Open Letter Calling for Observance of an Olympic Truce for Darfur

Read Team Darfur's press release [1] announcing the Open Letter.  

 

July 1, 2008

 

The Honorable George W. Bush The Honorable Nicolas Sarkozy President of the United States President of France

His Excellency Ban Ki-moon The Honorable Gordon Brown Secretary General of the United Nations Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

The Honorable Hu Jintao The Honorable Dmitry Medvedev President of the People's Republic of China President of Russia

Dr. Jacques Rogge International Olympic Committee President

 

Dear Sirs,

In our common aspiration to realize the ideals of the Olympic Games, we, the undersigned, urge the international community to convince the Government of Sudan to observe an Olympic Truce for Darfur before, during, and after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Through this letter, we issue an urgent call to the conscience of the international community. The violence in Sudan has gone on for too long. We hope you will use the opportunity of the Olympic Truce to work to end it.

The Olympic Truce originated in ancient Greece; in recent history, world leaders have invoked the Olympic Truce as an opportunity for the international community to expend exceptional effort, as athletes strive for medals, to create and promote peace.

In that vein, and in keeping with the Olympic spirit, we ask you to make your efforts for peace in Darfur "swifter, higher, stronger." Traditionally the Olympic Truce commences one week before the Olympic Games and ends one week after the Paralympic Games. This year, the truce period begins on August 1, 2008 and continues for 55 days.

In 2003, the United Nations reaffirmed the importance of the Olympic Truce in an statement signed by more than 400 heads of state and dignitaries who pledged "to support and disseminate, individually and collectively, the symbolic call for Olympic Truce throughout all future Olympic Games and beyond, and to exercise our best efforts within our communities, countries, and relevant international organizations to achieve its recognition and observance."

On October 31, 2007, China introduced a resolution supporting an Olympic Truce for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games [G/A 62/L.2, "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal"]. The resolution calls "upon all Member States to cooperate with the International Olympic Committee in its efforts to use sport as an instrument to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation in areas of conflict during and beyond the Olympic Games period." It was co-sponsored and adopted by 186 nations, including Sudan.

Just as the Olympic Games are a time for the world's athletes to unite in sport, the Olympic Truce is a time for the international community to unite for peace. We call upon our leaders to go beyond endorsing the rhetoric of the Olympic Truce by using this opportunity to take concrete steps toward protecting civilians in Darfur and establishing an enduring peace in Darfur and throughout Sudan.

A true Olympic Truce will only be possible for Darfur with an increased deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping force and a rejuvenated peace process that has the full support of the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Therefore, we call on you to use the Truce period to exert diplomatic pressure to restart the peace process, and to initiate a rapid and effective deployment of the UNAMID peacekeeping force so that civilian protection would continue long after the Games.

With those measures in place, the international community could use the Olympic Truce period to provide humanitarian assistance in Darfur where hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians have no access to food, safe drinking water, and medical care.

For more than five years, before the eyes of the world, the Sudanese regime has committed atrocities of the worst kind. They have broken every promise and ignored every resolution, including UN Resolution 1769 of last July which authorized 26,000 peacekeepers for Darfur. To demonstrate its willingness to abide by the Olympic Truce, the Government of Sudan must immediately cease targeting innocent civilians, which is only ensured by ending all aerial military flights and support for ground attacks.

In the spirit of the Olympic Truce, we issue a moral call for these essentials: a rejuvenated peace process, deployment of peacekeepers, a cessation of attacks, and unfettered access for humanitarian workers. The Olympic Truce period should be marked by an increase of effort by the organizations and governments you lead to secure peace for the people of Darfur.

In the past the Olympic Truce has been invoked by the host nation. Now, just weeks before the Games, the People's Republic of China, given its considerable influence with the government of Sudan, is uniquely positioned to enact its resolution, "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal," for Darfur.

We are now calling upon China and the other members of the UN Security Council to implement the Olympic Truce for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as outlined in the resolution "Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal," to help the anguished people of Darfur.

There could be no greater example of the Olympic ideal of promoting peace through sport than for the international community to use the 2008 Olympic Truce to end the first genocide of the 21^st century.

