WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3674/97 by Patricia McKENNA to the Commission. Involvement of the Total oil company in Burma
Date: 1997-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, MCKENNA
Subjects: EU control, France, Myanmar/Burma, United States, armed forces, gas pipeline, human rights, oil industry, safety device, slavery

C 158/174

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 5. 98

(98/C 158/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3673/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(19 November 1997)

Subject: Elections in Cambodia

Can the Commission give details of what measures it will be taking to assist the holding of elections in Cambodia
next year?

Over the past few months, there have been persistent reports of human rights abuses in Cambodia. These have
included the intimidation and harassment of political activists and the imprisonment of many journalists and
human rights activists.

As a result of these abuses, fears have been expressed that the elections may not be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Will the Commission be taking any particular steps to ensure that the safety of candidates participating in the
elections is guaranteed?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1997)

The Commission allocated ECU 9.5 million to the electoral process in Cambodia after receiving the Member
States(cid:146) approval at the meeting of the ALA Committee on 11 September. Some ECU 7 million will be used to
draw up an electoral register and the remainder will go towards the arrangements for a system of observers.

The Commission is aware of the political situation in Cambodia and has been closely monitoring it with the
Member States, the United Nations and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean). It has also kept a
watchful  eye  on  human  rights  abuses  which  have  already  been  exposed.  It  has  introduced  a  specific  clause
suspending its support for the elections in the event of further abuses in order to discourage an electoral climate
which might foster intimidation and violence.

Measures to protect candidates(cid:146) safety will require close cooperation with each representative of the international
community  involved  in  the  elections  and,  more  particularly,  with  those  persons  responsible  for  gathering
information, examining cases and applying the procedures intended to protect candidates in the elections.

(98/C 158/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3674/97

by Patricia McKenna (V) to the Commission

(19 November 1997)

Subject: Involvement of the Total oil company in Burma

The French oil company Total and the US company Unocal are both involved in building a natural gas pipeline in
Burma. The two companies are in a partnership with the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE), which is
controlled by the ruling military junta, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

Burmese  troops  are  reported  to  have  been  used  by  the  two  companies  to  provide  security  and  oversee
construction of the pipeline. There are numerous allegations that the troops have been involved in human rights
abuses, including forced labour, involuntary relocations, torture, rape and in some cases murder.

Oil companies, including Total and Unocal, are the largest legal source of foreign currency to the SLORC. The
Burmese military regime has been widely condemned by the international community for its abuse of human
rights and democracy.