VZCZCXYZ0158
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLO #2784/01 3451517
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111517Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4312
INFO RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0133
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0758
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1524
UNCLAS LONDON 002784
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT ALSO FOR S/USSES USUN FOR AMBASSADOR RICE E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL PREF OPRC PHUM XA SU UK
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU TO THE SECRETARY REGARDING THE SUDAN
1. Embassy London received on December 10 the following letter for the Secretary from Archbishop Desmond Tutu as the
Chair of The Elders Foundation. The letter is copied to U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador
Susan Rice and the President's Special Envoy to Sudan General Scott Gration.
2.BEGIN TEXT OF LETTER: Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton Secretary of State of the United States of America Washington, DC
United States of America Cape Town, 8 December 2009 Dear Secretary of State, As Chair of a group of global leaders known
as The Elders, I am writing to you regarding the urgent need for your government to join directly with other key members
of the international community in supporting the transition to democracy, peace and security in Sudan. As we approach
the fifth anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), we are deeply concerned that increased
violence and instability in Sudan are on the horizon. We call for immediate action, a comprehensive approach and greater
international cooperation to address the numerous challenges that the country is facing and prevent a return to
conflict, which would have a devastating impact on human lives and regional security. Since being brought together by
Nelson Mandela in July 2007, the Elders have been closely following events in Sudan. Our first trip as a group was to
Sudan in October 2007: Lakhdar Brahimi, Jimmy Carter, Graca Machel and I met political leaders from Northern and
Southern Sudan, representatives of UN agencies and the African Union, and diplomats. In Darfur we met tribal leaders,
women's groups, civil society leaders and internally displaced persons. Violence, displacement, human rights abuses and
poverty have taken a toll on the people we met. We heard many painful and heartbreaking stories. But we were equally
inspired by the people's optimism and hope for the future. They told us that they longed to have a say in shaping the
future of their country; they wanted educational and economic opportunities to lift themselves out of poverty; and they
yearned for a secure and prosperous future for their children and grandchildren. The people of Sudan have suffered for
too long. The grave humanitarian situation and current levels of violence remain of immense concern to us. Furthermore,
Africa's largest country is approaching an historical conjuncture of national elections scheduled for April 2010, a
post-election 'popular consultation' in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, a referendum for self-determination in the
South scheduled for January 2011 and a renewed peace process for Darfur. Each of these events is contested by Sudan's
political forces; cooperation and consensus are elusive. Unless the people and leaders of Northern Sudan and Southern
Sudan come together to complete the terms of the CPA and prepare for the upcoming elections and a peaceful referendum,
the nation faces even greater peril. Failure to contain the real prospect of a return to large-scale conflict will have
grave consequences for the people of Sudan and neighboring countries - and might affect the entire African continent. It
is crucial for the electoral processes in Sudan to be free, open and inclusive - involving all people and regions of
Sudan, including the internally displaced persons and those in the rebel-controlled areas in Darfur - in order for the
outcome to be credible and to pave the way towards genuine democratization and political reform. Full and unfettered
access by international and national election observers to monitor and report on the electoral processes is also vital
to ensuring that the Sudanese population has confidence in the results. Unless the elections live up to democratic
standards, they will likely exacerbate violence. The Elders believe that it is essential that the international
community develops and implements a clear, coherent and comprehensive strategy on Sudan - addressing the current
electoral and governance challenges that the country faces as well as the situation beyond the referendum. Your
government has an indispensable role to play in working with other key countries and regional and international
institutions to ensure that the CPA is implemented in full and that the various concerns about the preparations for the
elections and referendum are addressed. We fear that the historic opportunity offered by the CPA might be lost unless
the international community comes together and intensifies its efforts to safeguard the future of Sudan and its people.
We call on you to contribute to a united and comprehensive approach. My fellow Elders and I stand ready and willing to
support you - and the wider international community as a whole - in living up to our collective responsibilities to
ensure that the will of the Sudanese people prevails and that stability and prosperity befall all of Sudan. Swift and
bold action is needed to avoid yet another humanitarian disaster on the African continent. The time to act is now. God
Bless You. (signed) Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Chair, The Elders cc: - H. E. Ambassador Susan E. Rice, Permanent
Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations - General Scott Gration, United States Special
Envoy to Sudan END TEXT OF LETTER. Visit London's Classified Website: XXXXXXXXXXXX
Susman