The same people running this cowboy outfit were also involved in a similar fiasco at the same place some years ago in the name of Mekon, which left expats unpaid. The remedy for the workers contracted to A.O.T. is to down tools and go on mass to the Libyan People's Court to obtain the enforcement of payment of their dues. From past experience we know that expats that have used this route have had very fair treatment from the Libyan People's court. The British legal system recognises judgements of the Libyan People's court. In the meantime, we are applying the pressure of Bad publicity against Veba Oil, and all involved.
Nobody messes with expats, that's our view.
We endorse that wholeheartedly. We have now received a reply that the matter is under investigation by the main contractors. We have now received a reply from the main contractors that AOT has stated they have paid all salaries to the end of April 2000 in accordance with their regular schedule of paying every 2 to 3 months. They hope the problem will be resolved in September. They are giving us the runaround.