voices como traductor es una gran oportunidad de traer historias socialmente relevantes al ámbito de habla hispana, permitiendo a quienes hablamos español el conocer temas importantes que normalmente pasarían desapercibidos al encontrarse en idiomas distintos. Es la oportunidad de dar una voz en español a quienes hablan idiomas distintos y necesitan que sus historias sean conocidas de manera global.

Contributing to GV as a translator is a great opportunity to bring interesting and socially relevant stories to the Spanish speaking sphere, allowing them to stay informed on the most important topics which usually go unnoticed in other languages. It is an opportunity to give a voice in Spanish to those who speak a different language and who need their stories to be known globally.

Betsy Galbreath writes:

Pertenecer a GV para mí no solo es una oportunidad de ayudar a difundir información a los que de otra manera quizá no tendrían acceso a ella, sino también es una oportunidad de aprender por mí misma lo que está pasando en el mundo–sobre otras culturas, o sobre acontecimientos que los grandes medios de los Estados Unidos quieren minimizar u olvidar. Pertenecer a GV ha ampliado mi mundo, y espero ayudar a hacer lo mismo por los lectores de GV con las traducciones que hacemos. A nivel profesional, la experiencia que gano por traducir materia de tan variado contenido y dificultad es invaluable.

Being a Gver is not only an opportunity for me to contribute in spreading information to those who perhaps wouldn't have access to it otherwise. It is also an chance for me to stay informed on what is happening in the world in other cultures or on events which mainstream or big media companies in the USA want to minimize or forget. Being a GVer has widened my world and I hope to do the same for GV readers with our translations. At a professional level, the experience I have gained for translating such rich, varied and difficult content is also priceless.

Alan Bailey tells us his story:

I've been translating for GV for about six months. I love that it helps me improve my Spanish and translation skills, that it educates me about what is happening around the world, and that it lets me work with the other wonderful journalists, bloggers, and translators of GV!

Miguel Angel Ruiz asserts:

Me ofrece la gran oportunidad de practicar la labor traductora en todo su esplendor con una temática variada (política, economía, sociedad, deporte, etc.) y considero que se trata de una ocasión excelente para formar parte de un equipo que transmite a la comunidad hispanohablante noticias de países que normalmente ni se oyen en los principales medios de comunicación y que necesita la mayor difusión posible en los medios digitales. Me produce una enorme satisfacción pertenecer a un gran proyecto que acoge a voluntarios de todos los rincones del mundo y poder aportar mi grano de arena para su posterior desarrollo a nivel internacional.

It gives the great opportunity to practice challenging translations in all its splendor in varied topics (politics, economy, society, sports, etc.) and I consider it is an amazing occasion to be part of a team which transmits to the Spanish-speaking community, news about countries which they they don't hear quite often in the mainstream media and which need as much coverage as possible in digital media. It gives me a huge satisfaction to belong to such a big project which embraces volunteers from all over the world and where I can contribute even a little in making it grow and reach an international level.

Laura Moreno for her part says:

Para mí Global Voices es una oportunidad de poner en práctica lo que aprendí en la universidad y también de aprender sobre otras culturas. Además me encanta el compañerismo que hay, ya que cuando una persona tiene una duda enseguida contesta alguien dispuesto a ayudarle.

For me Global Voices is an opportunity to put in practice what I have learned at university and also to get to know about other cultures. I also like the spirit of camaraderie that exists between members so whenever someone has a question or a doubt over something, there is always someone else available to assist.

Cati Restrepo adds:

Considero que pertenecer a Global Voices es tener la oportunidad de, si eres autor, acercarte a tu país de una forma diferente. Si eres traductor, de tener un acercamiento único a las voces de miles de ciudadanos en todo el mundo y a historias que difícilmente te llegarían. Ser parte de Global Voices también te da una perspectiva diferente de lo que es internet. Teniendo tantos activistas y personas con tan múltiples profesiones y artes, estás en un ambiente en el que el mundo virtual se concibe de muchas formas. El común denominador es que sí o sí, terminas creyendo y/o corroborando, que puedes generar transformaciones a través de lo que hagas en internet.

