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> Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan

Posted On : November 30, 2009 1:10 PM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2009/11/30/ACNS4672
Related Categories: Sudan

> "Blessed are the peacemakers"
> Luke 2:14
> Mark 2:1-11

We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church of the
Sudan (ECS), met in Rumbek, Lakes State between 23rd and 27th November
2009, at the generous hospitality of the Diocese of Rumbek and the
Government of Lakes State. We wish to give our heartfelt thanks to the
Rt. Rev. Alapayo Manyang Kuctiel, Bishop of Rumbek, and H.E. Lt. Gen.
Daniel Awet Akot, Governor of Lakes State, for their hosting of this
great meeting and their exemplary hospitality for the entire week of the
meeting. It has been an excellent opportunity for discussing issues of
Church governance, management and structure; the expansion of
Christianity in the Sudan, and the state of our great nation today,
which we now bring to your attention.

The peace process in Sudan has reached a critical point. With less than
five months before National Elections and just over one year to the
referendum on southern self-determination, the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse due to contentions over the
referendum law, the demarcation of the 1st January 1956 borders, and
violence recently perpetrated by other armed groups. We, the Provincial
Standing Committee of the ECS affirm our role to act urgently to support
the implementation of the CPA: through our internal Church networks, our
ecumenical and inter-faith partners within Sudan and our international
partner support.

We express our sadness at the missed opportunity for making the unity of
the Sudan attractive since the signing of the CPA: the lack a
reconciliation process, the lack of transparency over the National
Census and oil revenues, the failure to repeal or alter laws which are
contrary to the spirit of the CPA which guarantees equality and freedom
for all, the stalling implementation of the July 2009 Abyei ruling, and
the current deadlock over the legislation governing the referendum in
Southern Sudan and the popular consultations in Abyei, Blue Nile and
Southern Kordofan. Unity has not been made attractive.

We strongly condemn all inter-ethnic violence currently witnessed across
much of Southern Sudan, the ongoing violence against civilians in
Darfur, and the violent attacks on civilians being perpetrated by the
Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the south-west of the country. We
re-affirm our commitment to doubling the efforts of the Church in
bringing peace and reconciliation to our people, working together with
the government as a force for unity and love amongst our people who have
suffered for so long.

We strongly condemn the damage being done to the environment by oil
companies in Unity and Upper Nile states. Our waterways are being
polluted and our people displaced by the profit making of others. We
bring this before our government and the international community, and
ask and pray that the resources of our land be fairly utilized in future
for the good of all our people.

We call the attention of Sudanese government and the international
community to the sever threat of famine in Southern Sudan at this time,
due to the failure of rains in various parts of the country this year.
We appeal to our partners to assist us the Church in providing for the
physical as well as the spiritual needs of our people, and pledge to use
all such support, as well as support from the Sudanese Christians, for
the well-being of those facing hunger this Advent and Christmas season.

Tribal differences must be put aside at this crucial time in history and
the government must fulfil their duty to provide security for their
citizens. God will sit in judgement on those who are working against the
rights of their own people. It is the escalation of non-traditional
de-stabilising violence, specifically targeting civilians and the
government that will make registration and voting in the elections and
referendum very difficult. The conclusion that is drawn is that this
violence is intended to negatively effect the elections and referendum.
The Church must act now to counter these effects for the sake of the
rights of the people of Sudan.

The Church affirms its support of the National Elections Commission
(NEC) in its vital work to make free and fair elections a reality across
Sudan. We urge all citizens to register and to encourage others to do
so, participating fully in the political process in 2010. The ECS offers
its entire network, personnel and contacts as potential support to the
NEC and the elections process.

In post referendum planning, we call on those involved to put the
safety, security, livelihoods and rights of the poorest and most
vulnerable first. In the case of unity, issues of national identity,
power- and wealth-sharing need to be addressed. If separation, issues
such as the position of southerners and churches in the north, the
arrangements for resources such as oil and water, and the status of
Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, need to be addressed to ensure peaceful
relations between the two new neighbours and to guarantee the basic
rights of all people in both north and south Sudan.

There is no alternative to the CPA. It must be fully implemented by both
signatories and must be fully supported by those guarantor governments
who promised to do so in 2005. Those international guarantors and
stakeholders must take full heed of the crises affecting the country,
and be active according to their promises made to the Sudanese people.

We as the Church proclaim "Let my people choose", and urge renewed
national and international focus on the political processes of the
elections and referendum, the latter of which must be considered
inviolable. As the Church we support the right of every individual
Sudanese citizen to have a free and fair say in the future of the Sudan
We welcome support for this work from any and all governmental,
non-governmental and international institutions and pledge to work with
efficiency and integrity for the Sudanese people.

We urge our international partners to take the message of the
inviolability of the CPA to their respective governments who promised to
guarantee peace in Sudan. Unless international support for the CPA is
urgently stepped up the Sudan is in very real danger of descending back
into a war which will not harm those people who create it, but which
will again destroy the lives of those voiceless masses for which the
Church now cries.

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the Government of National Unity
(GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the international
guarantor nations of the CPA to uphold their promises of equality and
freedom to the people of Sudan.

> Together in the uniting love of Christ,

For the House of Bishops:

His Grace the Most Rev. Canon Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak Archbishop and
Primate of the Province of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan.

For the House of Clergy:

The Very Reverend Sylvester Thomas Dean of Khartoum and Chairman of the
House of Clergy.

For the House of Laity:

Engr. Barnaba Dumo Chairman of the House of Laity.

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