SudBish Press Statement

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WEEKLY NEWS -SPECIAL ISSUE of: 29-08-2002     SUDAN

Here below is the latest Press Release from the Sudan Catholic Bishops' 
Conference about THE MACHAKOS PROTOCOL
Greetings
Paolo
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Sd-e-121
Press Release
Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference
Nairobi
26th August,2002


SPECIAL CONCERNS OF THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SUDAN RELATED TO THE MACHAKOS 
PROTOCOL

We the Catholic Bishops of the Sudan meeting in Nairobi for our Annual 
Plenary, 19th - 31 August 2002, congratulate the Government of Sudan (GOS) 
and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) for their goodwill 
to continue with the Peace talks which are currently going on in Machakos. 
Mindful of our responsibilities as religious leaders, we welcome the 
Machakos Protocol as a framework to guide the parties in conflict to 
negotiate an end to the war.

We extend our thanks to H. E. President Daniel Arap Moi, General Lazarus 
Sumbeiywo of the IGAD Secretariat, the representatives of the United States 
of America, Great Britain, Norway and Italy for the role they are playing 
to the negotiation. The seriousness witnessed in the negotiation gives hope 
for a just and peaceful future.

Further, we affirm the statement on the Machakos Protocol issued by the 
Sudanese Church Leaders on 2nd August, 2002 in Entebbe, Uganda (See Annex 
I).  However, in addition to this statement we would like to highlight some 
points in the Protocol, which we feel deserve your special attention and 
consideration.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:

a)      Religious Rights Based on Human Dignity

In the Protocol's section on State and Religion we welcome particularly 
section 6.5 that deals with the rights of religious belief and practice. 
"The parties agree to respect the following rights; to worship or assemble 
in connection with a religion or belief and to establish and maintain 
places for these purposes…."

We are concerned that these rights be clearly acknowledged as based on the 
human dignity possessed by every human person, and not merely based on 
constitutional law.  In this context we would like to refer you to the 
insights and
Experiences of Catholic Bishops from all over the world who met in the 
Vatican Council in 1965.  "The Council further declares that the right to 
religious freedom is based on the very dignity of the human person as known 
through the revealed word of God and by reason itself" (See Annex II).

b)      Problems posed to the Minorities:

We are also especially concerned about the role of Sharia in relation to 
the conditions of Christians living in areas under the Sharia with a Muslim 
majority.    In this connection religious freedom must be respected for all 
citizens.  We also share the insights of the Bishops in the same document 
on Religious Liberty; "If because of the circumstances of a particular 
people special recognition is given to one religious community in the 
constitutional organization of a State, the right of all citizens and 
religious communities to religious freedom must be recognized and respected 
as well" (See Annex III).   This means that Sharia Law is not to be imposed 
on non-Muslims in the north.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONCERNS:

a) Clarity on the notion of Unity.

In a number of places in the Protocol, the notion of Unity should be spelt 
out in clearer terms to avoid ambiguity and different interpretations.  We 
suggest that basing a future constitution and legislation on the dignity of 
the human person as shown in the document on a religious liberty already 
mentioned is a suitable means of promoting the well being of all 
Sudanese.  Making Sharia as source of law and legislation jeopardizes the 
unity of the country.

b) Agreement must be implemented:

Of particular concern are the steps to be taken to ensure that what is 
agreed upon will be properly monitored and carried out.  We bring this 
forward in the context of the many former agreements that have been set 
aside, abrogated or broken. This history of past agreements has made our 
people hesitant to embrace whole-heartedly the framework of the Machakos 
Protocol.



c) Free and open discussions for all citizens:

An immediate concern is the need for the Government of Sudan and the SPLM/A 
to ensure free, responsible and open discussion by all the Sudanese people 
regarding the Protocol, its related developments and its implementation for 
peace.

CONCLUSION:

We again commend you to continue in this difficult task to bring the 
reality of a just peace to our country so that the process does not again 
betray the Sudanese people.   We assure you of our continued prayerful support.

Wishing you God's blessings,


+ Paolino Lukudu Loro,
Archbishop of Juba,
President - Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference.


Annex I -       A Statement of the Sudanese Church Leaders (dated 2nd 
August, 2002)
On the Machakos Protocol of 20th July 2002.


Annex II
  "The Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to 
religious freedom.  Freedom of this kind means that all men should be 
immune from coercion on the part of individuals, social groups and every 
human power so that, within due limits, no person is forced to act against 
his convictions in religious matt4ers, in private or in public, alone or in 
association with others, The Council further declares that the right to 
religious freedom is based on the very dignity of the human person as known 
through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the 
human person to religious freedom must be given such recognition in the 
constitutional order of society as will make it a civil right." (Decree on 
Religious Liberty, Vatican Council II, 1965, Section 2).

Annex III:
"The protection and promotion of the inviolable rights of man is an 
essential duty of every civil authority.  The civil authority therefore 
must undertake to safeguard the religious freedom of all the citizens in an 
effective manner by just legislation and other appropriate means…
"If because of the circumstances of a particular people special recognition 
is given to one religious community in the constitutional organization of a 
State, the right of all citizens and religious communities to religious 
freedom must be recognized and respected as well"
"Finally, the civil authority must see to it that the equality of the 
citizens before the law, which is itself an
 element of the common good of society, is never violated either openly or 
covertly for religious reasons
 and that there is no discrimination among citizens." (Decree on Religious 
Liberty, Vatican Council II, 1965, Section 6).

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Un homme meurt chaque fois que l'un d'entre nous se tait devant la tyrannie 
(Wole Soyinka, Prix Nobel litterature)
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Everytime somebody keep silent when faced with tyranny, someone else dies 
(Wole Syinka, Nobel Prize for Literature)
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