The Obama Administration offered a package of incentives to encourage good behavior towards innocent civilians in Sudan. However, the Sudanese government has continued to block humanitarian access, bomb civilian areas in South Kordofan, Darfur, Blue Nile, and South Sudan even targeting displaced persons living at the refugee camps. Al-Bashir continues to show the world that he is willing to wage violence towards the Sudanese people, therefore he needs to be stopped.  The United States government should be urged to take robust action against the Government of Sudan and NOT be lobbied by Mr. Bart Fisher for rewards which are unmerited.

At the protest on Friday, activists were joined by US Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) who has spoken out against Sudan hiring a Washington lobbyist and stated on Tuesday,  December 13 on the House floor his outrage in learning that the “genocidal government of Khartoum hired a lobbyist to represent its interests  in Washington”. 

Demonstration outside Bart Fisher's office

Join the Sudanese people and demand for Justice by urging your member of Congress to push for robust action against Sudan.

It is important to note that Mr. Fisher has willingly chosen to represent a dictator accused by the International  Criminal Court (ICC) of five counts of crimes against humanity (murder, rape, torture, extermination, and forceful transfer of civilian population), two counts of war crimes (for directing attacks against the civilian population and pillaging), and three counts of genocide. In Darfur, the United Nations reports that attacks have in fact increased over the past several years.

Fighting between the SPLM-N and Sudanese government in South Kordofan and Blue Nile started at the beginning of the planting season, and displaced over 348,000 civilians. The timing of the attacks have caused South Kordofan and Blue Nile to be on the verge of a food crisis, which the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are working to prevent.

Mr. Bart Fisher continues to urge the United States government to give Al-Bashir and the Sudanese government a package of incentives originally presented by the Obama Administration to encourage good behavior. These incentives include:  i. Renewal of diplomatic relations, ii. Removal from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List, iii. Lifting of economic sanctions, and  iv. Support for debt relief.  However, the Sudanese government has been regressive and steps toward sustainable peace have not been made. The people of Sudan have still not found justice.

In May 2011, UEG released a policy paper titled  “No Rush to Reward Khartoum,” urging the U.S. to not prematurely award the Government of Sudan until concrete progress is made towards the resolution of the conflict in Darfur through the implementation of a peace agreement that addresses the fundamental grievances of the Darfuri people; an end to the ongoing violence against civilians; and a final resolve to the remaining post-referendum issues such as the status of Abyei, demarcation of the borders, as well as disagreements over citizenship, security, oil revenue, and currency.

US Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) has spoken out against Sudan hiring a Washington lobbyist stating that,  ”It is unconscionable that any government with blood on its hands be permitted the privilege of having a Washington lobbyist on retainer.”   Read the contract between the Government of Sudan and Mr. Fisher’s lobbying firm here.

Join us at Bart S. Fisher’s Law office (700 12^th Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005) on Friday, December 16, from 11am till 1pm to stand up for the voiceless in Sudan.

Four hundred advocates, supporters and friends of United to End Genocide and the STAND student network converged on Washington, D.C. this weekend for the End Genocide Action Summit. It was an incredible gathering overflowing with information and inspiration.  It was impossible to be there and not be moved.

Right now, many of these advocates are converging on Capitol Hill to deliver a message that is a matter of life and death for many thousands in Sudan who are the latest targets of a mass murderer who is wanted for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court: Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. They are demanding that the United States take action now to stop Bashir from continuing to terrorize the Sudanese people.

Many summit participants were young activists – some experienced campus organizers and others who had never taken action in support of any cause before. There were seniors, soccer moms, business people and artists. There were those who have been touched by the horror of genocide and mass atrocity first hand.  They all joined us to show that even when conflicts don’t hit the headlines, there is a wellspring of citizens who are vigilant and ready to take action. Their willingness to act to stop the suffering of people in far parts of the world has a power that cannot be underestimated.

