Ask President Obama to Help Stop the Violence in Sudan

A Note from John Prendergast and George Clooney

We've taken two trips in the last few months to the disputed region of Abyei bordering North and South Sudan. Throughout this time, we've been sounding the alarm that Abyei was likely going to be a flash point for violence.

Sadly, our concerns are now becoming a reality.

Over the past week, villages in the Abyei region were burned to the ground, and tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. In Darfur over the past few months, the U.N. has also documented aerial bombardment of civilians and burning of villages with tens of thousands of Sudanese driven from their homes.

We urge you to join us in acting before this violence leads to a full-scale resumption of war in Sudan.

Thanks to our Satellite Sentinel Project, we now have something we’ve never had before: satellite images that we can use to show the world, with indisputable proof, the systematic nature of violence targeted against civilian populations.

Last fall, when we traveled to the region and spoke with the citizens of Abyei, we heard the same message again and again: the people of Abyei were worried that fighting would erupt, and they asked for the United States and other countries to step in to help protect them.

Take a look at the Satellite Sentinel Project report, and join us in asking President Obama to take swift, bold action to help stop the violence -- in Abyei, Darfur and all of Sudan.

Thank you for your help to support the people of Abyei and all of Sudan at this critical moment.

Sincerely,

George Clooney and John Prendergast

Dear President Obama,
 
Despite your efforts to help bring peace to Sudan, we are seeing escalating violence on the border between North and South Sudan, particularly in the region of Abyei. In Darfur over the past few months, the U.N. has also documented aerial bombardment of civilians and burning of villages with tens of thousands driven from their homes.
 
Based on recent images from the Satellite Sentinel Project and worrisome reports from sources on the ground, I am writing to implore you to take swift action:
 
1) Intensify efforts to end North-South violence, help create progress in North-South peace talks and revitalize mediation efforts on Darfur
 
2) Help ensure that those responsible for instigating and committing violence along the North-South border and in Darfur are held accountable for their crimes.
 
3) Review and as appropriate suspend US efforts to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism based on a comprehensive investigation of the recent violence in Abyei
 
4) Create an interagency working group to develop specific and escalating consequences for anyone using mass violence to undermine peace in the South, Abyei, and Darfur and consult with our allies and partners on joint action
 
Sincerely,
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1-25 of 1932 signatures
Number Date Name Tell President Obama why ...
1932 Wed Jan 11 09:51:16 EST 2012 Jennifer Baker
1931 Mon Jan 02 06:26:33 EST 2012 Bahreldin Jumah Why or problem is talk all this time, and still nothing change
1930 Wed Nov 02 19:14:33 EDT 2011 l gols
1929 Fri Sep 02 15:57:23 EDT 2011 William Klitzke
1928 Fri Aug 19 07:59:54 EDT 2011 Margherita Andreotti
1927 Thu Aug 18 23:38:58 EDT 2011 Ann Siegel
1926 Sun Jun 19 22:22:49 EDT 2011 Ardeth L. Weed
1925 Mon Jun 06 00:16:31 EDT 2011 Abigail Kallevig
1924 Mon May 23 14:40:16 EDT 2011 Jennifer Schwarzenbach The central government of northern Sudan is clearly making war its people of the south to benefit from the oil being found in the middle of the country. That region of Africa (where the Congo is located More....
1923 Wed May 18 15:48:10 EDT 2011 Susan Nesbitt
1922 Sun May 15 14:13:49 EDT 2011 Daniel McComas Because I'm a human being, and as a former Marine, and veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I would've much rather have died, fighting to protect those who need it, than to have taken a TBI for our sorry More....
1921 Wed May 11 16:33:34 EDT 2011 Leah Goering
1920 Wed May 04 16:55:35 EDT 2011 Bonita Dirk
1919 Wed May 04 03:24:44 EDT 2011 Anonymous
1918 Mon May 02 13:55:40 EDT 2011 Anonymous
1917 Sun May 01 20:41:03 EDT 2011 Sarrah Chaput The government shouldn't be allowed to do such hateful things against its people. The government is created to protect and serve all its people. Allowing the Janjweed to kill, rape, and destroy families More....
1916 Sat Apr 30 08:48:57 EDT 2011 Regina Ward Please support enhanced diplomatic engagement on Abyei and Darfur as the best way to support peace and protect civilian life in Sudan. This is important to me because I believe everyone has a right to More....
1915 Sat Apr 30 03:51:33 EDT 2011 Evelyn Williames The situation in Darfur has been neglected for too long. Areas like the Jebel Marra are out of contact with the rest of the world and nobody is able to tell us what is happening there. Too many people More....
1914 Fri Apr 29 12:55:33 EDT 2011 Rosie Tod
1913 Wed Apr 27 23:51:03 EDT 2011 David Hind
1912 Wed Apr 27 17:03:30 EDT 2011 George Rahonis Dear Mr President

...since you claim that you are interested in Human Rights...
1911 Wed Apr 27 11:21:46 EDT 2011 Anonymous There are few things I feel as strongly about as the situation Sudan right now. The extent of the violence in the area is disgusting. The crimes against children and women particularly offend me. These More....
1910 Tue Apr 26 18:17:15 EDT 2011 amy schrier
1909 Tue Apr 26 18:17:14 EDT 2011 amy schrier
1908 Tue Apr 26 12:20:57 EDT 2011 wendy morrissette i am concerned for the children who are experiencing the atrocities, killings, rapes and torture of family members. These girls are witnessing horrors that no child should have to endure.
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