A Letter to the United Nations, United States, and the International Community Regarding Darfur

For Immediate release. Media contact: Mohamed Yahya,434-409-9638.


Petition on behalf of Darfur and Sudan:

Washington DC- November 21, 2010

A Letter to the United Nations, United States, and the International Community Regarding Darfur and Sudan

To:

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations ,
His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America,
His Excellency Ibrahim Gambari, Chairman of the joint UN-AU mission in Darfur,
His Excellency Idriss Deby, President of the Republic of Chad,
The Honorable Hillary Clinton, Secretary, U.S. Department of State
Her Excellency Susan Rice, Ambassador of the USA mission for the United Nations,
Distinguished Members of the United Nation's Security Counsel,
His Excellency, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad in Washington DC,
Congressional Representatives of the United States of America,

We, the undersigned Americans, Darfuri refugees in exile, human rights activists and organizations, students, and all faith-based groups, express our deep concern and dismay over the significant escalation of attacks by the Sudan Government against the people of Darfur, in this critical time as South Sudan referendum is approaching on January 9, 2011. As Gambari has stated: "Sadly the Darfuri are witnessing this new military build-up, movement of troops and clashes as the date of the referendum approaches."

We jointly affirm that we as human beings share a common humanity.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." If one of our fellow human beings suffers, then we all suffer. If one of our fellow human beings are let down, then we are all let down.

We are astonished and disturbed by the silence of your leadership while innocent human beings are exterminated, uprooted, displaced, raped, tortured, arrested, kidnapped, abducted, enslaved, and killed. Human history cries out in horror and outrage. But inexplicably, we see that you are still silent. We quote Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. again who said "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

Since the United Nations Security Council seeks accountability and justice, the United Nations and world leaders should be upholding the promised resolution to arrest Omar Al-Bashir, Ahmed Haroun, Salih Kushaib, Musa Hilal, and all suspects of Sudan genocide, and hold them accountable.

Because of the failure to act, Omar Al-Bashir is emboldened in his injustice, and growing even more disrespectful to the entire international community and the ICC. He has traveled freely after the ICC's indictment against him last year, traveling to Chad, Libya, Kenya, Qatar, and now to Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrimage. A wanted war criminal indicted for genocide has no fear that the United Nations and the world’s leaders will act to hold him accountable. If those indicted for genocide have no fear of the consequences of international law, then what power and authority does the United Nations, world leaders, and international law hold for anyone?

This disgrace to your leadership is not only an injustice to the people of Darfur, it is also an injustice against justice itself, and an injustice to the fundamental rights and decency for all human beings. You should demand an end to such outrages. But the continuing injustice in Darfur and Sudan continues without reproach and, worst of all, without your action.

Omar Al-Bashir and his NCP/NIF regime are continuously terrorizing civilians from Darfur to Chad because President Idriss Deby preferred to join the bloody hands of the indicted war criminal of Sudan. They signed an agreement that allowed both countries to target opposition leaders and Darfuri refugees living inside camps of Chad and exchanged them to be tortured, jailed, prosecuted and even killed. It's very clear that both countries are now working together to get rid of their opponents and to force the rest to leave their camps to go back to where there is no security, living in their destroyed villages.

One example of such atrocities is the ongoing attacks by helicopters, tanks, and missiles around Jabel Marra, South Darfur, West Darfur and the crackdown on Darfuri human rights activists and journalists from Radio Dabanga in Khartoum, which we condemn. We condemn the harassment and intimidation against humanitarian aid workers, and we condemn the unjust arrest and prosecution of Darfuri refugees from Kalma, Kerdang, Zamzam, and Abu-Shoak camps by Sudanese Security Intelligence.

While the UNAMID is watching without action, dozens were arrested last October after their meeting with the UN team's visit to Darfur. There has still been no action taken by the UN or US to protect those arrested for meeting with the UN team. To our great distress and the world's great shame, the UN team, the US, AU, EU, and the Arab League have all remained silent on this injustice.

We were disturbed to hear the very unfortunate news that came from the Obama administration, with Senator Kerry quoting President Obama's statement that "made clear in the proposal conveyed this weekend that if Sudan's leaders take concrete steps to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, including recognizing the results of the referendum in January, he is prepared to immediately take significant steps to begin to transform the bilateral relationship." The Obama administration is not only willing to do this, but also willing to drop Sudan from the terrorism sponsor's list -- while Sudan government continues to terrorize Darfuri refugees and to terrorize justice itself.

Why is this "Hitler" of Sudan and his fascist, terrorist, and fundamentalist regime that killed millions of its own innocent people treated this way? Are the Sudan architects of genocide more important to American government than the victims of Darfur? Why is the Obama administration trying to sell out Darfur? People of Darfur and all people of conscience are demanding a clear answer. It would be a mistake of historic proportions to bargain away or de-emphasize the need for justice in Darfur to satisfy the interest of others.

Instead, the right thing that should be done is to immediately stop the killers, arrest them, and send them to face justice by the ICC in Hague. The US, UNSC and the whole world must work together to support the ICC to fulfill its obligation to ensure justice without any excuses, in addition to the following demands:

* The UNSC must immediately designate an international force to arrest Omar Al-Bashir and all suspects of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

* Free all the arrested Darfuri activists and opposition leaders in both Chad and Sudan and allow the Red Cross and Amnesty International to relocate and reach all victims with the full cooperation of both Sudan and Chad and provide the list of the total names and numbers of arrested individuals, including those who have "disappeared."

* Provide an immediate cease fire all over the country; disarm all the warriors under the supervision of the UNSC.

* Stop all kinds of harassment, intimidation, torture, arrests and arbitrary detentions against Darfuris and all Sudanese living in Chad and Sudan and bring those responsible to justice.

* Allow unimpeded humanitarian access in Darfur and Chad and provide them with full security, logistics, and resources.

*The Chad government must respect Darfuri refugees’ rights and renew the mandate of the UN peace keepers in Chad to protect Darfuri refugees until justice and peace are brought to Darfur.

* Stop the Al-bashir government from bombing South Sudan Villages to Intimidate Voters against exercising their rights and freedom to Vote.


1-Mr.Mohamed A.Yahya
Founder/ Executive Director
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Telephone/Fax: 703-310-4424.
Direct: 434-409-9638.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.damanga.org

2-Mr. Jeffrey Imm.
Director,Founder-REAL.ORG
Maryland-USA.


3-Daowd Salih,
Board President
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
New Jersey-Tel: 908-727-0128. USA.

4-Ms. Supriya Desai
Advisory Board Member
Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Edgewater,NJ-USA.

5-Ms. Martha Sumrall Boshnick
Co:chair Darfur Interfaith Network
Washington, DC

6- Grace Goode
Vice President, TerpSTAND
University of Maryland, College Park student
College Park, Maryland

7- Tara Mohtadi
Co-chair, STAND
Edina High School
Edina, Minnesota


8-Tanya L. Domi
Board member, Our Humanity in the Balance
Adjunct assistant professor, Columbia University
New York, New York

9- Jamie Sullivan
Chair of SmithSTAND
Smith College
Northampton, MA
[email protected]

10- Keshov Sharma
Co-President of ARHS STAND
Amherst Regional High School
Amherst, MA 01002

11- Terry Nickelson
Executive Director, Our Humanity in the Balance
(828) 884-6947
12. Jerry Fenning, Social Action Activist
Upland, California, USA

13-Janette Lane Bradbury
Artistic Director
Valkyrie Theater of dance, Drama & Film
10817 Kling St.
Toluca Lake, CA 91602

14- Ms. Nell Okie
Member
New Haven Alliance for Congo
Connecticut (USA)

15-Mr. Ibrahim Tahir
President
Beja Congress Organization
Virginia (USA)

16-Ms. Sandra Hammel
Director
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
Rhode Island (USA)

17- Mr. Richard Young
Co-Chair
Darfur Interfaith Network
Bethesda, MD (USA)

18- Ms. Sara Caine Kornfield
Educator and Project Founder
Change the World- It Just Takes CentsTM (Middle-High School Darfur Initiative)
Denver, CO (USA)

19-Ms. Jeanne Tustain
Member
Darfur Interfaith Network
Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church
Bethesda, MD (USA)

20-Mr. David Allbaugh
CIV WHS/PLC
(USA)

21-Mr. Jimmy Mulla
Director
Voices For Sudan
Washington, DC (USA)

22-Ms. Fatima Mohamed Haroun
Darfuri Activist
Philadelphia, PA (USA)

23-Mr. William R. Casey
Darfuri Activist, 5529 Gary Ave
Alexandria, VA 2231(USA)
[email protected]

24-Mr. Bahar Arabie
Darfuri Activist
Virginia (USA)

25- Ms. Leah Nucklos
President
Be Their Messenger
Arizona (USA)

26-Ms. Rhonda Varsene
Activist and Reporter
Darfur Good News Press
Texas (USA)
www.goodnewspress.net/Darfur

27-Mr. Abdalmageed Salih
Chairperson
Human Rights & Advocacy Network for Democracy (HAND)
P.O.Box 7079
Kampala (UGANDA)

28-Mr. Eric Cohen
Chairperson
Investors Against Genocide
Boston, MA (USA)

29-Mr. William Rosenfeld
Director
Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur
Boston, MA (USA)

30-Ms. Susan Morgan
Executive Director
Pax Communications
San Francisco, CA

31- Reverend Laura Cutler
Member
Darfur Interfaith Network
Washington, DC (USA)

32- Ms. Munira Mohamad
Director
Miram Dar Organization
Minnesota (USA)

33- Mr. Haider Abdalla
Member of Darfuri Community in West Virginia
West Virginia (USA)

34- Mr. Bakhiet Shata
Executive Director
Darfur Community Association
Nebraska (USA)

35- Ms. Faith McDonnell,
Director, Churches Alliance for A new Sudan.USA.

36- Mr. Jerry Fenning,
Advisory board,Damanga Coalition for Freedom and emocracy.
Los Angelos, CA- USA.

37- Mr. Gafar Kangam,
Board Member-Voices for Sudan. DC-USA.