Courageous activists from Sudan shared their stories and grounded us in the realities of those who are facing threats and violence every day.  A panel on what is happening in Sudan was packed to overflowing. Conference participants demanded that the session be repeated a second time so that everyone could learn what is happening there.  Indeed, we were heartened that New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof chose this past Sunday to highlight the current violence in the Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile regions of Sudan in his column, getting this story to many people who were not here with us, but also care and will take action.

What is happening In Sudan? It bears repeating that right now violence against Sudanese in these southern border regions is escalating to a horrific level.  Omar al-Bashir, architect of the Darfur genocide, has directed attacks on civilians in South Kordofan and Blue Nile.  Huge numbers of people have been displaced from their homes.  The attacks are only going to intensify now, as the rainy season comes to an end and roads become passable.  And adding to the terror, the bombings have prevented Sudanese from planting crops, the government is denying access to humanitarian aid and hundreds of thousands are now at risk of starvation.

Conference participants committed themselves to action. United to End Genocide’s Stop Bashir! campaign has already generated over 25,000 individual calls to action even before this weekend’s Action Summit and is gaining momentum.  We have testified before Congress and are working with allied Members to push for stronger US action, and we continue to keep the pressure on the Administration.

The Action Summit was a moment for all of us to recharge and recommit to our vision of a world without genocide or mass atrocities.  Now we’re ready to continue to ground that vision in action.  We will send postcards and petitions, we will have call-in days, we will call for and testify at Congressional hearings, we will propose legislation, we will continue to speak out in the media and organize events to garner attention, we will build our numbers and our presence in Washington and throughout the nation.  We will create a drum beat of pressure on the Administration that won’t let up until they reverse course and stop accommodating this brutal killer and his ruthless regime.

We need you now more than ever. There a number of ways to help but for starters, we want to collect at least 50,000 signatures to our Stop Bashir campaign by December 6th, the 6 month anniversary of when Bashir’s forces began their attacks in South Kordofan.  Please go to www.stopbashir.org, sign a postcard and then share this action through your social networks. Five minutes of your time will go a long way to getting us to 50,000.

We will be acting on other crises, as well.  Activists heard firsthand about what is happening to people in Syria, in Burma, in Democratic Republic of Congo.  As many of you at the summit reminded us, we can only have an impact if we come together, if we amplify our voices, if we build a larger, stronger community of activists who will stand up now, today — to stop Bashir’s campaign of horror in Sudan, and to act any time people are threatened by genocide or mass atrocity, anywhere in the world.

Together, we move forward, sobered by the enormity of the challenge before us but heartened by the committed men and women – young and old – who are uniting to end genocide.

Libya: The Qaddafi regime appears to be on its last legs, as TNC forces have entered Tripoli.  Fighting continues in the center of the city, and there is no information on Qaddafi’s location.  Despite reports that his sons, Saif and Mohammed, were in TNC custody, both appear to have escaped.

According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, NATO will continue its military campaign until stability is achieved throughout Libya. The Dutch government will release 100 million Euros to be used to purchase medicine from the World Health Organization.  It is likely that the pending TNC victory may lead to the unfreezing of additional blocked assets for reconstruction.

Syria: According to the UN, at least 2,200 Syrians have been killed during the anti-Assad uprising. In a briefing before the UN Security Council, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, stated that Syria may have perpetrated crimes against humanity in its crackdown against demonstrators. In response to the ongoing violence, the EU and U.S. are drafting a UN resolution designed to impose additional pressures on the Syrian regime, including sanctions.

Policy Objectives:

• Push the UNSC to adopt a strong resolution that includes sanctions on perpetrators of crimes against civilians, an arms embargo and a referral to the International Criminal Court
• Push the European Union to adopt strong and comprehensive sanctions on Syria’s oil sector
• CRN(Conflict Risk Network): Encourage corporate actors operating in Syria’s oil sector to:
  • Urge companies to either immediately halt operations or make public or private statements to the Syrian regime to condemn the violence
  • Call for companies to establish clear policies and procedures for ensuring non-complicity in similar crises in the future

Sudan: In Southern Kordofan, a new round of fighting was reported. In Abyei, it is estimated that over 100,000 people have been displaced by violence. In Darfur, there is a sustained level of violence and human rights abuses, and humanitarian access continues to be restricted.