If you are an author, I believe that belonging to GV allows you to become closer to your country in a different way. If you are a translator it allows you to have a unique approach to the voices of thousands of citizens from all over the world and to stories which will reach you with difficulty normally. Being a GVer will also gives you a different perspective on the internet. We have among us activists and individuals from various professional backgrounds and even artists. You are in an environment where the virtual world is conceived in various ways. The common denominator is that you end up believing and corroborating that you bring some change to the world through what you do on the internet.

Juan Manuel Baquero notes:

Como traductor, GV significa para mi la oportunidad de hacer llegar a los miembros de mi comunidad lingüística información valiosa para el interés común. Como persona, la oportunidad de ayudar a los demás.

As a translator, GV means the opportunity to bring to the members of my linguistic community, valuable information for the common interest. As an individual it gives me the opportunity to help others.

Rocío Fernández explains:

Recién acabo de incorporarme a GV y al ver mi primera traducción publicada sentí una satisfacción tanto profesional como personal ya que, a la vez que practico una de mis pasiones, la traducción, ayudo a difundir noticias que no están al alcance de gran parte de la población. Por tanto, es un orgullo y un placer poder participar en este magnífico proyecto.

I joined GV recently and seeing my first translation published filled me with huge professional and personal satisfaction and seeing that by indulging in one of my passions, I have contributed in spreading news that is not known by a large part of the population, for that it is a great honor and pleasure to be able to take part in such a wonderful project.

Magda Solari affirms:

Pertenecer a Global Voices significa ser parte de una comunidad internacional de gente que se interesa por la vida y los derechos de otras personas. Que difunde información diferente de la de los diarios, porque sobre todo se preocupa por la situación de las personas comunes. Una comunidad que denuncia lo negativo pero da a conocer también las acciones positivas de organizaciones que se dedican a ayudar a las personas. En suma, una comunidad que no mira para otro lado, sino que se involucra con el fin de trabajar por un mundo mejor.

Belonging to GV means being part of an international community of people who have an interest for the life and rights of other persons. Which spreads information different than the one we read in the newspapers because it cares about the situation about common people. A community which denounces the negative but also sheds light on positive actions of organizations dedicated to helping other people. In brief, a community which only looks to get involved in order to work for a better world.

Fátima del Carmen López Sevilla states:

Para mí, ser parte de Global Voices significa poder ayudar a todo el mundo a acceder a noticias e historias que, de otro modo, quedarían en la sombra. Como traductora, me da una gran satisfacción el poder colaborar a la mayor expansión de estas historias cuando vienen de otros países en otras lenguas. Y, como nos han dicho muchas veces, por poco tiempo que tengamos, lo poco que hagamos ya es mucho en favor de las comunidades y las personas a las que se da voz.

For me being part of Global Voices means being able to help everyone have access to news and stories which otherwise would have fallen into the dark. As a translator, it gives me great satisfaction to be able to contribute to the wide distribution of these stories when coming from other countries and languages. And as we have been told many times, it really doesn't matter if we can dedicate little time on this, the little we do in favor of the communities and persons goes far to give them voice.

Adriana Gutiérrez indicates:

Pertenecer a GV para mí es la oportunidad de ayudar a dar carácter social a la información, difundir las historias de quienes no tienen acceso a los espacios en los grandes medios y facilitar la inclusión de comunidades remotas en la conversación global.

Belonging to GV gives me the opportunity to help shape a social element into the news, spread stories to those who don't have access to the space and the media and facilitate the inclusion of remote communities from the global conversation.

Soledad Blanco says:

Aunque hace poco que colaboro, pertenecer a Global Voices me ha permitido poner en práctica los conocimientos adquiridos en la facultad. También es una forma excelente de llevar a cabo la principal tarea del traductor: ser un puente entre culturas. Gracias a Global Voices podemos ayudar a que muchas personas puedan acceder a información generada en distintas partes del mundo y así disminuir la brecha cultural entre los países desarrollados y los del tercer mundo.