Signed,

Felicity Abram, Australia, Pentathlon

Bethaney Adams, USA, Paralympic fencer

Ime Akpan-Mahoney, Nigeria, Olympian, Track and Field

Alana Alameda, Canada, Assistant Softball Coach Canadian National Team

Haifa Al Jader, Jordan, Professional Coach, Gymnastics

Charles Altekruse, USA, 1980, 1988 Olympian, Rower

Carlos Arena, Mexico, 1996 Olympian, Swimmer

Michiel Bartman, Netherlands, 1996 (Gold), 2000 (Silver), 2004 (Silver) Olympian, Rower

Elizabeth Beisel, USA, Swimmer

Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 2006 Olympian, Skier

Tyler Block, USA, Gymnast

Maria Isabel Molina Bonilla, Guatemala, Softball

Chris Boyles, USA, Decathlon

Terenzo Bozzone, New Zealand, Triathlete

Kyle Brady, USA, Gymnast

Dr Ian Brown, Canada, 2000, 2004 Olympian, Wind Surfer

Sean Bryan, USA, Gymnast

Jordan Bryden, Canada, Triathlon

Kyson Bunthuwong, USA, Gymnast

Grant Burwash, Canada, Duathlete

Tara Campbell, Canada, Water Polo

Mirinda Carfrae, Australia, Triathlete

Joey Cheek, USA, 2002 (Bronze), 2006 Olympian (Silver and Gold), Speed Skater

Colin Christ, USA, Gymnast

Marion Clignet, France, 1996, 2000 Olympian (Silver), Cyclist

Reid Coolsaet, Canada, Track and Field

David Cromwell, USA, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Candice Davis, USA, Track and Field

Chelsea Davis, USA, Diver

Ruben De Gendt, Belgium, Rower

Bryan Del Castillo, USA, Gymnast

Michael Del Junco, USA, Gymnast

Michael Ditchfield, UK, Retired Professional, Soccer

Selma Dilek, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Taekwondo

Richard Jr Dober, Canada, 2008 Olympian, Kayaking

Dominique D'Oliveira, South Africa, Gymnast

Cathryn Driver, South Africa, Volleyball

Nikki Dryden, Canada, 1992, 1996 Olympian, Swimmer

Shelley Dryden-McCann, USA, Track and Field

Philip Dunn, USA, 2000, 2004 Olympian, 2008 Olympian, Race Walking

Joy Fahrenkrog, USA, Archer

Cack Ferrell, USA, Track and Field

Edward Ferry, USA, 1964 Olympian (Gold), Rower

Jimena Florit, Argentina, 2000 and 2004 Olympian, Cyclist

Aaron Floyd, USA, Gymnastics

Justin Franklin, USA, Gymnast

Amanda Freed, USA, 2004 (Gold) Olympian, 2008 Olympian, Softball

Jeremy Frimer, Canada, Rock Climber

Amanda Furrer, USA, Shooter

Vicky Galindo, USA, 2008 Olympian, Softball

Heidi Gan, Malaysia, Swimmer

Daniel Geri, USA, Gymnast

Drew Goldsack, Canada, 2006 Olympian, Cross Country Skier

Maha Guirguis, Egypt, College, Tennis

Eric Haeussler, USA, Gymnast

Wade Hammond, Australia, Lacrosse

Jason Heit, Canada, Martial arts

Vanessa Herman, Canada, Swimmer

Chad Ho, South Africa, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Jeremy Holm, USA, 2002 (Gold) Olympian, Bobsledder

Sherri Howard, USA, 1984 (Gold), 1988 (Silver) Olympian, Track and Field

Gemma Howells, UK, Swimmer

Jen Howitt, USA, 2004 Paralympian, Basketball

Max Jaben, Israel, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Camilla Johansson-Sponseller, Sweden, 2000 Olympian, Swimmer

Marayke Jonkers, Australia, 2000 (Bronze), 2004 (Bronze) Olympian, Paralympic Swimmer

Geshan Kalupahana, Sri Lanka, College, Swimmer

James Kegley, USA, Retired Professional, Swimmer

Petra Klosova, Czech Republic, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Julie Koons, USA, 1998, 2002 Olympian, Speed Skater