Sudan will reportedly allow UN agencies to access areas within South Kordofan.

Policy Objectives:

• Push the UN to create a UN peacekeeping force for South Kordofan and Blue Nile states that has a human rights monitoring component and the ability to protect civilians
• Demand humanitarian access in South Kordofan to ensure delivery of much needed aid (food, medical assistance, etc.).
• Expand the existing UN arms embargo on Darfur so that it covers all of Sudan.
• Expand U.S. and UN sanctions to cover officials and militia leaders implicated in the violence
• Demand immediate full access for an independent investigation for war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing through the International Criminal Court

In response to these recent developments, GI-NET/SDC policy outcomes are

Sudan

• The United States and international community imposes consequences on those responsible for violence in Abyei, South Kordofan, the South, and Darfur and also pushes for a robust UN civilian protection and monitoring force in South Kordofan and Blue Nile
• Groundwork is laid for getting companies to take steps that ensure they are not harming civilians and are helping to protect them
• Raise awareness about Sudan crises among constituents, media and high level decision makers

Syria

• The UN passes a resolution implementing sanctions, an arms embargo, and referral to the International Criminal Court
• Companies disengage and pull out from Syria

Protesters in Syria

Two Ways You Can Take Action Today to Pressure the Syrian Regime

• Urge the European Union to Adopt Oil Sanctions: Avaaz has a petition that calls on the European Union to sanction Syrian oil.  Germany, France, and Italy are the three largest importers of Syrian oil.  Sanctions will show the Syrian government that western governments will not tolerate abuses perpetrated against civilians. Sign the Avaaz EU Sanctions petition here.
• Urge the United Nations Security Council to Pass a Strong Resolution: Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS) has a petition that calls on UN Security Council members to introduce and pass a resolution denouncing the Syrian regime and Bashar al-Assad’s criminal actions. The petition also calls for a referral to the International Criminal Court. Sign the CGS UN Security Council petition here.

During my recent trip to Sudan, I heard stories about families being systematically slaughtered, churches being burned and entire villages cut off from supplies of food, water, and medicine. An Anglican priest from the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan told me that a million people are now at risk.

What Bashir did in Darfur is now underway in South Kordofan.

Watch this video of people I spoke with on my recent trip to Sudan. Then take action to stop the violence.

A leaked UN report describes the killing of growing numbers of innocent people. Aid groups are reporting that more than 200,000 innocent civilians have already been driven from their homes.

While Secretary of State Clinton has condemned the violence, she has not called for action to stop Bashir – an international fugitive wanted for crimes against humanity and genocide.

Tell Secretary Clinton to stop the flow of arms to Sudan, protect civilians and impose strong economic sanctions on Bashir and his cronies.

We know the Bashir regime is targeting civilians and bombing villages in South Kordofan. We cannot let this happen. Tell Secretary Clinton we need action – not words – to stop the killing.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Activists in Front of the White House, Copyright George Robert Newcomb

On July 23^rd, the Syrian Emergency Task Force hosted a rally in front of the White House at Lafayette Park.  The purpose of the rally was to call on the United States government to support freedom, democracy and justice in Syria.  Since the Syrian Revolution in March, Assad’s security forces have killed over 1,700 innocent civilians as a means of suppressing peaceful protests.  Protestors denounced the Assad regime and called for free elections, a free press, and freedom of expression in Syria.  The keynote speaker was Award winning Syrian composer and pianist Malek Jandali who performed onstage.  The rally lasted for four hours and had a large turnout despite the unbearable heat.

Rally to Free Syria, Copyright George Robert Newcomb

The Syrian Emergency Task Force is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that works to convey the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people to the American public. The S.E.T.F. was created in order raise awareness in the United States of the continuing oppression in Syria.  As an organization dedicated to peace and justice, S.E.T.F. supports humanitarian organizations in their efforts to help the Syrian people and bring the crimes committed by the regime who engaged in killing, torturing, or detainment to a lawful settlement through legal and peaceful means.  Many of its members are first or second generation Syrians.  In May, the group filed a lawsuit in order to bring the horrific crimes which have occurred in Syria to trial.  The S.E.T.F. also has satellite groups in Illinois, California, Texas, New Jersey, and New York who are responsible for documenting Syrian testimony on crimes against humanity.

