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Updates & Opportunities: Budget, Genocide Prevention Letter and Foreign Policy Debate

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

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. (more…)

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Policy Call on Libya, Syria & Sudan

Monday, August 29th, 2011

On Thursday, August 25th, activists participated in a GI-NET/SDC policy call that provided updates on volatile situations in Libya, Syria and Sudan. The full recording of the call is available here, and a summary of key points is provided below.

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

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Suffering from more than bullets

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Air strikes, artillery shelling, burning of villages, and door to door raids are just a few of the tactics the Sudanese government has utilized in Abyei and South Kordofan to force at least 186,000 civilians to flee their homes since May. While these tactics cause enormous suffering in the short term, their longer term effect may prove to be equally if not more devastating for civilians who are on the verge of a potential food crisis.

Militia looting World Food Programme compound in Abyei. Photo UNMIS/Stuart Price

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied militias have forced nearly the entire Ngok Dinka population of Abyei from the region into South Sudan and destroyed much of Abyei town and surrounding villages. During the invasion of Abyei, the SAF and Misseriya militias looted humanitarian stockpiles, stealing over 800 tons of food and destroying many UN and aid organizations buildings.

The incursion also disrupted the June/July cultivation season, meaning that residents were unable to plant their crops during one of the region’s two planting seasons.  As civilians will likely not be able to return in time to plant in September, the population may be dependent on food aid for the coming months.

Furthermore, the rainy season has severely limited the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide aid to the nearly 113,000 civilians from Abyei remain scattered across the border in South Sudan. The UN has also received reports of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) commandeering or attempting to commandeer humanitarian vehicles on at least four occasions in mid-July.

On June 5th, fighting broke out in South Kordofan between the Sudanese government and the SPLA-North with the SAF and allied militias launching brutal attacks against the Nuba people which have continued unabated. The Sudanese government continues to prevent the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations from accessing civilians in South Kordofan to provide critically needed aid.

The UN and humanitarian groups prepositioned food stocks and other aid in anticipation of violence which have proved to be essential. However, according to a recent UN report, “these prepositioned stocks are running critically low, and are estimated to deplete within weeks.” Over the weekend, the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Valerie Amos, issued a statement expressing her concerns that civilians who have been prevented from planting and have relied on emergency food assistance will face grave consequences as the Sudanese government prevents the dwindling humanitarian supplies from being replenished.

Displaced civilians in Kadugli. Photo: Paul Banks/Reuters

Even if fighting between the Sudanese government and SPLA-North ceases in South Kordofan and the SAF withdraw from Abyei allowing civilians to return, people from both states will urgently rely upon humanitarian aid. The disruption of the planting season has the possibility of creating a dire food crisis in the upcoming months as civilians will not be able to provide for themselves. Therefore, the international community must pressure the Sudanese government to allow humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to South Kordofan and impose consequences if the government continues to attack civilians and obstruct access which leads to starvation.

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Libya Rebels Must Also Protect Civilians

Thursday, July 14th, 2011

In our last blog post on Libya we told you about Congress and their stalemate on funding U.S. military operations in Libya.  While Libya talks on the Hill are on hold due to the debt crisis, fighting in Libya continues to put civilians at risk.

Human Rights Watch released a report yesterday calling on rebel forces to play an active role in civilian protection:

“The rebel forces should hold accountable anyone from their ranks responsible for looting, arson, and abuse of civilians in recently captured towns in western Libya”

Destruction in Libya

According to the report, rebel forces have been responsible for looting homes and shops, destroying property, and abusing civilians.  HRW emphasized the need for leaders to control rebel activity. Many civilians are fleeing their homes, fearing “reprisals from rebel forces,” adding to the growing number of internally displaced in Libya. Tensions over tribal resettlement by the Libyan government over the last few decades have resurfaced due to the instability.

The report documented violence occurring in three towns that until recently were being used as a base for attacks against rebel-held territory. Rebels were documented looting hospitals for medical supplies, and beating civilians suspected of aiding Gaddafi’s forces prior to the rebel takeover. As the rebels continue to gain territory and challenge the Gaddafi regime, their obligation to protect civilians and avoid human rights violations is not lost on the international community.

