WASHINGTON, May 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The historic race for the
President of the United States is without a doubt an occasion that many are
watching closely and whose results are awaited with baited breath as the
outcome is one that will determine the course of the country and in many
ways, history itself.

    The candidates are advocates of change, a notion ornately captured in
compelling slogans like Senator McCain's "straight talk", Hillary's "a
change we need", Obama's "a change we can believe in". This message is
accompanied by policies that seemingly offer a striking contrast to their
predecessors. Their words are not only resonating with fellow citizens here
in the U.S., but in fact have reverberated across the entire globe, where
one finds a number of societies, countries and cultures fervently seeking
for a change in the way they relate to the United States.

    Ideally then, foreign policy should be one that reaches out to these
citizens of the world. It should be one that strives for inclusion, for
understanding through dialogue. It should value diplomacy over aggression
in solving perceived differences. And it has to be consistent and holistic
in approach. Yet the joint statement released yesterday by the "Save Darfur
Coalition", bearing the signatures of the candidates, deviated from this
grandiose notion of 'change' that they have so championed.

    "There can be no doubt that the Sudanese government is chiefly
responsible for the violence and is able to end it" the statement read on
the Coalition's website. To make this claim is hardly "Straight talk". And
if in fact change is our genuine concern, then it seems we should begin by
providing an objective account of reality. Nowhere in the joint statement
was the voter given the chance to discern it for him/herself. The "Save
Darfur Coalition", after concocting an idyllic picture of events, went as
far as drafting an editable "thank you" letter to the candidates for voters
to submit. A ready made "thank you" letter, as if voters were short for
words to use.

    Nevertheless, the joint statement was concerned with two issues, Darfur
and the CPA. It is troubling that the statement failed to mention anything
concerning the two-dozen rebels in Darfur, as if to suggest that their
presence amongst civilians were benign. Those that are privy to the
realities on the ground however, have contradict the allegation that the
Government is the principal source of instability in the region. Impartial
observers have identified the rebels as the cause of violence and the major
variable fueling the Humanitarian crisis. Their assault and robberies
against aid workers, attacks on international peace keeping forces in
addition to using civilians as shields are some of the heinous crimes
condoned by the "Save Darfur Coalition" as they refrain from speaking about
them.

    Bewildering still, the statement did not contain a single word
regarding the May 10th rebel attack on Omdurmon that killed nearly 200
people. This was an incident that appalled even the people of Darfur who
immediately denounced the attack and made it clear that the Rebels did not
represent their interests. It was a revealing moment that the Save Darfur
Coalition chose to simply ignore as it threatened their agenda of trying to
portray the government as having the monopoly on violence. What no one can
deny however is that the government has been the only stakeholder that has
consistently called for a political solution, the only viable solution to
the conflict. If the reasons for picking up arms were political in the
first place, why are they now refusing to come to the negotiating table to
craft a political settlement?

    Regarding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, it is true that there are
times when both partners express dissatisfaction, whether its in the
provisions of the document or frustrations arising from the pace of
implementation. This is to be expected in any landmark agreement. The
parties are diligently working to remove any obstacles that could
potentially delay the election in 2009. The nationwide census has finally
commenced. This is the first milestone towards conducting the upcoming
elections in order for the country to make its way into a democratic
transition. Border demarcation is also underway. The government of south
Sudan officials publicly declared that over three quarters of the document
has been implemented. And the partners are steadfastly working to resolve
the remaining issues; Abyei, being the most prominent. Indeed this is an
area that has proven to be very sensitive. It's been the center of recent
skirmishes between the parties. But despite its sensitivity, the partners
are together and have vowed that there will be "no return to war" as
resolved in the meeting convened by the Ceasefire Political Commission
yesterday.

    The incumbent, which ever of the candidates the American people choose,
should heed the calls for peace coming from the people of Darfur. The
government of Sudan has made over 30 attempts to negotiate with the rebels
but it has been unsuccessful. The reasons are well known by any unbiased
observer. Solving the problem begins with sincere intentions to change the
situation, as such, Sudan calls on the peace loving international community
to push the rebels to end this catastrophe once and for all by getting them
to the table of negotiations to help map out a peaceful future for their
country. The incoming President's push for "change" will only have an
impact on the people of Darfur when that change he/she advocates for has
taken stock of all their realities.

    Press and Information Office.

    202 338 8565

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