March 02, 2008
Sunday

Rep. Les Gara (D-Anchorage) on Thursday called on the state to stop investing in foreign companies that are complicit in the genocide currently occurring in Darfur.  Since 2003 the Sudanese government and paramilitary groups have killed over 200,000 of their own citizens, and jeopardized the lives of 2 million others through displacement.
 
Gara sent a letter to leadership at the Alaska State Permanent Fund Dividend Division, urging the division to halt investment in companies that support the Sudanese government. While a 2007 federal law bans U.S. companies from investments that benefit the Sudanese Government, the Permanent Fund has, to date, continues investing in foreign companies identified by the international community as complicit in the Darfur genocide.
 
"Alaskans aren't interested in having their money stained with blood from genocide," Gara said.
 
Permanent Fund Chairman Mike Burns has to date refused to stop investing in these companies, and has testified that the Permanent Fund intends to continue to make these investments unless blocked by the Legislature or Governor.
 
Gara is a co-prime sponsor on HB 287, which would establish statute to prevent these Permanent Fund investments. He said he is joined by dozens of Alaskan students and other citizens in this effort.

Source of News:

Office of Rep. Les Gara

 

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