 

 

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Obama, Clinton and Rice Express Support for South Sudan statehood

Monday, July 11th, 2011

On July 9, 2011—South Sudan’s independence day—prominent officials in the United States Government issued statements expressing support for South Sudanese independence and concern about the challenges moving forward.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice in South Sudan

 

President Obama

The White House Released a statement on July 9 officially recognizing the Republic of South Sudan and expressing support the new state:

Today is a reminder that after the darkness of war, the light of a new dawn is possible…we know that southern Sudanese have claimed their sovereignty, and shown that neither their dignity nor their dream of self-determination can be denied.

As Southern Sudanese undertake the hard work of building their new country, the United States pledges our partnership as they seek the security, development and responsive governance that can fulfill their aspirations and respect their human rights.

 

In addition to U.S. support, President Obama emphasized the urgency of seeking a solution to current hostilities:

Lasting peace will only be realized if all sides fulfill their responsibilities.  The Comprehensive Peace Agreement must be fully implemented, the status of Abyei must be resolved through negotiations, and violence and intimidation in Southern Kordofan, especially by the Government of Sudan, must end.

 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

In an official statement released by the State Department, Secretary Clinton said:

The United States will remain a steadfast partner as South Sudan seeks to peacefully meet these challenges and build a free, democratic and inclusive society. The strong ties between our peoples go back many decades, and we are committed to continuing to build on the partnership we have already established in the years ahead.

 

Also on July 9, the Secretary authored an opinion piece in the Washington Post.  She wrote, in part:

[North and South Sudan] must quickly return to the negotiating table and seek to complete the unfinished business of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement That means settling outstanding questions related to finances, oil and citizenship; demarcating remaining border areas; and fully implementing their agreement on temporary arrangements for the contested Abyei area, which lies along the border of Sudan and South Sudan, including the redeployment of all Sudanese military forces. The violence that has flared in Abyei in recent months cannot be allowed to return and jeopardize the larger peace.

 

In the op-ed, she went on to say:

One urgent step both sides must take is agreeing to a cessation of hostilities in the northern border state of Southern Kordofan, which started in early June. We are deeply concerned about the continued aerial bombardments, harassment of U.N. staff and obstruction of humanitarian relief efforts. The longer this fighting goes on, the more difficult it will become to resolve.

 

UN Ambassador Susan Rice

On July 9th US Ambassador to the UN gave a speech in Juba honoring this momentous occasion and the challenges ahead.  On the road to independence she said:

No citizen of South Sudan should ever take their independence for granted. You have waged a righteous struggle to win your liberty and chart your own course among the community of nations. Let that always serve as a reminder to lift up those who are denied their rights, those who hunger for freedom, and those who suffer in places where hope seems to be forgotten.

 

She also commented on the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement:

… But the Republic of South Sudan is being born amid great hopes—the hope that you will guarantee the rights of all citizens…be able to live in peace and justice with your neighbors, bind up the wounds of war, and work with the Government of Sudan to resolve swiftly and peacefully all outstanding issues in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

 

Moving forward, Ambassador Rice spoke about accountability and good governance in shaping South Sudan as a model for a successful African state:

All of this will demand leadership and accountability. For democracy and development rest on the foundation of good governance. Peace and prosperity rest on the foundation of strong institutions devoted to the public interest…South Sudan’s leaders, and the citizens who hold them accountable, now have the chance to create a state that stands out not for its flag or its currency but for the investments it makes in the development of its people.

 

Similar to comments made by the President and Secretary of State Clinton, Ambassador Rice reiterated America’s commitment to working to build lasting peace and prosperity in the region:

…know that the people of the Republic of South Sudan have a true and lasting friend and partner in the people of the United States of America as you work to strengthen the foundations of your democracy, promote human rights, and expand economic growth. Our support for the cause of peace for the Sudanese people has long been bipartisan and deep, and it will continue to be.

 
GI-NET/SDC also released a statement on South Sudan’s independence this weekend, and can be viewed here.  For more information on South Sudan, check out our blogs on what Congress and the human rights and humanitarian community have been saying as South Sudan embarks on its first days as a new state.

 

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Congress Celebrates South Sudan Independence; Deplores Violence in Northern Sudan

Friday, July 8th, 2011

On Saturday, South Sudan will become the world’s newest country. As we congratulate the people of South Sudan on the birth of their nation, we remain deeply concerned about the ongoing violence taking place in northern Sudan’s Darfur and Southern Kordofan regions. Members of Congress have also spoken out by recognizing this important moment for South Sudan, while urging the protection of civilians in areas now under attack.

