Contact: Loralei Coyle, 202-682-4131, 202-905-6852 cell, lcoyle@ird-renew.org; Radio: Jeff Walton, jwalton@ird-renew.org; both with the Institute on Religion and Democracy

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- The IRD's Church Alliance for a New Sudan and the Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom (SSVF), founding members of the Sudan Coalition, a group of Washington-based activists who brought new visibility to Sudan in U.S. foreign policy, are asking President Bush, members of Congress, the United Nations, and the international community to save Sudan's Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

Sudan Coalition founders urge the U.S. government to return to the provisions of the watershed Sudan Peace Act, which was signed into law by the President five years ago last month. The 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan ended more than two decades of war between the Sudan People's Liberation Army in the south and the forces of the Sudanese government in the north.

IRD Director of the Church Alliance for a New Sudan Faith J.H. McDonnell Commented:

"The CPA provides the best hope for peace in all of Sudan. Marginalized people groups are coming together with Southern Sudanese as never before.

"Last month the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) pulled out of the Government of National Unity that was created by the peace agreement. We support them fully in this action. This step shows their desperation over a situation in which one party has, with no consequences from anyone, failed to honor its commitments.

"The vision of the New Sudan is shared by all Sudanese who want just peace, secular democracy, and religious freedom.

"The Sudan Peace Act is U.S. law, not outdated by the CPA. Its provisions are applicable to all the marginalized people of Sudan today. In Section 6, if the President certifies that the Government of Sudan is not in compliance with the terms of a permanent peace agreement between the Government of Sudan and the SPLM, there should be consequences for those violations.

Southern Sudanese Voice for Freedom President Jimmy Mulla Commented:

"The CPA is under serious threat because of the National Congress Party (NCP), formerly known as the National Islamic Front, in Khartoum. When they're not violating the CPA outright, they are failing to implement its provisions. The NCP refuses to accept the findings of the Abeyi Boundary Commission, which the CPA agreed would be binding. But the Commission found that the oil-rich region of Abeyi is a part of South Sudan. The U.S. and other international partners should pressure them to accept this fact, and not capitulate to their violations.

"The people of Sudan are tired of war, and of the NCP's attempts to force Arabization and racial Islam on an African, multi-religious country. We therefore call on the United States, as well as the UN Security Council and all peace loving people around the world, to take immediate action to avert yet another impending human catastrophe."

www.ird-renew.org