Darfur appeal - UBS must demand an ethical corporate policy from PetroChina/CNPC in Darfur
Sir, We would like to express our deep concern regarding the relationship between UBS and PetroChina (report, Oct 20 ). Darfur has recently been described by the UN as the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. The heavily indebted Government of Sudan relies upon oil revenues to continue supporting its campaign of murder, rape, displacement and atrocities.
UBS will be the lead underwriter for PetroChina’s debut on the Shanghai stock exchange. PetroChina is the listed arm of China National Petroleum Corporation, the largest and most problematic player in Sudan’s oil industry.
We call upon UBS to aggressively engage with PetroChina/CNPC requesting that the company either halt its operations in Sudan or implement a rigorous corporate governance policy that would mitigate the impact of its operations on innocent civilians. Should UBS find PetroChina/CNPC unresponsive, they should withdraw from the public offering.
Elie Wiesel
Nobel Peace Prize 1986
Jody Williams
Nobel Peace Prize 1997 & former head of UN Human Rights Council Mission on
Darfur
Betty Williams
Nobel Prize 1977
Mia Farrow
Actress and Darfur campaigner
Justice Richard Goldstone
A former chief prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunals for Yugoslavia and
Rwanda
Mukesh Kapila
A former UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Sudan 2003-2004
Ruth Messinger
President, American Jewish World Service
Christoph Wiedmer
Director, Society for Threatened Peoples, Switzerland