Congressional statements and floor speeches are included below. We will continue to update this page.

Members of the House of Representatives Speak Out

July 6, 2011

Congressman Donald Payne (D-NJ)–Ranking Member of the Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Sudan Caucus–released a press statement saying in part:

As a Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, I have been committed to helping Sudan achieve peace and justice. I have worked closely with the U.S. Department of State and the international community throughout the years to ensure that South Sudan become an independent nation. The United States has been a critical partner in the peace process that led us to where we are today. Therefore, I am proud to be a part of the Presidential Delegation to participate in South Sudan’s independence ceremony. While today marks a great achievement, let us not forget to reinforce our past investment in diplomacy and development to ensure that the current progress evolves into stability and growth.

July 7, 2011

Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) made the following statement on the House floor:

YouTube Preview Image

(more…)

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Sign Up to Lobby Congress

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

We are at a critical moment for Sudan and Congress has an important role to play. As the Republic of South Sudan gains independence and violence continues throughout Darfur and border areas, we want to provide concerned advocates with an opportunity to make your voice heard.

Students Lobby Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), Sudan Caucus Co-Chair

Lobby Your Senators During the August Recess

Your Senators will be home in your state meeting with constituents from August 8-September 2. Because the August recess runs for 4 weeks—often the longest recess period all year—it offers a significant window of time to plan a meeting with your Senator’s office. With so much going on, we anticipate that August will be a crucial month to lobby on both Sudan and genocide prevention.

Sign Up Today

All you need to do right now is sign up. We’ll follow-up with additional information and can answer any questions you have. 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.

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Senate Committee Approves Libya Resolution

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Yesterday morning, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on Libya, titled Libya and War Powers.  The Committee heard testimony from legal adviser to the State Department Harold Koh, and debated the constitutionality of the of the President’s military involvement in Libya in light of the War Powers Resolution.  Among other concerns, the issue of what message US action (or inaction) in Libya will send to the Gaddafi regime guided many of the arguments put forth by Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Dick Lugar (R-IN), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Jim Risch (R-ID).

State Department Legal Adviser Harold Koh

While we understand the need to debate such issues, we compel Congress to focus on civilian protection and to authorize the military intervention now underway to protect civilians in Libya. In fact, Mr. Koh’s testimony emphasized that despite legal debate surrounding U.S. intervention in Libya, the Gaddafi regime has systematically targeted civilians and civilian protection should be the priority. Koh stated, “If the legal issue is resolved in one way or the other, the choice still remains what to do about the civilians of Libya.”

 

In the afternoon following the hearing, the Committee considered the passage of S.J.Res.20, which would authorize the limited use of force in Libya. We are pleased that the joint resolution passed in a 14-5 vote.  Last week, the House considered and voted against a similar measure that would authorize limited US involvement in Libya.  The next step will be for S.J.Res.20 to be considered on the Senate floor.  We hope that a vote will take place before the end of the week, when the Senate leaves for the July 4th recess.

 

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A Bishop’s Call to Prayer

Friday, June 24th, 2011

Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail, of the Episcopal Diocese of Kadugli, Sudan, is calling on Christians worldwide to observe Sunday, June 26 as a day of fasting and prayer to end violence that has afflicted the Nuba Mountains in recent weeks. This violence has created a humanitarian crisis in the region, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.

Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail

Rev. Eberhard Hitzler with the Department for World Service reported that “Serious atrocities are being witnessed between Kadugli and Dilling. Nuba people are being dragged and killed instantly from lorries trying to ferry them northward for safety. Unnecessary checkpoints are put to trap the Nuba fleeing the violence from Kadugli and Dilling. The Nuba people who escaped to safety are being hunted like rats. Anyone found with SPLM card (ID), flag or document is summarily executed without interrogation.”

Bishop Elnail sat down with Religious Dispatches Magazine to plead for assistance: “The international community must also intervene to open up full access for the humanitarian organizations to supply people with food, water, and medical care that will help marginalized people achieve freedom and peace.” You can read the rest of the interview here.

The Episcopal Church in the United States, a prominent partner and advocate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, starting holding prayer services for Sudan in January of this year, before the referendum took place. As South Sudan’s Independence Day approaches, Elnail asks that the international community “please pray and fast with us as you are able for a solution to this crisis.”

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