Madam, - Ronan Tynan's letter in Wednesday's edition could not have been more relevant or more timely. The patronage of China undoubtedly offers a measure of protection to the Sudanese government and has played a crucial role in the continuing genocide in Darfur.
China, however, is not alone: Russian weapons firms, Indian oil firms and Malaysian energy conglomerates have played a significant role in funding the government. Companies from Italy, France, Switzerland and Sweden also continue to hold interests in the country. Most, if not all, trade shares on the global market.
Sudan's economy has boomed while the violence has continued, growing by 7 per cent in 2005, and projected to grow almost 9 per cent this year. Meanwhile, massacre, displacement and starvation are suffered by millions of its citizens.
Only external pressure can force the Government to alter its murderous policies. US sanctions in the 1990s had a crucial effect on changing Sudan's attitude to international terrorism. Further economic pressure is now needed to force it to desist from terror at home.
We the undersigned are appalled by international inaction on Darfur, and are committed to halting the genocide there. To this end, and in collaboration with the Genocide Intervention Network and with campaigns in the US, we have formed a campaign to investigate Irish investments in Sudan and to urge targeted divestment from companies that supply revenue to Khartoum, provide minimal benefit (or actual harm) to Sudanese citizens, or have no corporate policy with regard to halting the genocide.
In America, divestment campaigns have convinced many trust funds, pension plans and university endowments to divest holdings from businesses complicit in the genocide, and have played a substantial role in turning public concern into political pressure.
It is our sincere hope that investors here in Ireland will come to see targeted divestment from Sudan as an ethical and economic necessity, and will take action accordingly. It is to this small but urgent change that we are committed. - Yours, etc,
NIAMH COLEMAN,
BRIDIN BRACKEN,
COLM O'DOWD,
ROBERT MURPHY,
JEFFREY O'CONNELL,
JOSEPH COLEMAN,
NIALL MEANY,
MICHAEL MCCARTHY,
JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM,
SIOBHAN BRACKEN,
TONY GALVIN,
SEAN COLEMAN,
Sudan Divestment
Campaign - Ireland,
Brian Avenue,
Marino,
Dublin 3.