An Open Letter to President Obama
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August 7, 2009
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr.President:
As members of the Sudanese Diaspora in America, American friends to the people of Sudan, student associations, representatives of human rights, and faith-based groups, we are calling on your Administration not to lift sanctions on Sudan, nor remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism until the Government of Sudan fully implements the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), brings an end to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and discontinues agitating political and ethnic tensions in the east, the Nuba Mountains and Nubia in the North.
We are very concerned that your high-level administrations policymaker on Sudan asserts that there was no basis for keeping Sudan on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism and that it was only a matter of time before the United States would have to "unwind" economic sanctions against the Khartoum regime. We believe this approach will not lead to a just and stable Sudan.
The following are reasons for our position:
1)After four years following the signing of the CPA, Khartoum has delayed, sabotaged and obstructed its implementation.
2)In May 2006, the regime in Khartoum signed the Darfur Peace Agreement with one opposition group. Yet again, the agreement has not been fully implemented. Humanitarian conditions on the ground, particularly in Darfur region, have not improved. Khartoum has continued to attack Darfuri refugee camps and delayed the deployment of the United Nations Security Councils mandated peacekeeping forces.
3)In response to the International Criminal Courts July 2008 issuance of an arrest warrant against Sudans sitting head of state, 13 international and three local nongovernmental organizations were expelled from the country. The indictment of President Al-Bashir provides an opportunity to address the cycle of impunity that has fueled some of the worst war crimes in the world.
4)In eastern Sudan, political tensions persist despite the signing of the 2006 peace agreement. Many in the Nuba Mountains have seen a buildup of Sudan armed forces and militiamen similar to the Janjawid in Darfur. In fact, recently, there have been spates of intercommunal fighting in Nuba Mountains between Arab and African tribes. Finally, clashes between government forces and local militia groups in Nubia have also taken place in protests over the building of dams which residents of Nubia fear will cause large-scale displacement.
5)Almost five years ago, former Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the United States had found a consistent and widespread pattern of atrocities that constituted genocide. Reversing this position of U.S. policy on Sudan will further deprive the citizens of that country.
The Sudanese people want peace and justice, and U.S. leadership in support of accountability is crucial. We call upon your administration to lay out a plan that would include the following:
1)Leadership in supporting the African Union-United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in its efforts to provide protection to the long-suffering Darfuri civilians;
2)A more effective Darfur peace process modeled after the CPA, in which the U.S. took a leading role and was supported by a multilateral structure that had international leverage and expertise;
3)A comprehensive strategy for Sudan that focuses on helping to achieve permanent peace and security in Darfur and the surrounding regions, maintaining and strengthening peace between North and South Sudan, and promoting democracy and conflict prevention throughout the nation.
We believe that lifting the sanctions and removing Khartoum from the list of states sponsoring terrorism especially when that regimes leaders are under indictment for war crimes -- will communicate the wrong message to the world. It is further our conviction that the United States should take these steps only after the regime ends the genocide in Darfur, fully implements the implementation CPA, and brings peace to all of Sudan.
Thank you for your consideration of our thoughts and opinions.
Yours truly,
Sudanese people and their friends
Cc: The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton
United States Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW
The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr.President:
As members of the Sudanese Diaspora in America, American friends to the people of Sudan, student associations, representatives of human rights, and faith-based groups, we are calling on your Administration not to lift sanctions on Sudan, nor remove Sudan from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism until the Government of Sudan fully implements the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), brings an end to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and discontinues agitating political and ethnic tensions in the east, the Nuba Mountains and Nubia in the North.
We are very concerned that your high-level administrations policymaker on Sudan asserts that there was no basis for keeping Sudan on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism and that it was only a matter of time before the United States would have to "unwind" economic sanctions against the Khartoum regime. We believe this approach will not lead to a just and stable Sudan.
The following are reasons for our position:
1)After four years following the signing of the CPA, Khartoum has delayed, sabotaged and obstructed its implementation.
