Sudan Detains Dozens Of Christians; Violence Kills 60

Sudan Detains Dozens Of Christians; Violence Kills 60

Saturday, February 23, 2013 (4:19 pm)

By BosNewsLife Africa Service

KHARTOUM, SUDAN (BosNewsLife)-- Dozens of Sudanese Christians were thought to be trapped in a Sudanese prison Saturday, February 23, as violence raged in renewed fighting between two Arab tribes, killing scores of people.

At least 55 Christians were detained by the government of Sudan over two weeks ago on "false accusations" of allegedly receiving money from foreign countries, including Israel, according to Christians with close knowledge about the case.

Advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said the group, which has no political affiliations and includes church leaders, was jailed as part of a wider crackdown on Christians in the volatile Islamic country.

“CSW is deeply concerned at these arbitrary arrests" of 55 Christians and the wider news "of an escalating crackdown
on Christian citizens in Sudan," explained CSW’s Advocacy Director Andrew Johnston.

"We urge the Sudanese government to release these prisoners and end its campaign of harassment against the Christian community," he told BosNewsLife in a statement.

DOZENS KILLED

It came amid reports that 60 people died Saturday, February. 23, in what the state news agency called "the worst" since a cease-fire was reached between rival Arab tribes fighting over mining rights in the northern Darfur region.

The United Nations said fighting broke out last month in the Jebel Amir area, leaving 100 dead in January and forcing 70,000 people to flee their homes.

Saturday's fighting broke out when a group of armed tribesmen in vehicles and riding camels attacked the El-Sireaf area in North Darfur, news reports said.

The violence added to concern about detained believers and other minority Christians, many of whom were forced to flee Darfur and other areas of Sudan because of clashes and Islamic pressure by the government, church groups say.

SCHOOLS CLOSED

Besides detaining church leaders and other devoted Christians, authorities reportedly closed down several Christian-affiliated schools, colleges and training centers.

Additionally, some 100 foreign workers were deported in recent weeks, including Christians, according to aid groups.

The repression has been linked to a state-run media campaign against “Christianisation” of the country.

CSW said it has been concerned about increasing pressure on churches in Sudan, since the creation of South Sudan as a separate state in 2011.

ISLAMIC CONSTITUTION

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir had reportedly pledged to make his African nation's new constitution 100 percent Islamic.

He was quoted as saying that "all parties, religious sects and Sufis” would be represented in the constitutional drafting committee, but CSW cautioned no further details have been given about its progress.

CSW has urged the government to once again undertake "broad consultations" during the drafting of the new constitution and to ensure that it recognizes the rights of all Sudanese citizens.

The group said that should include freedom of religion or belief, as outlined in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sudan is a signatory.

African Spirituality Retreat 2013

Come for a day centered in the Daily Office and for a Holy Eucharist with African music. Four sessions, led by teachers of African spirituality and prayer, will be focused upon worship, meditation, community life, and healing.

When: Saturday March 16th,  10am-3pm
Where: All Saints', Princeton
Registration is $15, lunch included.

   

This retreat supports the new campaign by The Episcopal Church, “A Season of Prayer for Sudan”, which is committed to the welfare of Sudan, its Episcopal Church, and the country's future.

South Sudan: Bishop Urges African Leaders to Act On Sudan's 'War of Horror

Story located here:

ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2013/1/23/ACNS5291

Nairobi — A panel of African civil society leaders, including Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail, were joined today by the former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Dr. Mukesh Kapila, in urging African political leaders to use the upcoming African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa to end the humanitarian suffering in Sudan's Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile states.

The panel identified the January 25 Heads of State meeting on Sudan as a key test of the AU's "credibility" and urged African leaders to recognise the importance of addressing the conflict in Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile for wider regional security.

Having just returned from a visit to the region, Dr Kapila called for an independent commission of enquiry into the conflict amongst warnings of "ethnic cleansing".

Bishop Andudu of Kadugli in the Nuba Mountains said: "I am here on behalf of my people. This is a war of horror where children are dying every day. There are no vaccinations, medicine, there is nothing. In December there were over 230 bombings. We are calling for AU leadership at its summit next week. This is a rare opportunity that we mustn't miss."

