CORRECTED VERSION OF TOTAL ALERT

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

** Topic: Total Action Alert **
** Written  3:57 PM  Nov  6, 1995 by pwellner in
cdp:soc.cult.burma **
ACTION ALERT    ACTION ALERT
 
 
DAVID ARNOTT'S RE-WORKING OF THE FRENCH TEXT.
 
THE FRENCH TEXT POSTED BY PAM WELLNER CONTAINED A NUMBER OF
MISTAKES AND LEFT OUT AN IMPORTANT CLAUSE. THE CHAIRMAN AND CEO
OF TOTAL IS NOW THIERRY DESMAREST, NOT SERGE TCHURUK. I HAVE
ADDED THE MOST RECENT ADDRESS I HAVE. THE PRESENT TEXT IS NOT ALL
THAT ELEGENT, BUT IS AT LEAST COHERENT.
 
DAVID ARNOTT 
7 NOV 95
  
 
 
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, Tour
Total, 24, Cours Michelet Cedex 47, 92069, Paris, La Defense,
France
 
Board Members (Membres du Conseil d'Administration):
 
Monsieur Thierry Desmarest, Monsieur Francois-Xavier Ortoli,
Monsieur Guy Arlette (French government representative), Monsieur
Bernard Esambert, Monsieur Michel Francois-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 de la societe
Total.
 
La region traversee est une zone de guerre avec guerrilla, et des
employes de Total y ont 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 est traversee par le gazoduc ne sont ni
consultes ni dedommages.  Beaucoup d'entre eux sont expulses de
leur terres et de leurs villages par la force quand le regime
assure la securite de la route du gazoduc.
 
Le gazoduc met en danger les especes rares et la foret
tropicale, et la Birmanie n'a aucune loi de protection de
l'environnement.  Les mesures de securite prises par l'armee
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 gazoduc.
 
La route du gazoduc traverse une region seismique jonchee de
mines. Ce projet ne va apporter benefice pratique ni financier a
Total.  Au contraire, cela a noirci l'image publique de la
societe Total, qui se trouve identifiee aux violations des droits
de 'homme en Birmanie.  Etant donne que Total est aujourdhui le
principal investisseur etranger en birmanie, cette societe est
percue comme le soutien d'une junte condamnee par les Nations
Unies et par l'Union europeenne.  Apres six ans de detention, le
prix nobel de la paix Aung San Suu Kyi a reclame la pursuite des
campagnes contre la junte.
 
Nous vous prions d'exercer 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,