wfn.org | U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Focuses on Sudan

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

29-February-2000 
00097 
 
    U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom 
    Focuses on Sudan 
 
    War is fueled by religious persecution, e 
    conomic policies, experts say 
 
    by Susan Ryan 
    Presbyterian Disaster Assistance 
 
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom held 
it's first public hearing on the issue of Sudan on February 15th.  The 
morning hearing began with a packed room of observers which dwindled over 
the day, a sad reminder of the transitory nature of the interest in Sudan. 
 
    For Presbyterians, Sudan is more than 100 years of mission history, 
partner churches, investment in Bible translation for language groups, and 
a place where mission workers serve in the midst of unimaginable suffering. 
Thus, although the work of the Commission is of interest and importance to 
the PC(USA)'s Worldwide Ministries Division, their work on the Sudan is of 
special concern to us. 
 
    Speakers at the hearing included Baroness Caroline Cox (known for her 
work in the redemption of slaves), exiled Sudanese students, 
non-governmental organizations, groups focusing on corporate 
responsibility, professors, and human rights groups. 
 
    Unfortunately, the only speaker for the Sudanese Churches was Roman 
Catholic Bishop Gassis, therefore the role of the churches on the ground 
and the situation of Christians received only minimal focus in this 
hearing. 
 
     Beset by slavery, famine, religious persecution, and a war that has 
left 2 million dead, 4.3  million displaced within the country and well 
over a million in exile, Sudan has become the "hell of the world and should 
not be allowed to continue," testified Dan Eiffe of Norwegian People's Aid. 
 
    By the end of the day it was clear that there was consensus on a number 
of issues and debate over others. 
 
    There was unanimous agreement, for instance,  that the religious 
persecution in the Sudan is pervasive, with Christians and Muslims being 
targets.  Roger Winter of the U.S. Committee for Refugees reminded the 
commission that, "this is not a Christian/Muslim battle. The conflict for 
the past 11 years has been between Muslim extremists and everyone else 
including moderate Muslims.  Government of Sudan forces are also attacking 
mosques because they are not the right kind of Muslims.  There are clear 
religious issues in Sudan, but they cannot be simplistically seen as 
Christian versus Muslim." 
 
    Mr. Abdelaziz, a Muslim student who had been imprisoned several times 
and tortured, referred to the current regime as the "new fascism of this 
century." 
 
    There was also agreement that the major issues of slavery, famine, and 
religious persecution cannot be solved until the war is stopped.  As long 
as the war rages on, the world will be rebuilding what is continually 
destroyed and providing food for people in one of the potentially richest 
agricultural areas of the Mideast.  More than $3 billion has been spent on 
aid to the South since the current phase of the war began in 1983, yet 
there is nothing on the ground to show for that expenditure.  Two 
generations of children have been denied education because of the ongoing 
war.   Stopping the war must be the highest priority, all agreed. 
 
    The now rapidly developing oil industry, if left unchecked, will 
provide almost unlimited resources to continue the war.  Described as a 
cruel search for profits, Dr. Reeves, corporate responsibility specialist 
from Smith College, declared that "our profoundest moral obligation is to 
respond to the obscene nexus of oil and war in the Sudan." 
 
    His remarks sparked lengthy discussion on various ways in which this 
oil development might be contained, with the greatest focus being on 
denying access to U.S. capital.  A number of proposals were made to the 
commission as ways to begin to do this.  The growth of the oil industry and 
the direct profit taking by the current Government of Sudan creates a 
disincentive to participate in the peace process. 
 
    Finally, there was recognition by all that much of the continued 
struggle in the Sudan is related to a lack of U.S. leadership.  Francis 
Deng, former Sudan Ambassador to the U.S., and John Voll, Islamic History 
Professor from Georgetown University, spoke most eloquently to this topic. 
 
    "The role of the U.S. is to exercise leadership," Deng said. "The U.S. 
needs to take seriously bringing the war to an end.  Ambivalence on the 
part of the international community is hindering the process of consensus 
for self-determination.  As long as the rebels see this ambivalence, the 
movement also becomes ambiguous." 
 
    He went on to suggest why the U.S. was having difficulty sending a 
clear message.  "At the moment", said Deng, "the U.S. is differential to 
Egypt which considers Sudan it's backyard and does not want a non-Islamic 
country to emerge if the South separates or wins." 
 
    So what can the Commission recommend to Congress and what can the 
United States do to bring peace in Sudan?  There was complete agreement 
that the U.S. embassy should not be reopened lest it send a signal that our 
policy towards Sudan was changing.  Speakers agreed that our policy must be 
one of active engagement and pressure on our partners. 
 
    Steve Rickard of Amnesty International asked, "Will the administration 
push the European Union as much on the issue of Sudan as it did on the 
issue of bananas?"  There was also agreement that swift action should be 
taken to deny international oil companies currently partnering with the 
Government of Sudan access to U.S. capital markets.  There was agreement 
that a "no-fly" zone over the South should be explored, and that there 
should be an expansion of the IGAD (Inter-Governmental Authority on 
Development)  process with pressure for a vote on self-determination of the 
South. 
 
    Discussion of providing direct aid to the rebel movement both with 
respect to weapons and food was affirmed by some with concern expressed by 
others. 
 
    So what should Presbyterians be doing?   As I listened to the hearing, 
I was reminded of the sermon I had listened to the previous Sunday.  In 
Mark 1:42, we read of a leper who comes to Jesus.  Kneeling before Jesus, 
he confronts him with these words, "if you choose, you can make me clean." 
The leper recognized Jesus power and authority. 
 
    It became clear in the hearing that the U.S. has amazing power and 
authority in the world, and you and I have the ability to shape how that 
power is used.  One day when I was in my Senator's office talking with his 
aide I was told that mine was the only letter they received on Africa. 
What a shame!  Will we choose to take a stand for those who suffer in 
Sudan?  A stand that can be the difference between life and death; slavery 
or freedom; peace or war? 
 
    The Worldwide Ministries Division is bring Dr. Harrun Ruun (PCUSA 
mission worker and General Secretary of the New Sudan Council of Churches 
(NSCC) and Telar Deng (the Sudanese Lawyer coordinating the People to 
People Peace Process for the NSCC) to Washington D.C. to meet privately 
with the Commission.  We plan to spend at least four days in Washington 
making visits to congressional offices and USAID, and are scheduling a 
visit with Harry Johnston, the newly designated State Department Peace 
Envoy for Sudan. 
 
    We will continue our generous support of the peace consultations in 
Sudan - $70,000 of support has gone from WMD for the March conference. 
 
    By the end of March, we will have available an education packet on 
Sudan for advocates. Call PresbyTel at 1-800-872-3283 to get a copy 
 
    In May, we will have a synopsis of the report that the Commission on 
International Religious Freedom sends to the Congress with suggestions of 
how individual Presbyterians can best engage their own congressional 
representatives on the report. 

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