Africa Action Launches Petition to Stop Genocide in Sudan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann-Louise Colgan 202-546 7961

Africa Action Launches Petition to Stop Genocide in Sudan

Will Collect 10,000 Signatures by end of June;
Calls on Secretary of State Powell to Name the Genocide,
Support Immediate Intervention

Tuesday, June 15, 2004 (Washington, DC) - As horrifying reports of
genocide continue to emerge from Darfur, western Sudan, Africa Action
today launched a petition aimed at US Secretary of State Colin Powell,
urging him to use the word "genocide" to describe the crisis and calling
for immediate intervention to stop the killing. Up to one million people
are now at risk in Darfur as a result of an ongoing government-sponsored
campaign to destroy a portion of its population. The petition aims to
collect more than 10,000 signatures by the end of June.

Africa Action’s Executive Salih Booker said this morning, "The failure
of the US and the international community to act in Rwanda a decade ago
cost 800,000 lives. Now, up to one million people face a similar fate in
Darfur, western Sudan. Unless there is an immediate military
intervention to stop the killing and facilitate a massive humanitarian
operation, the loss of life in Darfur may even dwarf the horrific toll
we saw in Rwanda."

The petition launched by Africa Action today states, "the term
‘genocide’ not only captures the fundamental characteristics of the
Khartoum government’s intent and actions in western Sudan, it also
invokes clear international obligations." Africa Action notes that all
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - including the
US - are parties to the 1948 Convention on Genocide, and are bound to
prevent and punish this crime under international law. Genocide is
described as the commission of acts with "intent to destroy, in whole or
in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group."

As US officials consider what word to use to describe what is taking
place in Darfur, Booker emphasized, "US Secretary of State Colin Powell
must call the genocide in western Sudan what it is, and ensure that the
US fulfils its obligations to halt the killing. And surely Secretary
Powell knows, this requires the involvement of US troops."

Africa Action notes that the US has almost 2,000 troops in nearby
Djibouti, some of which could be quickly mobilized to lead a
multinational force to secure the region, to facilitate humanitarian
assistance and to enforce the cease-fire until a UN peacekeeping force
can be assembled.

Booker continued, "Everyone in this country and around the world who was
horrified by what happened in Rwanda a decade ago must now stand up and
say "not again." We will not allow our policy-makers to fail the people
of Darfur. This is why we call on Colin Powell to show clear US
leadership in stopping genocide."

Africa Action will circulate the petition to hundreds of organizations
and networks across the US and internationally, generating thousands of
signatures before the end of this month. To sign the petition, visit
Africa Action’s website at http://www.africaaction.org