The organization consistently promotes action alerts.  Currently, they are asking all activists to contact the White House, the State Department, and members of Congress to support freedom in Syria.  They are calling on the Obama administration to:

• Issue a strong condemnation of the ongoing massacres in Syria, specifically the escalation in Dier Ez-Zour and Hama

• Pressure the UN Security Council to condemn the Syrian regime’s action

• Refer Assad and others to the International Criminal Court to be tried for crimes against humanity

• Lead a coalition of moderate Arab countries and European countries to increase pressure on the Assad regime to allow international media and human rights representatives into Syria.

S.E.T.F. encourages supporters to urge the State Department to support stronger measures against the Syrian regime, and to coordinate efforts to stop the regime from receiving economic assistant from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Additionally, the State Department should take the lead in sending emergency food and medical supplies to the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, and to request that Turkey provide full access to the Syrian refugee camps.  Lastly, they advocate that activists should contact their Congressional representatives to make a statement on the Senate and House floor condemning Assad’s regime for its brutality and demanding his removal from Syria today.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more information on how to get involved and support the Syrian Emergency Task Force, please visit their website: http://www.syrianemergencytaskforce.org/.

Activist in front of White House. Copyright: Martha Bixby

On July 23, 2011, Darfuri Diaspora and American activists participated in a Peace in Sudan Rally at Lafayette Square in Washington, DC.  The rally, which was co-sponsored by Fur Cultural Revival, GI-Net/SDC, and Sudan Now, was held in front of the White House in order to draw the attention of the U.S. government and the international community to the dire situation in Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, Abyei and other parts of Sudan.  The rally was held on July 23 to mark the 7th anniversary of the recognition of the crisis in Darfur as genocide by the United States Congress.

Youth activism. Copyright: Martha Bixby

Demonstrations began at 1:00 p.m. following the conclusion of the hunger strike and lasted until 3:00 p.m. Speakers included policy makers, genocide survivors, leaders of advocacy movements, musicians, and media correspondents.

Speaker. Copyright Martha Bixby

The speakers called upon the U.S. government for immediate protection of civilians, unimpeded humanitarian access, the arrest of al-Bashir and other suspects for crimes committed in Darfur, accountability for the Sudanese government, and justice for victims of genocide and other atrocities committed in Darfur and Sudan at large.

Tom Andrews, president of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition. Copyright: Martha Bixby

Click here to view the embedded video.

Over 150 people participated in the DC rally, despite the unbearable heat. Activists and Diaspora traveled to the rally from across the country including from Eastern states such as Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Connecticut, and from as far away as Texas, South Dakota, and California.  In addition to the DC rally, hunger strikes and rallies were held in other U.S. states including: South Dakota, Indiana, Arizona, and Nebraska and internationally in the UK, France, Egypt, Uganda, and South Sudan.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The united action of the advocates this weekend shows that there is a strong commitment from people from all walks of life to end the genocide in Darfur.  They have made it clear that impunity is not an option and that there is a consensus that protection of civilians in the Nuba Mountains and Darfur should be a priority for both the U.S. government and the international community.

Protestors. Copyright: Martha Bixby

Click here to view the embedded video.

On July 22, 2011, Darfuris Against Genocide initiated a global hunger strike to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Darfur genocide, who have endured unimaginable suffering over the past 8 years.  Darfuris Against Genocide is a group of activists who stand for protection, peace, and justice in the face of the deteriorating situation in Darfur.  Most of its activists have fled from genocidal attacks in their homeland and are currently residing in the United States.  They have experienced first hand the atrocities of the crisis and demand that the United States end President al-Bashir’s campaign to slaughter their people.

