New Reports Link Total and Chevron to Human Rights Abuses, Corruption in Burma
September 10, 2009, Bangkok, Thailand -- EarthRights International (ERI) released two reports today linking oil giants Total and Chevron to forced labor, killings, high-level corruption and authoritarianism in military-ruled Burma (Myanmar). For the first time, ERI reveals that the military regime is hiding multi-billion dollar revenues from natural gas sales in two offshore banks in Singapore.
Press Release (PDF): English | Burmese
Read The Reports
Press Coverage
English Language Media
AFP | Reuters | BBC | Bangkok Post | The Independent | The Australian | Voice of America
Burma junta 'siphoned off Yadana cash' , Upstreamonline.com, September 10, 2009
Junta has ‘stolen billions’ in gas revenue, The National, Larry Jagan, September 12, 2009
Industry Impact: Oil-equities benchmark falls back from new high for 2009, Market Watch, September 11, 2009
Report: Oil Companies Prop Up Myanmar, Offical Wire, September 11, 2009
Myanmar allegations highlight Singapore bank secrecy , AFP, September 15, 2009
Reactions from Banks & Oil Companies
Oil giant Total's presence in Myanmar is "positive": CEO, DPA, September 11, 2009
Excerpt:
'Total's mission is not to restore democracy in the world. That is not our profession,' Margerie said in the interview with readers of the daily. He also said that Total had no plans to leave Myanmar.
But ERI did not call on Total and Chevron to divest from Myanmar, but to publish all their payments to the country's authorities since 1992, when the contract was signed.
Margerie did not respond to that demand. Nor did he address another demand by ERI, to acknowledge that forced labour was used with the pipeline, which passes from the Andaman Sea over 65 kilometers of Myanmar into Thailand.
Total staying put in Burma, Upstreamonline.com, September 11, 2009
Total rejects accusation it props up Myanmar regime, AFP, September 11, 2009
Singapore banks reject Myanmar junta cash report , AFP, September 11, 2009
Total Defends its Business in Burma AP, September 11, 2009
French Language Media
Liberation.fr
Si Total en avait la volonte, elle pourrait initer des changements reels en Birmanie, by Arnaud Vaulerin September 29, 2009
En Birmanie, la junte pompe l’argent de Total September 10, 2009
Une dictature qui se rit des sanctions, September 10, 2009
L’image, une obsession pour Total, September 10, 2009
Bakchich: Total travaille en silence en Birmanie , September 20, 2009
Bakchich: Margerie, le discours (birman) de la méthode, September 12, 2009
Le Monde September 10, 2009
Radio Interview: Total et Chevron de nouveau accusés d'enrichir la junte, September 10, 2009
Total épinglé en Birmanie... et ailleurs, L'EXPRESS, September 10, 2009
Total n’est ni un outil politique ni une ONG, Le Parisien, September 11, 2009
Total : Ch. de Margerie revient sur la Birmanie et le baril. , Cercle Finance, September 11, 2009
Total, sponsor de la junte birmane ?, Metrofrance, September 10, 2009
5 jours en enfer pour Julie, Total encore sur la sellette en Birmanie, la triche au PS : ambiance "Tontons flingueurs", September 10, 2009
Birmanie: Total dénonce le rapport "à charge" d'une ONG américaine , September 10, 2009
Total et Chevron mis en cause pour leur soutien au régime birman, Newstin, September 10, 2009
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