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We have more good news in our work to stop weapons from flowing into Sudan! Thanks to our collective efforts the House of Representatives, like the Senate, now has the opportunity to pass a resolution calling on arms suppliers to Sudan—particularly China and Russia—to cease their sales immediately. The resolution also calls for the United Nations Security Council arms embargo to be expanded beyond Darfur to cover all of Sudan.
Representatives James McGovern (Massachusetts), Scott Garrett (New Jersey), and Brad Miller (North Carolina) introduced the resolution in the House late last week, and the resolution already has ten additional cosponsors. Human Rights First applauds the efforts of these Members of Congress. However, in order for this important resolution to move towards passage it needs more congressional co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle. You can help by calling your Member of Congress and asking her or him to become a cosponsor. To have the greatest impact possible, we ask that you make your call immediately.
Be sure to ask to speak to the person in the office who works on issues related to Darfur.
Talking Points:
* More than three years after a complete Security Council arms embargo was placed on Darfur the region is awash with weapons.
* Violence in Darfur is on the rise. Already this year hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands more have been forced to flee their homes. Relief workers have also become targets with murders, assaults, and abductions all increasing.
* I urge Representative ___ to support House Resolution 1462 calling on arms suppliers to Sudan to end their sales immediately and calling on the United Nations Security Council to extend the Darfur arms embargo to cover all of Sudan, with a possible exception to keep the previous north-south civil war from restarting.
* As long as weapons continue to flow in Darfur, the prospects of a successful peace process are slim and the international peacekeeping force in Darfur will have no peace to keep.
outline map of SudanYour efforts have put the issue of arms transfers to Sudan on the agenda of the U.S. Government. Let's keep the momentum going by getting as many Members of Congress as possible to cosponsor Resolution 1462. As always, your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Very sincerely,
Betsy Apple
Director, Crimes Against Humanity Program
Human Rights First
Blogger's note: I am not sure how the US may ultimately be responsible also for small arms flow to Sudan but what little I have read and seen in film with documentation has indicated that a lot of US small arms end up in Africa. So lets do our own research and if so, let's also write letters & make calls concerning US responsibility & small arms around the world. Please send me more information so that I can post it here... newlease7@yahoo.com or put your item under Comments.
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