Dr. Mukesh Kapila, Special Representative for the Aegis Trust and former UN representative in Darfur said: "Ten years ago when I was UN chief in Darfur I tried to alert the world to what was happening, but it was too late. Today in Southern Kordofon and Blue Nile I've seen 'Darfur plus plus' with modern weaponry at play. I appeal to the AU to look at the humanitarian situation as a priority and establish a full commission of enquiry, with African leadership, into the situation on the ground."

Nagwa Konda, Director of the Nuba Relief Rehabilitation and Development Organization, said: "We have been waiting for the AU to take action; we have been hearing a lot, seeing agreements being signed and communiqués issued but nothing has changed on the ground. I implore the AU to translate all this paperwork into action. We need more than communiqués: you can't eat a communiqué, a communiqué can't protect you from air strikes."

Shara Joshep Lago, a Muslim human rights activist and a former observer during the Blue Nile State elections, said: "I am from Blue Nile and have been a victim of events. I have been chased by aircraft and ground forces. I saw a pregnant woman forced to give birth under a tree and then take her child and keep running. I call upon the African Union and the League of Arab States to take action to protect civilians. The humanitarian aspects of the conflict should be a priority. Otherwise nobody will be alive to enjoy a future peace."

South Sudan double displacement: first from conflict and now from floods

ACNS: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/10/11/ACNS5204

First hand information on the emergency in Unity State, South Sudan has come from Bishop Gattek from the Benitu Area Diocese, of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

Several weeks ago, the Alliance posted an appeal on behalf of Bishop Gattek to help returnees from North Sudan and other nations, internally displaced people and the host community who are still in great needs of humanitarian aid. On top of this already difficult situation the rainy season has affected near 50,000 thousand people who have been forced to flee again. Waterborne diseases and snake bites are an immediate concern for the church, as well as the continuous movement of returnees and refugees from Sudan.

Episcopal Relief and Development has given a generous donation of US15.000 to help communities in Unity State. The Northern American agency has a long-standing partnership with the Sudanese Development and Relief Agency (SUDRA) of the Church of Sudan and is working toward implementing risk reduction activities in different Dioceses.

According to United Nations Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(Humanitarian bulletin 24 – 30 Sep 2012) the number of people affected in South Sudan by the seasonal flooding between June and September has tripled since last year up from 79.000 in 2011 to 258.000 so far this year.

Eight out of nine counties in Unity State have been flooded according to the UN agency (see map)although it does not give the exact number of the people affected. Bishop Gattek provided the Anglican Alliance with more details regarding the villages affected by county which can be seenhere.

Bishop Gattek asks Anglicans around the Communion for prayers and support for communities that have suffered so much and are trying to find ways forward in the new state of South Sudan.

Returnees in South Sudan in need of our help to restart their lives

Anglican Communion News Service: http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/10/3/ACNS5197

After decades of conflict and displacement, returnees from Sudan to South Sudan are facing huge difficulties to restart their lives. According to the United Nation Office for the Organisation of Humanitarian Affairs, around 123.000 people have returned this year (Humanitarian Bulletin 3 – 9 September).

Despite the raising of hopes for going back home, the situation for people arriving is very complicated. The relief and development coordinator of the Diocese of Rejaf, Episcopal Church of Sudan, Mr Bullen Pitya, explains how returnees could not bring along their things, as they were flown from Sudan to Juba with minimum personal belongings.

They have been temporarily accommodated in a transit camp at Kabu, at the outskirts of Juba town, in the compound of a Teachers’ Training Institute. The returnees are expected to continue their journey and resettle in their villages, or towns of origin. However, as many of them had lived in Khartoum for a long time, over a period of 21 years of war, they do not seem to know their original villages.

Returnees have been asked to vacate the installation of the training institute within few weeks.  The Central Equatoria State has provided a new land, the Kuda village in the north of Juba town, for their permanent resettlement. The International Organisation for Migration is providing the transport to their new home but they do not have anything to restart their life since they left all behind.

The diocese of Rejaf is asking for support to help South Sudanese returnees who are in urgent need. They are planning to implement the following plan:
Objective of the response: To provide a package of cooking utensils, canvas and hand tools for each of 200 returnee families to enable them resettle in Kuda on their own plots allocated by the government of Central Equatoria State.

