CHURCHES should not invest in companies that play a direct or indirect part in prolonging the conflict in Sudan, the Church Investors Group (CIG) said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Group welcomed the plans of the Sudan Divestment movement for targeted divestment as the basis for its response to the Global Day of Action, held last month to mark the fifth anniversary of the civil war in Sudan.
The chairman of CIG, John Cunningham, said companies were turning a blind eye to murder, rape, and other atrocities. “The churches cannot be silent in such a situation,” he said. “Churches are substantial investors, and as such wish to use any influence they might have to assist the oppressed and those whose lives are being dehumanised by the actions of people who are directly or indirectly supported by companies and governments which focus on immediate commercial gain.”
The statement from CIG welcomes the differentiation made by Sudan Divestment between companies engaged in supplying military equipment or the development of oil reserves that helped to buy military equipment, and companies whose activities did not directly support the government.
The campaign is targeting two UK-listed companies with activities in Sudan: Petrofac and White Nile Petroleum. The statement said that other UK-based groups were already moving out: “Weir Group has announced plans to withdraw from Sudan, and as such is no longer actively targeted. AMEC and Rolls-Royce have also recently withdrawn from Sudan. There have also been a number of high-profile European withdrawals, including ABB and Siemens.”
The China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation; ONGC (India); and Petronas (Malaysia) came in for severe criticism.
A spokesman for Petrofac said it was taking action to meet the Sudan Divestment criteria. White Nile Petroleum had not responded by Wednesday. |
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