Friday, January 18, 2008
This afternoon at the Kansas Union, more than 10 student groups are to come together to honor the memory of Senegalese police officer and United Nations peacekeeper Babacar Ndiaye and express support for his wife, former KU doctoral student Selbee Diouf, by denouncing the actions of the terrorist group, al-Qaida.
Emmanuel Birdling, outreach coordinator for the Kansas African Studies Center, said he expected representatives from the Black Student Union, Chabad Jewish Student Group and Amnesty International to attend, among others. The groups will take turns making a brief statement expressing their solidarity and denouncing the actions of al-Qaida. Students are encouraged to attend, Birdling said.
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What: Forum Against al-Qaida Terrorism
When: Today, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Where: Kansas Union, Centennial Room
Ndiaye was the victim of a Dec. 11, 2007, blast from two car bombs that tore apart a block in Algeria’s capital of Algiers. Hospital officials treating victims estimated between 40 and 60 innocent people lost their lives to an al-Qaida terrorist organization targeting UN offices and the constitutional court.
Sarah Madden, Topeka senior, studied abroad in Senegal in the fall of 2006. Diouf was one of her professors while studying in Dakar, Senegal. Madden said Diouf positively influenced her experience in Senegal and she was saddened by Ndiaye’s death.
“Having this happen to such a sweet lady is very disturbing and upsetting,” Madden said. “Nobody deserves to have to go through that.”
Ndiaye and Diouf were both active on campus. Birdling said both had been active in his organization and Ndiaye made a presentation at a KASC seminar.
He said the tragedy is a personal reminder that violence like the bombings in Algeria has a wide-sweeping effect.
“For me, this is the closest that it has hit home,” Birdling said. “Selbee was part of us and will remain part of us.”
Madden, an African studies major and president of the Africana Club, said her group would participate in the event this afternoon. She said it was important to remember that violence affects more than just the victims.
“I think that our group wants to be there to show that there are people aware of things like this going on and it affects more than just the people involved,” she said.
Birdling said that coming together to denounce al-Qaida terrorism was the best way to remember Ndiaye and express sympathy for his wife. Diouf is currently in Senegal.
“We believe at this juncture that we need to come together as a group and as a community just to voice our concern over this type of action,” he said.
KASC director Garth Myers said Ndiaye’s dedication to putting a stop to violence in North Africa would be remembered through his work with the UN and Senegalese government.
“Babacar dedicated his life to peace and justice, and the center wanted to remember his commitment to world peace and understanding,” Myers said in a press release.
Although she hasn’t spoken to Diouf since the incident, Madden said Diouf was in her thoughts and she would do whatever was needed to provide support to her former professor.
“She was a Senegalese, but she got her degree at KU,” she said. “We are reuniting again even though it’s over a tragic incident.”
— Edited by Mandy Earles
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