Statement in Advance of the Release of the Harker Report

Press release from the Sudan Inter-Agency Reference Group (Canada)

NGOs express concern over delays in release of the Harker report

February 10, 2000

Members of the Sudan Inter-Agency Reference Group (see list below) are
deeply concerned about the Canadian government's delay in the public release
of the 'Harker report'. Mr. Harker was commissioned last fall by Lloyd
Axworthy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to lead a fact-finding mission to
Sudan to, among other tasks, assess allegations of forced population
removals in the oil fields, including those occupied by Talisman Energy Inc.

The Harker report was delivered to Mr. Axworthy on Jan. 27. Although a copy
has been given to Talisman (the subject of the report's scrutiny), it has
still not been released to the Canadian public (whose taxes have paid for
the mission and the report) and no date of release has been announced.

This situation is unacceptable and is an especially disturbing signal in
light of the minister's pledge in October to take active measures in the
event of findings linking oil development to heightened war activity and
violations of international humanitarian law.

We are confident that the Harker report will corroborate the findings of the
United Nations special investigator for Sudan, Mr. Leonardo Franco, and the
many journalists (including Canadian) and aid workers that have cited
violent population removals resulting in the killing, maiming and rape of
many Sudanese civilians, including women and children.

In a report to the UN last year, Mr. Franco said the "long-term efforts by
the various governments of the Sudan have included a policy of forcible
population displacement in order to clear oil producing areas and
transportation routes" of civilians thought to support armed Sudanese
groups. He added that the Khartoum government has used "bombers, helicopter
gunshots and artillery against unarmed civilians" in the oil fields.

We are also concerned that inappropriate changes are being made to the draft
report and have filed a request under Access to Information legislation to
obtain a copy of the original.

Members of the Sudan Inter-Agency Reference Group supported the actions
taken by Minister Axworthy in October.  We continue to support the steps
Canada is taking to strengthen the IGAD peace process.  Individual
Canadians, through support of our organizations, are contributing their own
resources to provide direct assistance to the people of Sudan and work for
peace.  We cannot allow these efforts to be undermined by the exploitation
of Sudan's oil resources, including by company's like Talisman, which
clearly serves to intensify the conflict.

In light of the evidence, we call on the Government of Canada to assume its
responsibility and take the following steps without delay:

1. Immediately release the Harker report, in its original form, to the
Canadian public.

2. Immediately and publicly, state unequivocally that the flow of oil from
Sudan should stop until there is peace, and an all-party agreement about the
use of revenues from oil development.  Human security and peace take
precedence over profits from oil development.

3. Make public the results of the government's internal review of all
options under existing legislation, such as the Special Emergency Measures
Act, that can be used in the Talisman case, so Canadians can evaluate the
review for themselves.

4. Immediately take a leadership role, in the Security Council and through
other relevant multilateral diplomatic channels, to seek international
measures to stop the flow of oil from Sudan until there is a peace agreement.

5. While these actions are being taken and until specific measures are
applied, take responsibility for intensive scrutiny and public monitoring of
the operations of Canadian companies, such as Talisman, and their impact on
human security in Sudan.

6. Strike a working group of experts to review and recommend legal
instruments which could be made available to government(s) to curtail the
negative effects of private sector involvement in complex emergencies around
the world.

Endorsed by the following organizations (with contact information for each):

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)
        (Contact: Carol Dixon 613-228-2805)
Christian Solidarity International - Canada
        Glen Pearson (519-472-3058)
Freedom Quest International
        Mel Middleton (403-238-2500)
Inter-Church Coalition on Africa
        Gary Kenny (416-927-1124)
Mennonite Central Committee
        Chris Derksen Hiebert (519- 699-9282)
Primates World Relief and Development Fund - Anglican Church of Canada
        Zaida Bastos (416-924-9192)
Steelworkers Humanity Fund
        Gerry Barr (416- 487-1571)
United Church of Canada
        Lee Holland (416-231-7680 Ext. 5156)
World Vision Canada
        Beth Fellows (905-821-3030)

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