Targeted area: Resettlement village at Kuda
Targeted community: Returnees from Khartoum flown to Juba by IOM.
Number of beneficiaries: 200 families.
Time frame: Six months from August 2012 to February 2013.
Who is responsible for implementing the response: Relief Team of Rejaf Diocese comprising of Diocesan Secretary, MU Coordinator and Relief and Development Programme Coordinator.
Proposed budget:

Please set the items/ material/resources in which you are planning to spend the money	Number of items	Cost
Hand tools for menpickaxe, shovel, wheel barrow, hoe and panga per family	200 sets of 6 items	455per setX200=91,000
Cooking Utensils- large aluminum  cooking pot, small aluminum cooking pot, 4 plates, jerrycan, plastic basin, 2 water cups	200sets of 10 items	306 per set x200=61,200
Canvas 6 metres by 5 metres –  2 pieces per Family	400 pieces	400 x75=30,000
Hiring stores	Lum sum	7,000
Local Transport	Lum sum	2,000
Handling of materials	Lum sum	1,000
Sub-total costs for materials		192,200
Project Monitoring and Supervision (PMS) costs	15%	28,830
Overhead costs	5%	9,610
Total Project Costs in South Sudanese Pound		230,640
Total Project Costs in USD ($1=SSP 5)		46,128

The Sudanese Relief and Development Agency SUDRA which is part of the Church in Sudan will receive and manage the donations to this appeal and monitor the movement of resources. If you would like to support this appeal you can donate to:

Beneficiary bank: KCB Bank (Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd.)
Beneficiary Bank branch: Buluk
Beneficiary bank account number: 5500036564
Name on bank account: ECS SUDRA
SWIFT code: KCBLKENX

Bank address: Ministries Road, Buluk, Juba, South Sudan; also Kenya Commercial Bank, Ltd., P.O. Box 48400.0010, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya

The Diocese of Rejaf will provide updates about the evolution of the situation and how resources have been used to respond to this emergency. The Anglican Alliance will post the report back on this appeal.

Anglicans around the world have been helping communities affected by the civil war in Sudan and South Sudan. The North American Episcopal Relief and Development and the Australian Anglican Board of Mission work in partnership to support the health service provided by the church in Sudan. They also provide emergency relief though SUDRA and have permanent appeals to help the affected communities and build the local capacity of the church.

Fleeing from genocide to South Sudan

Yida Refugee Camp from the air. Photo/Robin Denney

[Episcopal News Service] Yida, the largest refugee camp in South Sudan, stretches for miles. It is home to more than 64,000 of the 206,000 refugees from the Republic of Sudan who have fled the bombing and violent attacks against civilians by the Khartoum government since June 2011.Yida camp itself was bombed Nov. 10, 2011, killing 12 refugees.

Only 20 kilometers from the volatile border between Sudan and South Sudan, Yida camp sees a constant stream of nearly 200 new refugees a day, coming from the Nuba Mountains region (South Kordofan State) in Sudan. Rebel groups in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states have united against the Khartoum government’s army, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), whichindiscriminately attacks rebels and civilians in those areas.

“They kill everybody, Christians and Muslims. They burn houses, churches, and schools. They kill people. They drop bombs. Just two days ago soldiers came to my area [in the Nuba Mountains] and killed one person and burned houses,” said the Rev. Ameka Yousif, a pastor who has lived in Yida camp since February. “[In the Nuba Mountains] when people see the planes, they run and hide. Bombing is happening almost every day.”

Read the rest here 

To people of the Diocese:

Dear friends in Christ of the Diocese of New Jersey,

One year ago, on July 9, 2011, the human family witnessed the birth of a new nation, South Sudan.

Yet, today, as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of South Sudan, the Sudan Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey....charged by Bishop Councell and Diocesan Convention of 2008 to provide a passionate, Gospel-based witness for the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the people of Sudan.....desires to call the attention of our Diocesan Family and Congregations to the terrible conditions of war, famine, flight of refugees and the human devastation in the border areas between Sudan and South Sudan, the struggle for peace and justice in both nations, and the courageous protest movement emerging in the nation of Sudan (North Sudan).

We remind the Diocese that the President of Sudan, Gen Bashire is sought by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur/Sudan and Bashire's government has unleashed a bombing offensive in the border areas of Sudan and South Sudan which is indiscriminate and has resulted in considerable loss of life among civilians.

The New York Times and other American media has covered this aggressive, war-like policy of the Government of Sudan--and this policy of war-like aggression has been utterly condemned by world governments and human rights agencies.

