—We the undersigned Nobel laureates, Olympic athletes, current and former government officials, business leaders, human rights activists and public advocates, are writing to urge you to intensify your diplomatic engagement in support of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Darfur.
As the primary economic, military and political partner of the government of Sudan, and as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China has both the opportunity and the responsibility to contribute to a just peace in Darfur. Ongoing failure to rise to this responsibility amounts, in our view, to support for a government that continues to carry out atrocities against its own people. As host of the 2008 Olympic Games, China has a special role to play in ensuring that its actions this year are commensurate with the Olympic ideals of peace and international co-operation.
The atrocities in Darfur continue to intensify. Of the seven million inhabitants of Darfur, hundreds of thousands have already died due to the conflict and 2.5 million have been displaced. Rape and sexual violence have been and continue to be used as weapons of war against untold numbers of girls and women. The government of Sudan has also been involved in the forced relocation of people from refugee and internally displaced people's camps. Without homes to return to, those displaced are left vulnerable to further attack.
We recognise some efforts by China in 2007 to increase diplomatic pressure on Sudan – notably through its support of the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1769, calling for the deployment of a UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping force (Unamid) to Darfur. At the same time, however, we note with dismay that the Chinese government worked to weaken the resolution before it passed. China also doubled its trade with Sudan in 2007, providing resources that make it easier for that government to continue to carry out its atrocities. China's military relationship with Sudan also continues. We have also been disheartened by your government's action since Resolution 1769 was passed. Your government has remained silent as Sudan continues to block the effective deployment of Unamid and engages in violent actions that violate the spirit of the mission. Given the severity of the crisis in Darfur, and the nature of the China-Sudan relationship, we are calling for more serious action by your government in support of the full, immediate and unimpeded deployment of Unamid.
As the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games approach, we will continue to call on the Chinese government for action. We are aware of the tremendous potential for China to help bring an end to the conflict in Darfur. We will continue to watch for concerted and consistent Chinese action to ensure rapid deployment of UN-AU peacekeepers, progress in the peace talks, and an end to the use of rape as a weapon of war.
The complete list of signatories:
Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Nobel Peace Laureate, East Timor, 1996; Dr Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate, Iran, 2003; Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, Nobel Peace Laureate, Argentina, 1980; Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Nobel Peace Laureate, Guatemala, 1992; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Laureate, South Africa, 1984; Professor Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Laureate, United States, 1986; Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate, Ireland, 1976; Professor Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate, United States, 1997; Marcos Anastácio, Surfer, Portugal, 1995 National Champion; Carlos Arena, Swimmer, Mexico, 1996 Olympic Games; Marilyn Chua, Swimmer, Malaysia, 2000 Olympic Games; Marion Clignet, Cyclist, France, 1996, 2000 Olympic Games; Nikki Dryden, Swimmer, Canada, 1992, 1996 Olympic Games; Jimena Florit, Cyclist, Argentina, 2000, 2004 Olympic Games; Sabrina Kolker, Crew, Canada, 2004 Olympic Games; John Naber, Swimmer, United States, 1976 Olympic Games; Vince Poscente, Speed Skier, Canada, 1992 Olympic Games; Shannon Shakespeare, Swimmer, Canada, 1996, 2000 Olympic Games; Nikki Stone, Aerial Skier, United States, 1998 Olympic Games; Anna Van der Kamp, Crew, Canada, 1996 Olympic Games; Richard Vaughan, Badminton, United Kingdom, 2004 Olympic Games; Maria Bello, Actress, United States; Dave Eggers, Author, Pulitzer Prize Finalist, United States; Eve Ensler, Activist, Playwright, United States; Mia