Total Action Alert

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ACTION ALERT    ACTION ALERT

The following is a letter that has been translated for Project
Maje by Info Birmanie, a French Burma activist organization.  It
should be sent to the following members of Total's Board of
Directors.  Please excuse the French version, accents were lost in
the email transmission, if you know French please add them, or
send without.

Total's address:

Board Member c/o Total S.A.-- Conseil d'Administration 24, cours
Michelet 92800 Puteaux, France

Board Members (Membres du Conseil d'Administration):

Monsieur Serge Tchuruk Monsieur Fran ois-Xavier Ortoli Monsieur
Guy Arlette (French government representative) Monsieur Bernard
Esambert Monsieur Michel Fran ois-Poncet Monsieur Jean Syrota
Monsieur Antoine Jeancourt-Galignani Monsieur Jean Peyrelevade
Monsieur Jerome Monod Monsieur Jean-Claude Preval (French
government representative)

French version

Cher Monsieur________

Je vous ecris pour protester fermement contre le projet de
construction d'un gazoduc au sud de la Birmanie del societe Total.
La region traversee est une zone de guerre avec guerilla, et des
employes de Total y one deja perdu leur vie.  Tous les contrats
ont ete faits sous la loi de l'Etat birman et avec le Conseil de
restauration de l'ordre, une junte violente.  Les peuples
indigenes dont la terre et traversee par le gazoduc ne sont pas
consultes ou dedommages.  Beaucoup ont ete expulses de leur terres
et de leurs villages pa la force car le regime assure la securite
de la route du gazoduc.

Le gazoduc met en danger les especes sauvages et la foret
tropicale, et la Birminie n'a aucune loi de protection de
l'environnement.  Les mesures de securite prises par l'arme
birmane ont ete violentes et on a eu recours a l'esclavage pour la
construction de routes et des bases militaires dans la region du
gazudoc.

La route du gazoduc traverse une region sismique jonchee de mines.
Ce projet ne va apporter benefice pratique ni de profit financier
a Total.  Au contraire, cela de l'homme en Birminie.  Parce
qu'aujourd'hi Total est le premier investisseur etranger de regime
birman, cette societe est per ue comme le soutien d'une junte
condamnee par les Nations Unies et l'Union europeenne.  Apres six
ans de detention, le prix nobel de la paix Aung San Suu Kyi a
appele a la continuation des campagnes contre la junte.

Nous vous prions d'user de votre meilleure influence aupres de la
societe Total, pour mettre un terme a ces odieux investissements
en Birmanie.

------------------------------------------------------ English
Translation

Dear Mr. _____________,

I am writing to strongly object to the construction of a gas
pipeline in the south of Burma by Total.  The region crossed  by
the pipeline is a guerrilla war zone, and employees of Total have
already lost their lives there.  All of the contracts have been
made under Burmese government law, with the State Law and Order
Restoration Council, a brutal junta.  The indigenous people whose
land is crossed by the pipeline have not been consulted, nor
compensated.  Many have been forced from their lands and villages
as the regime secures the route for the pipeline.

The pipeline endangers rare species and tropical forest, and Burma
does not have any environmental protection laws.  Security
measures by the Burmese Army have been violent, and are using
slave labor for the construction of roads, and military bases in
the pipeline region.  Additionally, the route of the pipeline
crosses an earthquake zone full of land mines.

This project will not bring any practical benefit or financial
profit to Total.  On the contrary, it has brought about an image
problem, as Total has been identified with violations of human
rights in Burma.  Because Total is currently the prime foreign
investor with the Burmese regime, the company is perceived to be
involved with a junta condemned by the United Nations and the
European Union.  After six years of detention, the Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has appealed for the continuation
of campaigns against the junta.

We request that you use your best influence with Total to put an
end to this odious investment in Burma.

Sincerely yours,