"The missing slaves were captured during raids on their villages in northern Bahr El Ghazal, Southern Sudan at various times during the past two decades," said the CSI news release. "They were removed from their masters and placed for their "protection" in the Adila 'Peace Center' after the establishment of the Government of Sudan's Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children (CEAWC) in 1998."
From the outset, CEAWC has been plagued by serious problems and controversy. Its first attempts, in conjunction with UNICEF and SCF, to return slaves to their homes in northern Bahr El Ghazal via the Government garrison town of Aweil were less than successful.
The Civil Commissioners of northern Bahr El Ghazal claim that many of the nearly 200 slaves who were flown to the garrison town at the end of 1999 and early 2000 are still missing. This program was suspended in May 2000 on account of the missing slaves. There has been no independent investigation into their fate. Southern Sudanese community leaders fear they may have been re-abducted or killed.
"The CSI release continued, "Last month, after a two-year break in its slave repatriation program, CEAWC and SCF flew five slave children directly to their home area from northern Sudan, by-passing the government garrison at Aweil town. This small-scale repatriation took place at the beginning of May while the 'Eminent Persons' committee was preparing its report for President Bush."
From the outset, CEAWC has been plagued by serious problems and controversy. Its first attempts, in conjunction with UNICEF and SCF, to return slaves to their homes in northern Bahr El Ghazal via the Government garrison town of Aweil were less than successful.
The Civil Commissioners of northern Bahr El Ghazal claim that many of the nearly 200 slaves who were flown to the garrison town at the end of 1999 and early 2000 are still missing. This program was suspended in May 2000 on account of the missing slaves. There has been no independent investigation into their fate. Southern Sudanese community leaders fear they may have been re-abducted or killed.
"The CSI release continued, "Last month, after a two-year break in its slave repatriation program, CEAWC and SCF flew five slave children directly to their home area from northern Sudan, by-passing the government garrison at Aweil town. This small-scale repatriation took place at the beginning of May while the 'Eminent Persons' committee was preparing its report for President Bush."