Farrow, Activist and Actor, United States; Angelique Kidjo, Artist, Benin; Joanna Lumley, Actress, United Kingdom; Hugh Masekela, Musician, South Africa; Ruth Messinger, Activist, United States; Tom Stoppard, Playwright and screenwriter, United Kingdom; Russell Simmons, Entrepreneur, Activist, United States; Emma Thompson, Actress, United Kingdom; Joana Vasconcelos, Artist, Portugal; Kerry Washington, Actress, United States; Baron Alton of Liverpool, House of Lords, United Kingdom; Robert Badinter, Senator, France; Gerhart Baum, Former Member of Parliament, Germany; Catherine Bell, Member of Parliament, Canada; John Bercow, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Bert Brown, Senator, Canada; José Ribeiro e Castro, Member of the European Parliament, Portugal; Chris Charlton, Member of Parliament, Canada; Olivia Chow, Member of Parliament, Canada; Nick Clegg, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Hon. Irwin Cotler, Member of Parliament, Canada; The Baroness Cox of Queensbury, House of Lords, United Kingdom; Jean Crowder, Member of Parliament, Canada; Libby Davies, Member of Parliament, Canada; Franziska Drohsel, Federal Chairwoman, Young Socialists, Germany; Lynne Featherstone, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Hon. Mabinty Forna, Member of Parliament, Sierra Leone; Sen. Bill Frist, Former Senate Majority Leader, United States; Brunhilde Irber, Member of Parliament, Germany; Glenys Kinnock, Member of European Parliament, United Kingdom; Hon. Yoine Goldstein, Senator, Canada; Ana Maria Gomes, Member of the European Parliament, Portugal; Sally Keeble, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Susan Kramer, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Irene Mathyssen, Member of Parliament, Canada; Alexa McDonough, Member of Parliament, Canada; Madeleine Moon, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Kerstin Müller, Member of Parliament, Germany; Chris Mullin, Member of Parliament, United Kingdom; Peggy Nash, Member of Parliament, Canada; Kerry Nettle, Senator, Australia; Baroness Northover of Cissbury, House of Lords, United Kingdom; Birgitta Ohlsson, Member of Parliament, Sweden; Baron Owen of Plymouth, House of Lords, United Kingdom; Cem Özdemir, Member of the European Parliament, Germany; Penny Priddy, Member of Parliament, Canada; Hon. Nancy Ruth, Senator, Canada; Denise Savoie, Member of Parliament, Canada; Jürgen Schröder, Member of the European Parliament, Germany; Marina Schuster, Member of Parliament, Germany; Natasha Stott Despoja, Senator, Australia; Christoph Strässer, Member of Parliament, Germany; Paddy Torsney, Former Member of Parliament, Canada; Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Member of Parliament, Canada; Anders Wijkman, Member of the European Parliament; Sweden; The Baroness Williams of Crosby, House of Lords, United Kingdom
National Apology to the Stolen Generations
On Wednesday 13 February 2008, Senator Stott Despoja delivered the following speech to the Senate in response to the Prime Minister's motion to apologise to members of the Stolen Generation:
Senator STOTT DESPOJA (South Australia) (1.07pm)
—It is with great pride that I speak to and support the motion before us today and of course acknowledge on this day of history the traditional owners of this land. My colleagues and I support this motion in its entirety. As you would be aware, Mr Acting Deputy President Barnett, we did not support amendments because today is not a day for quibbling; today is not a day for political point-scoring. Today is an occasion that must not be marred.
I am so proud to stand in this chamber today, I support the eloquence of the words chosen by the Prime Minister and I support the way he spoke those words. It is a very rare occasion indeed when I can say that he spoke for me today. I do not know that I have often been able to say that of a Prime Minister in this place and I am only sad that I feel that I am leaving this place just as the government seems to be getting it right on these matters of history and of such great importance.
That is not to say that neither the Democrats nor I feel strongly about the issue of compensation. Of course we do. I feel it is quite right that these issues of compensation and an apology be dealt with separately.But, as a matter of principle and fairness, I cannot reconcile how any government can acknowledge the error of the policies—that is, of the stolen generation and the pain and suffering that these policies have inflicted— yet rule out any form of reparation.
