Hawaii moves against investments in Sudan

Feb 7, 2007 (HONOLULU) — A legislative proposal would force the state to withdraw investments from Sudan. It’s an effort to help stop genocidal violence in the Darfur region.

The bill to get the Legislature to take a stand on an international issue would require the Hawaii Employees’ Retirement System to stop doing business with companies that have active business operations in Sudan. The measure passed its second House committee today.

It’s unclear what companies — if any — the retirement system has invested in that do business with the Sudanese government.

The retirement program for state and county employees has a wide range of investments with assets of more than nine (b) dollars as of June 2005.

(AP)