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    November 08, 2011

US Lobby Groups Want A No-Fly Zone in Sudan

   John Tanza
   Satellite Sentinal Project images of alleged mass graves in Sudan's
   Southern Kordofan State
   Photo: Satellite Sentinal Project
   Satellite Sentinal Project images of alleged mass graves in Sudan's
   Southern Kordofan State

   An alliance of 66 organizations across the United States has called on
   President Barack Obama to protect the millions of Sudanese civilians
   that it says are facing deliberate attacks and obstruction of
   humanitarian aid in the regions of Darfur, Southern Kordofan and Blue
   Nile.

   The spokesperson for Act for Sudan, Martina Knee, said the government
   of Sudan is the root cause of the humanitarian disaster that is looming
   in the country. She said the United States and the international
   community should stop viewing the problems in Sudan's various regions
   as isolated from each other, instead they need to be viewed as 'a
   unified problem which deserves a sustained attention and action''

   Imposing a No Fly Zone

   The group presented a letter to Present Obama asking him to instruct
   the U.S. National Security Council to protect civilians with the
   imposition of a no-fly zone over Darfur and Southern Kordofan and Blue
   Nile States. The letter also recommended an urgent cross-border
   emergency assistance to the populations in Abyei, Darfur, Blue Nile and
   the Nuba mountains where Sudan Armed forces are fighting with rebels of
   the Sudan People's liberation Army-north.

   Knee said the alliance wants the U.S. government to act swiftly by
   taking out Sudan government's aerial assets without harming civilians.

   Ending Impunity, Support of Justice

   Since the start of the fighting in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile
   States in late August, the Sudan government expelled international aid
   agencies operating in the region and blocked access to humanitarian
   assistance. 'Act for Sudan' is also asking the U.S. and the
   international community to establish an independent commission of
   inquiry into the alleged war crimes in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile
   and to apprehend individuals responsible for attacks on civilians. It
   also called for reconstitution of the U.N. panel of Experts on Darfur
   to report about the atrocities committed on civilians in Darfur.

   Secure Peace

   The alliance demanded the Obama administration refocus inconsistent
   talks between Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North and the National
   Congress Party into peace negotiations aimed at addressing the concerns
   all the Sudanese people in the areas affected by the ongoing conflict.
   Knee acknowledged that the U.S. will need the cooperation of the
   international community to engage Khartoum. 'The urgency of the current
   situation with the entire crisis that has been continuing for years
   calls for immediate action,' she said.

   The umbrella group comprising of religious groups, Democrats,
   Republicans, Americans and Sudanese. Martina Knee said she is hopeful
   that the U.S. Congress will exert pressure on President Obama to take
   action given U.S. history of intervention in Sudan, most notably the
   Comprehensive Peace Agreement that paved way for South Sudan's
   Independence.

   Listen: John Tanza Interviews Martina Knee

   Calls For President Obama To Protect Millions Of Sudanses Civilians In
   Darfur

   download icon Download: [1]MP3 | [2]Windows Media

   Right click (Control click for Mac) and choose Save Link/Target As

References

   1. http://av.voanews.com/VOA_Clickability_Feed_Connector/18/365/MARTINA_KNEE_ACT_FOR_SUDAN_edit.mp3
   2. http://av.voanews.com/VOA_Clickability_Feed_Connector/18/365/MARTINA_KNEE_ACT_FOR_SUDAN_edit.wma

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