When Frontline missionary Timothy Keller refused to hand over the mission’s radio he was arrested and marched off to a military base 25 miles away.

It was later revealed that the SPLA had received information from sources within the Khartoum government that the National Islamic Front was going to place four short wave radios into Western Equatoria for espionage purposes. When Frontline Fellowship brought in the radios for the Churches it was assumed that Bishop Bullen Dolli and missionary Peter Hammond must be the ones in contact with the Islamic Government. Arrest warrants were issued for the Bishop and for the Director of Frontline Fellowship.

It is now thought that this was a disinformation campaign orchestrated by the Sudan Government to cause problems for the missionaries and for the churches as well as to discredit the SPLA for arresting Christian Leaders. The SPLA normally respects the Church and protects religious freedom.

Bishop Bullen Dolli is well known for his strong public stand against the National Islamic Front (NIF) Government. He recently received an award for defending religious freedom from the Institute for Religion and Democracy in Washington DC. Throughout 35 states he testified of the NIF’s brutal religious persecution of Christians in Southern Sudan. Bishop Bullen’s cathedral in Lui is still in ruins from a bombing campaign by the Sudan Air Force. It seemed particularly incredible that the Bishop could be accused of collaborating with the Islamic regime as his only brother was killed by them.

Dr. Peter Hammond’s writing and work on behalf of the suffering Christians in Sudan is well known internationally, particularly his Faith Under Fire in Sudan book and Sudan the Hidden Holocaust video. The Government of Sudan has even published articles on their official website which states that “Peter Hammond should expect to be bombed when he comes to Sudan…Hammond should expect to be shot on sight…because his writings make him an enemy of the State.”