Make Sudan a Priority in China and Japan Petition to President Obama

November 16, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

Your trip to China and Japan will be the first opportunity to demonstrate the presidential leadership needed in turning international concern over Darfur and Sudan into concrete multilateral action. As the new U.S. policy recognized, a concentrated multilateral effort over time is essential to bring about verifiable improvements in conditions on the ground in Sudan.

When you travel to China and Japan in November, I therefore call on you to ask both countries to:

1. Use their economic and political influence with Sudan to support the Darfur peace process, full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and significant structural, political and judicial reforms to Sudan.
2. Condition any write-offs of Sudan's debt, or the extension of any future loans, to peace in Darfur, the full implementation of the CPA, and true structural, political and judicial reform in Sudan.
3. To ensure fair distribution of oil revenue between North and South Sudan, demand that Sudan's oil production and sales figures be verified by independent third party audit and by legislation that requires oil companies to disclose their payments.

Real progress for concrete and lasting peace in Sudan will not come overnight. But the wait for peace will be shorter and fewer lives will be lost with your robust personal engagement.

Thank you for your commitment to bringing peace to Sudan. I look forward to your leadership at this critical time.

Sincerely,

40,401 Committed Darfur and Sudan Activists