Matthew Kooreman, USA, Speed Skater

Lauren Lappin, USA, 2008 Olympian, Softball

Douglas Lennox II, Puerto Rico, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Marie-Andree Lessard, Canada, Beach Volleyball

Kyle Litow, USA, Gymnast

Bryan Lundquist, USA, Swimmer

Annamari Maaranen, Finland, Gymnast

Michael Malahe, South Africa, Fencer

Margo Malowney, Canada, 1996 Olympian, Beach Volleyball

Heather Mandoli, Canada, Rowing

Diana Matheson, Canada, 2008 Olympian, Soccer

Tracy Mattes, USA, Professional, Hurdling/Pentathlon

Lauren McFall, USA, 2004 (Bronze) Olympian, Swimmer

Sara McMann, USA, 2004 (Silver) Olympian, Wrestler

Tim McNeill, USA, Gymnast

Jessica Mendoza, USA, 2004 (Gold) Olympian, 2008 Olympian, Softball

Romain Mesnil, France, 2008 Olympian, Track and Field

Aaron Moy, USA, Gymnast

Marissa Nichols, USA, Softball

Andrew Nisker, Canada, Tennis

Leszek Nowosielski, Canada, 1992 Olympian, Fencer

Andrea Nugent, Canada, 1988 (Bronze), 1992 Olympian, Swimmer

Stacey Nuveman, USA, 2000 Olympian, Softball

George Ogbeide, Nigeria, Track and Field

Lea Ann Parsley, USA, 2002 (Silver) Olympian, 2006 Olympic Coach, Skeleton Racer

Hayley Peirsol, USA, Swimmer

Leah Pells, Canada, 1992, 1996, 2000 Olympian, Track and Field

Whitney Ping, USA, 2004 Olympian, Table Tennis

Tina Poitras, Canada, 1992, 1996 Olympian, Race Walker

Vince Poscente, Canada, 1992 Olympian, Skier

Marina Radu, Canada, Water Polo

Jon Rankin, USA, Track and Field

Ben Remocker, Canada, Sailor

Sara Renner, Canada, 2006 (Silver) Olympian, Cross Country Skier

Lize-Mari Retief, South Africa, 2008 Olympian, Swimmer

Evan Roth, USA, Gymnast

Summer Sanders, USA, 1992 (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) Olympian, Swimmer

Stephanie Sandler, South Africa, 2004 Olympian, Gymnast

Rustam Sharipov, Ukraine, 1992 (Gold) and 1996 (Gold) Olympian, Gymnast

Michelle Sikes, USA, 2008 Olympian, Track and Field

Patrick Singleton, Bermuda, 1998, 2002, 2006 Olympian, Skeleton Racer

Sami Jo Small, Canada, 1998, 2002 (Gold), 2006 Olympian, Ice Hockey

Nikki Stone, USA, 1998 (Gold) Olympian, Skier

Julia Stowers, USA, 2000 Olympian, Swimmer

Mike Strange, Canada, 1992, 1996, 2000 Olympian, Boxer

Masahito Takemura, Philippines, Swimmer

Grace Taylor, USA, National Champion, Gymnast

Andres Ovalle Terano, Guatemala, Former Member of National Team, Volleyball

Jenny Topping, USA, Softball

Adrian Turner, UK, 2004 Olympian, Swimmer

Kelly Vanderbeek, Canada, 2006 Olympian, Skier

Richard Vaughan, UK, 2004 Olympian, Badminton

Amy Walsh, Canada, 2008 Olympian, Soccer

Josefin Wede, Sweden, Swimmer

Barry Weiner, USA, 2000 Olympian Coach, Gymnastics

Rhian Wilkinson, Canada, 2008 Olympian, Soccer

Corey Williams, New Zealand, 2008 Olympian, Water Polo

Hiroki Yokoyama, USA, Gymnast

Kendra Zanotto, USA, 2004 Olympian, Swimmer

Mahmoud A. M. Braima, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Darfur Association in the United States of America

Suliman Giddo, Darfur Peace and Development Organization

Jimmy Mulla, President of the Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom

Bakheit Shata, Darfur Community Organization