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WASHINGTON (August 3, 2005) – Just as leaders in Sudan have called for
calm, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ International Policy Committee
today urged the people of Sudan to continue their pursuit of peace and
justice and unity as a tribute to their vice president, who died in a
helicopter accident last week.
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, of Pensacola-Tallahassee said the agreement
between the government of Sudan and the Sudanese People’s Liberation
Movement (SPLM), signed last January, is part of Vice President John
Garang’s legacy.
“We urge the people of Sudan and their leaders to respect that
agreement, which is part of the John Garang’s legacy, and pursue the
path of peace, justice, unity, and economic development,” Bishop Ricard
said.
John Garang de Mabior had been a leader of the SPLM and was a major
player in the negotiations that led to January’s peace agreement.
Violent clashes in Khartoum since Monday have claimed at least 84 lives.
The full text of Bishop Ricard’s statement follows:
“Our prayers are with the people of Sudan – both north and south – in
the tragic loss of their vice president John Garang de Mabior. His
sudden death is a loss not only to his native Sudan, but to all of
Africa and to all people of goodwill struggling to transcend violence
and injustice.
“He was a man of vision who turned from war to peace to bring the hope
of a brighter future to all the people of Sudan. The agreement between
the government of Sudan and his movement – the Sudanese People’s
Liberation Movement – ended hostilities, gave the hope of equal justice
to the people of Sudan, and sought to preserve the unity of Sudan.
“We urge the people of Sudan and their leaders to respect that
agreement, which is part of John Garang’s legacy, and pursue the path of
peace, justice, unity and economic development. We ask the international
community to provide generous support for these urgent political and
economic needs.
“At this difficult time of loss, we stand in solidarity with our brother
bishops of Sudan in their heroic efforts to bring peace and justice to
the people they serve.”
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