Urgent Action Request for Darfur
Dear Friends and Advocates of Sudan,
Secretary of State Colin Powell finally acknowledged that the
killings in Sudan constitute "genocide." Five weeks later, the
slaughter continues in Darfur, and the government still sends
its soldiers to attack civilians and support its allies, the
Janjaweed militia.
In the South, similar government-sponsored militia and
government troops, continue the torture, maiming, rape, pillage,
and murder. Now that the focus of genocide is in Darfur, the
level in the South is lower (but appears to be on the rise).
That reduction is not appreciated by the victims.
The death rate is estimated to be 10,000 per week. Nationwide
the displaced people now number about 6.5 million, and the death
toll is over 2.5 million. The displaced have lost crops,
livestock, and homes; but not their faith or will to resist.
Thousands of people die monthly for lack of food, medicine and
sanitation. This the result of a carefully planned and well
executed mass extermination effort by the government.
The West has acknowledged what is going on yet refuses to
respond appropriately. We treat the symptoms by trucking and
airlifting food to the camps for displaced people. The level of
aid is totally inadequate. A series of diplomatic efforts has
proceeded without impact. The Government of Sudan denies the
obvious, makes promises that are not worth their weight in the
ink to print them and the United States, United Nations and
European Union wring our hands.
Meanwhile, the Government of Sudan and the representatives of
the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement concluded their fifth
series of talks agreeing to continue after a break for the
Islamic observation of Ramadan without taking meaningful action.
Please help turn this around: PRAY, ACT and GIVE. Send the
attached message to President Bush by e-mail as quickly as
possible. His report is due on October 21 so urgency is real.
Pray for Sudan,
Bill
Bill Andress
Moderator, Sudan Advocacy Action Forum
301 Ashley Oaks Court
Lexington, SC 29072
803 951 3025
................................................................
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
This is a follow-up to the letter which I sent you last week
concerning the critical need to hold the Government of Sudan
accountable for its failure to finalize and implement the peace
with the SPLM in South Sudan and its continued genocide both in
Darfur and in South Sudan.
The early news from the resumed Naivasha talks between
Khartoum's National Islamic Front regime and the SPLM is
extremely poor. Khartoum's lead negotiator (First Vice
President Ali Osman Taha) clearly came prepared only to delay
meaningful progress. After only nine days, Taha has left the
talks for the month of Ramadan, presuming that his mere
appearance in Naivasha ensures that your administration will
certify this week that Khartoum "has engaged in good faith
negotiations to achieve a permanent, just, and equitable peace
agreement," and has not "unreasonably interfered with
humanitarian efforts" as required by the Sudan Peace Act of
October 2002.
Taha's early exit for Ramadan (recall his similar exit from
Naivasha last January to observe the Hajj) freezes all but the
most technical negotiations---and leaves the peace agreement
where it was last May, when the last of the protocols on
outstanding issues of substance were signed.
Moreover this delay has an ominous context: extremely reliable
regional sources report a serious escalation of military
conflict in the Akobo and Nasir areas of Eastern Upper Nile, and
the Shilluk Kingdom (north of Malakal); large offensives have
been initiated by Khartoum's regular and militia forces, even as
peace talks were nominally continuing in Naivasha.
As president, you must hold the Sudanese government accountable.
Either the Khartoum regime comes to an immediate reversal and
negotiates promptly and in good faith or you must declare that
they are not and implement the provisions of the Sudan Peace
Act.
You also should freeze the assets of the Sudanese Government,
its leaders and business affiliates, prohibit foreign companies
doing business in Sudan from trading on U.S. public stock
exchanges, and at the same time, move swiftly to provide robust
logistical, financial and other support to the African Union to
enable it to protect civilians and help humanitarian agencies
reach those at risk.
It has been correctly observed that, “The road to peace runs
through Naivasha.” Please put your foot down on the Government
of Sudan’s continued arrogant genocide starting in Naivasha!