38- Mr. Khalid Graise,
Representative, Nubian Project- VA- USA.

39- Mr. William Deng,
President- Southern Sudan Project- VA- USA.

40- Mr. Ibrahim Tahir,
President- Beja Congress- VA- USA.

41- Mr. Omar Hummad,
Member, Beja Community- VA- USA.

42- Mr. Faquiry Taha,
Member, Nubian Project- VA- USA.

43- Mr. Kerim Bachar,
Darfuri Activist, San fransisco, CA- USA.

44- Ms. Niemat Ahmadai,
Darfur Liason Officer- Save Darfur Coalition- DC-USA.

45- Ms. Maggie Philip,
Human rights Activist- OHIB- Nederland-EU.

46- Mr. Mohamed Elgadi,
Darfur Activist, USA.

47- Mr. Yahya Haroun,
Darfuri Activist, Houston- TX- USA.

48- Mr. Ayoub Yahya,
Human Rights Activist- Africa & Midle East.

49- Mr. David Marblestone,
Darfur Interfaith Network, MD- USA.
50- Mr. Abbaker Ishaq, Darfur Association Group- DAGH-Huoston-TX-USA.
51- Mr.Abdel Aziz Khamis ( family) DAGH. USA.

52- Mr. Abdelaziz Abdelaziz, DAGH-USA.

53- Mr. Abdelaziz Yonis ( family), DAGH-USA.

54- Mr. Abdelgadir Adam, Darfur Assosiation-TX.

55- Mr. Abdelmahmoud Mohamed, Darfur Assosiation TX.

56- Mr. Abdelraziq Ibrahim, Darfur Assosiation-TX.

57- Mr. Abelrahim Khamis, Darfur Assosiation, TX.

58- Mr. Adam Babiker, DAGH- TX.

59- Mr. Adam Mohamed, DAGH-TX.

60- Mr. Adam Idris, DAGH-TX.

61-Mr. Ahamed Adelrasoul, DAGH-TX.

62- Mr. Ahmed Dawelbait, DAGH-TX.

63- Mr. Ahmed Omer ( family)- DAGH-TX.

64- Mr. Algadi Musa, DAGH-TX.

65- Mr. Ali Nasir ( family), TX.

66- Mr. Ali Elmalla, TX.

67- Mr. Alrashied Ismail, TX.

68- Mr. Alsadiq Gibreel ( family),TX.

69- Ms. Amna Ghorashi ( family), TX.

70- Ms. Awad Yahya, DAGH.

71- Mr. Babiker Babiker, DAGH.

72- Mr.Elrashid Eldaw, DAGH.

73- Mr.Guma Abdallah ( family), DAGH.

74- Mr. Hamid Idris, DAGH.

75- Mr.Hammad Idris, DAGH.

76- Haroun Idris, DAGH.

77- Mr.Hassan Khatir( family), DAGH.

78- Ms. Hawa Basi, DAGH.

79- Mr.Ibrahim Abdelrahman, Darfur Assosiation-TX.

80- Mr.Ibrahim Basi ( family), Darfur Assosiation- TX.

81- Mr. Ismail Abdallah, DAGH.

82- Mr. Khaled Adam, DAGH.

83- Mr.Khaled Handhal- Chairman of Darfurain Association for Greater Houston

84- Ms. Lila Um Tuna, DAGH.

86- Ms. Madam Younis, DAGH.

87- Mr. Makki Makki, DAGH- TX.

88- Ms. Mdam Gibreel, DAGH.TX.

89- Mr. Mohamed Abdelkarim ( family), DAGH.

90- Mr. Mohamed Basi, DAGH.

91- Mr.Mohamed Ahmed, DAGH.

92- Mr. Mohamed Babiker, DAGH.

93- Mr. Mossab Ali, DAGH.

94- Mr. Musa Mohamed(( family), DAGH.

95- Mr.Abbas Guma ( family), DAGH.

96- Ms. Nagla Ahmed, DAGH.

97- Ms. Nagla Mohamed, DAGH-TX.

98- Ms. Nehal Omer, DAGH-TX.

99- Mr. Nouredien Mohamed, DAGH.

100- Ms. Nusiaba Abbas, DAGH.

101- Mr. Omer Abdelaziz, DAGH.

102- Mr. Osman Adam, DAGH.

103- Mr.Salah Yahya( family), DAGH.

104- Mr. Sheikh Yassir, DAGH.

105- Mr. Suliman Suliman, DAGH.

106- Ms. Suzan Basi, DAGH.

107- Ms. Tasniem Kafi, DAGH.

108- Mr. Yagoub Fashir, DAGH.

109- Mr.Yahya Abdelkarim, DAGH.

110- Mr. Yousif Alalim, DAGH.

111- Mr.Abdallah Abdelkhalik Mahamad, DAGH.

112- Ms. Hawa Abdallah Mahamad

113- Mr. Abdelmageed Salih, Chairman, HAND.

114-Mr. Seddik Abdeljabbar- Western Sudan Aid Relief in USA, Inc.

115- Mr. Mohamed Haroun- Chairman of Darfur Community of Dallas

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