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French MPs recommend that Totalfina



NOTE FROM DAVID ARNOTT.

THIS SEEMS IMPORTANT. I HAVE MADE A LOOSE TRANSLATION OF  THE TWO
PARAGRAPHS AND MESSED ABOUT WITH THE INTRODUCTION

Original message from  "Michel Diricq" <michel3392@xxxxxxxxxxx>


14 October 1999

French MPs recommend that Total pull out of Yadana


The MPs making up the French Commission of Inquiry into oil & gas companies
gave a press 
conference this morning and presented their final conclusions.

According to the MPs, TOTAL and UNOCAL did not  use forced labour for the 
building of the pipeline, but have benefitted from forced labor.

For this reason, the Parliamentary Commission has expressed an unfavourable 
opinion concerning the presence of TOTALFINA in Burma.

Accoording to the French MPs, it would be advisable to freeze this 
investment.


Official Report (unofficial translation) : ?Oil and ethics: can they be
reconciled?

p 101
"The Commission considers that Total and UNOCAL did not intentionally use
forced labour in the construction of the gas pipeline, but that they have
directly benefitted from it due to the militarisation of the area.  For
this reason the Commission does not approve of Total?s presence in Burma? 

p 107
"Things have not improved. The presence of foreign companies in this kind
of situation is undesirable both for the future of Burmese democracy as
well as for the image of the companies concerned. The presence in Burma of
the world?s fourth largest oil company damages the image of France as well
as the reputation of  the company in the world. The company's size makes it
extremely visible and exposes it to boycott campaigns. Now would be a good
time to pull out of this investment, given that the Rachaburi power station
is still not operating.

*********************

Official report : "Pétrole et éthique : une conciliation possible ?"

page 101 
"La mission estime que Total et Unocal n'ont pas volontairement utilisé le 
travail forcé pour la construction du gazoduc mais en ont directement 
bénéficié en raison de la militarisation de la zone. Pour cette raison, la 
délégation n'est pas favorable à l'implantation de Total en Birmanie."

page 107 
"La situation n'évolue donc pas, la présence d'entreprises étrangères dans 
un tel contexte est loin d'etre souhaitable tant pour l'avenir de la 
démocratie birmane que pour leur image. La présence du quatrième pétrolier 
mondial en Birmanie est actuellement dommageable pour l'image de la France 
comme pour celle de ce groupe dans le monde. Sa taille accroit sa visibilité 
et sa vulnérabilité aux opérations de boycott. Il serait opportun qu'un tel 
investissement soit figé d'autant que la centrale de Rachaburi en thailande 
ne fonctionne toujours pas."


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