MPs Pressure UK Government to Act on Sudan Protests

MPs are calling for the UK Government to protect Sudanese protesters, calling the killings ‘troublingly reminiscent’ of atrocities committed by the regime in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.

The Guardian reports:

We are writing to raise serious concerns following violent attacks on peaceful protesters by the Government of Sudan. Dozens of protestors have been killed by security forces in an attempt to suppress the protests and the government’s response appears to be escalating.

The UK must remain steadfast in its demand for a cessation of violence and the release of political prisoners. We call on the UK government to do everything it can to pressure the government of Sudan to respect the freedoms of assembly, expression and association as laid out in Sudanese and international human rights law, and ensure any investigation into the killing of significant numbers of unarmed protestors is independent and credible.

MPs who have called for action:

Bellingham MP Chair, All party parliamentary group for Sudan and South Sudan

David Drew MP Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

Nic Dakin MP Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

Stephen Doughty MP Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

David Alton Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

Caroline Cox Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

John Montagu Vice-Chair, APPG Sudan and South Sudan

Jo Swinson Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Liberal Democrats

Jim Shannon MP Spokesperson for Human Rights, DUP

Ann Clwyd MP Chair, All-party parliamentary human rights group (PHRG)

Caroline Lucas MP

Christine Jardine MP

Kate Osamor MP

George Carey

Stephen Kerr MP

Nick Holtam Bishop of Salisbury

Shaista Ahmad Sheehan

Richard Harries

Sammy Wilson MP

Donald Curry

David Chidgey

Mary Goudie

Richard Burden MP

James Duddridge MP

Caroline Spelman MP

Stephen Twig MP

Mary Creagh MP

Stephen doughty MP

Patrick Grady

Gupi Kaur Bola comments: “The history of this conflict is rooted in an ongoing dismantling of the public welfare system, including the under-funding and privatisation of public health infrastructure. It is no surprise that Sudanese healthcare workers are at the forefront of the political organising; it is our duty to support them.” Follow this link to read about violence against healthcare workers.