[Midden-Oosten] (Fwd) Stop Syria's death dealer

Vr Jun 8 01:40:39 CEST 2012

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Date sent:	Thu, 07 Jun 2012 18:31:21 -0400
From:	"Alice Jay - Avaaz.org" <avaaz op avaaz.org>
Subject:	Stop Syria's death dealer

Dear friends, 

Today another 27 children's bodies were found massacred in Syria. To stop 
this horror, we need to cut off the flow of arms to the regime. There is 
one way to do it, but it's going to take all of us working together to 
make it happen. 

Here´s how: India and the US are key clients to Syria´s main weapons 
supplier -- the state-owned Russian company Rosoboronexport. If we can get 
the two countries to threaten to halt all deals unless the Russians stop 
supporting Syria's murder machine, the arms dealers could be forced to 
stop their Syria sales. Both the US and India wat to stop the violence in 
Syria, but diplomacy i failing. This is their best chance -- let's give 
them a massive mandate to act. 

The US has already persuaded the company to stop light weapons sales to 
Syria. Now if we can build up the pressure on India and get both countries 
to speak out, Rosoboronexport could be forced to cut Syria's arms supply 
completely. Click here to sign the urgent petition to stop dealing death 
to Syria and tell everyone -- our call will be delivered to both countries 
and Rosoboronexport at a massive arms fair in Paris in 3 days: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_and_india_stop_syrias_merchants_of_death/?cl=184
5749176&amp;v=14989 

International political solutions are failing to stop the bloodshed in 
Syria -- just last week the world was stunned by the brutal al Houla 
massacre where 49 children were executed, and today there is another mass 
killing. Why? Assad is protected by his old friend Russia, which has 
blocked international action while profiting in arms sales -- 
Rosoboronexport is Russia's biggest arms dealer, bringing the government 
billions in revenue per year. President Assad is only clinging to power 
through military might and sowing fear. If we can convince Russia that 
supporting the Syrian regime is not worth it, and end arms sales to Assad, 
his killing arsenal will wane and his command will slip away. 

India and the US make up over 50% of Russia´s arms sales, and they both 
want strong action on Syria. The US has led efforts to stop the violence, 
and a group of US Senators is right now calling on the Pentagon to cancel 
a massive helicopter contract with Rosoboronexport. India already voted to 
stop the violence in Syria at the UN Security Council. Now, experts say if 
there´s even a hint that the Indian government might reconsider its 
patronage of Rosoboronexport because of Syria, sales to the regime could 
end, and the Russians could ditch their support for Assad. 

Rosoboronexport could be held legally responsible for war crimes for 
sending weapons to the Syrian regime, but due to huge profits and a sense 
of impunity, they continue their bloody business as usual. Diplomatic 
pressure is mounting on Russia right now, but it is this financial threat 
that could be the deciding card. We have to act now and make sure hundreds 
of thousands of us speak out before Rosoboronexport arrives in Paris next 
week. Click to call on the US and India to stop RussiaTMs deadly deals now 
and forward to everyone: 

http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_and_india_stop_syrias_merchants_of_death/?cl=184
5749176&amp;v=14989 

Over the past year, Avaaz members have supported the Syrian spring and an 
end to the violence -- we have broken the blackout, exposed hidden 
atrocities and provided critical lifelines to Syrians under siege. Today 
we are delivering our petition to the UN to call for more monitors. Now, 
let's do all we can to cut off the weapons at the source that are killing 
the Syrian people. 

With hope and determination, 

Alice, Joseph, Denis, Luca, Alice, Emma, Ricken, Stephanie, Wissam, Dalia 
and the entire Avaaz team 

MORE INFORMATION 

Isolate Syria´s Arms Suppliers (Human Rights Watch)
http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/06/03/isolate-syria-s-arms-suppliers

Russia Said To Halt Syrian Arms Supplies After U.S. Pressure (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/russia-said-to-halt-some-syrian-
arms-supplies-as-fighting-ebbs.html

Houla Massacre: Russia's Tipping Point On Syria? (Reuters)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/30/houla-massacre-russias-
ti_n_1556394.html

Russian Arms Shipment Reached Syria, Says Rights Group, U.S. Condemns 
Supplying Weapons (Reuters)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/31/russian-arms-ship-
syria_n_1560097.html

Troubling Rosoboronexport Contract Examination Mandated by New NDAA 
Provision (Human Rights First)
http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2012/05/29/troubling-rosoboronexport-
contract-examination-mandated-by-news-ndaa-provision

Syria army stockpiling Russian arms, report says (AP)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/03/19/syria-weapons-fighting.html

Eurosatory Arms Fair. Paris June 11-15.
http://www.eurosatory.com

Rosoboronexport says India remains Russia's largest strategic partner 
(RIA)
http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20110923/167056339.html

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