For example, the Diocese of Kadugli of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, in the Nuba Mountains, is in total disarray, its churches destroyed, its people, men, women and children-- murdered and its people made refugees by the thousands;  the Bishop of Kadugli, Bishop Andudu has fled to South Sudan in Juba---which is the location of the Archbishop of Sudan and the center of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.

The Sudan Committee calls on our sister and brother Christians in the Diocese of New Jersey to:

*Pray for the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the people of Sudan.

*Pray for accountability and justice in Sudan on the part of the United Nations and the United States.

*Read news coverage and follow unfolding events in Sudan and South Sudan--by the NY Times, the BBC, The Sudan Tribune, and Al-jazeera.

*Follow the Web site of the Episcopal Diocese of Sudan (www.sudan.anglican.org<http://www.sudan.anglican.org>) and the Blog of the Sudan Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey (www.newjersey.anglican.org--under<http://www.newjersey.anglican.org--under> "Outreach").

*Consider a gift of immediate assistance to the Church of Sudan through Episcopal Relief and Development for short-term immediate aid.  There is a massive refugee problem and starvation danger at present in the border areas of Sudan and South Sudan.

*Consider a gift to the Theological Education Scholarship Fund of the Sudan Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey--seeking to provide desperate aid to empower the voice of the Episcopal Church of Sudan and its theological schools in Sudan and South Sudan-- through its clergy leadership in these times of crisis--when the Church of Sudan is in critical need of prophetic voices for justice and peace.
Checks to our Theological Scholarship Fund to the Episcopal Church of Sudan can be made to "Sudan Committee Scholarship Fund, Diocese of New Jersey, 808 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 08618.

Thank you for your kind and compassionate consideration, in the name of Jesus who brings Good News to the Oppressed for this response to the human rights crisis in Sudan and South Sudan.

Faithfully,

The Sudan Committee of the Diocese of New Jersey

Hugh Brown, Jane Brady, Marcus Gales, Alicia Graham-Hicks, Deborah Piggins, Martin Oguike, Nancy Hite Speck, and Sharon Sutton"

Archbishop of Canterbury declares "Peace is the only option" for Sudan and South Sudan

Posted On : July 6, 2012 10:33 AM | Posted By : Webmaster
ACNS: ACNS5142
Related Categories: Lambeth  Sudan

“Peace is the only option which can allow the flourishing of South Sudan and its neighbour Sudan,” the Archbishop of Canterbury has warned.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the independence of South Sudan, the Archbishop of Canterbury has called for urgent efforts to resolve outstanding differences between South Sudan and its neighbour Sudan. 

The first anniversary of the new nation of South Sudan gives an opportunity for renewed effort towards achieving peaceful relations between Sudan and South Sudan. The new nation was created with the support of both South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan, and the well-being of both countries depends on their mutual co-operation.  I strongly endorse the joint appeal which the Anglican and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Juba have made on this significant anniversary.  As the two archbishops have warned, the current impasse is damaging to both nations.  I welcome the vision which the Sudanese Church has set before us of “two nations at peace with each other, co-operating to make best use of their God-given resources, promoting free interaction between their citizens, living side by side in solidarity and mutual respect.”

Read more at:http://www.aco.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/7/6/ACNS5142

Episcopal Church in Sudan makes new appeal for people in conflict-torn Malakal area

From ACNS:

Anglican Alliance’s South Sudan Appeal

Bishop John Gattek from the Diocese of Malakal, Church of Sudan is calling for humanitarian relief for communities in the Benitu area of Unity state in South Sudan.

Unity State area is on the border of South Sudan and Sudan where tension is permanent due to lack of agreement regarding boundary issues and the way in which valuable resources are shared. There is a humanitarian crisis due to the conditions in which people have to live. Among them are returnees from North Sudan and other nations, internally displaced people and the host community.  

You can read more about this situation in the Humanitarian Bulletins (4 – 10 of June) - (11- 17 of June) issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

They are in desperate need of water and sanitation supplies, food, health care, shelter and educational facilities. Humanitarian operation has also been affected by the rainy season that limits road access to settlements and connection to the capital Juba. In addition, vital infrastructure was destroyed by the war as was the church building in the Bentiu area.