Sincerely yours,
Your Name
Your Address
Secretary of State Colin Powell finally acknowledged that the
killings in Sudan constitute "genocide." Five weeks later, the
slaughter continues in Darfur, and the government still sends
its soldiers to attack civilians and support its allies, the
Janjaweed militia.
In the South, similar government-sponsored militia and
government troops, continue the torture, maiming, rape, pillage,
and murder. Now that the focus of genocide is in Darfur, the
level in the South is lower (but appears to be on the rise).
That reduction is not appreciated by the victims.
The death rate is estimated to be 10,000 per week. Nationwide
the displaced people now number about 6.5 million, and the death
toll is over 2.5 million. The displaced have lost crops,
livestock, and homes; but not their faith or will to resist.
Thousands of people die monthly for lack of food, medicine and
sanitation. This the result of a carefully planned and well
executed mass extermination effort by the government.
The West has acknowledged what is going on yet refuses to
respond appropriately. We treat the symptoms by trucking and
airlifting food to the camps for displaced people. The level of
aid is totally inadequate. A series of diplomatic efforts has
proceeded without impact. The Government of Sudan denies the
obvious, makes promises that are not worth their weight in the
ink to print them and the United States, United Nations and
European Union wring our hands.
Meanwhile, the Government of Sudan and the representatives of
the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army/Movement concluded their fifth
series of talks agreeing to continue after a break for the
Islamic observation of Ramadan without taking meaningful action.
Please help turn this around: PRAY, ACT and GIVE. Send the
attached message to President Bush by e-mail as quickly as
possible. His report is due on October 21 so urgency is real.
Pray for Sudan,
Bill
Bill Andress
Moderator, Sudan Advocacy Action Forum
301 Ashley Oaks Court
Lexington, SC 29072
803 951 3025
................................................................
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
President George W. Bush
The White House
Washington, DC
Dear Mr. President:
This is a follow-up to the letter which I sent you last week
concerning the critical need to hold the Government of Sudan
accountable for its failure to finalize and implement the peace
with the SPLM in South Sudan and its continued genocide both in
Darfur and in South Sudan.
The early news from the resumed Naivasha talks between
Khartoum's National Islamic Front regime and the SPLM is
extremely poor. Khartoum's lead negotiator (First Vice
President Ali Osman Taha) clearly came prepared only to delay
meaningful progress. After only nine days, Taha has left the
talks for the month of Ramadan, presuming that his mere
appearance in Naivasha ensures that your administration will
certify this week that Khartoum "has engaged in good faith
negotiations to achieve a permanent, just, and equitable peace
agreement," and has not "unreasonably interfered with
humanitarian efforts" as required by the Sudan Peace Act of
October 2002.
Taha's early exit for Ramadan (recall his similar exit from
Naivasha last January to observe the Hajj) freezes all but the
most technical negotiations---and leaves the peace agreement
where it was last May, when the last of the protocols on
outstanding issues of substance were signed.
Moreover this delay has an ominous context: extremely reliable
regional sources report a serious escalation of military
conflict in the Akobo and Nasir areas of Eastern Upper Nile, and
the Shilluk Kingdom (north of Malakal); large offensives have
been initiated by Khartoum's regular and militia forces, even as
peace talks were nominally continuing in Naivasha.
As president, you must hold the Sudanese government accountable.
Either the Khartoum regime comes to an immediate reversal and
negotiates promptly and in good faith or you must declare that
they are not and implement the provisions of the Sudan Peace
Act.
You also should freeze the assets of the Sudanese Government,
its leaders and business affiliates, prohibit foreign companies
doing business in Sudan from trading on U.S. public stock
exchanges, and at the same time, move swiftly to provide robust
logistical, financial and other support to the African Union to
enable it to protect civilians and help humanitarian agencies
reach those at risk.
It has been correctly observed that, “The road to peace runs
through Naivasha.” Please put your foot down on the Government
of Sudan’s continued arrogant genocide starting in Naivasha!
Sincerely yours,
Your Name
Your Address
posted by Robert at 6:00 AM
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