So, yes, that debate will come, but today is an important day for an apology just as yesterday’s welcome to country ceremony was aremarkable and historic event. I found it a wonderfully moving ceremony yesterday. It felt like we were moving as a country in the right direction. The Prime Minister was talking about carpe diem. Today it is about ex unitate vires—a time to be united as a parliament and hopefully united as a people in moving ahead and healing wounds.
It is an honour to speak as a South Australian representing, of course, the descendants of those who have walked this land for many thousands of generations before us, members of an ancient and proud culture, unique in its longevity and its character. Of course, many people would be aware of the many different Indigenous Australians who are represented in South Australia, my home state.
But it is one generation in particular to whom today I direct my thoughts, my sorrow, my empathy and my words. It is to a generation who suffered unspeakable wrong, a generation who were torn from that which they held most dear and thus were doomed to confront a life without the healing and guiding that a family love can provide.
As a senator for the state of South Australia, I echo and endorse the words of the motion without detraction:
I am sorry. I am sorry that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were removed from their families,their cultures and their clans.
I am sorry for the suffering and the hurt of those stolen generations, their descendants and their families left behind.
I am sorry for the pain, sorrow and degradation that were inflicted on these generations and their families by successive government policies.
I am sorry this pain was inflicted by policies determined by former members of governments that we now represent.
To those who have campaigned relentlessly for many years, for decades, to reach this moment I offer my congratulations, my solidarity and my admiration. I know many thought that this day would never come and may well it not have but for the tireless efforts of many individuals and organisations. Reconciliation Australia is one example. Then there is the Sorry Day Committee and, of course, so many individual Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who have worked so hard. I wear a scarf today given to me by Lowitja O’Donoghue many years ago as we debated this issue and worked together on it.
I think there aremany, many people who are enjoying this particular occasion and who feel that their efforts have not been totally in vain. I offer my encouragement for, although the magnitude of this occasion cannot be understated, as is made clear by the words of this apology, it is but a first step towards a shared future built on mutual recognition and empowerment. Of course, there remains much work tobe done, as has been acknowledged by all in this place.
It is true that the divide between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians represents a blight on this nation still. Indigenous Australians live 17 years fewer, are 17.5 times more likely to be in jail, and are three to four times more likely to fail basic numeracy and literacy tests than non-Indigenous Australians.
But much has been made of the symbolism of this act in the face of such figures. And symbolism is important; it does matter. As Reconciliation Australia has said: ‘The divide between so-called symbolic and practical aspects of reconciliation is a false and dangerous construction,’and one which fails to recognise that the apology is‘fundamentally about building mutually respectful relationshipsas the foundation for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians moving forward together—acknowledging our shared history and looking to ashared future’.
I do congratulate this government on the initiative it has shown and for imbuing this apology with the priority that it deserves by making it one of the foremost acts of the 42nd Parliament. This should not be, and I do not believe it has been, about blame. I think this has always been about healing and about moving forward.Hence the Democrats’ strong belief, as indeed the Bringing them home report acknowledges, that compensation and reparation is an important part of that.
It is about ensuring that we acknowledge that pain and suffering. It does not do justice to the Bringing them home report and it does not bring an end to this unfinished business if we just have the apology. But, for today, it is a fundamental and important first step.
I urge the government and my opposition colleagues, those of us on the crossbench and all elected members in this place—especially the new ones, through whom I think some of us will live vicariously over the coming years—to seize this cooperative spirit and to use the spirit of this movement to move forward hopefully. Often in circumstances such as these the collective goodwill of the movement can be lost in semantics and cynicism. I hope not.
Let us declare here and now that such a fate will not befall this parliament and that the generations of the future will look back on this moment as the birth of a united and mature nation that has been big enough to recognise the mistakes of the past while simultaneously moving forward to a better future.
I wholeheartedly support the motion and I commend my Senate colleagues to do likewise.
