Sudan's suffering takes center stage

Americans are waking up to realize the magnitude of the tragedy going on in Sudan.

...The world has largely ignored the "slow genocide" in southern Sudan, but now "there is a lot of momentum" bringing attention to the situation, Freedom House (see link #1 below)'s Joseph Assad told Religion Today. More than 2 million people have died in the 15-year-war between the Christian and animist south and Khartoum's radical Islamic regime.

...The media, human rights activists, and members of Congress are among those bringing international attention to the suffering in Africa's largest country. "A lot of different places have become staging areas for advocacy," Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), (see link #2 below) told Religion Today.

...The CBS-TV drama Touched by an Angel (see link #3 below) will focus on Sudan Sept. 26 on its season premiere. Brownback's staff helped convince producers to do the episode, Assad said. The script depicts the persecution of non-Muslims, including the enslavement of women and children.

..."This is so powerful. I was in tears after reading [the script]," Assad said. Freedom House is encouraging churches and Christian schools to hold special viewings of the show and encourage people to get involved.

...A pastor convinced the New York City Council to hold hearings on Sudan. Jim Geist of the Interfaith Alliance and Christian Human Rights has been pressing the council since 1997 to consider trade sanctions against Sudan. The council's speaker agreed to the hearing, but ignored requests for a firm date, Geist said. Geist and others began a fast this month until the council agreed to the proposal, and after 12 days, it set a hearing date for Oct. 4.

...A U.S. Senate bill encourages the Clinton administration to revamp its Sudan policy. Current sanctions against the Islamic Khartoum government are appropriate, but they do not do enough to help the southern Sudanese, Brownback said. He is one of four co-sponsors of the bill, which proposes policies to end human-rights abuses, restructure aid shipments to provide more long-term development than short-term relief, and promote a just peace. "There is more political will to do this than ever before," he said.

...Organizations have contributed to the surge of interest in Sudan. Events such as the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (see link #4 below), the State Department's new commission on religious liberty, and updates on the situation sent by advocacy groups to the media made a big difference, he said.

...Freedom House's Campaign of Conscience had an impact on Congress. Christian college students across the country sent more than 10,000 e-mails to their senators and representatives expressing concern about Sudan. "It put the issue on the map. Spread 10,000 e-mails across 535 members of Congress and people start noticing," Brownback said.

..."This really demonstrates the power of action," Assad said. "It shows you can make a difference. People get discouraged and they think ‘what can I do?' This proves that you can do a lot."

...The south is fighting for a secular government and regional autonomy. "The basis for any agreement must be a secular state, not the implementation of Islamic Sharia law," southern rebel leader John Garang said. Sharia imposes harsh sentences for crimes, including the crime of converting to other religions. Many Muslims oppose making Sharia the law of the land, and three of the rebel commanders are Muslims, he said.

...The Islamic north has severely persecuted the Christian and animist south. Islamic troops have attacked undefended villages, killing men, burning homes and churches, and taking women and children as slaves, news reports say.

..."No population in the world suffers the way this one does," Brownback said. The fighting, government-induced famine, and diversion of international aid from some areas has killed 2 million people. The bombing of civilians has forced millions to leave their homes and farms. More than 4 million internal refugees are living in government run "peace camps," he said.

...Those living in the camps face more horrors. Women are raped and people are forced to renounce their faith and embrace Islam before they can receive food. "They are disgusting places," he said.

...For years the rest of the world has largely ignored the situation. "Sudan is not on the front pages. It's good that we intervened in Kosovo, but when 2 million die in Sudan shouldn't we be outraged about that, too?" Assad said. "Why don't African lives measure up to ones in Kosovo? Why doesn't a Sudanese child's life measure up to a Kosovar child's?"

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