DC event report/ Total Elf Fina - E

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Subject: Re: DC event report/ Total Elf Fina - Elf retires from Ogoni project

Although Shell and Elf officially pulled out of this project
> this morning (the third partner is Exxon), it was important to
> illustrate the environmental and human rights problems with the Chad
> Cameroon pipeline remain and that the tragedies in the Niger Delta
> cannot be allowed to be repeated anywhere in the world.

monica wilson wrote:
> 
> Washington, DC
> November 10, 1999
> 
> In remembrance of the Ogoni Nine and with the intention of preventing
> this history from being repeated in Chad and Cameroon, 70 marchers
> walked today from Shell offices in downtown Washington, DC to the
> World Bank headquarters. Led by a sign reading "Not Another Niger
> Delta Nightmare," marchers dressed in black carried nine gallows
> followed by nine coffins and banners reading "Africa is not for sale"
> and "Moratorium: Chad Cameroon Pipeline."
> 
> The event began in front of Shell with a mock tribunal of Shell and
> its directors. Witnesses from MOSOP and Amnesty International
> convinced the crowd and passersby to pronounce the company and its
> directors "GUILTY" of crimes against nature and crimes against
> humanity, specifically in the executions of Ken Saro-Wiwa,  Dr.
> Barinem Kiobel, Saturday Dorbee, Paul Levura, Nordu Eawo, Felix Nuate,
> Daniel Gboko, John Kpuinen, and Baribor Bera on November 10, 1995.
> 
> The memorial procession moved quietly through the streets of downtown
> DC, accompanied by a gong and drums. The crowd stopped in a small park
> across from the front of the World Bank, where speakers detailed
> Shell's actions in Nigeria, and warned that if the World Bank approves
> the Chad Cameroon Pipeline project, the same will happen in Chad and
> Cameroon. Although Shell and Elf officially pulled out of this project
> this morning (the third partner is Exxon), it was important to
> illustrate the environmental and human rights problems with the Chad
> Cameroon pipeline remain and that the tragedies in the Niger Delta
> cannot be allowed to be repeated anywhere in the world. Marchers
> delivered a letter from Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney for James
> Wolfensohn, Director of the World Bank. Between speakers, members of
> MOSOP read passages from speeches by Ken Saro-Wiwa.
> 
> After a moment of silence, the event was concluded when the entire
> crowd crossed the street to drop flowers at the doorstep of the World
> Bank.
> 
> Pictures of the event will be found at www.ran.org tomorrow! check
> them out!
> 
> Text of Letter from U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney to James
> Wolfensohn, Director of the World Bank
> _______________________________
> 
> Cynthia McKinney, Member of Congress
> Congress of the United States
> Washington, DC 20515
> 
> November 10, 1999
> 
> The Honorable James D. Wolfensohn
> President of the World Bank Group
> 1818 H Street, NW
> Washington, DC 20433
> 
> Dear Mr. Wolfensohn:
> 
> I am writing in reference to follow up to my letter dated September
> 16,
> 1999, that I have not received a response.  I remain deeply concerned
> by the
> plan under consideration by the World Bank to divert limited aid
> resources
> to help finance the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline.
> 
> The World Bank is currently considering the use of limited aid
> resources to
> subsidize a pipeline project traversing the countries of Chad and
> Cameroon
> after several multinational oil companies operating in Africa have
> requested
> $365 million in financing.  Despite my recent meetings with both the
> Chadian
> government and Amnesty International, I remain disturbed by several
> controversial issues such as human rights abuses and environmental
> damage
> should the pipeline be implemented.  I am particularly worried about
> the
> indisputable fact that the consortium agreement supersedes national
> laws of
> both Chad and Cameroon.
> 
> This project is closely associated with human rights abuses in both of
> these
> countries.  In Chad, two massacres resulting in 180 deaths have been
> reported in the oil field region.  Assurances that Chadian armed
> forces
> mistakenly believed hundreds of innocent civilians were rebels is
> simply not
> plausible.  Torture, beatings, arbitrary arrests and detention are
> common.
> The repressive climate of fear and intimidation is exemplified by the
> recent
> arrest and
> Page 2
> The Honorable James Wolfensohn
> November 10, 1999
> 
> imprisonment of a member of Chad's parliament for questioning the use
> of
> potential oil revenues; restrictions on the freedom of the press;
> abuse of
> environmentalists and the suspension of the activities of human rights
> 
> organizations.  The government of Chad has demonstrated little
> commitment to
> helping the poor, therefore there is little potential that the project
> will
> reduce poverty among the local population.
> 
> In order for the US. to support World Bank projects there has to be
> full
> transparency in regards to military spending.  The government of Chad
> is
> spending some 37% of its GNP on the military sector.  It is
> questionable
> whether this project is eligible for US support given the constraints
> on US
> support for projects in countries where there are large military
> expenditures.
> 
> In Cameroon, the proposed pipeline would likewise play into the hands
> of a
> government marred by corruption and human rights violations.  On
> November 5,
> 1999, Cameroon was ranked the most corrupt nation in the world by an
> independent NGO, Transparency International.  This report alone should
> raise
> serious reservations in any funding project for Cameroon.
> 
> Therefore, I respectfully request the World Bank to investigate the
> human
> rights abuses associated with the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, and take
> measures
> to guarantee the safety of civilians living in the region.  The World
> Bank
> needs to respect the requests of civil society groups in Chad and
> Cameroon
> and place a moratorium on this project until there is a legal
> framework in
> place to protect the rights of local people and prevent environmental
> damage.  Currently, there are no adequate guarantees for safety.  In
> the oil
> consortium's Environmental Impact Assessment consisting of nineteen
> volumes,
> there is not a site specific oil spill response plan.  Furthermore,
> although
> the pipeline has been re-routed to avoid environmentally sensitive
> areas,
> Cameroon has failed to protect many of the local forests, including a
> world
> heritage site, despite receiving international funds to address this
> issue.
> 
> To guarantee that the local populations benefit from the project, the
> World
> Bank should establish an effective monitoring system to track
> Page 3
> The Honorable James Wolfensohn
> November 10, 1999
> 
> revenue spending and help build accountable government institutions
> through
> the funding of judicial, legal and tax reforms.  As long as such
> institutions are not in place, the Chad-Cameroon pipeline will do
> little
> good; rather, it will divert World Bank money from other needed
> health,
> education and poverty alleviation projects.  If this pipeline receives
> World
> Bank funding, revenues which benefit other sectors such as education
> and
> health are not expected for 3-5 years at the earliest.  It seems as if
> the
> World Bank's commitment to poverty alleviation in Chad is clouded by
> potential oil revenues.
> 
> I hope that you will have occasion to re-evaluate this project, and I
> am
> eager to hear how you plan to address the concerns expressed in this
> letter.
> Thank you very much for your consideration.
> 
> Sincerely,
> f
> Cynthia McKinney
> Member of Congress
> 
> CAM/jcf
> 
> CC:  The Honorable Larry Summers, Secretary of Treasury
> 
> __________
> Monica Wilson
> Essential Action
> www.essentialaction.org