Voices for Sudan

Memorandum

September 23, 2010

To: H.E President Barack Obama

To: H.E U.N Secretary Ban Ki-Moon
To: Ambassador Susan Rice, United States Mission to the U.N.
To: H.E Amb. Zachary D. Muburi-Muita, Permanent Representative of the
Republic of Kenya (On behalf of IGAD Countries)
CC: Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant, Permanent Representative U.K.
CC: Ambassador Morten Wetland, Norway
CC: H.E. Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini, Permanent Representative Italy
CC: Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the
U.N.
CC: Ambassador LI Baodong, PRPermanent Mission of the People’s Republic of
China to the U.N.
CC: H.E Salva Kiir, Sudan First Vice; President & President of GOSS

From: Voices for Sudan

Subject: Recommendations for an All-Sudan Country-Wide Approach to Peace

Building for September 24th Summit on Sudan

Voices for Sudan, the Washington, D.C.-based Sudan advocacy umbrella organization,
would like to commend UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and world leaders for your
participation in the upcoming U.N. Summit on Sudan, a landmark meeting that sends a
clear message of the international community’s intention to join together in a proactive
effort to promote lasting peace in Sudan.

Voices for Sudan extends a special appeal to heads of state to unite for this common
cause of humanity by working together consistently to uphold peace in Sudan. VFS also
makes a special appeal to President Barack Obama, noble laureate, to take advantage of
the unique position and influence of the United States, having held an important role in
achieving the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, by playing a substantial leadership
role in this new phase of action. VFS also urges other world leaders from Russia, China,
Arab and other African nations to set aside pure economic interests for the sake of
humanity. Moreover, VFS looks to the international community to demand that ICC
arrest warrants are executed in order to enable the return of peace, justice and stability.
The urgency and seriousness of the wide-spread internal conflict in all regions of Sudan
cannot be understated, nor the potential to make a significant changes following over 50
years of violence. As countries unite for Sudan this week, we cannot forget the
widespread violence and man-made disaster experienced by Southern and Central Sudan-
decades of fighting that exacerbated famines among Sudanese even as food aid was used
as a weapon. We remember the more than 2.5 million people who died and the other four
million who were driven from their homes in this current struggle. We also remember
the more than two million people who have been forced from their homes in Darfur since
2003, and the at least 300,000 who have died in the years of fighting, banditry and
deprivation. Hundreds of thousands, many living in camps for the displaced, now depend
upon aid to survive. Hundreds of thousands now look upon the international community
to ensure that the country does not return once more to such catastrophic violence, but
rather begins a new era of peace and stability.
VFS urges Salva Kiir, Sudan’s First Vice President and President of the Government of
South Sudan, who has first-hand experience with the struggles of the Sudanese people, to
identify with the suffering people of Sudan, plead for Darfur, highlight “Popular
Consultation” Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile region, and for sustainable peace in all
disenfranchised regions of Sudan as he champions the cause of referendum for South
Sudan at the Summit.

During this both promising and tenuous turning point in Sudan’s history, leading up to
the monumental Referendum determining future of relations between Northern Sudan
and currently semi-autonomous Southern Sudan, it is more important than ever that an
all-Sudan approach is taken in addressing obstacles to peace and development in Sudan.
While the conflicts in Southern Sudan and Darfur are well known, residents of the Nuba
Mountains, Blue Nile, Eastern Sudan and Nubia regions also face grave threats to life and
liberty. VFS stresses the needs for a comprehensive solution to instability in all regions of
the country.

Voices for Sudan urges you to address the following pressing challenges to peace and
development in historically disenfranchised regions that at the U.N. Summit on Sudan:

Abyei Area, Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile:

There are fundamental differences between Abyei and the two states. “While the CPA
entitles Abyei to a referendum in 2011 on joining the north or south, Southern Kordofan
and Blue Nile are granted only a ‘popular consultation,’ vaguely stipulated in the CPA as
a democratic right and mechanism to ascertain the views of the people…on the
comprehensive agreement reached.’ While there is little clarity on what ‘popular
consultation’ is, the process clearly does not grant the two states this degree of latitude”
states Mulla.

Eastern Sudan
In Eastern Sudan, the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) has not been fully
implemented, according to a petition written by the Beja Congress and Friends of Beja,
parts of the agreement were abrogated to benefit select sections of the population other
than the marginalized, indigenous Beja people.
VFS believes that the Sudan Summit should seize the opportunity to ensure that human
rights abuses and the political, social and economic marginalization of the Beja People in
Eastern Sudan are improved so that a return to sustainable economic development, peace
and security is realized. In doing so, humanitarian aid workers and other relief and
development organizations should be allowed free and safe access to the Beja areas to
help the population.

Nubia Region
In the far north Nubia Region, the ancient Nubian civilization is threatened with
extinction by the construction of dams. The construction of Merowe dam in 2008, had a
negative impact on the lives of populations in the Nubian areas and historical sites that
are outside areas protected by UNESCO putting unexcavated historical treasures and
monuments from the time of the Pharaohs and the ancient Christian and Jewish
communities of Kush in danger of being lost forever.

Justice and Accountability

The issue of justice and accountability is crucial for lasting and sustainable peace in
Sudan. The gathering of world leaders provides a great opportunity to address the
enforcement of ICC arrest warrants and to ensure accountability for all human rights
violations, including current head of state of Sudan Omar Bashir and all those wanted by
the ICC for crimes against humanity committed in Darfur.

The situation in Sudan remains fragile and a return to war would be a humanitarian
disaster of massive proportions, potentially displacing millions of people in all parts of
the country, North-South-the three contested areas, Darfur, Eastern Sudan and further
destabilizing the region. At the same time, as a diverse coalition of Sudanese ethnic and
regional groups united by our shared vision for lasting and sustainable peace, justice and
economic development in our homeland, we recognize this moment as a critical
crossroads that may also lay the groundwork for long-sought after positive change in
Sudan.

Voices for Sudan is hopeful that this U.N. Summit on Sudan will result in concrete
collective steps to help assure the peaceful transition through the January 9 referendum
through a country-wide assessment of pressing issues affecting all regions of Sudan. It is
crucial that this vote occurs peacefully and credibly and that its results are respected.
Assuming this is the case, the Sudanese people could enjoy the peace and prosperity they
have rarely seen in their half-century of independence. We look forward to supporting
these efforts in collaboration with the Sudanese Diaspora community and our
international partners in the coming months. We extend our best wishes for a successful
and productive Summit.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Mulla
President, Voices for Sudan