SUDAN INTER-AGENCY REFERENCE GROUP (CANADA) 
 
STATEMENT IN ADVANCE OF THE RELEASE OF THE 'HARKER REPORT' 
 
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) 
 
____________________ 
Distributed bySudan Infonet:  An information and education service of the Sudan 
Working Group -- USA 
SudanInfonet@cs.com 
Web Site:  http://members.tripod.com/SudanInfonet