WHEREAS,
in February 2003, rebel groups in the Darfur region of Sudan ignited tension in
the region by attacking government targets, citing anger over chronic
inequalities between ethnic Africans and the ruling Arab elite; and
WHEREAS,
the government of Sudan responded to the uprising by arming local militias and
launching a military and police campaign to control the rebel groups, a
campaign that has escalated into what many observers claim is an attempt by the
Sudanese government to rid the area of ethnic Africans; and
WHEREAS,
since that time, Darfur has lost an incalculable number of its citizens as a
result of the Sudanese government continuing to support and assist the
Janjaweed militia in a campaign that has included routine torching of villages,
killing and maiming men, looting of food supplies, and systematic raping women
and children; and
WHEREAS,
an estimated 2.5 million people have fled their homes in Darfur
since the conflict began in 2003; and
WHEREAS,
while the African Union has made some effort to stop the crisis by mandating
the deployment of troops to the Darfur region, it has said that it does not
have enough funding to continue the operation for much longer; and
WHEREAS,
refugees, who have fled mostly to neighboring Chad, depend on food aid from
international donors, but the donors are finding it increasingly difficult and
sometimes impossible to deliver help due to the continuing violence; and
WHEREAS,
a United Nations report accuses government leaders of implementing a covert “forced
starvation” policy while militias prevent food delivery; and
WHEREAS,
any investments by the State of Delaware or Delaware companies in the Sudan could enable the Sudanese
government.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE
IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 144th
General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor,
that we condemn the genocide occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan and urge
President George W. Bush and the Delaware Congressional Delegation to continue
to work with the international community to halt these human rights violations,
to impose appropriate economic sanctions, and to bring humanitarian assistance
and lasting peace to the Darfur region.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Delaware Public Employees Retirement System
should divest from foreign companies that have a business relationship with the
government of Sudan, fail to
support Sudanese civilians, fail to have a corporate governance policy
regarding Darfur and are unresponsive to
shareholder engagement.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be sent to President George
W. Bush, the members of the Delaware Congressional Delegation and all state and
local Chambers of Commerce.
.