Although I have only been translating for a short time, being part of GV has enabled me to put in practice what I have learned at university. Also, it is a great way to leverage the main task of translator, i.e. to be a bridge between cultures. Thanks to Global Voices, we help in allowing as many people as is possible in accessing information from all over the world and as such fill the cultural gap between developed countries and the third word.

Ingrid Hernández observes:

Para mí, pertenecer a Global Voices significa tener la posibilidad de ayudar a difundir información y conocimiento por medio de la traducción de los artículos allí publicados. Además, me permite crecer profesionalmente, puesto que siempre aprendo algo con los artículos y con las consultas entre la comunidad de traductores.

For me, being a GVer means having the opportunity to help in spreading information and knowledge through translating the articles published here. Moreover, it helps me grow professorially through what I have learned with the articles I translate and with the various discussions between the translators community.

Julio César Ramírez admits:

Bueno, yo soy nuevo en Global Voices y recién me gradué en enero de este año y para mí estar en Global Voices a pesar que casi no se escribe en francés ha sido una gran oportunidad de enriquecer mis habilidades como traductor. Asimismo, ayudar a mucha a gente a que tenga acceso a información de mucha importancia para todos. También, me he sentido bien acogido por el grupo.

Well, I am new to GV and I graduated in January this year and for me being in Global Voices in spite of the fact, that little material is written in French, has been a great opportunity to enrich my capacities as a translator. As such, helping many people to access information which is important for everyone. I also felt quite welcomed by the group.

Laura Martínez puts it this way:

Para mí (a pesar de colaborar menos de lo que me gustaría) es una forma de hacer llegar información que no vemos en los grandes medios de comunicación a mucha gente, y así difundir realidades que quedan ocultas para la mayor parte de las personas; utilizar internet como herramienta social en la que todos podemos aportar nuestro granito de arena para intentar cambiar un poco el mundo; y en cuanto a la traducción, me produce un placer inmenso trabajar con noticias de todo el mundo, escritas por personas como yo, y, como ya ha dicho alguien, servir de puente para que lleguen a cuanta más gente mejor.

For me (Even though I do contribute less than I wish), it is a way to make information which we don't see in mainstream media accessible to as many people as is possible and thus disseminate ideas that they want to keep away for the majority of people; using the internet as a social tool where everyone can contribute even a little in an attempt to change the world a little bit. As for translation, it gives me huge pleasure to work on news from all over the world written for people like me and as someone said, acts as a bridge for people to be informed better.

Silvia Lopardo notes:

Cuando me anoté en Global Voices, pensé que era una buena forma de practicar lo que tanto me gusta y colaborar con los que se esfuerzan para que las noticias lleguen a todas las personas. A pesar de que no pude participar mucho, me encontré con un grupo de colegas muy comprometidos y dispuestos a ayudar al otro ante cualquier inconveniente. Aprendí mucho con los pocos artículos que traduje.

When I joined Global Voices, I thought it was a good way to practice what I liked and to collaborate with those who struggle so that news reaches everyone. Even though, I am not very active, I found a group of very dedicated people that are always available to help others on any issue. I learned a lot with the few articles, I translated.

Rubén Hilari adds:

Pertenecer a Global Voices Aymarata es una oportunidad de potenciar mi lengua materna y mantener comunicados al pueblo/nación Aymara.

Belonging to Global Voices in Aymara is an opportunity to empower my native language (mother tongue) and keep the village / nation of Aymara well informed.

Finally, Gabriela García Calderón concludes:

Entré como traductora voluntaria a Global Voices en noviembre de 2007, el mismo día del famoso “¿por qué no te callas?” que más de uno recordará. Dos años después, en noviembre de 2009, el entonces editor regional para América Latina, Eduardo Ávila, me invitó a colaborar como autora para el Perú. En estos cinco años, mi relación con Global Voices ha sido continua y diaria.

Al ver nombres de lugares lejanos viajo en el tiempo, a una época en la que me colgaba del hombro de mi hermano mayor, que hacía listas interminables con nombres de países y sus capitales. De tanto leerlos, terminé memorizando muchos y al volver a leerlos ahora, se despiertan antiguos y queridos recuerdos.

