Children Victims of Landmines

By Devon Nuckles
On Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Chad’s Ambassador to the United States, his Excellency Muhamoud Adam Bechir, visited West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Ambassador Bechir, who was here for International Education Week, spoke about relations between the United States and the African nation of Chad.

Ambassador Bechir is a graduate of the University of Khartoum, Sudan (1985-1992) with a bachelor’s in Pharmacy. He received a master’s in International Security and Civil-Military Relations (1996-1997) from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey Bay, California, and has received an award of Excellency in Civil-Military Relations from the Defense Security Agency (an annual award for best foreign students). He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. He served as National Coordinator of the Chad High Committee for National De-mining (HCND) before receiving his current title as Ambassador.

Ambassador Bechir spoke on the situation of the unexploded mines in Chad. He explained that 80 percent of the mines are in the north and east. The leftover mines are a result of the war with Libya and of Chad’s own civil war, which finally ended in 1960. He showed slides of causalities still being caused by the hidden mines, including heartbreaking images of wounded children. “Mines are not killing the solders, but the civilians,” Ambassador Bechir said. At least 147 areas are contaminated and 284,435 people are affected. Chad is having trouble with their de-mining program due to a lack of financial and technological means. However, Chad is receiving some help from The United States, Canada, Swaziland, Italy, Japan, and France.

Ambassador Bechir then explained his role as Chad’s Ambassador to the United States. He said his duties include Chad-U.S. relations, security (including the war on terror), oil production and management, the conflict in the Darfour region of neighboring Sudan (which involves dealing with refugees and peace talks), and spreading democracy.

Students then took part in a short question-and-answer session. When asked what some issues are with the United States concerning Africa, Ambassador Bechir said the United States suffers from a lack of communication with the people of Africa. He felt that while Americans are informed, they are at the mercy of a media machine that at times does not show the positive effects of our international efforts. The overwhelming opinion of Chadians towards the United States is that of gratitude, not fear of oppression or negativity.

When asked about how the process of becoming a democracy is progressing, Bechir said that Chad is making great strides. “Only a coward won’t speak out,” he said. Bechir then went on to explain that one could not be useful to society if you do not express ideas. “A citizen that speaks his mind is a good citizen,” he added. He went on to say that not speaking out will do more harm than good, for democracy can not exist if people do not do so.

Ambassador Bechir ended his lecture by tying it back to his role as Ambassador. “No matter what you are doing in life it is important to have that open line of communication.”