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Sudan Tribune

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British opposition parties back Sudan divestment campaign

April 27, 2007 (LONDON) — British main opposition parties, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, backed moves for companies to withdraw from the country, stepping up pressure on companies to leave Sudan.

Shadow International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesman, Michael Moore, along with backbenchers from across the political divide, expressed support for Sudan Divestment UK and asked the Government to look into ways of changing the behaviour of national and international businesses in the face of continuing atrocities in Darfur.

The call comes in an Early Day Motion and follows the decision taken by Rolls Royce last week to “progressively withdraw” its activities from Sudan on the grounds of “increasing international humanitarian concerns”.

London and Washington have threatened to impose tougher sanctions and a no-fly zone on the Government of Sudan unless Khartoum allows peacekeepers into the war-torn region where more than 200,000 people have died, two million people have fled their homes and 90 per cent of the villages have been razed to the ground.

Earlier this year, two other European companies responded to the crisis in Darfur by pulling out of Sudan . Swiss power giant ABB announced its decision to suspend all non-humanitarian operations in the country. In January, Siemens – one of Germany’s largest companies – decided to pull out of Sudan, making reference to the deteriorating situation in Darfur and pressure from divestment groups.

Hamish Falconer, Director of Sudan Divestment UK, a body which campaigns for businesses to change or sever their commercial links with Sudan, welcomed the commitment to Darfur that the frontbench shadow ministers and others demonstrated in signing the EDM.

Falconer stated, “This parliamentary support presents a clear challenge to the remaining British companies – The Weir Group and Petrofac – who continue their involvement in Sudan’s oil industry, which has fuelled and financed this century’s first genocide.”

(ST)

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