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Sample Letter to the Prime Minister
Concerning Darfur
{Your name}
{Your address}
The Right Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada
K1A 0A2
{Date}
Dear Prime Minister,
I am concerned and horrified by the deteriorating situation in
Darfur, and disappointed by Canada’s lack of moral leadership
in addressing it. While we may not be an economic or military superpower,
Canada has always had a unique role to play as a leading middle
power: that of peace-builder and defender of human rights.
Canada has the ability to lead the world to protect the people
of Darfur. United Nations Security Council Resolution 1706, adopted
on August 31st, calls for 20,600 police and troops and opens a window
for Canada to take the lead.
I urge you and the Government of Canada to use all means possible
to persuade the world community and the United Nations to:
- Strengthen the understaffed and overwhelmed African Union peacekeeping
force now;
- Transfer peacekeeping responsibilities to a UN mission as soon
as possible. The UN must deploy peacekeepers with a mandate to
protect civilians;
- Increase aid levels and ensure access for aid delivery. Shortfalls
in aid continue to put people at risk of starvation. Humanitarian
organizations must have unfettered access to all who need help;
- Enforce the Darfur Peace Agreement. For the violence to end,
all parties to the agreement, in particular the Sudanese Government,
must live up to their responsibilities, particularly disarming
the notorious janjaweed militias;
The killing, raping, and suffering must stop. The people of Darfur
have waited long enough. It is time to act.
Sincerely,
{Your Signature}
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