Si a eso le sumamos que crecí rodeada de gente relacionada con las noticias, tenemos la combinación perfecta de recuerdos y actualidad.

Además de esto, Global Voices me da todos los días la oportunidad de relacionarme con otros colaboradores, que pueden estar tanto en el país vecino como al otro lado del mundo. Y todos formamos parte del proceso de dar voz a los que normalmente no tendrían voz.

Gracias a Global Voices me siento parte de un mundo cambiante, fascinante, diverso y sin embargo, igual.

I joined Global Voices as a volunteer translator in November 2007, on the very same day of the famous “Why don't you shut up” that many recall. Two years after, in November 2009, Latin America regional director at that time, Eduardo Avila (now Rising Voices Director), invited me to start contributing as an author for Peru. In these 5 years, my relation with GV has been continuous and on a daily basis.

When I see a number of foreign places, I travel to a time where I would hang on the shoulder of my eldest brother who would write endless lists of country names with their capitals. I read them so much that I eventually knew them by heart, and by now reading them again, old and dear memories come back.

And so to wrap it up, I grew up surrounded by people associated with the news and we have the perfect combination of memories and breaking news.

Moreover, every day, Global Voices gives me the opportunity to get in touch with other contributors who reside in neighboring countries or on the other side of the world. And we all constitute a part of the process that gives voices to those who usually wouldn't have one.

Thanks to Global Voices, I feel part of a changing, yet fascinating, and diverse yet equal world.

Athough, it might seem that there were more than enough answers above (22!), as a matter of fact, they only represent a small percent of the large number of volunteer translators at Global Voices. Of the 22, 19 volunteer with Global Voices in Spanish [es], two contribute to GV in English and one translates for GV in Aymara, which gives me lots of pleasure because it shows that our diverse linguistic communities are not isolated but communicate with each other and stay connected. Happy 2013.

The Mauritanian Water Uprising

Thalia Rahme — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 15:24:38 +0000

Maghta Lahjar town protest photo by Tfeil Brahim on Facebook

(more…)

Mauritanian Women Speak up against Rape

Thalia Rahme — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:25:30 +0000

A group of Mauritanian women launched an initiative against rape and all other forms of violence against women in their country. Entitled “Etkelmi or Speak up” [ar and fr], this campaign aims according the blog “Al Tasfera” [ar] to break the wall of silence surrounding rape and encourage victims to demand their rights and to be integrated in society.
Al Tasfera adds:

نسعى إلي توصيل رسالة لكافة أطياف المجتمع تتلخص في ضرورة مؤازرة المغتصبة ومعاقبة الجاني طبقا لقوانين الجريمة.
كما تسعي المبادرة إلي توطيد العلاقات ما بين الأهل والضحية في سبيل التكافل الأسري وتهدف المبادرة إلي تشجيع المغتصبات علي الإندماج في الحياة الاجتماعية والانخراط في السلك المهني كما تأخذ علي كاهلها رفع القضايا الراكدة للمغتصبات وتسليط الضوء علي المعاناة التي تحضنها المراكز والمنظمات

We strive to convey a message to all segments of society about the necessity of supporting the victims of rape and punishing the rapist according to the penal and criminal code. The initiative also aims to strengthen the ties between the victims and their parents in order to ensure the family solidarity. In addition, it aims to encourage those who were subjected to the act of rape to integrate in social life and engage in a career. Moreover, it shall endeavor to voice their issues and highlight their suffering which are now confined to centers and organizations.

Sixteen Teachers Arrested in Mauritania

Thalia Rahme — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:18:56 +0000

On December 23, Mauritanian authorities arrested 16 teachers who had heckled the Education Minister in protest against their arbitrary transfer to remote posts, for having taken part in last year's demonstrations. The police sent these teachers to its various offices in Nouakchott. Journalist Mohamed Salem comments:

يجدد نظام العقيد ولد باهية اعتقال 16 أستاذا من خيرة أساتذة موريتانيا لأنهم طالبوا برفع الظلم

@medsa20 : Ould Bahia's regime once again arrests 16 of Mauritania's best teachers because they demanded to put an end to injustice

Mauritanians Find a Voice Online in 2012

Thalia Rahme — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:14:27 +0000

Few people know about Mauritania, that African state. Even fewer know that it is a member of the Arab League, thus part of the Arab World.

