Scottish Catholic Observer

Cardinal Keith O’Brien, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, has written to UK Foreign Secretary William Hague warning of ‘the potential for widespread violence’ in Southern Sudan ahead of the region’s forthcoming referendum on independence from the north.

In an open letter the cardinal calls on the UK government to act and do everything it can to prevent the threat of violence amid growing concerns ahead of the referendum scheduled for January 9 next year.

Closely reflecting a joint statement last month by Sudan’s bishops, Cardinal O’Brien’s letter calls for international initiatives led by the UN to ensure that the referendum is conducted properly and that its results are implemented fairly and without delay.

“I write to share my concerns regarding the potential for widespread violence in Southern Sudan if the referendum is not conducted in accordance with internationally-recognised standards,” the cardinal says.

Noting ‘the extreme lack of progress in preparation for the referendum,’ Cardinal O’Brien nonetheless acknowledges steps forward have been made including voter registration and strong evidence showing the Sudanese people’s widespread desire for peace.

Catholic agencies SCIAF and Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) have been working in Southern Sudan for more than two decades and Cardinal O’Brien, who visited Sudan in Spring 2006 (above), notes in his letter that ‘we have witnessed the appalling suffering which people in the South have endured for far too long.’

The letter echoes worrying developments spelled out in last month’s statement by the Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference which notes the build-up of troops in border areas, political ‘manipulation’ of the referendum and severe delays putting the plans for the vote ‘far behind schedule.’

The bishops’ statement also warns of threats to southern Sudanese living in the north of the country, a concern highlighted last month by Sudan’s Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala during his trip to the UK hosted by ACN, SCIAF and CAFOD.

Pic: Paul McSherry