The letter underscores the need for a revised policy approach in saying, “…recent events in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur provide clear evidence that the Administration’s policy toward Sudan must be reinvigorated to address the urgent humanitarian and civilian crises facing millions of Sudanese.” Additionally, the letter highlights the worsening humanitarian situation, describes the root cause of the problems in Sudan as the “marginalization of the peripheries by Khartoum”, and calls for the Administration to “marshal the international community” to end violence and support prospects for long-term peace.

Read the signed letter.

Battle Continues to Protect the International Affairs Budget

For the second time since the beginning of the month, Senate consideration of the International Affairs Budget has been delayed. The International Affairs Budget funds the diplomatic and development work of the United States. This funding saves lives in countries affected by conflict, works to prevent atrocities and supports international peacekeeping.

Although the International Affairs Budget was expected to be up for consideration last week, negotiations on the bill fell through before the November 18th deadline. Since funding was set to run out after the 18th, Congress passed a resolution to create a short-term extension and avoid a government shutdown. The new deadline is December 16th. After the Thanksgiving recess, the House and Senate will have three short weeks to pass the International Affairs Budget. There is ongoing concern about proposed cuts that would disproportionately target this critical funding.

Deadline Extended for Signatures on the Senate’s Genocide Prevention Letter

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Susan Collins (R-ME) are circulating a letter to President Obama urging the Administration to develop the necessary tools to successfully avert mass atrocities and prevent the conditions that can lead to violence against civilians. The deadline for Senators to sign-on has been extended until November 29th. All members of the Senate are welcome to join. Urge your Senators to add their signature to this letter today. You can contact Senators by phone or send an email by clicking on the webform link. Your Senators should contact the office of either Senator Coons or Collins to sign-on.

Sample Script: As a constituent who cares about ending mass atrocities and genocide, I urge the Senator to sign-on to the Coons/Collins letter on genocide prevention. The letter urges the President Obama to develop the necessary tools to successfully avert mass atrocities. Please contact the office of either Senator Coons or Collins to sign-on. Thank you.

CNN Presidential Candidate Debate Tonight on Foreign Policy

Beginning at 8:00 p.m. (ET) this evening CNN will host a presidential debate from Washington, DC. The debate will cover foreign policy, as well as national security and the economy.

CNN is offering opportunities for Americans to join the conversation and ask questions live during the debate. You can participate via Twitter by using hashtag #CNNDebate, on Facebook and on CNN’s website. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about Sudan, Syria, Libya, the International Affairs Budget, genocide prevention and more.

Former Secretaries Powell and Albright (two of the five former secretaries that signed the letter)

In a letter organized by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, five former Secretaries of State called on Congress to support the International Affairs Budget. As it stands now, international affairs funding is at risk for deep and disproportionate cuts.

Signed by Secretaries Henry Kissinger (1973-1977), George Shultz (1982-1989), Madeleine Albright (1997-2001), Colin Powell (2001-2005) and Condoleezza Rice (2005-2009), the letter underscores the important role that international diplomacy and development play in advancing the interests of the United States.

As the letter states, “[international affairs] programs are critical to America’s global leadership and represent strategic investments in our nation’s security and prosperity.”

Read the entire letter and take action to help protect the International Affairs Budget.

Urge Your Senators to Sign-on

The letter will be open for additional signatures until November 17, 2011 and all members of the Senate are welcome to join. Urge your Senators to add their signature to this letter today. You can contact Senators by phone or send an email by clicking on the webform link. Your Senators should contact the office of either Senator Coons or Collins to sign-on.

Sample Script: As a constituent who cares about ending mass atrocities and genocide, I urge the Senator to sign-on to the Coons/Collins letter on genocide prevention. The letter urges President Obama to develop the necessary tools to successfully avert mass atrocities. Please contact the office of either Senator Coons or Collins to sign-on. Thank you.

About the Letter

The letter reiterates the principles of Senate Concurrent Resolution 71, which passed unanimously in December 2010. S.Con.Res. 71 urged the administration to conduct an interagency review to evaluate existing capacities for preventing, and responding to genocide and other mass atrocities.

