We can only estimate, but we think the slaves may number 100E000. We have freed 20E000 so far.
Some slave masters have hundreds of slaves – chattel slaves. They are kept like cattle. Others are kept in what the government euphemistically calls peace camps. International aid organisations are aware of these camps. They send food there, but they don’t talk about it. What they should notice is that in these peace camps there are hardly any men, only women. But unfortunately these big organisations have to work there with the consent of the Sudanese government, so they don’t talk.
Many of the slaves are recruited from these peace camps. Beautiful women and strong boys are taken away and no one asks questions -they just disappear. Unicef, Save the Children and some of the organisations which work with the World Food Programme are well aware of these peace camps.
The solution must come from politicians; we are only a human rights organisation. One solution would be to hold a referendum in Southern Sudan and ask the people whether they want self-determination. In the immediate future, there could be an international investigation of the system of slavery that exists in Southern Sudan. And the international organisations perpetuating the situation should be taken to task. The depopulation of Southern Sudan should be ended. The scandal must be raised at the United Nations. There must be a two- pronged approach – a political campaign and a campaign of information. This is why we always take independent journalists from reputable organisations along whenever we go to redeem slaves.
We first heard of slavery in Sudan through rumours. But in 1994, we realised during a trip to Sudan that there is slavery and that people, in rare cases, are able to buy the slaves back. They were collecting money for this; it was a practice that was in existence. In 1995 we had our first slave redemption trip, which was filmed by ZDF German TV. Through an Arab retriever, we were able to free 15 slaves. That was the beginning.
We decided this was something we must do something about as our Christian duty. It slowly built up, and last time we bought back 5E000. It became a problem because to pay for all these slaves – 15, no problem; at the beginning of last year, it was 1E000 – again, no problem. But now 5E000 – that becomes difficult, but we trust the Lord is going to lead us through.
We can continue because the number of slaves which the retrievers can bring back is not exploding indefinitely – and we hope that through donations we will be able to continue. Of course, the Sudanese government pretends that there is no such thing as chattel slavery but only abduction of people which happens in rare cases between one tribe and another. But that is not what happens actually – we know that people are raided and sold like cows and goats.
Our critics say that buying people is morally wrong. Of course we think it’s not the best thing to do, but we also believe that it’s much worse to leave these people in bondage and slavery and humiliation and rape, et cetera, and do nothing. Of course in the end we seek to abolish slavery.
We’ve got a long way to go, but if we think back, how long did it take to abolish slavery in Europe and America? It took about 100 years but in the end I am absolutely sure we shall reach the goal. It’s not possible – slavery is simply not going to be tolerated in this century.