"It's a miracle, absolutely remarkable, I had no idea Canadians would respond in such a way to this issue," said John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International (CSI) in Zurich, Switzerland.

Since May 1995. Eibner, executive director of the Swiss based humanitarian organization, has directed five fact-finding visits to gather evidence to prove that chattel slavery is a widespread practice encouraged by the Government of Sudan (GOS). The slavery is a by-product of a civil war between the Islamic government ruling in the north and the black African tribes in the south, with black Christians being the principal victims of the raids.

"There are close to 100,000 slaves that have been taken in specific raids," said Eibner who redeemed 58 slaves in November. Those taken captive are seen as state enemies because of their refusal to convert to Islam from their Christian or animist convictions. "It's a jihad, a holy war, those in the south are seen as enemies of Islam and as such may be killed, tortured and enslaved with impunity. If there is no interest in the West, it's conceivable the Islamic regime will be able to carry on it's policies to try and wipe out the Christian faith, "said Eibner. Many taken captive hold deep Christian convictions, and virtually all are women and children.

"You would very much identify with their faith, they claim Jesus Christ as Lord, the faith of the first Christians is active there, they are very simple, but very sincere," said Eibner.

The slaves are considered booty to the unpaid National Islamic Front and are used for domestic labor, sexual exploitation, and tending livestock. CSI works with traders to redeem the slaves for the equivalent market price of a cow, which is usually somewhere between four to five hundred dollars per slave, and then returns the captives to their families and villages.

In a one day appeal to a Canadian audience through 100 Huntley Street television, the slavery issue in the Sudan sparked a financial outpouring which is still being tabulated, but will free at least 50 slaves at a current market cost of $400.00 each.

"I couldn't have sat back when my children have so much," said a Kitchener donor whose cheque was intended to free four slaves. "I didn't think much about it, it just had to be done." Another $1,000 cheque simply had a note attached; "To help those poor Africans."

The Canadian funds will launch a redemption trip to be held in spring of 97, one which if detected by the government of Sudan would certainly be shot down said Eibner.

CSI is appealing to governments to pressure the United Nations into establishing a child tracing scheme in the Sudan to help reunite children and parents. It is also asking the United States to make satellite photos available so those in affected areas would have advance warning of mobilization of the slave train which moves through the north-south borderlands.

The slavery issue in the Sudan seems to have finally been heard in the North America because of a challenge Minister Louis Farrakhan, head of the Nation of Islam gave after visiting Sudan.

"Where is the proof ? If slavery exists, why don't you go as a member of the press, and you look inside Sudan, and if you find it, then you come back and tell the people of America what you found ?" said Farrakhan to a national press gathering.

CSI then assisted Baltimore Sun correspondants Gilbert Lewthwaite and Gregory Kane on a venture where they purchased two young slave boys and returned them to their father. Kane's report includes this challenge from Aleu Akechak Jok, a county commissioner in southern Sudan;

"You have brothers down here who are in darkness, who are stuck in very sticky mud. We need your moral support, material support and, if necessary, physical support to pull us out of this mess. These are people forgotten by the Christian world and by the world community."

Footnote: Christian Solidarity International is the only known agency involved in the slavery redemption work of the Sudan, they can be contacted at CSI International, Zeligstrasses 64, Pf.70, 8122 Binz, Switzerland, Fax 01 980 47 15, Attention: John Eibner.