Press Release

TO:

Mr. Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General (New York)
UN Commission on Human Rights (Geneva)
African Commission on Human Rights (Banjul)
The IGAD (Nairobi)
The African Union (Addis Ababa)
The Arab League (Cairo)
The European Union (Brussels)
Sudan Government (Khartoum)
The National Democratic Alliance (Sudan)

Appeal to the World on the Human Crisis of Darfur

10 August 04

The Undersigned appeal to the world, to the civil societies, the labor and trade unions, and all social forums and peoples' democracy, peace, and human rights organizations to join this Call to stop the human suffering of the Sudanese people in Darfur, Western Sudan. We hold the government of Sudan fully responsible for the perpetration of the civilian atrocities in Darfur.

Aware of the tragic dimensions of the Darfur's Crisis, which amounts to state-led genocide as it has increasingly perished the lives of thousands as well as the displacement of a million citizens seriously endangered with illness, starvation, and death, the Undersigned support the principles of international intervention for the creation of Peace Corridors in Darfur under the auspices and the ongoing monitoring of the United Nations and the African Union.

The safety of Darfur Peace Corridors must be guaranteed by monitors from the African Union with the backing of the United Nations. The Sudan Government should be held responsible for all security matters along the Corridors. As the main responsible party, the government must be accountable before the United Nations Security Council for all breaches of security along the Peace Corridors.

We call for the creation of safe havens, full re-instating of the victimized indigenous population into their misappropriated lands and for the simultaneous removal of recently settled government militia and their supporters from such lands. Legal, administrative, and financial compensation and humanitarian aid for these victimized people must be fully ensured before they return to their identified homes. We call for the immediate enforcement of these urgent measures with clearly defined mission and objectives.

We hold the government responsible for the perpetration of the conflict in Darfur: the urgent tasks facing us now are to alleviate the present plight of the Darfur victims and to lay the blame for the present humanitarian crisis squarely on the Sudan government. We call on the competent authorities to apprehend and to put on trial all of the war criminals who committed heinous crimes - including killing and other bodily injury, burning of homes, crops and entire villages, looting and pillage, branding and mass rape of women and children - against the innocent civilians of Darfur.

The Darfur war criminals, and their main accomplices, whether Janjaweed militias or government officials, must be fairly tried before an international war crimes tribunal. These trials should be independent, publicly supported, and guided by the principles of international law and customary law.

We believe the final resolution to end the Darfur conflict lies mainly with the Sudanese people. We have no doubt that the Sudanese will end the current dictatorial regime, and will fulfill their aspirations for democracy and the peaceful resolution of all conflicts within the Sudan's borders. Therefore, we ask the international community to support all efforts of the Sudanese people to bring a comprehensive, lasting and just peace to that presently deeply troubled country.

Signed:
Dr. Mohamed Hassan Salih, USA
Dr. Mahgoub El-Tigani, USA
Dr. Sondra Hale, USA
Suad Ibrahim Ahmed, Sudan
Dr. Ahmed Mahgoub, USA
Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Elgadi, USA
Jamal Mahgoub, USA
Omar Hassan Osman, USA
Abdelrahim Minalla, USA
Mohamed Osman Ali, USA
Elfadil Elhashmi, Canada
Mohamed Alhassan Abosnena., Canada
Husam Zahir, Canada
Omer Elkhair, Canada
Abdelazeem Sarour, Canada
Nawal Hasan Canada
Dr. Magda Mohamed Ali, USA
Zeinab Eyega, USA
Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, USA
Dr. Jay O'Brien, USA
Connie Fegley, USA
Dr. Robert O. Collins, USA
Nanu Kidane, USA
Dr. Martha Saavedra, USA
Abannik Hino, USA
Dr. Laura Nyantung Beny, USA
Amel Gorani, Eritrea
Dr. Ali Dinar, USA
Dr. Gerry A. Hale, USA
Dr. Ihsan Fagiri, Canada
Dr. Hamid Hamid, Canada
Nasr Haggam, USA
Naila Mohamed, USA
Dr. Lara Deeb, USA
Zeinab Osman al-Hussain, USA
Lachgar hamad Agwilala, Morocco
Marei Kane, Germany
Muna Khugali, UK
Manal Abdel-Rahman, Egypt
Dr. Magda Ahmed, USA
Ahmed El-Assad, USA
Murtada Albasha, USA
Ishraga Mustafa, UK
Magdi Elgzouli, USA
Dr. Gamaleldin Balal, USA

CC

Amnesty International (London)

Human Rights Watch (New York)

International Peace and Democracy Groups

Arab Organization for Human Rights

Sudanese Human Rights and Democracy Organizations

Sudanese Lists in the International Internet