Posted on Sun, Jan. 07, 2007

Stopping genocide at the wallet stage

By ADAM STERLING and SAM BELL
Special to the Star-Telegram

The first genocide of the 21st century enters its fourth year with no
end in sight. For four brutal years, the Sudanese government has
successfully silenced the international community while hoarding
foreign investment to fund its military and the brutal militias
seeking to wipe Darfur from the face of the Earth.

Hope does still exist. In October, President Bush signed the Darfur
Peace and Accountability Act (DPAA). This legislation comes at a
crucial moment for the people of Darfur, as 2 million teeter on the
brink of elimination and the government of Sudan has flatly rejected a
multilateral U.N. peacekeeping force.

Bush showed that he won’t be bullied by Sudan. He authorized action
that will hit this genocidal government where it hurts most: the
wallets of its leaders. Provisions in the bill included asset freezes
and a denial of entry at U.S. ports for oil tankers doing business
with the government of Sudan.

In September, Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, both Texas
Republicans, supported the speedy passage of the
DPAA. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, voted for a resolution
calling on the president to appoint a special envoy on Sudan. Texans
should be proud of the important actions that their congressional
delegation have taken.

Now that Texas’ federal legislators have stepped up to the plate, it’s
time for state officials to do the same. If history has taught us one
thing in Sudan, it’s that money talks.

In September, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined former U.S.

Secretary of State George Shultz and actors Don Cheadle and George
Clooney in adopting a targeted divestment policy for California,
barring the state from investing in companies that enable genocide in
Darfur.

To date, five other states and more than 30 U.S. colleges have taken
similar action. Texas should follow suit. As Texas Railroad
Commissioner Michael Williams recently wrote on his Web site in
support of targeted divestment, "Texans can take an unequivocal stand
against genocide and protect the financial health of our investment
portfolios. We ought to get started."

By adopting a targeted divestment policy, Texas can focus its efforts
on the worst-offending companies in Sudan, protecting innocent
civilians on the ground and ensuring that the state’s investment
returns are safeguarded in the process.

In its latest policy briefing on Sudan, the International Crisis Group
— a world-renowned, nonpartisan think tank — called for targeted
divestment as a necessary measure for achieving long-term peace and
security in Darfur.

The Sudanese government, concerned that its genocidal credit line may
be soon cut off, sent out a news release urging U.S. institutions to
stop divesting, claiming that Sudan has entered "a new era of peace
and development."

The continuing murder, rape and pillage of Darfur indicate otherwise.
Jan Egeland, the U.N. emergency relief coordinator, said recently that
violence and insecurity were escalating in Darfur. The Sudanese
government-funded militias "are much better armed, they are more
brutal than ever," he said, "and their potential to do bad is bigger
than ever."

Genocide is an expensive venture that should not occur on our watch
and must not occur on our dime.

Last March, Bush said: "This is serious business. This is not playing
a diplomatic holding game. … When we say genocide, that means
genocide has to be stopped."

It’s time for Texas to stop investing in the carnage of Darfur. This
is a call for heroes to lead that charge.

IN THE KNOW
Read the bill
To read HB419, the bill concerning targeted divestment and Darfur, use the
"Search Legislation" feature at _
( e.tx.us/) .
Select 80(R) for the Legislature from the pull-down menu, and click on
"Word/Phrase," then enter "Darfur" and click on "Go."

Coming Tuesday
Colin Thomas-Jensen, the Africa Advocacy and Resource manager for the
International Crisis Group, on what the crisis in Darfur means to you
— and what you can do about it.

Adam Sterling is the executive director of the Sudan Divestment Task Force.

Sam Bell is the director of advocacy for the Genocide Intervention Network.