Act for Sudan issued the following statement today regarding the death of Ambassador Richard Williamson. Download the Press Release here.
We’ve lost a true hero for Sudan’s people. Upon becoming U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Ambassador Williamson quickly understood the nature of the Sudan regime and that sticks, not carrots, were needed to change the calculations of a government whose leaders had warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Williamson’s passion was tempered by the reality of what improvements in U.S. policy were possible, and what strategies would be most effective in persuading international partners to take action. Knowing silence was the brutal regime’s greatest ally, his public condemnations compelled the regime to change its tactics and stop attacking civilians in Darfur. Lives were saved. After leaving his position as Special Envoy for Sudan during President George W. Bush’s administration, he continued to champion freedom for Sudan.
In March of this year, the Ambassador joined us at the Sudan Emergency Action Summit. He articulated the need for tangible changes in US Government policy toward the genocidal regime in Khartoum.
His moral clarity, practical perspective on what might be done, and an all too rare desire and courage to act to make a difference inspires, even at this difficult time.
Act for Sudan offers our sincerest condolences to his wife, Jane, his children, and the many colleagues and activists whose lives he touched.
Subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.