We, as professional and Olympic athletes, and as potential athletes in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, cannot look on with indifference to the massive human suffering and destruction that continue in the Darfur region of Sudan. Ethnically-targeted human destruction in Darfur has entered its fifth year, and still the world has not responded sufficiently---has not provided protection for millions of vulnerable civilians or for the world's largest and most endangered humanitarian operation.
All too clearly the Government of Sudan in Khartoum believes that there is not enough outrage, not enough will or resolve on the part of the international community, to halt its brutal counter-insurgency war. We appeal to all nations to do whatever they can to put an end to this violence. We appeal specifically to China because China, with its huge economic investments and oil interests in Sudan, as well as its weapons trade, is uniquely-positioned to demand that Khartoum immediately stop the atrocities, protect its people in the Darfur area, work with them to rebuild the region and heal their wounds.
As we applaud recent overtures in the direction of peace, we are keenly aware that Khartoum has a long history of broken promises. We write today to urge the Government of China and its corporations with relationships in the Sudan to:
- Demand ample UN peace-keeping forces and to act resolutely with actions if these demands aren't met immediately,
- Publicly press Khartoum to adhere to ceasefire commitments,
- Publicly press Khartoum to keep its multiple commitments to disarm the Janjaweed militias,
- Suspend all weapons transfers to Sudan,
- Suspend debt forgiveness to its economy,
- Join with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in publicly demanding a cessation of aerial bombardment of civilian targets,
- Join with UN Undersecretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes and numerous aid organizations in publicly demanding unfettered humanitarian access to all regions of Darfur,
- Publicly announce other punitive actions that China is prepared to take in the event that Khartoum refuses to accept an international peace support operation, refuses to disarm the Janjaweed, impedes or harasses humanitarian efforts, or refuses to halt indiscriminate aerial attacks,
- Rescind the interest-free loan for Sudan's presidential palace.
As athletes and concerned human beings, we call on the People's Republic of China to use all available diplomatic resources and economic pressure to end the agony of Darfur, and to secure access for UN peace support person.
