Press Releases - Wolf Urges Virginia To Divest Itself From Companies Doing Business In Sudan
WOLF URGES VIRGINIA TO DIVEST ITSELF FROM COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN SUDAN
Calls on Governor Kaine to Direct State to Take Action; General Assembly Leadership Also Urged to Take Up Effort
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10th) today released the attached letter to Governor Tim Kaine calling on the Commonwealth of Virginia to divest itself from companies identified as assisting the current regime in Sudan. Wolf also sent copies of the letter to Lieutenant Governor William Bolling, Virginia State Senators John H. Chichester, Walter A. Stosch, Richard S. Saslaw, and Virginia State Delegates William J. Howell, H. Morgan Griffith, and Frank Hall.
"This matter is of the highest priority relating to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan," Wolf wrote the governor. Wolf, who has traveled to Sudan five times and led the first congressional delegation to visit Darfur, described what he witnessed there as "horrific."
"There is no question that the government of Sudan orchestrated and continues to direct the genocide," he said to the governor. "Bold action is warranted." Wolf urges Virginia to join six other states (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey and Oregon) that have already enacted divestment legislation.
"Targeted divestment from companies doing business in Sudan is an action that should be taken," Wolf said. "The genocide in Sudan can be stopped and it is up to every American to do his or her part. The United States Congress and the president have called it genocide. Therefore, anything that can be done, should be done."
The entire text of the letter is below:
October 12, 2006
The Honorable Tim Kaine
Governor of Virginia
State Capitol
Richmond VA 23219-3416
Dear Governor:
I write today to call on you to direct the Commonwealth of Virginia to take action to divest itself from companies identified as assisting the current regime in Sudan. This matter is of the highest priority relating to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. As you may know, most recently the states of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey and Oregon have moved to divest from companies doing business with Sudan.
For over 20 years the government of Sudan was engaged in a brutal civil war with the people of southern Sudan. This conflict took the lives of over 2 million people. During this time slavery flourished and terrorism took root in Africa. In the 1990's Osama bin Laden took refuge in Sudan and operated terrorist training camps. In 2003, as the war was ending, a conflict in Sudan's Darfur region broke out. The government reacted by arming a militia and beginning a campaign of genocide. That was three years ago. Over 400,000 people have died since and over 2 million continue to be at risk.
I have been to Sudan five times. I led the first congressional delegation to Darfur in 2004. Enclosed is a copy of my trip report. What I witnessed was horrific. There is no question that the government of Sudan orchestrated and continues to direct the genocide. Bold action is warranted. The United Nations is working to try to get desperately needed U.N. troops on the ground but the government of Sudan continues to reject this deployment. Targeted divestment from companies doing business in Sudan is an action that should be taken. The genocide in Sudan can be stopped and it is up to every American to do his or her part. The United States Congress and the president have called it genocide. Therefore, anything that can be done, should be done.
Enclosed is a list of companies that may warrant scrutiny, provided to me by the Sudan Divestment Task Force. I encourage you to review the Commonwealth's pension funds and identify companies which are doing the type of business in Sudan that is aiding the government and fulfilling this genocide, not helping the people. Then I ask that you work with the General Assembly to enact legislation to divest from those companies. I urge Virginia to join the six states that have already passed divestment legislation. California just passed a law earlier this month and its model of targeted divestment limits the scope of companies and investments, providing a good plan for action. We need to send a signal to the government in Khartoum that America and the West will not stand silent in the face of genocide - that the women and children in those camps matter as much to us as our own families.
History will judge our willingness to act. We all must play a part.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Wolf
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable William Bolling
The Honorable John H. Chichester
The Honorable Walter A. Stosch
The Honorable Richard S. Saslaw
The Honorable William J. Howell
The Honorable H. Morgan Griffith
The Honorable Frank Hall
http://www.house.gov/wolf/news/2006/10-12-Darfur.html