The letter welcomes the recently-released Presidential Study Directive (PSD) 10, which created an Atrocities Prevention Board (APB), and underscored that preventing genocide and mass atrocities is in America’s national interest. Finally, it urges the Administration to establish coordinating mechanisms between Congress and the APB, and consider a whole of government approach to atrocities prevention.

Remember, the deadline for Senators to sign-on to this letter is Thursday, November 17.

Late last night, the Financial Times reported that the Syrian regime has stopped payments to European oil giants Royal Dutch Shell and Total. Shell and Total are two of more than fifteen companies that operate in Syria’s petroleum sector. Many of these companies are European, but the list also includes companies from Canada, China, India and Russia. This news is significant as it raises questions about the future of oil operations in Syria and the state of the regime’s finances.

There are frequent and widespread reports that Syrian Army tanks have been deployed and used in civilian areas.

Violence against Civilians and Oil

Despite the outbreak of violence against civilians and suspected crimes against humanity, companies have continued to operate in Syria. The Syrian oil sector has been a key target because oil revenue directly supports the regime. Although Syria’s economy was fairly well diversified, it was estimated that–before violence broke out in March–the oil sector provided the government with $7 to $8 million a day. As other sectors of the economy like tourism have collapsed, oil revenue has become even more important.

Sanctions by the European Union

The news that the Syrian Government has stopped payments comes shortly before key European Union (EU) sanctions banning the importation of Syrian oil are set to take effect on November 15. The ban on the importation of Syrian oil is significant because EU countries purchase about 95% of Syria’s oil exports. However, European companies are legally able to continue oil exploration and production in the country.

In light of ongoing violence, the EU also announced yesterday that they plan to further sanction between fifteen and twenty individuals.

Sanctions by the United States

The United States has sanctions on Syria that predate the recent atrocities. In testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, a Treasury Department official stated that “[U.S.] sanctions currently already do prohibit any new investment in the Syrian oil sector. [Sanctions] prohibit all transactions between U.S. persons and the Government of Syria.”

In order to provide additional pressure on non-U.S. companies, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation earlier this year that would provide penalties in the United States for any foreign company that continued to operate in Syria’s petroleum sector. The bill has twelve co-sponsors and has continued to gain momentum in the Senate.

The Need for Additional International Pressure

Just as the European Union and the United States have been leading efforts to pressure the Syrian regime, other countries like China and Russia have been lagging far behind. The United States, France and the United Kingdom have led attempts at the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution that would impose further sanctions, including an arms embargo. However, in an unusual move, China and Russia cast a double veto of the measure. It’s important to note that Russia is a significant arms supplier to the Syrian Government and has said that unless the UNSC adopts an embargo they will continue to sell arms to the regime. There is still strong interest from western countries in the passage of a resolution, but Russia and China continue to pose a major challenge.

Urge Your Representative to Sign-on

The letter will be open for additional signatures until November 18, 2011 and all members of the House of Representatives are welcome to join. Urge your Representative to add their signature to this letter today. You can contact your Representative by phone through 1-800-GENOCIDE or send an email through house.gov. Your Representative should contact Congressman Capuano’s office to sign-on.

Sample Script: As a constituent who cares about ending atrocities in Sudan, I urge the Representative to sign-on to a letter to President Obama that is being circulated by the House Sudan Caucus. In light of ongoing violence, the letter urges the President to reinvigorate the U.S. policy on Sudan. Please contact Christina in Congressman Capuano’s office to sign-on. Thank you.

About the Letter

The letter underscores the need for a revised policy approach in saying, “…recent events in Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur provide clear evidence that the Administration’s policy toward Sudan must be reinvigorated to address the urgent humanitarian and civilian crises facing millions of Sudanese.” Additionally, the letter highlights the worsening humanitarian situation, describes the root cause of the problems in Sudan as the “marginalization of the peripheries by Khartoum”, and calls for the Administration to “marshal the international community” to end violence and support prospects for long-term peace.

