[cmath] International appeal regarding mathematician Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh

[Graham Wright]

Dear Colleagues:

Mathematicians in France have asked the CMS to assist in an international 
appeal regarding Dr. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, a mathematician in Chad. On 
February 3, 2008 he was abducted from his home by forces of the Chad government 
and his family has heard nothing of him since then. The Société Mathématique de 
France (SMF) and the Société de Mathématiques Appliquées et Industrielles are 
co-sponsoring a petition demanding that the government of Chad publicly 
disclose correct information on the whereabouts and condition of Dr. Ibni Oumar 
Mahamat Saleh. The SMF website has provision for electronic signing of the 
petition, a list of those who have signed to date, and extensive information on 
the case:

http://smf.emath.fr/en/PetitionSaleh/documents

Dr. Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh has had a distinguished career in university and 
public service in Chad, as chair of the mathematics department and later rector 
of the Université de N'Djamena, and as a minister in two governments of Chad. 
More recently he has been an opposition political leader. At the time of his 
abduction, he had serious health problems, so there is concern about his health 
and safety.

We invite all CMS members to read the information on the SMF website (at the 
URL given above), and to sign the petition.

Christiane Rousseau, Chair, International Affairs Committee
Jon Thompson, Human Rights Officer

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Update from M-F Roy of SMF, March 21, 2008

1. We had this morning 1345 signatories.

2. No reaction and no answer from the french or chadian authorities so far. We 
are going to inform the two presidents of the increase in number of 
signatories.

3. Many media gave information about our petition thanks to the Agence France 
Presse dispatch. We do not have the complete list of these media. I have been 
interviewed by Voice of America, it will be broadcasted today at lunch time in 
Africa. For new signatories: messages on former initiatives are kept at 
http://smf.emath.fr/PetitionSaleh/messages.cgi

4. A file about Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh and his disappearance can be found at 
http://smf.emath.fr/PetitionSaleh/documents Do not hesitate to give this adress 
in order to augment the number of signatories.

5. The international mathematical community takes initiatives, notable in 
Canada and in US, as well as the french Academie des Sciences who has written 
to Bernard Kouchner (french foreign affairs).

6. A source of information for following news about the face of Ibni Oumar 
Mahamat Saleh is http://prisonniers-politiques.over-blog.com/

Have a good day

Marie-Francoise Roy


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Mise  jour de M-F Roy of SMF, 21 mars 2008

Bonjour

1. Notre ptition avait recueilli ce matin 1345 signatures.

2. Nous n'avons eu aucune reaction et encore moins de reponse venues des 
autorites francaises ou tchadiennes. Nous allons
informer les deux presidents par courriel du progres dans les signatures.

3. De nombreux media ont diffuse l'information concernant notre petition 
grace a la depeche AFP du 15 mars. Nous n'en
connaissons pas la liste exhaustive. J'ai ete interviewe par La Voix de 
l'Amrique pour diffusion ce midi en Afrique. Pour
les nouveaux signataires: un resume des actions precedentes peut etre 
consulte sur
http://smf.emath.fr/PetitionSaleh/messages.cgi

4. Un dossier concernant Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh et son enlevement se 
trouve en
http://smf.emath.fr/PetitionSaleh/documents. N'hesitez pas a diffuser 
cette information pour augmenter le nombre des
signataires.

5. La communaute mathematique internationale se mobilise, notamment au 
Canada et aux USA, ainsi que l'Academie des Sciences
francaise qui a ecrit a Bernard Kouchner.

6. Une ses sources d'information pour suivre l'actualite concernant le 
sort d'Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh est
http://prisonniers-politiques.over-blog.com/

Bon courage

Marie-Francoise Roy