'Total climbdown' in Burma case welcomed

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE BURMA CAMPAIGN UK FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TUESDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 2005 TOTAL CLIMBDOWN ON BURMA COURT CASE The Burma Campaign UK welcomed today's news of a climbdown by TOTAL Oil ­ which was being sued in French courts over its involvement in forced labour in Burma. Total has agreed to set up a £3.5 million humanitarian fund in an out of court settlement. Horrific human rights abuses were committed during the construction of TOTAL¹s pipeline in Burma. ³It is a humiliation for TOTAL² said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. ³It shows that they are feeling the pressure of the international campaign to persuade them to pull out of Burma. If they think that this agreement will help take the pressure off, they are making a big mistake.² Campaigners pledged that the settlement would have no impact on the campaign to get TOTAL to withdraw from Burma. TOTAL face the largest campaign against any company operating in Burma, active in more than 18 countries. The company has also been facing pressure from investors. ³The £3.5 million humanitarian fund is tiny compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars that TOTAL pumps into Burma¹s military dictatorship², said Mahon. ³The figures are so high TOTAL is too ashamed to release them.² Political pressure on TOTAL is also growing, with 153 MPs backing an Early Day Motion demanding TOTAL withdraw from Burma. French oil giant TOTAL is the fourth largest oil company in the UK, and the fourth largest oil company in the world. On Sunday the regime in Burma extended democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi¹s detention for a further year. For more information contact Mark Farmaner, Media Manager, on 020 7324 4713, Mobile 0794 123 9640. -- Mark Farmaner Media & Campaigns Manager

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