As organizations concerned about the ongoing violence and worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan, we urge Congress to vote against any amendments that would further reduce international affairs funding. Funding provided through the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2012, for such programs as refugee assistance and peacekeeping, is critical to saving lives in Darfur, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and other areas of Sudan where civilians are now at risk. Additionally, this funding supports peace and good governance in the newly-independent South Sudan where the United States has invested significant resources toward advancing freedom and democracy. As a newly independent nation, South Sudan remains in a fragile condition in its transition, and cuts in funding that support this new country could lead to greater internal and regional instability.

Moreover, Sudan is facing a new emergency of potentially catastrophic proportions. According to UNHCR, since the beginning of September, the steady number of refugees from the Nuba Mountains fleeing the fighting in South Kordofan has surged from about 100 a day in August to about 500 people a day in September. It is reported that there are now more than 130,000 refugees from Sudan in South Sudan, while another 28,000 have recently fled from Blue Nile into Ethiopia. There are reports of ongoing aerial bombings in Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. Furthermore, by attacking the people of South Kordofan during their harvest season and blocking access to humanitarian aid, the Government of Sudan is effectively using food as a weapon of war, with a possible famine now looming.

In Darfur, the Sudanese government has increased aerial bombardments, displacing over 115,000 people since December 2010. Large areas of Darfur remain inaccessible to relief agencies. Reporting and verification of violence has become impossible because much of the area is cut off from humanitarians and even peacekeepers.

Any reductions in State and Foreign Operations funding will inevitably affect programs that are critical to addressing the enormous needs in Sudan. These programs should be restored across the board and we are particularly concerned about cuts to this funding as it relates to Sudan and the surrounding region. Cuts to humanitarian aid, development assistance, economic support, and peacekeeping funding will weaken U.S. leadership and continue to exacerbate an already worsening situation on the ground.

Reductions to State and Foreign Operations funding run counter to the United States’ commitment to peace in the region and would put U.S. interests at risk during a critical time when violence is on the rise throughout Sudan and humanitarian aid agencies are predicting a food emergency. Therefore, we strongly oppose funding cuts to the State and Foreign Operations bill. Given the critical nature of this funding, we urge all Members of Congress to vote against any amendments to reduce or eliminate funding.

Testimony of the Hon. Thomas H. Andrews
President of United to End Genocide
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
“Sudan: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in South Kordofan and Continuing Human Rights Violations in Darfur”
September 22, 2011

Thank you Chairman Wolf, Chairman McGovern and members of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for holding this hearing. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on the escalation of attacks against civilians in Sudan. So many members of this Commission have been long-time champions of peace and accountability in Sudan. Your leadership on Sudan is critical.

I was in the region a little over two months ago visiting Rwanda, Kenya and South Sudan, and in Juba just weeks after violence broke out in South Kordofan. Everywhere I went I heard story after story of the horror that continues to be inflicted. Two refugees from Darfur told me about their harrowing experience of being awakened at dawn by the sound of hooves and gunfire as the Janjaweed raided their village. They fled to South Kordofan’s Nuba Mountains and described how the people there welcomed them. They expressed their alarm and horror that the same regime that had forced them to flee their homes in Darfur was now attacking the very people who provided them refuge.

The common denominator in the devastating attacks on civilians in both Darfur and South Kordofan is Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. Let me be clear – Bashir is a genocidal monster who is already wanted by the International Criminal Court for directing atrocities in Darfur. Since Bashir came to power in a military coup in 1989 he has murdered, starved and destroyed the lives of millions of innocent civilians in South Sudan, Abyei, Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

I have provided additional details on the violence being perpetrated across Sudan by Bashir’s forces in my written testimony. But my focus today is on what is happening now in South Kordofan and the stories that were told to me by the people I met.

I spoke to several people displaced from South Kordofan’s Nuba Mountains when I was in Juba in early July. The numbers of displaced have only increased since then. Two priests who had just arrived after a narrow escape told me that the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied militias had gone door to door, targeting people based on their religion and the color of their skin. They spoke of churches being burned and looted. One church was hit by a bomb as Antanov planes, the same used to terrorize the people of Darfur, launched indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas. That was in July. The attacks continue.

