wfn.org | [ACNS] Press release from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan

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ACNS 3884     |     SUDAN     |     17 SEPTEMBER 2004

Abyei: Mobilisation for Peace

Press release from the Episcopal Church of the Sudan

Action for peace has already started in the disputed area of Abyei.
Impatient for a full peace agreement to be signed between the Government
of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), the
people of Abyei are taking the initiative to try to resolve conflict and
reduce tension in the area. The catalyst for this initiative has been a
peace-building workshop organised by the Episcopal Church of the Sudan
(ECS) with the support of Tear Fund (UK).

ECS is seeking to mobilise local communities through a series of
peace-building workshops arranged under the ECS Justice, Peace and
Reconciliation Committee. With the signing of the Naivasha Protocols,
this work has taken on a new urgency, and aims to publicise the
protocols as well as address the issues of peace-building, advocacy,
human rights, and the ministry of healing and reconciliation.

Abyei has long been a contested zone. The 1972 Addis Ababa Agreement
provided for the right of self-determination through a referendum for
areas "culturally and geographically" associated with the South such as
Abyei. But this commitment was never fulfilled, leading to a localised
uprising even before the SPLM/A was formed. The Abyei Protocol, signed
in Naivasha, now provides for a referendum to take place specifically
for Abyei after the six-year interim period. But information on the
ground has been lacking. The ECS team conducting the workshop found that
hardly anyone had previously seen the text of the protocol and many
distorted ideas existed locally over its contents.

All nine Ngok chiefdoms were represented in the peace-building workshop,
together with church and community leaders from ECS and the Catholic
Church. Representatives of neighbouring tribes in Bahr al-Ghazal such as
the Dinka Twic of Gogrial and Dinka Rek of Tonj also participated. The
leader of the ECS team, the Rt Revd Daniel Deng, Bishop of Renk and
Chairman of the ECS Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committee,
welcomed the breadth of participation and the full involvement of women
and youth leaders:

"It was a great success bringing church and community leaders together.
We shall use this model again elsewhere. By the end of the workshop, all
the different groups involved had elected representatives to serve on a
local Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committee."

The local committees face many challenges in working to establish
justice, peace and reconciliation on the ground. Many of the local
population are fearful and traumatised as a result of prolonged conflict
in the area. But Bishop Deng points to encouraging signs:

"The people of Abyei have never before had such a workshop when they
could speak freely and discuss issues in depth without government
interference. The workshop has given people confidence and raised hopes
that they can play a part in building peace with justice and in healing
their traumatised communities."

He warned, however, against introducing new divisions into the area.
"People may try to divide and destabilise the area. But we must take
care. Now is not the time for creating new paramount chiefs - such a
step should only be considered after the referendum has taken place."

Notes to editors:

1. Abyei is situated 1350km South-West of Khartoum, a journey taking
three days by local transport. The bad road conditions and numerous
security checks restrict access.

2. The Protocol signed on 26 May 2004 in Naivasha, Kenya, on the
Resolution of the Abyei Conflict provides for an interim period of six
years during which the residents of Abyei will be citizens of both
Western Kordofan and Bahr al-Ghazal. A referendum will then be
conducted, simultaneous to the referendum for Southern Sudan, when the
residents of Abyei will decide whether to retain its special
administrative status in the North or become part of Bahr al-Ghazal.

3. The ECS Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committee was formed in
2000 as an advocacy unit of the Province of the Episcopal Church of
Sudan to address urgent issues arising from the civil war in Sudan. The
committee is committed to healing and reconciliation among the peoples
of Sudan and trains local personnel in advocacy, human rights and
counselling. A series of peace-building workshops has resulted in the
establishment of local Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Committees in
various locations involving church and community leaders.

For further information contact ECS Province on tel +249 183 564722,
also click here:

http://www.anglicancommunion.org/tour/province.cfm?ID=S6

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