Amnesty accuses oil firms of overriding human rights

[Eugene]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,11319,1564244,00.html

Amnesty accuses oil firms of overriding human rights

Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor
Wednesday September 7, 2005
The Guardian

A consortium of western oil companies, led by ExxonMobil, has drawn
up legal agreements with African governments that potentially override
the human rights of the local populations, according to a report
published today by Amnesty International.

The agreements relate to a 665-mile pipeline running from the Doba
oilfields in Chad to the Atlantic terminal at Kribi in Cameroon.

Andrea Shemberg, an Amnesty legal adviser, said: "The ExxonMobil-led
consortium that operates the pipeline is effectively sidestepping the
rule of law in Chad and in Cameroon. Human rights are not negotiable
items that companies and governments are permitted to eliminate by
contract." ExxonMobil rejected the accusations, insisting that the
company has a record of condemning human rights violations.

Amnesty's 54-page report claims the agreements could require Chad and
Cameroon to give precedence to the interests of the oil companies over
the rights of those living near the pipeline or oilfields. Both
governments could face financial penalties if they interrupt the
workings of the oilfields or pipelines.

more...

[bemildred]

1. Clue: oil firms don't care a fig about human rights, or humans at all. nt

[Sugarbleus]

2. not even in THIS country either...eom

[Judi Lynn]

3. They rejoice that these countries have no democratic structures

in place to allow the people they want to tromp underfoot any kind of protection.

Democracy is the ENEMY of these oil bastards. From the article:

Amnesty said the operation of the oilfields and the pipeline have already led to alleged abuses in which poor farmers in the Doba region have been displaced and refused compensation, while other villagers have been denied access to the only safe water supply....

This is truly unforgiveable. Permanently. They should pray fate doesn't do to them, in time, what they have done to others.

[struggle4progress]

4. kick