2)In May 2006, the regime in Khartoum signed the Darfur Peace Agreement with one opposition group. Yet again, the agreement has not been fully implemented. Humanitarian conditions on the ground, particularly in Darfur region, have not improved. Khartoum has continued to attack Darfuri refugee camps and delayed the deployment of the United Nations Security Councils mandated peacekeeping forces.
3)In response to the International Criminal Courts July 2008 issuance of an arrest warrant against Sudans sitting head of state, 13 international and three local nongovernmental organizations were expelled from the country. The indictment of President Al-Bashir provides an opportunity to address the cycle of impunity that has fueled some of the worst war crimes in the world.
4)In eastern Sudan, political tensions persist despite the signing of the 2006 peace agreement. Many in the Nuba Mountains have seen a buildup of Sudan armed forces and militiamen similar to the Janjawid in Darfur. In fact, recently, there have been spates of intercommunal fighting in Nuba Mountains between Arab and African tribes. Finally, clashes between government forces and local militia groups in Nubia have also taken place in protests over the building of dams which residents of Nubia fear will cause large-scale displacement.
5)Almost five years ago, former Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that the United States had found a consistent and widespread pattern of atrocities that constituted genocide. Reversing this position of U.S. policy on Sudan will further deprive the citizens of that country.
The Sudanese people want peace and justice, and U.S. leadership in support of accountability is crucial. We call upon your administration to lay out a plan that would include the following:
1)Leadership in supporting the African Union-United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in its efforts to provide protection to the long-suffering Darfuri civilians;
2)A more effective Darfur peace process modeled after the CPA, in which the U.S. took a leading role and was supported by a multilateral structure that had international leverage and expertise;
3)A comprehensive strategy for Sudan that focuses on helping to achieve permanent peace and security in Darfur and the surrounding regions, maintaining and strengthening peace between North and South Sudan, and promoting democracy and conflict prevention throughout the nation.
We believe that lifting the sanctions and removing Khartoum from the list of states sponsoring terrorism especially when that regimes leaders are under indictment for war crimes -- will communicate the wrong message to the world. It is further our conviction that the United States should take these steps only after the regime ends the genocide in Darfur, fully implements the implementation CPA, and brings peace to all of Sudan.
Thank you for your consideration of our thoughts and opinions.
Yours truly,
Sudanese people and their friends
Cc: The Honorable Hillary R. Clinton
United States Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW
328 Signatures
-
Lilian Riziq
- Comments
- It's time for democracy in Sudan
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Lily Akol
- Comments
- An Open Letter to President Obama
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Peter Marcello
- Comments
- Sudanese government still terrorizing their own people
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Carla Adam
- Comments
- This petition has my full endorsment
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jimmy Mulla
- Comments
- A call for action
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Natale Kazamo
- Comments
- Please take action.
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Bernard Joseph Ucin
- Comments
- this is my Petition Signature
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Wadi Lissa
- Comments
- I hereby sign this petition in full support of its contnent.
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Karlin Lissa
- Comments
- I strongly standby this petition and its content
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Patrick Nono
- Comments
- I strongly support the letter
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August Mayai
- Comments
- Do not lift sanctions on Sudan
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maria cirimelli
- Comments
- I am not a Sudanese but I lived in South Sudan for 9 years and I strongly support this letter; it is time that the welfare of the people of Southern Sudan becomes a priority in the agenda of the international community.
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Kandi Kereyo
- Comments
- pkandik@yahoo.ca
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Camille Hallstrom
- Comments
- We said "never again" about Rwanda, but Sudan has bled steadily for decades. Protect the fragile peace in the South, and help liberate Darfur!
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Roberta E. Capcara
- Comments
- Speak and act to stop the abuse!
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Margaret Denis
- Comments
- The CPA must be implemented fully before the US contemplates on lifting sanctions against the Omer`s Gov.
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bol ring
- Comments
- C.P.A is our last hope that we are very thankful for to the American people,and is backedup with senctions you are about to lift..You can save lives in sudan by pushing khartoum regime to implement C.P.A ,STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR.
