Statement from the Episcopal Church of Sudan by Anglican Communion

London: December 01, 2009, (PCTV Newsdesk)

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

We, the Provincial Standing Committee of the Episcopal Church of theSudan (ECS), met in Rumbek, Lakes State between 23rd and 27th November2009, at the generous hospitality of the Diocese of Rumbek and theGovernment of Lakes State. We wish to give our heartfelt thanks to theRt. Rev. Alapayo Manyang Kuctiel, Bishop of Rumbek, and H.E. Lt. Gen.Daniel Awet Akot, Governor of Lakes State, for their hosting of thisgreat meeting and their exemplary hospitality for the entire week of themeeting. It has been an excellent opportunity for discussing issues ofChurch governance, management and structure; the expansion ofChristianity 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 thanfive months before National Elections and just over one year to thereferendum on southern self-determination, the Comprehensive PeaceAgreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse due to contentions over thereferendum law, the demarcation of the 1st January 1956 borders, andviolence recently perpetrated by other armed groups. We, the ProvincialStanding Committee of the ECS affirm our role to act urgently to supportthe implementation of the CPA: through our internal Church networks, ourecumenical and inter-faith partners within Sudan and our internationalpartner support.

We express our sadness at the missed opportunity for making the unity ofthe Sudan attractive since the signing of the CPA: the lack areconciliation process, the lack of transparency over the NationalCensus and oil revenues, the failure to repeal or alter laws which arecontrary to the spirit of the CPA which guarantees equality and freedomfor all, the stalling implementation of the July 2009 Abyei ruling, andthe current deadlock over the legislation governing the referendum inSouthern Sudan and the popular consultations in Abyei, Blue Nile andSouthern Kordofan. Unity has not been made attractive.

We strongly condemn all inter-ethnic violence currently witnessed acrossmuch of Southern Sudan, the ongoing violence against civilians inDarfur, and the violent attacks on civilians being perpetrated by theLord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the south-west of the country. Were-affirm our commitment to doubling the efforts of the Church inbringing peace and reconciliation to our people, working together withthe government as a force for unity and love amongst our people who havesuffered for so long.

We strongly condemn the damage being done to the environment by oilcompanies in Unity and Upper Nile states. Our waterways are beingpolluted and our people displaced by the profit making of others. Webring this before our government and the international community, andask and pray that the resources of our land be fairly utilized in futurefor the good of all our people.

We call the attention of Sudanese government and the internationalcommunity 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 thephysical as well as the spiritual needs of our people, and pledge to useall such support, as well as support from the Sudanese Christians, forthe well-being of those facing hunger this Advent and Christmas season.

Tribal differences must be put aside at this crucial time in history andthe government must fulfil their duty to provide security for theircitizens. God will sit in judgement on those who are working against therights of their own people. It is the escalation of non-traditionalde-stabilising violence, specifically targeting civilians and thegovernment that will make registration and voting in the elections andreferendum very difficult. The conclusion that is drawn is that thisviolence is intended to negatively effect the elections and referendum.The Church must act now to counter these effects for the sake of therights 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 acrossSudan. We urge all citizens to register and to encourage others to doso, participating fully in the political process in 2010. The ECS offersits entire network, personnel and contacts as potential support to theNEC and the elections process.

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

There is no alternative to the CPA. It must be fully implemented by bothsignatories and must be fully supported by those guarantor governmentswho promised to do so in 2005. Those international guarantors andstakeholders 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 renewednational and international focus on the political processes of theelections and referendum, the latter of which must be consideredinviolable. As the Church we support the right of every individualSudanese citizen to have a free and fair say in the future of the SudanWe welcome support for this work from any and all governmental,non-governmental and international institutions and pledge to work withefficiency and integrity for the Sudanese people.

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

We, the undersigned, therefore urge the Government of National Unity(GoNU), the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and the internationalguarantor nations of the CPA to uphold their promises of equality andfreedom 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 andPrimate 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 theHouse of Clergy.

For the House of Laity:
Engr. Barnaba Dumo Chairman of the House of Laity.