Global call to “stop the horror” in Sudan

Global call to “stop the horror” in Sudan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, London, Washington, Canberra

• A decade on from the start of the mass atrocities in Darfur a coalition of politicians from three continents have called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile

• The Sudanese government is accused of intensifying indiscriminate bombings against rebel-held areas

• Over a million people have been displaced or severely affected by violence and independent experts warn of man-made famine by April

• Meanwhile, the decade-long conflict in Darfur continues, with 1.4 million living in camps and 3.5 million relying on food aid.

A global coalition of 98 politicians from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have signed an open letter addressed to their respective Foreign Secretaries urging them to lead the UN Security Council to action on Sudan at this pivotal moment.

The coalition includes William Bain MP, Chair of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Sudan and South Sudan (UK), House Democratic Whip, Congressman Steny Hoyer (US) and Australian Senator the Hon David Feeney, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence.

Congressman Frank R. Wolf from the United States House of Representatives said:

“Ten years ago this month, the Sudanese government, headed by Omar Bashir, embarked on a campaign of violence in Darfur in which 300,000 people were killed. The world says, “Never Again,” and yet in the face of mounting atrocities in Sudan today, where is the outrage? History must not be allowed to repeat itself. We must stand up for the people of Sudan”.

Baroness Cox from the United Kingdom Parliament said:

“There can be little doubt over the ruthless attacks being perpetrated by the Government of Sudan on its own people. I travelled to Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile in January and saw for myself the desperate subhuman conditions being forced upon tens of thousands of civilians. Addressing the conflict in these two areas is crucial to finding a lasting peace between Sudan and South Sudan”.

Michelle Rowland from the Australian Parliament said:

“UN Security Council Resolution 2046 warned the parties to this conflict of consequences if they did not uphold their obligations and stop the fighting. The African Union has been very clear on the urgent need to address this conflict. We are calling on our respective governments to lead the UN to back up its words with actions”.

Read the full letter –here: http://sudanapg.tumblr.com/

List of signatories:

Members of the UK Parliament:

William Bain – Labour MP for Glasgow North East

Hugh Bayley – Labour MP for York Central

Rt Hon Hilary Benn – Labour MP for Leeds Central, former Secretary of State for International Development (2003 – 2007)

Nicola Blackwood – Conservative MP for Oxford West and Abingdon

Sir Peter Bottomley – Conservative MP for Worthing West

Richard Burden – Labour MP for BIrmingham Northfield

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown – Conservative MP for The Cotswolds

Mary Creagh – Labour MP for Wakefield, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Alex Cunningham – Labour MP for Stockton North

Sir Tony Cunningham – Labour MP for Workington, Shadow Minister for International Development

Nic Dakin – Labour MP for Scunthorpe

Mark Durkan – Social Democrat and Labour Party MP for Foyle, former Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland

Louise Ellman – Labour and Co-operative MP for Liverpool Riverside

Paul Flynn – Labour MP for Newport West

Cathy Jamieson – Labour MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun

Pauline Latham – Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire

Mark Lazarowicz – Labour and Co-operative MP for Edinburgh North and Leith

John Leech – Liberal Democrat MP for Manchester Withington

Jeremy Lefroy – Conservative MP for Stafford

Ivan Lewis – Labour MP for Bury South, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development

Rt Hon Elfyn Llwyd – Plaid Cymru MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd

John Mann – Labour MP for Bassetlaw

Ann McKechin – Labour MP for Glasgow North

Madeleine Moon – Labour MP for Bridgend

Penny Mordaunt – Conservative MP for Portsmouth North

Stephen Mosley – Conservative MP for the City of Chester

Pamela Nash – Labour MP for Airdrie and Shotts

Yasmin Qureshi – Labour MP for Bolton South East

Dame Joan Ruddock – Labour MP for Lewisham Deptford

Lord Avebury – Liberal Democrat

Lord Alton of Liverpool – Crossbench

Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top – Labour

Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville – Conservative

Lord Chidgey of Hamble-le-Rice – Liberal Democrat

Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale – Labour

Lord Collins of Highbury – Labour

Baroness Cox of Queensbury – Conservative

Lord Curry of Kirkharle – Crossbench

Lord Dholakia of Waltham Brooks – Liberal Democrat

Lord Edmiston of Lapworth – Conservative

Baroness Goudie of Roundwood – Labour

Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – Labour

Lord Rea – Labour

Earl of Sandwich – Crossbench

Baroness Tonge of Kew – Crossbench

Members of the United States House of Representatives:

Michael E. Capuano (D-MA)

Frank R. Wolf (R-VA)

Barbara Lee (D-CA)

Michael T. McCaul (R-TX)

Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD)

John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)

Aaron Schock (R-IL)

Sam Farr (D-CA)

Mike Honda (D-CA)

Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO)

Joseph Crowley (D-NY)

Sanford Bishop (D-GA)

James P. Moran (D-VA)

James P. McGovern (D-MA)

Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

Jim McDermott (D-WA)

Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY)

Melvin L. Watt (D-NC)

Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL)

Lois Capps (D-CA)

Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)

Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ)

John F. Tierney (D-MA)

Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)

Betty McCollum (D-MN)

Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)

Adam Smith (D-WA)

Michael H. Michaud (D-ME)

Scott H. Peters (D-CA)

Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)

Keith Ellison (D-MN)

Joe Courtney (D-CT)

Jackie Speier (D-CA)

Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)

Jared Polis (D-CO)

Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ)

Members of the Australian Parliament:

Senator Simon Birmingham
Liberal Party – South Australia

Senator Doug Cameron
Australian Labor Party – New South Wales

Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins – Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations
Australian Labor Party – Victoria

Senator the Hon David Feeney – Parliamentary Secretary for Defence
Australian Labor Party – Victoria

Laurie Ferguson MP
Federal Member for Werriwa
Australian Labor Party – New South Wales

Hon Alan Griffin MP
Federal Member for Bruce
Australian Labor Party – Victoria

Hon Greg Hunt MP
Federal Member for Flinders
Liberal Party – South Australia

Hon Robert McClelland MP
Federal Member for Barton
Australian Labor Party – New South Wales

Hon Judi Moylan MP
Federal Member for Pearce
Liberal Party – Western Australia

Graham Perrett MP
Federal Member for Moreton
Australian Labor Party – Queensland

Senator Louise Pratt
Australian Labor Party -Western Australia

Michelle Rowland MP
Federal Member for Greenway
Australian Labor Party – New South Wales

Senator Lisa Singh
Australian Labor Party – Tasmania

Laura Smyth MP
Federal Member for La Trobe
Australian Labor Party – Victoria

Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens
Australian Labor Party – New South Wales

Senator Anne Urquart
Australian Labor Party – Tasmania