Recently, in response to a flood of calls, faxes, and emails from Sudan activists, the White House sent out a public letter restating its on-paper Sudan policy. In this letter, President Obama promises: “I will work to ensure that tough sanctions on the Khartoum government continue as a part of a growing global effort involving our allies, interested countries, and other multilateral institutions.”
This is an important affirmation from the Obama Administration, but it badly needs follow-up and execution. In fact, tough sanctions against Khartoum have not been imposed to date: targeted multilateral sanctions against the Sudanese government’s senior leaders — including personal bank asset freezes and travel bans — have yet to be imposed even though President Obama has promised such action a number of times.
We know that OurPledge has focused on the multilateral sanctions issue a number of times. But we’ve done so because this tactic is absolutely paramount: concerted economic pressure can force the Government of Sudan to 1) stop obstructing UN peacekeepers in Darfur and 2) stop its destruction of the humanitarian aid system throughout Sudan.
Take action now: Please email the White House and include the following in your message:
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Dear President Obama:
I urge you to end genocide and promote peace in Sudan immediately. Among other things, please impose targeted multilateral sanctions on the Sudanese government’s senior leaders.
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir continues to defy the international community: his expulsion of 13 vital NGOs from Sudan in March of this year proves that the Sudanese government is confident that they can continue to get away with their systematic plan of violence and forced starvation and disease.
This cannot stand. I urge you to end this genocide immediately. Thank you.
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