Commission, others warn of fragile state of Sudan's peace

Published: 2006-03-31

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A year into Sudan's peace process, a continued ethnic cleansing campaign in the Darfur region threatens the nation's fragile stability, according to both a U.S. government commission and a Catholic Relief Services program manager. The last week of March brought the release of a report on Sudan by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and a CRS-sponsored series of meetings with a newly returned program coordinator for Darfur. The coming weeks will bring other events calculated to bring attention to the tenuous situation in the region. They include an ongoing postcard campaign; an April 2-9 week of prayer and action for Darfur, co-sponsored by a broad coalition of interfaith groups; and an April 5 Sudan Freedom Walk and rally and April 30 Rally to Stop Genocide, both in Washington. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., co-chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, called on President George W. Bush to "go back and do something bolder" in trying to resolve Sudan's tenuous state. He recommended appointing a special envoy who would work on bringing lasting solutions to the region.

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