Clerics in US visit over referendum, CPA implementation

By Julius N. Uma

June 25, 2010 (JUBA) — A delegation of high-ranking Sudanese catholic bishops is currently in United States to advocate for the country’s referendum and full implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The clerics, who include, Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kusala of Tombura-Yambio and auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum, reportedly held series of talks with several various stakeholders, government officials and concerned international NGOs with keen interests on Sudan.

With assistance from Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and CARITAS Internationalis, the delegation also met several European National representations to the UN, the Papal Nuncio as well as some UN institutions operating in Sudan.

“The UN officials as usual were adamantly denying all the issues we have raised including lack of proper engagement with church based organizations in peace building and development activities and the role of the UNMIS [United Nations Mission in Sudan] soldiers in many parts of the South,” the delegation said in a statement sent to Sudan Tribune.

The high-ranking delegation, Sudan Tribune has learnt, appealed to Sudan-based diplomatic representatives in the UN to closely work with both the Governments of National Unity (GoNU) and that of Southern Sudan, to devise effective ways of addressing the continued tribal conflicts in the south.

“UNMIS needs to adopt a stance of deterrence and to institute regular long range patrols, the need to review the rules of engagement of UNMIS forces. [They need] to set up early warning systems to monitor cases of violence all over the South,” they said.

CPA IN JEOPARDY

The bishops further expressed dismay over that they described as “lack of adequate engagement” by the parties to the CPA with the civil society, especially in processes leading to the much-anticipated referendum.

In essence, they advocated for the establishment of an international body to mediate and monitor the referendum process, resolve disputes and if separation is mandated, help in resolving the remaining CPA issues such as popular consultations, Abyei referendum, among others.

The high-ranking delegation, who also complained of having been snubbed by the SPLM Secretary General (now Minister of Peace and CPA implementation), Mr. Pagan Amum while on his visit to the US, further held discussions with officials from the US State Department.

(ST)