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Tell President Bush not to attend the Olympics

World leaders should not attend the Olympics opening ceremonies in Beijing in August unless the UNAMID peacekeeping force is effectively protecting civilians in Darfur by then.

Beijing should not be allowed to bask in the warm glow of peace and brotherhood associated with the opening games if China is still underwriting atrocities in Darfur.

Fill out the fields below to join us and urge President Bush not to attend the Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies unless the UNAMID peacekeeping force is effectively deployed in Darfur.

Subject:

Dear President Bush,

(Edit Letter Below)

I urge you not to attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. As a Darfur advocate, I will continue to make this call until the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force is effectively protecting civilians in Sudan.

The peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, was authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769 on July 31, 2007. China was president of the Council at that time and pushed for the resolution's passage. Thus, after years of thwarting UN action against Sudan, China seemed to begin to play a modestly constructive role. China, itself, claimed credit for advancing peace and security for the people of Darfur.

Unfortunately, Beijing's assertion was both premature and inaccurate. The Government of Sudan has put up a series of obstacles to UNAMID's deployment. Even more dishearteningly, Sudan has again stepped up its campaign of terror in Darfur, destroying villages in West Darfur, killing innocent civilians, and displacing tens of thousands more. A robust peacekeeping force is an essential element of a strategy to stop the violence and allow people to return home.

In substantial part, Khartoum has been able to ignore the UN's will and continue its violent acts because of China's fierce diplomatic protection. Beijing helped strip sanctions language from UNAMID's authorizing resolution, signaling to Sudan that it could block deployment of the force with impunity. Soon after the resolution's passage, China also resumed its role as apologist for the actions of Khartoum at the United Nations.

As Sudan's largest economic partner, major military supplier, and chief diplomatic supporter, Beijing is in an unrivaled position to persuade Sudan to change its behavior. Beijing can use its vast influence to insist that Khartoum consents to the swift and effective deployment of UNAMID; that Khartoum halts its military operations, as well as those of the Janjaweed, that directly or indirectly target civilians; and that Khartoum engages constructively in the peace process. By not using that influence, China remains the primary enabler of the atrocities committed by the Government of Sudan against the people of Darfur.

July 31st 2008 - eight days before the opening of the Olympics - will mark one full year since the unanimous passage of Resolution 1769, authorizing the peacekeeping force. If UNAMID is not effective by the start of the Games, the past 12 months can only be viewed as an abject failure of world leaders generally, and in particular of China's leaders who wield such strong influence both within the Security Council and with the Sudanese government.

I am not calling on any nation, athlete, or corporate sponsor to boycott the sporting events of the Olympics.

I am calling on world leaders to finish the job of seeing that UNAMID is effectively deployed before they attend the opening ceremony. And finishing the job requires China to be much more assertive with the Government of Sudan.

I am saying that unless UNAMID is effectively deployed, China should not be given the international prestige and recognition that the presence of world leaders at the opening ceremonies would convey. Beijing should not be allowed to bask in the warm glow of peace and brotherhood associated with the opening games if China is still underwriting atrocities in Darfur and still has not done what it should to bring peace and security to Sudan.

How can world leaders watch the lighting of the Olympic torch - under the "one world, one dream" banner - without taking bolder action to extinguish the flames of violence still consuming the defenseless men, women and children of Darfur?

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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President George W. Bush

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