Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
Antioch, Tennessee
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[your name and address]
[date]
Office of Representative Jim Cooper
1536 Longworth House Office Building
Washington DC 20515
Subject: Urgent Action Needed to Alleviate Suffering in Darfur
Dear Representative Cooper:
I am deeply concerned about the tragic events currently unfolding in Darfur, Sudan. Whether or not genocide is being committed, people are dying of murder and starvation. I believe that the United States must do everything possible to end the genocide and provide humanitarian relief to the two million people who are affected by this crisis.
As you know, the House and Senate recently passed the Comprehensive Peace in Sudan Act (HR5061 and S2781). This is an important first step. However, as the situation in Darfur worsens, there is much more we as a nation need to do.
I therefore urge you take the following actions:
1. Ask the UN’s Security Council to refer prosecution to the International Criminal Court. If the United States cannot support a referral to the ICC of the situation in Darfur, it should abstain, not veto referral. Please be aware that while the United States indicated that it would not be bound by the objectives and purposes of the Rome Treaty in May 2002, U.S. officials stated that “we will not attack, seek to undermine or wage war against the ICC.”
2. Please call the State Department regularly to keep current on developments on the Darfur situation and the United States response thereto.
3. Please keep your constituents apprised of the situation in Darfur and the actions you have taken to help.
4. Please demand that the Administration put pressure on the United Nations to take the following steps:
-Give the African Union Mission in Sudan authority under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to protect civilians.
- Press the Sudanese government to comply with Resolutions 1564 and 1556 by disarming and prosecuting the Janjaweed militia and all violators of human rights.
- Demand that the Sudanese government halt the forced relocation of civilians and provide the conditions for their safe and voluntary return.
- Impose an arms embargo on the Government of Sudan and implement economic and travel sanctions against key individuals.
- Contribute generously and swiftly to fulfill the UN’s humanitarian appeal and to provide logistical and financial support for the African Union force.
Thank you for your immediate attention.
Sincerely,
[your name and address]