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Ali Osman Taha (AP)
374 victims of jihadist slavery have been freed. From Christian Solidarity International, with thanks to Freedom Now News:
WARAWAR, Sudan - Today, 374 slaves safely reached the market town of Warawar in SPLA-controlled Southern Sudan after a long and sometimes harrowing exodus from bondage in Northern Sudan. After crossing the Bahr-Al-Arab river they had been received by the local Dinka community and Christian Solidarity International (CSI) representatives.Over the past three weeks 503 slaves - mainly women and children - were gathered from government-run camps in Northern Sudan. Most of the slaves had been held in these camps for between one and three years. The 374 slaves were tightly packed in open trucks, approx. 55 on each truck. The remaining 129 of the 503 slaves have not yet arrived.
The 374 slaves had been detained for more than one week in Meiram, near the border with Southern Sudan on account of threats from government-sponsored militias. Following an intervention by the World Union of Progressive Judaism at the UN Commission on Human Rights on March 28, the Government of Sudan provided a guarantee of security to enable the slave convoy to cross the border into Southern Sudan. However, at least one boy was reportedly re-abducted by his knife-wielding master as the convoy crossed the Bahr-Al-Arab River.
The arrival of the liberated slaves in Warawar was greeted with great rejoicing. The slave exodus was organized and led by James Aguer and other members of the Committe for the Eradication of the Abduction of Women and Children (CEAWAC) and members of the Warawar Arab-Dinka Peace Committee. CSI is providing humanitarian assistance to the now liberated slaves.
The Goverment of Sudan appears to be divided about the future repatriation of freed slaves. On the one hand the First Vice President Ali Osman Taha has reportedly made a commitment to fund CEAWAC for another 12 months. However according to witnesses the presidential advisor Mubarak al-Fadil al-Madhi declared at a mass rally in Meiram on 31 March that funding for CEAWAC would be terminated by the end of May. Moreover, he was reported to have declared his opposition to the repatriation of child slaves who were fathered by their masters.
Posted by Robert at April 2, 2004 10:30 AM
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this really must enrage the multi-culty community. how will we know? watch how little press attention this gets. watch how no left-wing organization puts their mug in front of a microphone and says this is a great development. watch how no agitating protestors demonstrate for more slave release.
Posted by: ted at April 2, 2004 3:10 PMIt's also received no coverage in the Arab News.
jay
Posted by: Jay Stevens at April 3, 2004 7:43 AMOf course this is not covered in Arab news, or on Al Jezeera (not sure of spelling.) Slavery is permitted in Isam.
In short order we should here from some posters that try to propagate the theory that these people enslave each other, and thus no Muslim can be held responsible.
Posted by: epg at April 3, 2004 10:43 AM
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