A Message from Sudan

Volume 1 1995

“Tell our brothers and sisters that the people here are still full of hope and that there are still smiles on the faces of the children, in spite of their suffering, in spite of persecution, in spite of constant fear of attack. Those smiles put us to shame. I believe that after their suffering, justice and peace will come. They tell us that they feel forgotten by the world; that even the church seems to forget them. There are many other places in Sudan where people have no water, no clothes, food, school, or the basic essentials for survival.

The church has tried to tell people that we care and pray for you. But if we love, prayer alone is not sufficient. Of course, Christ told us to pray, but prayer must lead to action; prayer without action is empty. As St Paul said, ‘Faith without action is dead. It is the same with prayer. The people here need peace and justice. Enough is enough. The world feels that Sudan is not a priority on its agenda. But it will be impossible to achieve a better world without peace in Sudan. The threat of fundamentalist Islam will spread beyond these borders.

I have nothing against Muslirns; we love all. Love goes beyond race, colour, creed. But we must say that what is happening to us is perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalism, which is determined to destroy our religion, our culture. our language, our roots.

Dear brothers and sisters, there can be no one-way dialogue. Dialogue requires mutual acceptance and respect. We are open for this - not for political or commercial gain. We want to live in peace. But we are suffering so much. We want to tell our brothers and sisters abroad that we are suffering a genocide in our country, especially in the Nuba Mountains. Slavery is a reality - now, men and women are taken and sold as slaves. The Government of Sudan denies this, hut we have witnesses and evidence of names and place’s.

What does the world expect from us? This is a holy war - a jihad, with hatred in those who attack us. Listen to their words... they say they are going to kill us ‘infidel.s' ... my people are called ‘infidels’. They use food to Islamicise and Arabise us and they destroy Christians and Africans with terror and torture.

Ghost houses are a reality and it is a pity that those who visit Southern Sudan say they have not ‘seen’ ghost houses. Do they expect the regime to show them?

Dear brothers and sisters, be our voice. We are hungry, persecuted, naked, with no schools. But we are dignified. We have maintained our dignity and we live full of hope that the day of liberation will come.

You cannot live in isolation. No man is an island. YOU cannot expect us to live in peace if you allow arms to the Government of Sudan to kill our people. Africa does not need botnbs or mines.’ Africa needs education, development, justice.. . these will lead to peace. Stop arms coming to the regime in Khartoum; stop the bombs and the fuel which makes it possible for them to move their tanks. Create safe corridors so food can reach hungry children,’ create safe havens for peace. We have great hope - in God first - and also in you.

To the media I say,’rather than printing scandals of famous people on your front pages, print the suffering and dignity of the Sudanese people. The media should continue to apply pressure on politicians to encourage them to realise that it is a noble cause to help and to serve humanity.

May God bless you.”

Bishop Macram

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