But too much has happened in 2012 in Mauritania – the latest being the shooting of President Mohammed Ould Abdel Aziz on October 13 and its implication on the internal scene.

Despite the low rate of internet penetration, young people and activists are resorting to social media platforms in an attempt to say: “We exist” and to draw the world's attention to their country.

According to Nasser Weddady, a US based Mauritanian activist (@weddady) “Facebook is at the center of the new e-dissent” in Mauritania, where opposition groups and human rights movements as well as independent activists are expressing themselves. Twitter is also gaining importance among Mauritanian netizens.

Yearning for the Arab Spring

Fed up with a military regime and dictatorship, coupled with dire socio-economic conditions, Mauritanians saw in the Arab Spring, a fresh breath for them.

They seized the opportunity to call for reforms and demand for the end of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz‘s rule.

Sit ins, marches, rallies and protests were held by the opposition, spearheaded by the 25th of February Movement [ar, fr].

They were met by brutality and repression by the regime, who naturally support other dictatorships like Syria.

Opposition sit-in in Nouakchott on May 2. Image by Twitter user @ahmedj85.

Suppression of the protests on May 18. Image from the Facebook page of the ‘youth bloc’ – used with permission

A blog post by Ahmed Jedou explains the state of affairs in the country [ar]:

“Today it is obvious that the military look at us as if we are a ball they are playing with. Our war should be for the establishment of a civil state which fights all the remnants of military rule and French guardianship, through a transitional period, which should be lead by civil society forces.”

Photo of a protest held on June 23, 2012. Used with permission from the page “Latest News “ آخر خبرا

The February 25 Youth held a symbolic burial of the Constitutional Institutions on November 12.

Tah Ould Habib posts this photo and tweets:

February 25 youth stage a symbolic funeral of Mauritania Constitutional Institutions

هنا ترقد المؤسسات الدستورية برحمته المولى تغمدها

@tahabib: Herein, lay the Constitutional Institutions, May the Lord have mercy upon them

A gloomy record in human rights

The year 2012 was also marked by the arrest of various activists and journalists.

The regime even tried to bribe students so as to convince them to stop their activism.

Blogger Dada Ould Sheikh Ibrahim wrote about the case:

فجر الطالب: ألمين ولد حمادي عضو المكتب التنفيذي للإتحاد الوطني لطلبة موريتانيا حقائق قوية عن إغرائه بالتوظيف والمال من طرف مدير ديوان رئيس الجمهورية ورئيس جامعة انواكشوط السابق السيد إسلك ولد إزيد بيه لشق صفوف الاتحاد الوطني بإشراف مباشر من العضو السابق بنفس الاتحاد السيد إطول عمر.

Almeen Ould Hamadi, member of the executive office of the National Union of Mauritanian Students, surprised everyone. He revealed that Isselkou Ould Izidbih, the president's chief of staff and the former president of the University of Nouakchott, had offered him a job and money to split the union, under the direct supervision of a former member of the same union, Mr Itwal Omar

Mauritanian journalist Obeid Ould Amegn was detained on April 29. His health is said to be deteriorating.

Obeid Ould Amegn- photo source: boutilimit blog

But if one is to speak about Mauritania's violation of human rights, then we can definitely not omit slavery. Despite it being abolished by the government since 1981 and considered as a crime in 2007, slavery is still rampant in the country.

On December 10th, Mauritania was elected Vice President of the UN Human Rights Council which outraged various associations and prompted UN Watch to slam that decision. Also, discrimination is a daily fact of life for black Mauritanians.