Bishop Gattek is asking for help to provide the following assistance to the communities in the areas of Rubkoana, Mayom, Abiemnom, and Panrieng:

Food items: cooking oil, lentils tints, salt, etc

Non-food items: plastic sheets, blankets, buckets/basins, agricultural tools, Arabic and English bibles, drugs and medical equipment, mosquito’s nets and fuel

The Sudanese Relief and Development Agency SUDRA which is part of the Church in Sudan will receive and manage the donations to this appeal and monitor the movement of resources. If you would like to support this appeal you can donate to:

Beneficiary bank: KCB Bank (Kenya Commercial Bank Ltd.)
Beneficiary Bank branch: Buluk
Beneficiary bank account number: 5500036564
Name on bank account: ECS SUDRA
SWIFT code: KCBLKENX
Bank address: Ministries Road, Buluk, Juba, South Sudan; also Kenya Commercial Bank, Ltd., P.O. Box 48400.0010, Moi Avenue, Nairobi, Kenya

Anglicans around the world have been helping communities affected by the civil war in Sudan and South Sudan. The North American Episcopal Relief and Development and the Australian Anglican Board of Mission work in partnership to support the health service provided by the church in Sudan. They also provide emergency relief though SUDRA and have permanent appeals to help the affected communities and build the local capacity of the church.

Sudanese official says Juba wants to bring border dispute before international justice

From the Sudan Tribune found here: http://www.sudantribune.com/Sudanese-official-says-Juba-wants,42869

June 9, 2012 (KHARTOUM) — South Sudan wants the Addis Ababa talks to fail because they intend to resort to the international arbitration, said Sudanese defense minister and head of the country’s delegation to the security talks in Addis Ababa.

Sudan’s defense minister Abdel Rahim Hussein (L).

Abdel Rahim Hussein, was speaking to the media in a press conference held at defense ministry in Khartoum after his return from Addis Ababa on Friday. The TV aired press conference was also attended by other members of his delegation including interior minister Ibrahim Mahmoud Hamid.

The talks of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM) ended without agreement as the South Sudanese delegation said that a buffer zone the parties agreed to establish should be implemented based on a map including ten disputed instead of four previously consented by the two sides.

"South Sudan’s negotiating strategy aims to reach the date determined by UN Security Council without concluding an agreement because they intend to move to the international arbitration," Abdel Rahim hinted.

The UN resolution 2046, which was adopted on 2 May, gave the two parties three months to reach an agreement over the outstanding issues. It also threatened to impose sanctions if they fail to comply with the decision.

Further the African mediator will be asked to formulate a package of proposals on all the outstanding issues and to presented to the Security Council.

The minister said that juba want s to impose a new reality in the region. He also said the South Sudan negotiating delegation gave an impression they do not have any intention to achieve peace with Sudan.

He further described as hostile the new map of South Sudan which includes for the first time some ten areas as part of the new country.

Juba wants to establish ten new "Abyei" areas, he stressed.

The minister said the only legitimate map they can consider as basis for the talks is the map upon which they signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the SPLM in 2005, and implemented the troops’ redeployment.

South Sudanese officials said in the past that they wanted first to secure the independence of their country before to raise new disputes with Khartoum on areas like Heglig, or Kharasana through the international justice.

They delegations have to resume talks on 19 June.

Abdel Rahim and the interior minister Ibrahim accused the American administration of supporting Juba in its negotiating policy stressing that no peace can be achieved through such expansionist ambitions.

The head of the Sudanese side stressed that Khartoum has no aggressive intentions towards the South Sudan. But warned that "if we have to defend our territory, then it is our duty," he said.

The AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) said in a statement put out on Friday evening that the two sides despite their difference on how to implement the demilitarised zone have agreed to cease harboring and supporting rebels opposed to each other’s regimes as well as the unconditional withdrawal of their forces from border regions.

"The JPSM will remain in session through the next weeks, to ensure compliance with the parties’ obligations under the Roadmap," partly reads the AUHIP statement.

The two countries, it added, also agreed to nominate representatives to activate the Ad Hoc Committee; a body agreed by the parties to deal with allegations and counter allegations between the two States.

The mediation stressed that the two nations also extensively discussed the geographical definition of the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) and a temporary security line between the two countries.

According to the AUHIP, the parties made substantive progress on this matter with the Government of South Sudan reportedly indicating its acceptance of the AUHIP security and administrative map submitted to the parties in November 2011.

Talks between the two commenced on 29 May, with the first session involving an extraordinary meeting of the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM).