15th September, 2006

NICHOLAS KERR

Christian World Service

The churches were the voice of the voiceless people of Southern Sudan through the long years of war.

VOICES FROM SUDAN: Members of the delegation were Lieutenant General James Wani Igga, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Southern Sudan, (centre), with parliamentarians Daniel Deng Monydit, chairperson of the Security Commission (left) and Madam Abuk Paity Ayik, chairperson of the Gender and Youth Commission. "The churches have been the voices of the people of Southern Sudan during the years of war," says Lieutenant General James Wani Igga, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Southern Sudan.

Now Southern Sudanese leaders are calling on the Australian churches to take part in the development of their country - and to make sure the peace agreement is not broken.

A high level delegation from Southern Sudan has visited Australia, to thank Australians for their past support and to invite them to take part in the development of Southern Sudan.

The delegation was led by Lieutenant General James Wani Igga, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Government of Southern Sudan.

"The churches have been the voices of the people of Southern Sudan during the years of war," he says. "They spoke out for us to the international community at a time the world didn’t want to listen.

"We now want the churches to become once again the voice of the peace-loving people of Sudan. We want them to urge the international community to see that the peace agreement that has been negotiated is fully implemented and that the National Congress Party in Khartoum does not renege from the agreement. This will happen only if both parties are pushed into action."

Lieutenant General Igga says the role of the churches in Southern Sudan is critical. He says the two wars between the Arab, Muslim North and the African, mainly Christian South, were often called religious wars.

"The first war lasted from 1955 to 1972. It was really caused by the religious persecution of the Christian church in the Sudan. That’s why many so Christian from Southern Sudan were driven to the bush.

"The second war, which lasted for 22 years and which ended in January last year, was more because of the political, economic and cultural marginalisation of Southern Sudan - and the fact Southern Sudanese were still being taken as slaves by the Arabs from the North. But in this second war the Government in Khartoum used religion as a weapon to mobilise its people against the South."

But, Lieutenant General Igga says, "both sides are now at peace".

"We have forgiven each other for the sins of the past. We hope the churches will be involved in developing Southern Sudan, providing schools, hospitals and training, helping provide water, helping in agriculture and food production.

"We need the churches to help resettle and rehabilitate the people coming home. That is an huge task and the churches can play an enormous role.

He says that while the delegation came to thank the Australian people, government and churches for their efforts in caring for our refugees, "there is still so much to be done!"

Calling on Australia and its churches to help develop Southern Sudan, Lieutenant General Igga says war has reduced the country to "rubble and ashes".

"We have lost our skills. We need training in all areas. We also need social services.

"In Southern Sudan, because of the war, we have the worst level of education in the entire world. Only eight per cent of our people are literate; 92 per cent - 12 million of them - can’t read or write. This is deplorable.

"We hope Australia will send us teachers and help us build schools. We’re returning to an English language education system, which is what we had before the war."

The health indicators, he said, are even worse.

"There’s only one doctor for every 100,000 people. The average life expectancy is only 50. Of every 1,000 children born, 250 will die before they turn five.

"The situation is terribly sad. We need doctors, nurses, paramedics and educators.

"There’s also the humanitarian aspect. The war led to half a million refugees - many of them are now in Australia - and four million internally displaced people.

"We expect about half the people who fled to return. But they’ll be coming home to relatives who have nothing to eat. This will aggravate the problems even further.

"We hope Australia will be in the frontline both in terms of the development of our country and in assisting the repatriation and resettlement of people."

The Interim Legislative Council of Southern Sudan was inaugurated last September.

"There is now no fighting," Lieutenant General Igga says. "This is one of the great achievements of this peace agreement."

He describes Sudan as one country with two systems. In the North, with the National Islamic Front Government, there is no separation of religion and state. The system is built on Islamic law.

"In the South we refuse to live under Islamic law," he says.

"We’re beginning to prepare for elections now. I expect the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement will win those elections.

"In 2011 there’ll be a referendum - an opportunity for the people of Southern Sudan to opt for either the present system to continue, or for independence for Southern Sudan.

"I don’t want to try to predict the results. It’s still a child in the womb."

Lieutenant General Igga says Australia could help Southern Sudan develop its vast potential wealth.

"Our country is endowed with all kind of natural resources - uranium, gold and diamonds," he says. "Two thirds of the country is floating on oil. There’s a vast area of arable land, some 648,000 square kilometres of fertile land.

"We’re inviting Australian investors to come to Southern Sudan and work with us. Australia and Southern Sudan have something in common now that so many Southern Sudanese have become Australian citizens.

"Because of our gratitude to Australia, we’ve decided to appeal to investors here rather than going to other parts of the world. We want to offer this chance to Australia first so that Australia can benefit and we, in turn, can benefit from your technology, skill and expertise."

Lieutenant General Igga hopes Australian investors will be attracted to Southern Sudan.

"Our vast natural resources are virtually untapped - with the exception of oil," he says. "The rewards for Australia could be enormous."

He continues: "There are significant numbers of Southern Sudanese in South Australia - between 3,500 and 4,000. In Australia as a whole there are between 25,000 and 30,000. It’s timely that the Australian Government, churches and non-government organisations send people to Southern Sudan - now. We hope they’ll come to our place. The needs are incredible. So are the opportunities."