“It is obscene for the U.N. to use the occasion of Human Rights Day, when we commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to elect the world's worst enabler of slavery to this prestigious post,” said Hillel Neuer, UN Watch executive director. According to a recent report by the Guardian, “up to 800,000 people in a nation of 3.5 million remain chattels,” with power and wealth overwhelmingly concentrated among
lighter-skinned Moors, “leaving slave-descended darker-skinned Moors and black Africans on the edges of society.”

Foreign Interference

Mauritania was once a French colony. Despite its independence in 1960, strong ties still exist between both countries, angering Mauritanians who demand an end to the French guardianship over their country.

Mauritanian journalist and blogger Dr Elycheikh Bah Ahhmedtolba explains the reasons behind this feeling of resentment:

The question of French-dependency exists since the advent of colonization and reached its peak during the so-presumed “independence”, since then there has been a generation living on its rewards. [..] It is our duty as the young generation to, at least, discuss and share ideas about the doubtful positioning of the “Old Political Guardians” within the French negotiation with the military junta about the possibilities of keeping the disappeared Aziz on the top of the state or to push forward another accomplice for the looming war in Northern Mali

Poster for February 25th Movement “No to Guardianship” (”Yes to Partnership”) via Ahmed Jedou used with permission

Mauritania is a country rich in mineral resources.

Mauritania: Commemorating Inal's Massacre against Black Soldiers

Thalia Rahme — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 16:00:48 +0000

The 28th of November should have been a happy day for Mauritanians as it marks the country's independence from France.

However, it also brings back sad and bloody memories [en], since it reminds them that on that same day in 1990, an ethnic cleansing was perpetrated within the Mauritanian Army. In mysterious circumstances, at least 28 black African soldiers were executed in a remote village located 500km to the north of the capital Nouakchott. So and on Mauritania's 52nd Independence day, a group of Mauritanian activists from more than 17 human rights organizations, headed to Inal [en], where the victims of the massacre lay, accompanied by some of the murdered soldiers' relatives, to pay tribute to them, ask for justice and also bring attention to this case, which has long been buried and forgotten. The group was first intercepted by the authorities, who eventually freed its members. Last year, a similar visit took place, organized by the same group. Like last year, the group also visited the village of Sori-male [en] in the Brakna region, to commemorate what is known by the “Years of Ash”, during which hundreds of black Mauritanians lost their lives between 1989 and 1990.

Al Watan (the Nation) website featured some testimonies of the parents of the genocide victims, who spoke about their tragedy and the injustice they have been subjected to, demanding punishment for the massacre perpetrators [ar]:

السيدة سالمتا جالو: تحكي أن زوجها وأخاها قتلا هنا وهي مفجوعة بمصيبتين في آن واحد، تحلف بالله إن هذه المجازر وقعت على حين غفلة من الأهالي “وتمت في يوم واحد هو يوم 28 نوفمبر هذا اليوم الذي يحتفل به الموريتانيون عيد استقلال وطني، حوله هؤلاء إلى مأساة تذكرنا كل سنة بهذه المجزرة”، تبدي سالمتا جالو تأسفها على تغاضي السلطات وتراخيها في معالجة الملف، وقالت إن ما قيم به حتى اليوم من صلاة على الغائب في مدينة كيهيدي وإعداد خريطة عن القبور “مجرد تحايل”.
وطالبت المفجوعة سالمتا جالو الحقوقيين وأصحاب الضمائر الحية أن يتحركوا جميعا ً لإعادة العدالة إلى ذويهم بإجراء تحقيق شفاف في ملابسات ما أسمته “المجزرة الجهنمية”.

Mrs Salmta Jalou says that her husband and brother were killed here so she was hit by two calamities at the same time. She swears by God that these massacres happened without the parents knowing and on the 28th of November, the day where Mauritanians celebrate their independence. These (the genocide perpetrators) have transformed it into a tragedy which reminds us every year of this massacre. Salmta Jalou expresses her desolation on the slackening of the authorities in dealing with the case and said that all what has been done so far such as prayers for the victims in Kihidi and talks about mapping the tombs is just a gimmick. Heartbroken Salmta Jalou asked lawyers and those with living consciences to act to bring justice by a transparent probe into what she described as the “infernal massacre”

Photograph of the group in Inal, taken by Dedda Ould Cheikh Brahim. Used with permission.

