Long Live the Spirit of Floribert Chebeya

We are outraged by the loss of Floribert Chebeya, a champion for human rights and justice in the Congo. Indications are that the repressive Kabila regime is increasingly extinguishing the voices of the people as the regime looks to maintain power by any means.

Listen to Radio France Internationale (RFI) reports on the assassination of Congolese Human Rights activist, Floribert CHEBEYA BAHIZIRE. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1291835&id=1252894080&comments&alert#!/video/video.php?v=402579444658

Mr. Chebeya's assassination is part and parcel of a climate of impunity that pervade Congolese society, which has resulted in the systematic murder of journalists and human rights activists under the regime of Joseph Kabila. An independent investigation with the full participation of civil society and the parliament is a bare minimum.

The Cause of Death of Chebeya to be known in 3 to 5 weeks:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hFs-EjJvIysW4oR4LlwyxF_ZmGGw

Congolese Grassroots Undertake a Month of Activism to Culminate in the Burial of Chebeya on June 30, the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the Congo
http://friendsofthecongo.org/pdf/floribert_en.pdf (English)
http://friendsofthecongo.org/pdf/floribert.pdf (French)

Message From the Human Rights Community of the DRC
http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/pressreleases/chebeya_human_rights_collective.php

A Song For Floribert Chebeya
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdnz65_une-chanson-pour-floribert-chebeya_news

Global Greens Mourn Floribert Chebeya
http://www.globalgreens.org/statements/greens_mourn_chebeya

Congo suspends police chief John Numbi for activist's death
http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2010/06/06/congo_suspends_police_chief_for_activists_death/

STANFORD: New proxy voting policy on conflict minerals

Stanford will vote "yes" on shareholder resolutions asking companies to report their efforts to avoid using "conflict minerals" from Congo Stanford will vote "yes" on shareholder resolutions asking companies to report their efforts to avoid using "conflict minerals" from Congo. The new policy is narrowly drawn and broadly supportive of efforts by electronics companies to address the problem of conflict minerals in their supply chains.

The Stanford University Board of Trustees recently approved a new proxy voting guideline that says the university will vote "yes" on "well-written and reasonable shareholder resolutions that ask companies for reports on their policies and efforts regarding their avoidance of conflict minerals and conflict mineral derivatives."

The 32-member board approved the new guideline at its June 9-10 meeting. "The proxy voting guideline to support resolutions asking companies to address the issue of conflict minerals reflects Stanford's values as a socially responsible investor," said Leslie Hume, the board's chair. "It is narrowly drawn and broadly supportive of efforts by leading technology and electronics companies to address the problem of conflict minerals in their supply chain." The trade in Congo's conflict minerals – tin, tantalite, tungsten and gold, which are used in cell phones, laptops and MP3 players – is a major source of funding for armed groups in eastern Congo whose members commit atrocities against civilians.

Hume applauded students for bringing the issue to the university's attention. "Stanford students, through diligent research and constructive advocacy, played a key role in bringing this issue to the attention of both the university's Advisory Panel on Investment Responsibility and Licensing, and to the board's Special Committee on Investment Responsibility," she said.
The student group is Stanford STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition. The university's Advisory Panel on Investment Responsibility & Licensing unanimously approved the proxy voting guideline in April, and then forwarded it to the Board of Trustees. The advisory panel is composed of 12 people, including four members of the faculty, four students (two undergraduates and two graduate students), two members of the university's staff, and two alumni.
Related information:
Stanford Student Anti-Genocide Coalition
http://www.standnow.org/chapter/stanford
Advisory Panel on Investment Responsibility & Licensing
http://ucomm.stanford.edu/apir/
Investment Responsibility at Stanford: A Brief History
http://ucomm.stanford.edu/apir/history.html
COMMENT: Lisa Lapin, University Communications: (650) 725-8396, lapin@stanfod.edu
Media contact: Kathleen J. Sullivan, Stanford News Service: (650) 724-5708, kathleenjsullivan@stanford.edu