Purple for Peace International---Petition for Action in Darfur, CA

Background:

The crisis in Darfur began in 2003. Following years of oppression and neglect, two Sudanese rebel groups---the Sudanese Liberation Army/Movement (SLAM) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) staged a long overdue challenge to President Omar al-Bashir.

President al-Bashir's response was violent. To put down the rebellion, the Sudanese government sponsored a collection of local tribes and militia, infamously known as the Janjaweed forces. The Janjaweed militia has subsequently raped, murdered, and tortured over four hundred thousand innocent Sudanese civilians.

For years, the United Nations has pandered solutions to restore peace to the region of Darfur, but has failed to compromise on an effective plan. We, the Undersigned, are tired of waiting. We want actionthe time is now. The United Nation's lack of committment and action is inexcusable.

As Mukesh Kapila, former United Nations Humanitarian coordinator for Sudan asserted, "I was present in Rwanda at the time of the genocide, and I've seen many other situations around the world and I am totally shocked at what is going on in Darfur. This is the world's greatest humanitarian crisis, and I don't know why the world isn't doing more about it."


Objective:

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, are tired of waiting. We will no longer stand by as innocent Sudanese civilians die at the hands of a militia that is sponsored by their own government---the time to stop the genocide is now.

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, call upon the Canadian government to urge the UN Security Council to pass a resolution that requires the following:


1. The Sudanese government must immediately cut subsidies to all government-sponsored militia including the Janjaweed.

2. In the event that the Sudanese government fails to comply with these requirements or is found to be in any way undermining the operatives of the passed resolution or principles of the United Nations, more extreme measures must be taken by the United Nations. It must be made clear that the UN does not tolerate government-sponsored genocide, and will not tolerate the belligerence of a member state.

3. The resolution must authorize the delpoyment of UN peacekeeping troops to stop the systematic murder of the people of Sudan in the event that the Sudanese government does not comply.