Dedda Ould Cheikh Brahim, took part in Inal caravan and blogged about the event, mentioning the harassment the group was subjected to by the security forces, relating as well the atmosphere of the massacre commemoration.

بعد انتهاء الخطب والترحم سار المشاركون في الرحلة على أقدامهم خلف مؤلف كتاب “جحيم إنال” والعسكري الناجي من تلك الأحداث ممدو سي، حيث وجههم إلى أربع تلال مكسوة بالحجار قال إنها المكان الذي دفن في رفاقه بعد تعذيبهم…
كان تحديد ذلك الموقع المجاور لمكان الثكنة العسكرية كفيل بإطلاق العنان للنحيب والبكاء والإغماءات بل وذهب الأمر إلى أبعد من ذلك حيث قام بعض الشباب بالدعوة إلى حمل السلاح لأخذ الثأر بدل البكاء.

After the speeches and the prayers, the participants went on their feet behind the author of the book entitled “Inal Hell” and the surviving solider Mamdou Se, who took them to four hills covered with stones and said this was the place where his friends were buried after being tortured.
The location of that spot near military barracks brought tears to many and caused others to faint. This made some youth to call for carrying arms, and taking revenge, instead of sobbing.

Gerry Adams criticizes the silence of the Mauritanian elites:

في ليلة الذكري الثلاثين لاستقلال موريتانيا نفذ الجيش الموريتاني مجزرة في قرية “إينال” في أقصي الشمال الموريتاني أعدم خلالها, بدون محاكمة ولا حتى تهمة واضحة, 28 عسكريا من الزنوج بعد أن مورس عليهم في تلك الليلة أبشع أنواع التعذيب والتنكيل…. وفي صمت أشبه بالمتعامي عن الجريمة سكت الجميع….. سكت المثقفون والسياسيون وعلماء الدين ودعاة المبادئ…. سكت التقدميون المدافعون عن الضعفاء والمحرومين…. سكت الإسلاميون الآمرون بالمعروف والناهون عن المنكر….. سكت الجميع قبل ذالك وبعد ذالك في ولاته وفي الجريدة و في غيرهما وتوالت جرائم قتل الزنوج الموريتانيين وتشريدهم ونهب أموالهم وهتك أعراضهم علي مرآي ومسمع من الجميع.

On the eve of Mauritania's 30th Independence commemoration. The Mauritanian army perpetrated a genocide in Inal, in northern Mauritania, where 28 black soldiers were executed without trial and not even a clear accusation. They were also subject that night to the ugliest forms of torture. And in a silence close to being blind to the crime, everyone shut up. The intellectuals shut up, so did the politicians and the clergymen and those who call for principles. The progressives who defend the weak and deprived also shut up. There was the same silence from the Islamists, who apply the sharia. Everybody shut up before and after the massacre. And the crimes against black Mauritanians were repeated as well as their displacement, and the confiscation of their money, and their honor was sullied and defiled under everyone's eyes.

On Aswat (Voices), Djibril Jalou wrote a series of blog posts on the crimes which Mauritanian blacks have been subject to. There, we can read testimonies of surviving soldiers:

