Servant's Heart, an American non-governmental organization with whom VOM partners in southern Sudan, informed us yesterday that Government of Sudan-led military forces recently attacked ten villages in Eastern Upper Nile. During the unprovoked attack, Servant's Heart has confirmed that the troops killed the region's only Christian pastor and his family, massacred at least fifty-nine unarmed villagers, wounded fifteen and abducted ten children and six women.
Using a combination of rocket-propelled-grenade launchers (RPG's), .50 caliber heavy machine guns and assault rifles, the government-led forces attacked the village of Longochok and nine nearby villages in a night assault during the evening of May 22, catching most villagers asleep in their grass homes. Many of the homes in the ten villages were set on fire by the attackers, with many of the slain burned alive in their homes. Reports from Sudan indicate that regular army officer Second Lieutenant Mohammed Idris led the attack.
During the attack, the government-led military forces also rounded up and abducted ten young children (six girls and three boys) and six woman. Pastor Jacob Gadet Manyiel of the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, his wife and four children were burned to death as the government soldiers stood outside their house and threatened to shoot anyone in the family who tried to escape the flames.
On the very day that these atrocities were committed, US State Department Richard Boucher publicly stated, "We think there is a real prospect to reach a just and lasting conclusion to the [Sudanese] civil war." Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail said after the May 22nd meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, that his government "would sign a peace agreement with the SPLA as quickly as possible, maybe next month."
This attack directly violates the current "cease fire" between the Islamist Government of Sudan and the mainly Christian and animist Sudan People's Liberation Army. It also violates the US Senator Danforth-sponsored agreement by the Government of Sudan to not attack civilians and non-combatants. Reports indicate that there were no rebel soldiers in any of these villages.
"I am shocked by the apparent brutality of the attack," said VOM Communications Director, Glenn Penner. "But I am not surprised after what I witnessed in my recent trip to the region in February. The Sudanese government is a regime without a conscience and without honour. It should be treated as such. The Voice of the Martyrs joins with our friends at Servant's Heart in calling on the United States government to resist pressure to normalize relations with Sudan and to insist that those responsible for these attacks be arrested and prosecuted for 'crimes against humanity.' We also call upon Christians from around the world to remember the families of the slain in prayer. Also, please earnestly pray for the release of the sixteen children and women who have been abducted." Such abductions are most commonly for the purpose of enslavement. Servant's Heart has released the names of those who were abducted as:
1) Nyanop Liech Tiek - girl, 8 years old
2) Nyaluak Liech Tiek - girl, 6 years old
3) Nyabuay Liech Tiek - girl, 5 years old
4) Nyanpal Liech Tiek - girl, 2 years old
5) Ruon Gadet Manyal - boy, 6 years old
6) Reath Gadet Manyal - boy, 4 years old
7) Nyanot Lul Nyuot - girl, 8 years old
8) Nyanpal Lul Nyuot - girl, 5 years old
9) Nyabiel Lul Nyuot - girl, 2 years old
10) Duoth Chuol Kuon - boy, 4 years old
11) Nyadeng Dew Yak - woman, 35 years old
12) Nyator Gay Buok - woman, 31 years old
13) Nyanhial Gadet Bor - woman, 30 years old
14) Nyaduar Deang Jany - woman, 38 years old
15) Nyaboth Thokier Nguoy - woman, 29 years old
16) Nyamuol Chuol Nhial - woman, 62 years old
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