India: 24 hrs to stop the Merchant of Death

Dear friends across India,

1,000 children have been killed in the Syrian violence. Right now India could help stop the flow of arms to Syria if it threatens to cancel its contracts with the Russian company that is supplying weapons to the Syrian military. India is its number one client and the government and the arms dealer are both attending an arms fair in Paris right now. Click to sign the urgent petition to Prime Minister Singh now!

1,000 children have been killed in the Syrian violence, but if we can get the Indian government to act in the next 24 hours, we could stop the flow of weapons to the regime and end these massacres.

As the number one client to Syria's main weapons supplier, Russia, India has huge influence. Delegates from India and the Russian weapons dealer are at an arms fair in Paris right now. If we can get the Indian government to threaten to halt all lucrative deals until the Russians stop supporting Syria's murder machine, the arms dealer could be forced to stop Syria's arms supply.

The rest of the world is struggling to find a solution to the spiral of violence in Syria, and India could play a crucial role now. Let's raise a national call for the government to speak out now. Click here to sign the urgent petition to get the government to force Russia to stop dealing death to Syria and tell everyone -- our call will be delivered to the delegates in Paris in 24 hours:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_syrias_death_dealer_india/?bQwOObb&v=15083

International political solutions are failing to stop the bloodshed in Syria -- the world was stunned by the brutal al-Houla massacre where 49 children were executed, and last week there was 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 is Russia's top arms buyer, and the government wants strong action on Syria -- 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 right now while the arms fair is going on in Paris. Click to call on the government to help stop Russia's deadly deals now and forward to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_syrias_death_dealer_india/?bQwOObb&v=15083

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. 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,

Ricken, Joseph, Denis, Alaphia, 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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