Alaska takes action against genocide
'Save Darfur' organization pushes Alaska legislators to act
Roger Baty II
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: News
Concerned Alaska citizens are wondering why the Alaska Permanent Fund persists with investments in six companies that operate within Sudan, following federal law that restricts Americans investing in Sudanese companies. President George W. Bush has also diverged from the United Nations outlook on the situation in Darfur, calling it "genocide."
The companies are not Sudan -owned but operate within its boarders, paying taxes and fees to the African nation. They include Chinese state-owned PetroChina, French construction firm Alstom, British oil services provider PetroFac Finnish power provider Wartsila Swedish oil drilling corporation, Lundin, and a subsidiary of PetroChina called Petroleum Corporation Hong Kong.
On Feb. 28, Alaska Rep. Les Gara voiced his objections over the permanent fund's investment in a region impacted by government-enabled genocide.
"Alaskans aren't interested in having their money stained with blood from genocide," Gara said.
He addressed a letter to Mike Burns, executive director of the permanent fund, asking that Burns take action to divest from the six companies operating in Sudan. Gara refers to House Bill 287, saying it "asks for targeted divestment from foreign companies, as U.S. law prohibits American companies from engaging in complicit conduct with the Sudanese military."
"Since 2003, the Sudanese government has killed, or allowed the killing of over 200,000 of its own people, and uprooted close to two million more," Gara said in the letter.
If House Bill 287 passes, Alaska will join 21 states that have enacted similar legislation.
According to an Alaska State Legislature press release, Burns has refused to stop investing in these companies, and has testified that the permanent fund intends to continue making these investments unless blocked by the Legislature or governor.
Burns did not return calls requesting a comment.
Max Croes, advocacy associate of the Sudan Divestment Task Force - based in Washington D.C. - explains that Federal law prohibits American investment in Sudanese companies, but not in foreign companies that operate within Sudan.
The companies are not Sudan -owned but operate within its boarders, paying taxes and fees to the African nation. They include Chinese state-owned PetroChina, French construction firm Alstom, British oil services provider PetroFac Finnish power provider Wartsila Swedish oil drilling corporation, Lundin, and a subsidiary of PetroChina called Petroleum Corporation Hong Kong.
On Feb. 28, Alaska Rep. Les Gara voiced his objections over the permanent fund's investment in a region impacted by government-enabled genocide.
"Alaskans aren't interested in having their money stained with blood from genocide," Gara said.
He addressed a letter to Mike Burns, executive director of the permanent fund, asking that Burns take action to divest from the six companies operating in Sudan. Gara refers to House Bill 287, saying it "asks for targeted divestment from foreign companies, as U.S. law prohibits American companies from engaging in complicit conduct with the Sudanese military."
"Since 2003, the Sudanese government has killed, or allowed the killing of over 200,000 of its own people, and uprooted close to two million more," Gara said in the letter.
If House Bill 287 passes, Alaska will join 21 states that have enacted similar legislation.
According to an Alaska State Legislature press release, Burns has refused to stop investing in these companies, and has testified that the permanent fund intends to continue making these investments unless blocked by the Legislature or governor.
Burns did not return calls requesting a comment.
Max Croes, advocacy associate of the Sudan Divestment Task Force - based in Washington D.C. - explains that Federal law prohibits American investment in Sudanese companies, but not in foreign companies that operate within Sudan.
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