An Editorial from Sudan Advocacy Action Forum

Because the website of Sudan Advocacy Action Forum is down, we are posting the commentary they recently sent to their email distribution list here. 

Sudan Advocacy Action Forum

Situation Update 5-2012

May 19, 2012

Dear Friends of the Sudanese and Sudanese Friends,

"If history is any guide, Khartoum's agreement to the cease-fire terms dictated by the May 2, 2012 UN Security Council Resolution, supported by the African Union, will prove meaningless; follow-up agreements will be signed, and they too will prove meaningless. The National Islamic Front/National Congress Party regime has never abided by any agreement with a Sudanese party---and never will, certainly not without much more vigorous international pressure on Khartoum, pressure that is not disabled by a factitious "even-handedness," a moral equivalency between the NIF/NCP génocidaires and the struggling leadership in Juba.  Eric Reeves

Conflict continues to dominate Sudan and South Sudan precluding progress in either nation. 

1.  North attacks North:  The government of Sudan continues to conduct war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.  Why does the U.S.relatively ignore this while it forcefully engages in Libya, Egypt and Syria?  Ask President Obama during his re-election campaign.

2.  North attacks South:  Following routine aerial bombardment of Southern towns and refugees, the South Sudan army easily defeated the Sudan Armed Forces when it attacked their troops in the oil-rich Heglig area.  In response to the U.N. request, Southern armed forces withdrew to promote an atmosphere for peace.  On the other hand, Sudanese president Omer Hassan al-Bashir responded, "We only do the things we want to do. And no security council or the whole world for the matter can force us to act otherwise."

3.  South-South:  Both Khartoum-supported rebels and tribal conflict disrupt peace and prevent progress in South Sudan.  The government, not always effectively, seeks to defeat the rebels and promote peace among its communities.  Tragic example: Recently during a forced disarmament 9 people were killed in Pibor County by SPLA troops. The flavor of the killing is revealed when we realize that one unarmed 15 y/o boy was killed when the SPLA stole his cattle.

I am encouraged that there have been several Op-Ed pieces written recently which acknowledge that the path taken by the U.S. and the U.N. has been both inappropriate and ineffective.  For example, Rev. Franklin Graham encouraged the U.S. to bomb the airfields from which the Sudan Armed Forces attacks South Sudan and its own civilians; Andrew Natsios noted the need to arm South Sudan with anti-aircraft weapons so that they can stop Sudan's air attacks; and lastly, but most importantly, Prof. Eric Reeves, and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer publicly spoke out noting that we must stop treating conflicts in Sudan with moral equivalency. 

That path, which makes no sense, has been followed by the A.U., U.S., and U.N.  There is nothing morally equivalent between those who bomb innocent women and children and those who try to defend them.  Yet this has been the immoral policy of the U.S.administration for three years.  As he seeks re-election, ask President Obama why he thinks these are equivalent.

May the wisdom of God guide local, national and international leaders to establish a just and lasting peace.

In His Service,

Bill Andress

Sudan Advocacy Action Forum

Our website was attacked and became infected; it is under repair.  

News from Larry Duffee in Juba

We just returned to Juba on Saturday having spent the last week in Yei. We were in Yei conducting a conference between bishops of the Roman Catholic Church of Sudan and the ECS. In addition to the Archbishops of both churches, Archbishop Paulino Lukudu and Archbishop Daniel Deng, there were about half-dozen or so bishops from each church in attendance. Also present was the Archbishop of York from the Church of England, the Most Rev. Dr. John Sentamu. It was an interesting experience for me to be in the presence of three Archbishops, and the conference was a very good example of ecumenical dialogue.