جانب آخر من الوحشية حين كان الجناة يحتسون الشاي وهو يجلسون على الجثث في انتظار شنق الآخرين، أحد الناجين سمع، الضابط “خطري” يقرأ آية من القرآن وهو يجلس على جندي بعد أن شنقه، يقول هذا الناجي لا أصدق بأنه يؤمن بالرب الذي أنزل هذا القرآن العظيم المقدس.
لقد دام وقت الإعدام شنقا أكثر من ساعة زمانية. كان التعذيب في هذه الليلة جنونيا عقب الإعدامات، لقد ضرب المعتقلون ضربا شديدا. وأطلق الرصاص على بعضهم، لأنهم فقط “تأثروا” من هول ما رأوا. فقد قتل خمسة آخرين في نفس الليلة هم : لي همدي ،ممدو عصمان،جوب بوكر بيلا،صل عمر ،صل أمدو الحاج. يقول الضابط منصور، وهو مطابق لما وردر في كتاب “جحيم إنال”.
بقي في الأذهان أن 28 عسكريا أسودا قتلوا في هذه الليلة ، والحقيقة أن عدد قتلى إنال كثيرون في تلك الليلة ،يقول الضابط الناجي كان منصور، في شهادته المسجلة، وهو يحكي كيف طلب منه أن يعترف أمام “مسجلة” بأنه شارك في الإنقلاب ، لقد جاء في هذه الشهادة أن كبار الضباط الزنوج جمعوا في 23 من نوفمبر وبدأ تعذيبهم وتهديدهم بالقتل وقد توفي أثناء تعذيبهم كلا من : الملازم صل عبد الله موسى، الملازم آن طاهير ضرب حتى الموت عند بوابة الزنزانة التي اعتقل فيها الضباط،النقيب لوم ، صل عمر مات وهو يقول منصور اعطني ماءا.لقد عذب حتى فقد جسمه كل السوائل.

Another side of the brutality was when the torturers were having tea while sitting on the bodies awaiting to execute the others, one of those who survived heard sergeant ”khotri” reading the Koran while sitting on a soldier after hanging him. The survivor says: “I can't believe he believes in God who gave us this mighty and holy Koran.”

The executions lasted for more than an hour. Torture during that night was crazy in the aftermath of the executions. Detainees got severely beaten and some of them were shot just because they were touched by what they have seen. Five more were killed in that same night: Li Hamdi, Mamdou Osman, Job Boker Bil, Sal Oumar, Sal Amdou el Hajj, says sergeant Mansour. This statement being identical to what is related in “Inall Hell” book.

What remains in the memories is that 28 black soldiers were killed that night and that the truth is that the number of dead in that night is numerous as stated by sergeant Mansour in his recorded testimony where he says how he was asked to admit on a recorder that he participated in the massacre. The testimony also says that on the 23rd of November, senior black soldiers where rounded up, tortured and threatened to death and some of them died under torture, like Sal Abdallah Moussa, An Tahir who was beaten to death at the gate of the prison where Loum was arrested. Sal Oumar died while saying “Mansour, give me water.” He was tortured until his body was fully dehydrated.

Activist Sidi Aly Moulaye Zeine expresses on Facebook his sorrow that Inal massacre took place on independence day:

البعض يستعد للإحتفال ب ٢٨ من نفمبر بينما يحي هذا التاريخ آلام حداد لم يكتمل بعد عند آخرين. جنة الفردوس لشهداء موريتانيا من ضحايا الحكم العنصري و الدكتاتوريات العسكرية آمين

Some are getting ready to celebrate the 28th of November while for others, this date revives the pains of a mourning which has not been completed. Paradise for Maurtania's martyrs, victims of the racist rule and the military dictatorships. Amen

Also, “Don't Touch my Nationality” opposition movement, held a rally asking to punish all those involved in the elimination of black Mauritanians. But the Mauritanian regime met the march with oppression and tear-gas. The movement had earlier issued a list containing the names of members of the Mauritanian army accused of committing crimes against blacks, especially former president Moaouia Ould Sid Ahmed El Tae.

This video has been posted by Al Akhbar website on its Youtube page on Inal Caravane's 2012.

Mauritania: “Don't Touch my Nationality” March Broken by Police

Thalia Rahme — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:15:45 +0000

On November 28, 2012, Mauritanian police dispersed [ar] a march organized by “Don't touch my nationality” movement and arrested their coordinator Birane Wane [en]. The opposition group was asking for the trial of all those involved in the killing of black officers in the Mauritanian army in the 90′s during the ruling of former president Maaouya Ould Sid'Ahmed Taya.

The march took place on the country's independence day. Mauritanian journalist Mohamed Naji Ahmedou followed the event closely and tweeted:

@ouldhmedoumedna “لا تلمس جنسيتي” تشتبك مع الأمن قرب العيادة المجمعة..

Don't touch my nationality, clashes with security forces near the clinic