London (April 19th, 2007) – Rolls Royce announced yesterday their decision to withdraw from Sudan citing “increasing international humanitarian concerns”. Their decision follows increasing calls for companies to divest from Sudan and exert financial pressure on as the Government of Sudan as the crisis in Darfur worsens.
This news is of particular significance to Aegis Students as Universities, such as the University of Derby whose Students’ Union is set to pass a new policy motion concerning Darfur this month, have signficant investments in companies such as Rolls Royce.
A spokesman for Rolls Royce said “In view of increasing international humanitarian concerns about the situation in Darfur, the company recently reviewed its position and has decided it should discontinue business in Sudan. Rolls Royce will immediately cease to pursue any new business in that country and will progressively withdraw from support arising from previously signed contracts.” He added, “Rolls Royce believe this is a responsible line to adopt in the current circumstances.”
The announcement was made in a letter to Lord Alton of Liverpool who along with Sudan Divestment UK has led calls for financial action by companies and investors as a means of exerting economic pressure on the Government of Sudan. Responding to the letter, Lord Alton welcomed the move and invited others to follow: “Rolls Royce have made the right decision and credit must be paid to them for taking this decisive action. I hope that the remaining companies with problematic operations in Sudan will follow suit.”
Hamish Falconer Director of Sudan Divestment UK, which campaigns for individuals and institutions to divest from Sudan, said “Rolls Royce’s recognition of the genocide in Darfur and the role of multi-national corporations in the continued atrocities, is to be applauded and it is a stark challenge to the other companies whose operations are helping fuel the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Companies can not blinker themselves from the impact they are having on the vulnerable people of Sudan.” He continued, “There is a genocide in Darfur, and it is funded, in large part by the operation of foreign companies. Rolls Royce has sent a message to Khartoum that there is an economic cost for committing genocide.”
Rolls Royce’s decisive action challenges other companies in Europe and elsewhere, such as the UK based Petrofac, French company Schlumberger, Swedish company Lundin Petroleum, as well as those companies based in India, Malaysia and China such as Oil and Natural Gas Company, Petronas and China National Petroleum Corporation, all have operations in Sudan.