But it doesn’t stop there: Bashir has also refused to let in desperately needed food, water, medicine and fuel. International aid NGOs have been tossed out. One of the displaced priests I met with had heard just that morning from a colleague still in the Nuba Mountains that food stocks were running low, trade routes were blocked, and no new aid was being allowed in. He told me that at least one million innocent people are at risk in South Kordofan.

This year alone, more than half a million people have been displaced by fighting throughout Sudan. United Nations reports indicate the likelihood of ethnic cleansing in Abyei, and war crimes and crimes against humanity in South Kordofan. We suspect similar atrocities have occurred in Blue Nile.

Recent violence directed by Bashir makes it very clear, when left unchecked this genocidal monster will simply continue to do what he has always done: commit unspeakable atrocities.

So what can the United States do? Past experience demonstrates that the Bashir regime only responds to consequences. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is failing in the face of these ongoing atrocities. Recent statements by the State Department do not place appropriate emphasis on the Government of Sudan as the party overwhelmingly responsible for violence against civilians. Even more importantly, action from the Administration is severely lacking. Accountability is not being demanded. Civilians are not being protected. Bashir is being allowed to commit atrocities with impunity. Again. Unless this policy course is corrected, many more civilians will lose their lives.

In my view the Obama Administration needs to do three things:

First, expand sanctions on individuals responsible for atrocities throughout Sudan. Current individual sanctions for atrocities are specific only to Darfur. Anyone who commits heinous crimes must be held accountable regardless of where in Sudan these atrocities take place.

Second, make saving lives in Sudan a high priority in our dealings with other nations – particularly those that can exert the most leverage on Bashir. We need increased and coordinated sanctions by the international community starting with our European allies. Maybe even more importantly, the United States must work to move China in a new direction. The Chinese have a great deal of leverage with the Government of Sudan. Their significant monetary investment makes it in their interest to have a peaceful and stable region. But their actions belie their interest and denigrate values that we have a moral obligation to defend and advance. The red carpet that the Chinese government literally unfolded for Bashir just months ago in Beijing was an outrage. We need to hear that outrage spoken loudly and clearly by our leaders.

Finally, weapons must be stopped from flowing into Sudan and innocent people must be protected. The U.S. must spend political capital to pass a United Nations Security Council resolution that expands individual sanctions for perpetrators, expands the existing arms embargo on Darfur to incorporate all of Sudan, expands the mandate of the International Criminal Court to cover the entire country, demands unfettered humanitarian access, and authorizes an international civilian protection force with the resources and mandate to accomplish its mission.

Congress also has an important role to play. First, the American people need to know the truth about Omar al-Bashir and his atrocities. This hearing is an important step in that direction and, again, I commend you for your leadership. American citizens have shown they care about the people of Sudan, but many are unaware of what is happening there now. Your help is needed to raise the alarm. Congress should also consider and pass legislation that would mandate increased United States sanctions and push the Administration to advance the policies I’ve laid out here today.

I know this is not as easy as it may sound. I know about all the distractions that Members of Congress face. I was serving in the House during the Rwandan genocide. I visited the graves of hundreds of thousands of victims when I visited Rwanda in July and asked myself – “Where was I?” Why did we do nothing to prevent or stop this horror?” Well, in retrospect, the political climate here in the U.S. was intense in 1994. There were fresh memories of Mogadishu, Somalia and “Black Hawk Down”. There was the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The economy was struggling and a heated election was looming. When you think about it, the political climate today is not at all dissimilar. But, the bottom line then is the bottom line now: We cannot stand quietly aside while genocidal monsters inflict unspeakable crimes against untold numbers of innocent people. The cost of doing nothing is too great. We must not look back years from now on this moment and think: “If only we had done something.”

We must have the courage to act now.

Thank you again for your time and for this opportunity. I look forward to answering your questions.

