NEWS: Unocal's Imle Out, Burma Poli

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Subject: NEWS: Unocal's Imle Out, Burma Policy to Change?


For Immediate Release:

No Petro-Dollars for SLORC

UNOCAL CHIEF OUT:  
BURMA PIPELINE POLICY TO CHANGE?

Los Angeles, August 3, 1999 -- Oil giant Unocal has announced the
departure of its Vice Chairman, John Imle. Imle was the architect of
Unocal's ill-fated Burma pipeline project, and his departure may lead to a
re-evaluation of the company's controversial partnerhip with Burma's
military junta.

Imle was a staunch defendant of the company's involvment in Burma despite
his own acknowledgement of the Burmese military's use of forced labor on
their gas pipeline and other abuses inflicted on local people living in
the pipeline proximity. He told human rights advocates, "If forced labor
goes hand and glove with the military, yes, there will be more forced
labor. For every threat to the pipeline there will be a reaction."

Imle often defended the project despite US government condementation of
the regime and the eventual implemention of US santions against it.  He
and Unocal are currently being sued in Federal Court for alleged human
rights violations connected to Unocal's partnership with Burma's military
junta.

"Imle was warned that its partnership with the Burmese junta would lead to
human rights violations.  This turned out to be true, even confirmed by
the US Department of Labor," says Dr. Pye Nyein of the National League for
Democracy, LA.  "Imle was also told that their project was financially
unviable, given the corrupt business climate in Burma, and the regional
glut of natural gas.  That is also shown to be true.  Perhaps that is why
Mr. Imle is without a job now."

The $1.2 billion Yadana project was due to start piping natural gas from
Southern Burma into Thailand in July, 1998.  Now it appears that the gas
will not flow in contracted amounts until 2000 at the earliest, despite a
assurance to shareholders in May that it would start this month.

Even the 2000 starting date is uncertain:  A new electricity generating
plant in Ratchaburi, Thailand, is the only customer for the Yadana gas.
But the plant is not complete, and its owner, State-owned Electricity
Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), desperately short of cash, is

seeking to make it the first privatized EGAT facility in the country.  
EGAT's powerful employees union has vowed to block the privatization,
darkening the prospects for any quick resolution.

Unocal shares have declined nearly 10% in recent weeks.  Rising
uncertainty over its Burma partnership and a lack of success in other
Asian projects are thought to be among the negative factors.

Contact:  Pam Wellner, No Petro Dollars for SLORC, 415-695-1956
END