Tomo Križnar

File:Tomo Križnar 2011.jpg

Tomo Križnar (born 26 August 1954) is a peace activist, notable for delivering video cameras in Southern Kordofan to the local ethnic Nuba civilians in order to help them collect the evidence of North Sudan military's war crimes against them. He wrote several books. He was also a special envoy of then Slovenian president Janez Drnovšek for Darfur.

Private life

Born in Jesenice, Jesenice (SR Slovenia, SFR Yugoslavia), he lived in Naklo in northwestern Slovenia. He studied economic sciences and mechanical engineering. Now he and his wife live in Postojna.

Peace missions

=2006 Darfur mission=

Image:Villages destroyed in the Darfur Sudan 2AUG2004.jpg

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In 2006, Križnar entered the Darfur region with the help of Darfur rebels during the War in Darfur. He entered without a valid visa via the neighbouring Chad. On 20 July 2006, he was arrested. On 14 August 2006, he was convicted of "publishing false news, espionage and entering Sudan without an entry visa" and the criminal court of Al-Fashir in Northern Darfur sentenced him for two years imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 dinars (US$2,400). His photography equipment and films were confiscated.

The Slovene government urged Sudan to pardon Križnar. Then president of Slovenia, Janez Drnovšek, addressed a special letter to Omar Hasan Ahmad al-Bashir and sent another special envoy to Sudan. On 2 September 2006, al-Bashir agreed to pardon and release Tomo Križnar. Križnar returned to Slovenia on 5 September; but he had to leave photography equipment and films – that contain documentations of mass graves according to him – in Sudan.

=2011 Southern Kordofan mission=

In 2011, Križnar delivered video cameras in Southern Kordofan to the local ethnic Nuba civilians in order to help them collect the evidence of North Sudan military's war crimes against them.[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/opinion/kristof-dodging-bombers-in-sudan.html?_r=1 Dodging Bombers in Sudan, 22 February, 2012] report from New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13767146 Sudan's South Kordofan: 'Huge suffering from bombs'], article on BBC website[http://www.tomokriznar.com/ang/index.php?li=11-01m30_komuganza Report from a Blue Nile Province] by Križnar on January 29th, 2011

In 2012, world premiere of the Eyes and Ears Of God – Video surveillance of Sudan film on YouTube. The documentary film shows the ethnic Nuba civilians defending themselves with the help of over 400 cameras distributed by himself and Klemen Mihelič, the founder of humanitarian organisation H.O.P.E., to volunteers across the war zones in the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile, and Darfur, documenting the (North) Sudan military's war crimes against local populations.[http://www.tomokriznar.com/ang/index.php?li=filmi About the documentary] on Tomo Križnar's website On his website there are quotes from media news about the "refugees in Blue Nile (...) starve highly of no food, medicine and insecurity from the continual aerial bombardment" and "starving families hiding in caves to escape bombing by Sudanese warplanes".[http://www.tomokriznar.com/ang/index.php?li=novice Media quotes] on Križnar website

Documentary films

2012 Eyes and Ears Of God – Video surveillance of Sudan - available on YouTube
2008 DAR FUR - War for Water - available on YouTube
2001 Nuba, voices from the other side
2000 Nuba, pure people - available on YouTube
1995 Lonely paths

Books

Books are in Slovene only.

1999 Nuba, pure people
1996 Mana, by Bicycle among Indians
1994 Lonely paths
1993 Shambala - to Tibet by Bicycle
1990 On Search for Love or Around the World by Bicycle

References

Sources

[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/opinion/kristof-dodging-bombers-in-sudan.html?_r=1 Dodging Bombers in Sudan, 22 February, 2012] report from New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17081 Sudan Tribune of 15 August 2006] about Tomo Križnar
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17089 Sudan Tribune of 15 August] about Slovenian protests
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17105 Sudan Tribune on 16 August]: Pressure on Sudanese government
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17189 Sudan Tribune of 22 August]: Further developments; Križnar's arrest as warning to the international community
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17404 Sudan Tribune of 3 September]: Release of Tomo Križnar
[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article17448 Sudan Tribune of 6 September]: Tomo Križnar returns to Slovenia