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ACTION: Welcome Richard Williamson, the New Presidential Envoy to Sudan
[From an Africa Action alert. Adapted by the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition:]
Last week, the Secretary of State swore in a new Special Envoy to Sudan, Richard “Rich” Williamson. Today we invite you to send a welcome card to Mr. Williamson, urging him to take action to stop the genocide in Darfur and uphold the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Click here to send your welcome card electronically or you can download a card there and mail it in for extra impact!
Williamson has described the genocide in Darfur as “evil.” He has called for a move from “rhetoric” to “action” saying, “…the U.S. cannot turn its back on the principles we hold nor the values we cherish. We cannot deny our humanity … Surely ethnic cleansing and genocide so offend our ideals and trample our values that it must stir us to action.”
While his statements on Darfur are encouraging, Williamson has on countless occasions insisted that that the blame of inaction should fall squarely on the United Nations — falsely pointing to U.S. rhetoric and hesitant action in order to demonstrate that the U.S. has done all it can to stop the genocide. It has become clear, however, that U.S. pressure on Darfur has been undermined by other priorities and that the U.S. has stopped short of using its full leverage to ensure success and the realization of its resolutions at the UN. Williamson ignores the reality that the UN is made up of member states — one of the most powerful being the U.S. — and the fact that it is international apathy that has crippled UN action.
It is important that Rich Williamson gets the message in his first weeks and months in office that there is a broad and diverse constituency that will hold him to his earlier statements and press him to take the necessary action to realize peace in Sudan. Thanks for helping!