Living conditions in Juba are becoming increasingly difficult. As the oil-pipeline crisis between Sudan and South Sudan continues to cripple the economies of both countries the value of the pound versus the US dollar is deteriorating markedly. For most of the past year the rate has been fairly stable at around 350-South Sudanese pounds per $100-US dollars.  But since the crisis in Heglig brought matters between the north and the south to a head the value of the pound has dropped to where people are now getting upwards of 480-500-ssp or more for $100. While this sounds wonderful for holders of US dollars, one must also bear in mind that there has been a commensurate increase in the prices of goods and services in the marketplace.  A bag of flour which cost around 7-ssp a month ago now costs 15-ssp or more. Whereas for the past year 1-ssp would bring me four pieces of bread now I receive only three, and for a brief moment only two pieces. As a westerner I am somewhat better able to handle these increases, but for the majority of Southerners these increases are devastating and people are complaining of having to go hungry because they cannot afford to buy as much food as before. Food is present in marketplace, but people are unable to buy it. The only solace for people has been the rumors that the exchange rate for dollars in the north is even worse and that market conditions in the north are poorer.  It is a slender, miserable reed for people here to cling to but cling to it they do with both hands.           

Perhaps the worst item to be affected has been petrol. Shortages of currency have resulted in fewer tanker-truck loads of diesel and gasoline being delivered to Juba.  Lines at the petrol stations stretch for miles and people talk of waiting hours to get even a small amount. In general, however, the price of petrol largely remains the same at 6-ssp per liter. But an insidious black-market for fuel has emerged for people unwilling to wait and who are willing to pay two to three times the regular price which causes further disruptions. The fear of many of us who think of such things is that if conditions become bad enough for ordinary people there could be civil disturbances over rising prices for food and shortages of petrol and money.

I ask all members of AFRECS to pray for conditions in Sudan and South Sudan and for wisdom and courage to be given to the leaders of both countries to help them to return to the negotiating table to peacefully resolve the many issues between the two countries.

Nzara News from the Rev. Robert North

I thought the readers of the AFRECS E Blast might be interested in how the oil crisis between the old and the new Sudan is affecting the average person in one of the many areas of S. Sudan that are totally unaffected by the brutal military operations with in Sudan and across the borders into S. Sudan. First of all prices in the local markets are climbing rapidly. A long bar of soap now sells for 6 SSP as compared to 2 just three weeks ago and a small bag of sugar now  goes for 3 SSP rather than 1 SSP. We have few refugees coming from the north because most of those dislocated in the wars here went to nearby Congo rather than north to Sudan and have long since returned. People in the LRA areas are rapidly returning to their homes and fields. The American dollar verses the SSP has continued to climb in value (2.7 a year ago and now 4.6 to one dollar), which is the reason for all the price increases. The local merchants must buy their merchandise in Uganda, and Ugandan merchants demand to be paid in dollars and not S. Sudan pounds. Despite all these problems economic development continues to gain steam. Two new gas stations, a new bank, new church buildings and numerous new stores are being built everywhere in nearby Yambio. Nzara Diocese is constructing three new Guest tukuls, has recently wired its health clinic for electricity and is planning a major expansion of its facilities, has doubled the size of its Bishops House, and has remodeled and added work stations in its Computer Center. Workshops for Traditional Birth Attendants, for the sewing machine teams trained last year and for Health Outreach workers will be held in the next two months.


[Ed. note: For more news from Nzara, check out the diocesan website.]

AFRECS' Expressions of Support and Priorities

April 28, 2012

The Most Reverend Daniel Deng Bul Yak

Archbishop, Episcopal Church of Sudan

P.O. Box 110

Juba, Sudan

Dear Archbishop Daniel:

Easter greetings to you in the name of our Risen Lord from the Board of the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan.  We are deeply mindful of the current crisis between Sudan and South Sudan, and of the brave efforts you and your bishops are making to bring about an end to the fighting, to relieve and protect refugees and internally displaced people, and to foster a just and lasting peace.

On behalf of our board, I am writing to transmit a summary of the actions we have agreed to take to help support you in these vital efforts for peace, efforts including prayer, public advocacy, increased efforts to provide you partners for ECS ministries, and fundraising for your peace missions.  

