Good afternoon
Good afternoon.
Papp: I’m Istvan Papp, I am a peacekeeper from UNAMID, Darfur. I have been abducted, Thursday evening. I don’t know what is my location at the moment. I’m surround by many soldiers.
How many of them?
I don’t know how many. Many, many, I cannot count them. I’m in a big camp. I don’t know where I am.
Are you blindfolded sir?
Sorry, say again please.
Are you blindfolded or you can see around?
I cannot count them, there are many, more than 100 for sure. I can see, I’m not blindfolded but believe me I cannot count them. I am frightened also. I have some problems -- not mentally I am still ok after four days – but my health, many people looks to be having malaria, or something like that. So, I’m scared a bit what will happen to me.
From which nationality,sir, are you Hungarian?
I’m Hungarian, Magar, Magyari and I request your humanitarian help to convey this message to the UNAMID Headquarters in Darfur – we will do that for sure -- and try to relieve me by their own means. I am about to cry but I am happy I got this possibility to talk to the outside world after 4 days.
We will do everything, be sure, be assured that we will do everything that…
Thank you. I am a DDR officer, please tell them to help me. At the moment I’m still okay. But I’m afraid that, you know, evening,malaria is coming, mosquitoes, all these problems.
How did they abduct you, how did they get you and from which location?
I was in Al Fasher in the late evening. They entered the house, the guards and they took us with our vehicle. I was the only one taken, the others escaped. I’m the only one in captivity at the moment.
How do you estimate the distance that they travelled since they took you from El Fasher. How long did they drove with the vehicles?
It was long. I had to walk long hours, I don’t know. Three, four. Vehicle also, long long. I don’t know, I am very far I think. I don’t know.
And you are in a camp?
I had the feeling we were going around, around, in circles. They deceived me, I am sure, I don’t know.
How did they treat you and how do they treat you now?
Treatment is okay, as a human being. But the health conditions are deteriorating. In the camp the health conditions are very bad. So they can not prevent possibly to get something. I get food, a get water, it’s okay.
Can you communicate with them? Do they speak English?
Yes I can speak a little English and little French. Arabic, I don’t speak Arabic, only tamam, shukran.
Do they speak English so that to communicate? Can you talk to them Do they understand you when you use your English?
French is more easy. English like my Arabic, shweya sheya [little by little]. But I can manage.
Do you have any idea why did they abduct you? Did they tell you anything?
What I know, that in North Darfur there was some scandal. Some pyramid game. Something They want their money back.
Ah, this is the Mawasir market scam?
Yes, it think it is Mawasir, yes yes. And they lost their money and they want their money back and it looks like that me from UNAMID, I am now the solution.
They think UNAMID should solve this problem?
I don’t know. But I am private, I am Istvan, I am not the UNAMID. I have no money but I am the one here.
Did you manage to do any kind of communication with the outside world apart for this interview?
No no no, I have no telephone, I have no radio, nothing. They have taken everything from us. This time, you are the first. You are the fist I was allowed to talk to.No communication outside. No family, no UNAMID nothing.
Are they aggressive? What do you think they are going to do with you?
I don’t know, sir, I don’t know what they do. Maybe aggressive, maybe kill me, I don’t know.
Did they threaten you at any stage?
Well, when they abducted me they have beaten me a bit but the stress is every minute, you can see. They have not touched me with weapons or with knifes. I don’t know. You never know how this happens.
Can you approximately describe the camp, the location? How many people, do they have cars, weapons? How do they look like, do they wear uniforms?
Do you speak French?
Oui un peu. [Yes a little.]
[Translated below]J’explique en français. Parce que le commandant parle français. Il est nécessaire qu’il connu qu’est ce que je disàtoi. Mais regard, c’est une place avec le bois, comme la savanna. Il y a beaucoup deinsectes comme les mosquito, comme les autres. Il y le tente locale. C’est est un tente publiqué[construit?] de boa, comme le grass, you know. Et les combattants restent là et il y a quelque mangers quelque boires mais il nest pas sufficient. J’ai le meme chose. Je mange et je boire la meme comme la combattants. Il n y a un docteur la. Et il n’y a pas de service médicale. [sic.]
[Translation: I’ll explain in French. Because the commander speaks French. It is necessary that he understands what I say to you. Look, this is a place with wood, like the savanna. There are many insects like mosquitoes, like others. There is a tent. A tent constructed of boa like the grass, you know. And the fighters stay there and there are some things to eat and drink but not enough. I have the same thing. I eat and drink the same thing as the combatants. There isn’t a doctor here. There isn’t medical service.]
Et vous êtes un peu malade? Un peu fatiquant?
Je pense à ce moment c’est psychologique. C’est une problème de psychologique. [inaudlible; possibly «j’ai journé à l’autre».]C’est moi le seul person ici. S’il vous plait faites quelque chose. Si il possible informe ma famille aussi avec UNAMID.
Je suis Istvan Papp, Hungaire, 55, ne pas un jeune, je suis âgé un peu. C’est tout, c’est tout, c’est tout. Thank you.
[Translation: I think at this time it’s psychological. It’s a psychological problem. (Inaudible sentence.) I am the only one here. Please do something. If it’s possible inform my family too along with UNAMID.
Tu as quelque chose de ajouter, de dire?Autre chose? Anything else to say?
[Requests to switch back to English] No no what I’masking is the help of from my bosses from UNAMID and whoever is in the condition to help.
For sure I will do the following. I will speak with my boss and with my colleagues and we will keep following this story day and night, you have to be sure. This is our job.
I appreciate and believe me today I am still alive. I still alive. I appreciate it.
I’m giving back the phone to the general. Thank you very much. I really appreciate