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C. Okumu Odoriko
- Comments
- Omer El behire need to be removed before lifting any saction
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Leeka Gwanganalie
- Comments
- The CPA is the most available guarantee of peace in the Sudan ever.
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David Majok
- Comments
- Keep Economic sanction till complete implementation of CPA is achieved.
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Makwei Mabioor Deng
- Comments
- Remember your words: "an open hand only to those who have unclenched their fists."
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Deng Leng
- Comments
- It is a good letter.
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Sunday Taabu
- Comments
- We care about the disadvabtaged people of Sudan and world at large
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David Lotara
- Comments
- Hi, there try putting your index finger on fire and if you fell something that is what some of our people had gone, still going,and will be going through;there fore STOP saying sorry in the future prevention is better than cure. How do you feel now after five minutes,does it hurt? looking forward to immediate action to contain that fire before its too late.
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Edward Laboke
- Comments
- Abyei border demarcation by Abyei Border Commision (ABC), Census, Elections and Refrendum for the South in 2011 were four core aspects of the CPA to be implemented as scheduled. It took four years rather than six months to implement Abyei Border Demarcation. Census was rigged. How long will it take election and referendum? Please pressure is needed on Beshir as was done to force Khartoum to sign CPA. CPA implementation is a recipe for solutions to Darfur conflicts.
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Luka Drane Logoye
- Comments
- Real democratic system and transparency and not consumate deception must be established first in Sudan.
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guk r
- Comments
- go for it
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Atem Bol Atem
- Comments
- Democracy is what we need now.
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Ajak Riak
- Comments
- Go ahead great work
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Mook Mook
- Comments
- We are tired of inequality
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Malon Makuel
- Comments
- We are all tired of the old political fashion of Sudan its time for new faces to take over.
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Mario Ukel
- Comments
- Enough is enough for 20 year of sufferings
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Alor Kual
- Comments
- When the fighting started, thousands of Darfurian fled to Chad trying to save their lives. Many civilians were deliberately killed in their attempt to escape. Others are still dying everyday. Mr. President what do you have to say.
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Yolsho Muk
- Comments
- One should do anything they can to prevent what happened in Southern Sudan during the war from happening again. And to achieve that goal, the world should know the truth about the Goverment of Sudan
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Micheal Aba
- Comments
- We need a country where democracy is the focus.
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Lino Menkueil
- Comments
- Take Action to ensure the Human Rights are practiced in Sudan
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Kuol Akuei Shbur
- Comments
- I strongly support this letter
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George W. Nyagong
- Comments
- It time for Sudanese to test freedom. I endorse this letter.
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Francis Mabier
- Comments
- Let Gen. Gration think twice before requesting the sanction to be lifted.
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Chob Ajak
- Comments
- I agree with the letter content
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Joseph Kueth
- Comments
- I support your letter to President Obama, whom I believe is a man of wisdom
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Primo Akuar
- Comments
- We're doing that right now, Mr. President. We need your support for the awakening of a new era in Sudan politics
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Akol Balentino
- Comments
- I believe this is the most exciting time in our world history to be alive. It's a time in which future generations will look back upon us and say, "They were the ones that figured it out how to solve the rooted problem of Sudan. Thank God for them.
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Daniel Nun
- Comments
- omer hassan al-bashir must go and face the consequences of killing its own people
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Peter Garang
- Comments
- Before we left the sanction we need to see the election go through smoothly, fare and free.
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Martin Raphael
- Comments
- I agree with this letter
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David D. Banja Ida
- Comments
- I support this letter
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Joseph Marcello
- Comments
- It is time for change to take place in Africa as well
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Elpidio Mathew
- Comments
- Those who do evil must reap the result of their deeds. I hope that the USA administration will listen to the true voice of the Sudanese people. Why encourage this fake leaders all the time to keep on afflicting the common mass of the community who are just inocent and have no way to protect themselves from those evil leaders who are their to serve their interest. USA must act now, we are tired of the comoflage government systerm of National Congress Party(NCP) in Sudan.
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Isaac Chol
- Comments
- South Sudanese-American
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328
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