These efforts have already included our April 26 day of advocacy in Washington and our April 27 prayer vigil.  These efforts will continue, including efforts at the July 2012 General Convention of The Episcopal Church, additional prayer services, and more days of advocacy.  I hope  to visit with you later this year to learn how we can better aid you and your ECS colleagues in your essential ministry of reconciliation.  We deeply admire your courage, vision, and dedication to peace, carried out so faithfully for Our Risen Lord.

Faithfully,

etc.

Board Resolution

American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (AFRECS)

April 28, 2012, Adopted at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Alexandria, VA

The AFRECS board has met from April 26-28 in Washington and northern Virginia, to engage in peace advocacy, prayer, and planning to help the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS) in its efforts to promote peace and mediate armed conflicts.  The Board is deeply mindful of the

·      Ongoing armed conflict between Sudan and South Sudan and other armed groups;

·      Continued “ethnic cleansing” by Sudan in the Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile State, and Darfur;

·      Creation of half a million refugees and internally displaced people, hundreds of thousands of whom face famine in the near future;

·      Serious setbacks to peaceful development resulting from the failure to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the two countries; and

·      Faithful and courageous efforts made by ECS Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak and ECS bishops, clergy and lay leaders to mediate inter-tribal fighting, relieve and protect refugees, and prevent escalation of armed conflicts between the two countries.

I.            Recognizing the great suffering already occurring in Sudan and South Sudan as a result of the escalating conflicts, as well as the vital peace-making role the ECS has played and is playing in keeping the peace, the AFRECS Board has resolved as follows:

A.            AFRECS will continue to make peace in Sudan and South Sudan its primary focus in public advocacy, advocacy which will include public prayer, education, and petition of the United States government for specific steps to bring about a cessation of hostilities, return to negotiations, protection of vulnerable populations, and a just resolution of remaining political issues of border demarcation, citizenship, oil revenue, and minority rights in each country.

B.            AFRECS will focus its fundraising efforts for the ECS in the next twelve to eighteen months on supporting efforts by the Archbishop and Bishops to mediate and resolve armed conflicts among tribes and factions, and to secure relief for suffering people.

C.            AFRECS will take tangible steps to help bring about additional partnerships between U.S. faith bodies and ECS dioceses, schools, clinics, relief and development efforts, and translation projects.

II.            In aid of these objectives, AFRECS has undertaken and will undertake between now and year’s end, the following initiatives:

            A.            Advocacy meetings with elected representatives, diplomats, and aid organizations seeking to support and encourage tangible U.S. government efforts to bring a rapid end to the ongoing fighting and give aid to vulnerable populations.  These efforts were renewed with the April 26 advocacy day, and will continue with additional advocacy days, in joint efforts with other church, aid, and peace advocates, and in educational efforts about the ongoing conflicts.

            B.            Work with The Episcopal Church at its July 2012 General Convention and with dioceses and other faith bodies to make support for peace in Sudan and partnership with ECS peace efforts a high priority.

            C.            Public prayer services and private devotional efforts for peace in Sudan and for our ECS partners’ efforts, efforts beginning with the April 27, 2012 prayer vigil for peace.

            D.            Continued education through our weekly e-blast communications, blogs, and other informational materials.

            E.            Preparation of materials to help form local U.S. chapters of AFRECS, with a focus on prayer for peace in Sudan and South Sudan, and on discerning partnership opportunities with ECS church efforts or church bodies.

            F.            Fund raising to help the ECS Archbishop and ECS bishops in their efforts to mediate ongoing armed conflicts between tribal groups and efforts to prevent recurrence of armed ethnic conflicts.  To this end, the Board Members resolve to continue to pay the administrative expenses of AFRECS so that 100% of the money donated to AFRECS for peace and relief efforts will reach the ECS without bearing any such administrative costs.