January 16th, 2008 - OurPledge.org (AADG)  Permalink  View & Add Comments

ACTION: Urge China to Demand the Full Deployment of UN Peacekeeping Forces in Darfur

[A new petition from Human Rights First:]

The government of Sudan is doing all it can to prevent peacekeepers from fully deploying on the ground in Darfur. Sudan’s hostility towards UNAMID, the hybrid United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force, recently peaked when the Sudanese army opened fire on a UNAMID convoy in Darfur. This is unacceptable.

In authorizing UNAMID, the Security Council tried to end the violence in Darfur and ensure that lifesaving humanitarian aid can be delivered to the region. While UNAMID began partially operating in Darfur on December 31, 2007, Khartoum continues to block the force’s deployment at every opportunity. This obstructionism is unlikely to stop without further action from the Security Council and strong pressure from Sudan’s biggest ally, China.

China claims that it cannot control what the government of Sudan does in Darfur. But China’s direct investment in Sudan exceeded $300 million in 2005. That buys a lot of leverage. And the lives of innocent Darfuris continue to hang in the balance.

Please sign our petition now urging China to publicly apply pressure on the government of Sudan to stop impeding the full deployment of UNAMID in Darfur. If Sudan continues to obstruct, China should support targeted sanctions by the Security Council against Sudanese government officials, including President Omar Al-Bashir.

Human Rights First believes that China can, and should, play a key role in pressuring Sudan to finally bring an end to the atrocities in Darfur once and for all. Please join us in telling the Chinese government that enough is enough: it’s time for peace in Darfur, and time for China to use its influence to help make it happen.

Sincerely,
Betsy Apple
Director, Crimes Against Humanity Program