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The Association Tchadienne pour la Promotion et la Défense des Droits de l'Homme or Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights (abbreviated as ATDPH or ATPDH) is a human rights organization operating in Chad.

[edit] Accusations of use of child soldiers

ATPDH president and lawyer Jacqueline Moudeina accuses the current Chadian government of forcing minors into the Chadian military and using them "as human shields ... We have lots of information to back this up, including testimony from witnesses who have managed to escape... There's absolutely no doubt [young men] are being sent to the war zone." Moudeina alleges that the child soldiers are sent to military barracks in Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti in northern Chad, or Moussoro, 94 miles north of the Chadian capital city N'Djamena, and then to the Chadian-Sudanese border to fight in the current Chad-Sudan conflict to make up for the mass desertions of army officers who are joining the United Front for Democratic Change rebel alliance.

The UFDC wishes to overthrow the current administration of Chadian President Idriss Déby and to hold "fair and free elections" after a two year interim period. Chadian Minister for Public Security Routouang Yoma Golom said Déby is reinforcing the army due to the desertions and that the arrests of over 300 "Colombians," a derogatory term meaning "street urchin," was a separate matter.<ref>"Youths in Chad seized, forced to fight on border", tiscali.news, 19 Jan 2006.</ref> Golom told reporters that the "people who the police rounded up are delinquents who could not be looked after by their parents. By no means do the police or us want to use force to send Chadians into the army. Everyone recruited so far has been a volunteer."

[edit] Government crackdown

On June 11, 2005, Moudeina was injured when 100 women, who were nonviolently protested voting irregularities in the reelection of President Déby outside the French embassy in N'Djamena, were violently attacked by police who used beatings and tear gas to putdown the demonstration. The women had hoped to give the French ambassador a petition demanding new elections.<ref>"Chad:Violent crackdown on peaceful protesters", Amnesty International, 12 June 2001.</ref>

• Second Battle of Adré

<tr><th colspan="2">Image:Flag of Chad.svg  Image:Flag of Sudan.svg Chadian-Sudanese conflict</th></tr> <tr><th>Places</th><td>Chad •Sudan •N'Djamena •Adré •Geneina •Abéché</td></tr> <tr><th>People</th><td>Idriss Déby •Omar al-Bashir •Muammar al-Qaddafi •Mohammed Nour Abdelkerim •Yaya Dillo Djérou •Abdelwahit About •Ahmed Aboul Gheit •Baba Gana Kingibe •Fur people •Zaghawa</td></tr> <tr><th>Non-militant
organizations</th><td>Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights •United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees •African Union Mission in Sudan •Organization for Community Supported Sustainable Agriculture in Chad •Petroleum Revenue Oversight and Control Committee</td></tr> <tr><th>Rebel groups </th><td>Union of Forces for Democracy •United Front for Democratic Change •Platform for Change, Unity and Democracy •Alliance of Revolutionary Forces of West Sudan •Rally for Democracy and Liberty •Rally of Democratic Forces •National Movement for Reform and Development •Janjaweed</td></tr> <tr><th>Military</th><td>Military of Chad •Military of Sudan •Chad Air Force</td></tr> <tr><th>History and events</th><td>History of Chad •History of Sudan •Darfur conflict •Second Battle of Adré •Battle of Borota •Tripoli Agreement •Battle of Amdjereme •Dalola raid •Chadian presidential election, 2006 •Battle of N'Djamena •2006 Chadian coup d'état attempt •Mediation of the Chadian-Sudanese conflict •Dakar Accord</td></tr>

[edit] External link

• Chadian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights