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ACTION: Send a Letter to the Editor of your local newspaper; urge President Bush to make good on his promise on Darfur
Since early 2003, a campaign of ethnic cleansing has killed an
estimated 400,000 people in the western region of Darfur in Sudan. As
many as 500 people continue to die each day.
At the end of last year, it was estimated that 2.5 million more people had been displaced in Sudan and in neighboring Chad and Central African Republic (CAR). Attacks by Janjaweed militias, backed by the Sudanese government, have displaced 80,000 more Darfurians since then.
In the last few weeks, the Sudanese government, President Bush, and a State Department official have all come out with strong words and promises to help stop the violence in Darfur. It is time to make good on these promises. Promises don't count until they change the realities on the ground and relieve the suffering for the people of Darfur.
Take Action
Write your own, modify or simply send this sample Letter to the Editor (LTE) to your local newspaper, urging President Bush to make good on his promise to help stop the violence in Darfur.
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SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR (LTE)
Dear Editor,
During his recent speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, President Bush sent a strong message to the Sudanese government when he said, “The time for promises is over. President Bashir must act.” Bush went on to announce several punitive measures as part of his Administration’s secretive and long-awaited “Plan B” of action if the Sudanese government fails to meet the demands of the international community.
President Bush, I am tired of promises too. I am tired of your promise to implement “Plan B” and of failing to work effectively with the international community to put real pressure on the Sudanese government. We need to see both you and President Bashir follow through on your promises to ensure the deployment of 3,000 U.N. troops in Darfur, with the eventual deployment of a full hybrid U.N.-AU force of 20,000. Following through is what counts. To ensure that justice and accountability are provided for Darfurians, the U.S. can actively engage the International Criminal Court’s investigation in Darfur. A May 2nd announcement of arrest warrants for two men implicated in war crimes in Darfur make this action especially timely. The U.S. can also step it up diplomatically by using its presidency at the U.N. Security Council this May to focus on Darfur and engage China and Russia. A stronger U.N. Security Council resolution with increased economic sanctions and an expanded arms embargo on Sudan would do the trick. The plight of the people of Darfur demands that we keep our promises. Sincerely, [Your Signature Your Name Your Hometown and State] |
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