On Sudan

It was surprising to read Mr. Buhari Abdu's letter Politics of religion in Sudan published in the April 11, 1996 edition of The Jakarta Post. Mr. Abdu has obtained information on Sudan originating from Western sources only. As a Moslem intellectual hailing from an African country, Mr. Abdu must have known that Western opinions of Sudan are always negative in nature, and far from being objective. The West is suspicious of and always expressing its displeasure towards Sudan.

The West's negative attitude towards Sudan began in 1983, when Sudan announced the enforcement of Shariat Islam (Islamic laws), which are applicable to Moslems only. The implementation of these religious laws was carried out gradually and carefully. The Christian community and other non-Moslem groups are excluded from the obligation to abide by the Islamic laws.

Southern Sudan represents about one-fifth of Sudan's total territory, with a population of about five million. The latest statistics show that the population of southern Sudan is comprised of Moslems (18 percent) and Christians (17 percent), with animists making up the remainder.

Shariat Islam is not enforced in southern Sudan, because Islam is not the religion of the majority of the population in the area. The federal states in Sudan are invested with full autonomy, which includes the religious sector.

In 1985, a rebellion took place in southern Sudan led by John Garang. The rebels demanded that Shariat Islam be abolished in the whole of Sudan.

On April 11, 1996, after several peace negotiations failed, another peace agreement was signed between the government and the rebels which in essence concluded that territorial integrity should be maintained and that freedom of religion be fully guaranteed. If the rebels do not betray this agreement, the issue of southern Sudan will soon be resolved.

The June 1995 assassination attempt on Egyptian President Husni Mubarak in Ethiopia was condemnable. Sudan was not involved in the attempt. But as the Ethiopian authorities failed to arrest the culprit, Ethiopia and the United States alleged that three of the criminals fled to Sudan. The identities of the three were not clear.

At the end of January 1996, the UN Security Council, urged by the U.S. and Ethiopia, gave Sudan 60 days to arrest the three criminals. In fact, Sudan has repeatedly stressed that it has no knowledge of and has nothing to do with the people who planned the assassination attempt.

In spite of this, Sudan set up a committee with the responsibility of arresting the suspects. Sudan has also asked the help of Interpol. Sudan has also emphasized that it will never tolerate acts of terrorism and never give any protection to terrorists.

Sudan arrested an international terrorist from South America, known as Carlos, while he was hiding in Sudan and submitted him to France. Also, Sudan immediately sent the hijackers of an Ethiopian plane to Ethiopia.

In spite of the small number of Christians living in Sudan, they maintain at least 600 successfully functioning churches. Many of them also hold important government posts, working as ministers, governors, or ambassadors.

I hope that Mr. Abdu will now form a more objective opinion about Sudan.

LUKMAN HARUN

Jakarta