The 24 hour hunger strike began at 12:00 p.m. on July 22 and lasted until July 23 at 12:00 p.m.   Over 4000 people signed up on Facebook, where they wrote comments and uploaded videos on an hourly basis.  Videos were also uploaded on YouTube by a variety of individuals including human rights activists, Darfur Diaspora, GI-NET/Save Darfur Coalition and Enough employees, and government officials.  All videos from the 24 hour campaign can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Hunger+Strike+for+Darfur+Hour&aq=f

Click here to view the embedded video.

The global hunger strike demonstrates once again that there is a united movement to end the targeted bombing of civilians, blockades of humanitarian access, arrests, and the torture and rape of women that have become commonplace in the lives of the people of Darfur.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The intricate relationship between the internet and activism was discussed by a series of experts on July 13, when the New America Foundation held a conference entitled “How to Ignite, or Quash, a Revolution in 140 Characters of Less: The Promise and Limitations of New Technologies in Spreading Democracy.” Although the conference focused on revolutionary activism, the conclusions reached by the panels apply to anyone who uses the internet as a way to generate social change.

Jubilant protestors thank the Facebook Youth of Egypt in this picture, tweeted by NBC’s chief news correspondent Richard Engle

The Distinction Between Facebook and Facebook Youth

After the fall of Hosni Mubarak, N.B.C.’s chief news correspondent Richard Engel tweeted a photo of joyous Egyptian activists holding up a sign written entirely in Arabic except for the word “Facebook.”  Rebecca MacKinnon, Senior Schwartz Fellow at the New America Foundation and the co-founder of Global Voices Online, pointed out that the media’s translation of the sign as “Thank you Facebook” left out a crucial part of the message.  “Thank you Facebook youth of Egypt” is the complete translation of the sign. The distinction between Facebook and Facebook youth, MacKinnon explained, is central to understanding the role that social media has played in revolutions across the Arab world. Although the youth were able to organize themselves via Facebook and other websites, the ultimate action of taking to the streets was what generated the change that they sought.

Similarly, panelist Ahmed Al Omran, a blogger from Saudi Arabia who runs Saudijeans.org, recounted the story of Saudi women who used Facebook to organize an effort to begin driving. Approximately one hundred women corresponded online for two months, after which they all broke social norms and drove. The women did not only use the internet for organizational purposes, but also uploaded pictures, videos, and messages showing them driving to encourage other women to do the same.   Connecting via Facebook when they could not meet in person gave the women a forum to plan coordinated action.  Like the Facebook youth in Egypt, however, the women ultimately took their plans from the cyber world to the real world, and that was the true action of change.

Protestors confront government forces in Syria

Social Media Doesn’t Create Voices, It Amplifies Them

Oula Alrifai, a Syrian youth activist, spoke about the importance of social media in informing the international community about what takes place under oppressive regimes. Because the sparse internet and phone connections in Syria are largely monitored by the state, activists risk their lives to cross Syrian borders into Jordan and Lebanon to upload videos of government soldiers firing on protestors. Oula explained that without Youtube, Twitter, and Facebook, the world would know much less about the Syrian government’s actions against its own people.

In the repressive state of Cuba, blogger Yoani Sanchez uses the internet as a way to tell her story to the outside world. Translated into a multitude of languages and read around the world, her blog at desdecuba.com provides a window into the realities of life in Cuba. Although she has been forbidden to travel by the Cuban government, Yoani says that her voice can travel the globe through her blog.

What Does That Mean for Me?

Activists fortunate enough not to live under repressive regimes can still learn valuable lessons from the experiences of Aula, Omar, Yoani, and the Facebook youth of Egypt. Their stories show that internet is a tool unrivaled in its ability to bring like-minded people together, spread information, and provide an open forum to debate controversial opinions. Just as women in Saudi Arabia used social media to organize an effort to gain the right to drive, activists can use the internet as a way to connect and circulate petitions or organize events. By updating a Facebook status or retweeting breaking news, any citizen can help spread awareness of atrocities around the globe. But despite the power of bringing people together online, taking action from the cyber world into the real world is still the surest way of generating social change.