Sign on letter to Germany re investment conference for the Sudan

Dear Colleagues

Act for Sudan is coordinating an open letter to the German government which is hosting an international conference to promote investment in Sudan. The conference is scheduled for January 29, 2013 in Berlin. 

We are asking civil society and human rights organizations around the world to join us in asking Germany to cancel the conference which will put Germany and the international community at risk of funding a government that continues to perpetrate massive human rights violations against its own people.  

The deadline for sign-ons is the end of the day on Thursday, January 17 2012. 
To sign on, send an email to Susan Morgan at
susan@paxcommunications.org
and include your sign-on 
information.

Organization name

Name and title of signer

City, State

Act for Sudan welcomes sign-ons from as many international groups as possible, including organizations that are not affiliated with Act for Sudan. 

Susan Morgan

--------------------------------------- text of sign-on letter ---------------------------------------------

TO:  Minister Guido Westerwelle, German Foreign Minister

CC:  H.E. Ms. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador Dr. Peter 
Wittig, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN

FROM:  XX  Undersigned International Organizations

SUBJ:  Cancellation of Conference to Promote Investment in Sudan

DATE:  TBD

We are writing to protest Germany’s plans to host an international conference to promote investment in Sudan on January 29, 2013 in Berlin. We ask that you cancel this conference that places Germany squarely in the role of generating financial support for the genocidal Sudanese regime.

As you know, genocide continues in Sudan. The National Congress Party (NCP) regime in Sudan, led by a president indicted by the International Criminal Court for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, is causing the death, starvation, displacement, and destruction of livelihood of Sudanese civilians in Darfur, Nuba Mountains/South Kordofan and the Blue Nile state.

Among the issues of greatest concern are the fact that unlawful attacks against civilians continue in South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Darfur, and the East even as the Government of Sudan continues to restrict movement and access for international humanitarian aid organizations operating throughout Sudan. Further key issues with South Sudan remain unresolved, including final definition and demarcation of the north-south border and the final status of the Abyei area. People across Sudan who protest the current regime are denied basic rights and face attack, arrest and torture.

Efforts to promote investments in Sudan are premature and put the international community at risk of funding a government that continues to perpetrate massive human rights violations against its own people.  Such investments should not occur prior to a cessation of attacks on civilians, the granting of unhindered humanitarian access across Sudan, and a clear demonstration of progress on all remaining issues, including an inclusive constitutional review process followed by free and fair elections.

Without real, on-the-ground progress in Sudan, Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, Sudan's history of genocidal violence makes it extremely likely that this conference, hosted by Germany, will help to fund more atrocities against civilians.  Please cancel the conference to avoid raising funds that will help support genocide.