• Treatment of widely diverse populations (citizenship rights, migrant populations, and resettlement)
• Distribution of oil wealth
• Border demarcation

Ambassador Lyman called for at least an interim agreement to be settled by the end of the month, along with a firm timetable for negotiations moving forward.  The more quickly North and South Sudan resolve their issues, the higher the likelihood of a successful peace and transition to statehood for South Sudan.

In regard to Darfur, Lyman noted that in order for political reform to occur, the Government of Sudan (GoS) must satisfy a list of conditions put forth by the United States, which would create an enabling environment in Darfur for political pluralism and freedom of expression.  Until these conditions are met, the United States will not facilitate a peacekeeping process in the region.

Sen. Kerry (left) and Sen. Lugar

Concerns about GoS’ exclusion of key Darfuri rebel groups from negotiations in Doha was also a point for discussion.  At this point the GoS is only engaging with the Liberty and Justice Movement (LJM), when they need to be bringing in leaders of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and Sudanese Liberation Army(SLA), in order to construct a viable solution that addresses the issues raised by all parties involved in the conflict.

In reference to getting access to humanitarian aid in South Kordofan and Abyei, Lyman confirmed that both sides were “open” to the idea of a “72 hour pause” in fighting to allow aid workers to bring in food and medical supplies to the displaced.

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Dick Lugar (R-IN) engaged in discussion regarding agricultural development as essential to food security and economic prosperity in South Sudan. Development aid provided from the United States and international community would provide technological assistance to vastly increase South Sudan’s output, thus reducing its import dependencies and shifting it towards an export-based economy.

Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lugar, John Isakson (R-GA), Coons, and Tom Udall (D-NM) were all in attendance at the hearing.  Senator Coons announced that he, Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Senator Isakson, and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) will be introducing a resolution commending the cooperation by both sides, and calling on a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Sudan. The meeting had the overarching tone of urgency and uncertainty regarding negotiations and the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) before current hostilities expand beyond a point of negotiation.

Hunger Strike for Darfur

At noon on July 22, Sudanese Diaspora members and activists around the globe will begin a 24-hour long fast for Darfur. During the global hunger strike, participants will be contacting their government officials, asking for:

- Immediate protection of civilians

- Unimpeded humanitarian access

- Accountability for the crimes against humanity committed by Khartoum’s regime

- Justice for the genocide victims and atrocities committed in Darfur and throughout Sudan.

To find out more and sign up to participate visit  www.fastdarfur.org or “Hunger Strike for Darfur” on facebook

Rally at the White House

Date: Saturday, July 23, 2011
Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20006

On July 23^rd, the 7^th anniversary of the United States Congress declaring the conflict in Darfur to be Genocide, Sudanese from all regions, including Darfur, the Nuba Mountains, Abyei, Nubia, Eastern Sudan and Central Sudan, will join together with American activists outside the White House, to protest the ongoing violence of Omar al-Bashir’s regime. They will call for action from the United States to protect civilians, hold al-Bashir accountable, and bring peace to all of Sudan.

Confirmed speakers at the White House Rally include:

Hon. Thomas Andrews

President of Genocide Intervention Network/ Save Darfur Coalition

John Prendergast

Co-Founder of the Enough Project

Other speakers will include prominent human rights activists, policy experts, and genocide survivors will speak.

Separate events will also be held throughout the US (including Nebraska, Arizona and Texas) and Internationally in Canada, France, the UK, Egypt and Uganda.

For more information visit: Save Darfur Coalition – Events

In-district lobby days in August

The Senate will be on recess from August 8-September 2, giving you a great opportunity to meet with them at their local offices. With so much going on, we anticipate that August will be a crucial month to lobby on both Sudan and genocide prevention. You can sign up online and we’ll provide talking points and materials for your meeting. We will also be holding several training calls to help you prepare and can connect you with others in your area who might be interested in lobbying.

Sign up to lobby your Senators today. Meetings will need to be scheduled soon.

Make the Call: 1-800-GENOCIDE

As always, we’ll be making 1-800-GENOCIDE available to connect you directly with the White House and with talking points, so you can call TODAY.