A delegation representing the Catholic bishops of Sudan is in the USA to advocate for the referendum and the full implementation of the peace agreement.
The high ranking mission includes Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau and president of the Sudan Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kusa of Tombura-Yambio and auxiliary Bishop Daniel Adwok Kur of Khartoum.Bishop Adwok told SCR News through an e-mail that the delegation is right now in Washington DC meeting the civil society and lobbying groups, government and concerned INGOs who follow the case of the Sudan.
He said last week the bishops were in New York and met with several European representations to the UN, the Papal Nuncio and some UN agencies operating in Sudan.
Bishop Adwok noted that UN officials were adamantly denying all the issues the mission raised, including lack of proper engagement with Church based organizations in peace building and development activities and the role of the UNMIS.
The bishops asked the diplomatic representations to the UN and the UN departments engaged in Sudan to work with both GoNU and GoSS in addressing the continuing tribal related violence in the South.
They urged UNMIS to adopt a stance of deterrence and to institute regular long range patrols, and review their rules of engagement to set up early warning systems to monitor cases of violence all over the South.
The bishops urged international negotiators to accompany and mediate the referendum process, settle disputes and to resolve the remaining CPA issues.
Bishop Adwok said in Washington the delegation held good meetings at the Department of State, raising the issue of violence in the South including the behaviour of SPLA soldiers in Malakal.