Reply #16: I posted a topic today about Burma and the oil companies. [View All]

Oil companies look to exploit Burma

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Oil-companies-look-to-exploit-Burma/2007/09/30/1191090915956.html

September 30, 2007 - 7:14AM

While Burma's military junta cracks down on pro-democracy protests, oil companies are
busy jostling for access to the country's largely untapped natural gas and oil fields.

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Both Total and Chevron have broadly defended their business in the nation.

"To those who ask us to leave the country, we reply that far from solving Myanmar's problems, a forced withdrawal
would only lead to our replacement by other operators probably less committed to the ethical principles guiding
all our initiatives," Jean-Francois Lassalle, vice president of public affairs for Total Exploration & Production,
said this week in a statement.

Earlier this week, French President Nicholas Sarkozy urged Total to refrain from new investment in Burma, prompting
the French concern to say it had not made any capital expenditure there since 1998.

Chevron's interest in the Yadana project is "a long-term commitment that helps meet the critical energy needs
of millions in people in the region," said Nicole Hodgson, corporate media adviser for Asia.

Total and former partner Unocal Corp were accused of being complicit in forcibly relocating people while a pipeline
was being built across Burma to Thailand in the 1990s. They were also accused of using forced labour and cooperating
with the military in creating a militarised zone where rape, torture, murder and other human rights violations occurred.

Both companies have denied the accusations. However, in 2005, prior to being acquired by Chevron, Unocal settled
a lawsuit brought against it in US courts for the alleged abuses.

more at link..


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What Americans (rethugs) are invested in any of these companies? :shrug: