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Sudanese warring parties accelerating mobilization warn churches
2003-048-2
3/4/2003
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[Episcopal News Service]
Sudanese church leaders warned of accelerated military mobilization and that parishes all over Sudan were reporting forced recruitment by warring parties in the country's civil war, despite continuing peace negotiations. The church leaders were speaking at the Sudan Ecumenical Forum which assembled more than 60 Sudanese church leaders and their international church partners at Bronkhorstspruit, near Pretoria in South Africa, to lend weight to Sudanese peace efforts.
The clerics acknowledged the 'significant progress' made in peace talks between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement seeking to end one of the world's longest and most bitter civil wars. But they also drew attention to several obstacles. 'We strongly commend the cessation of hostilities achieved in most parts of the south and urge that it be fully respected and continued while the parties strive to achieve a successful conclusion to the peace talks,' they said in a statement adopted at the end of the meeting.
The clerics expressed concern about recent violations of the cessation of hostilities otherwise in place since October 2002, and warned that parishes all over Sudan were reporting accelerated military mobilization and forced recruitment of soldiers by the warring parties. They committed themselves to actively supporting the peace process, but complained it lacked transparency and recommended that it be opened up to wider sections of Sudanese society. They also called for international guarantees for a future peace agreement, unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas and the protection of civilians.
The church leaders said oil production and exploration in Sudan had caused human suffering and destruction. They called for a halt to oil operations until a comprehensive peace agreement had been reached. The division of the country's oil revenues between the north and the south is a major outstanding issue in the peace talks, which are to resume on March 19 in Nairobi. The other key subject is the division of power between the government and the rebels in the south.
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