CHAD AND CAMEROON

Chad-Cameroon Pipeline

U.S. Specific ACTION ALERT!!

Ask your Member of Congress to sign on by May 20, 1999

The World Bank is poised to use limited aid resources to subsidize multinational oil companies operating in Africa. Shell, Exxon and Elf (owned in part by the French government) have asked the World Bank to provide $365 million in U.S. taxpayer subsidized financing for a pipeline project traversing the countries of Chad and Cameroon. The project is already associated with human rights abuses in Chad and will result in irreversible environmental impacts in Cameroon. It will divert World Bank money from much needed health, education, and poverty alleviation projects.

Human rights abuses directly related to this potential investment are already well documented by local and international organizations. Two massacres resulting in 180 deaths in the oil field region have been reported. Mr. Yorongar Ngarlejy, a member of Parliament in Chad, was imprisoned after questioning the use of potential oil revenues and two journalists have been convicted for printing his remarks. Eight human rights organizations have been suspended for organizing protests against the massacres and arrests. The U.S. State Department paints a general picture of fear and intimidation, especially in Southern Chad, where the oil fields are located, which includes extrajudicial killing of many civilians, torture, beatings, arbitrary arrests and detention.

Corruption is also a serious concern. According to the U.S. State
Department, the impediments to economic growth in Chad are mainly corruption, state-owned monopolies and a bloated civil service. The Government of Cameroon has the dubious distinction of being cited as the world's most corrupt government by Transparency International. Cameroon security forces continue to commit numerous serious human rights abuses. In particular, the indigenous Pygmy populations, living on the proposed pipeline route, suffer from discrimination and abuse.

This project is fraught with risk, most of which will be born by the local populations in each country. While the World Bank may argue that this project provides a unique opportunity to diminish poverty in Chad, it must be noted that the Chad government is spending 40% of its GNP on military expenditures and has not demonstrated a committment to financing poverty reducing projects. Mr. Wolfensohn himself provides the best argument for
rejecting this project. As he noted in his 1998 Annual Speech to the Board of Governors, "the Bank is not able to practice sustainable development in environments marred by corruption and governance irregularities."

Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont is circulating a letter to all Members of Congress, protesting the use of aid money for multinational oil companies. The letter urgently needs support. So far, eight Members of Congress have signed on. All signatures need to be collected by May 20th.

Please write to your Member of Congress and urge your representative to support the Bernie Sanders 'Dear Colleague' on the Chad Cameroon Pipeline. A sample letter to your Member of Congress is below. The Dear Colleague is attached.

Sample Letter to Members of Congress

Dear Representative.........

The World Bank is poised to use limited aid resources to  subsidize multinational oil companies operating in Africa. Shell, Exxon and Elf (owned in part by the French government) have asked the World Bank to provide $365 million in U.S. taxpayer subsidized financing for a pipeline project traversing the countries of Chad and Cameroon. The project is already associated with human rights abuses in Chad and will result in irreversible environmental impacts in Cameroon. It will divert World Bank money from much needed health, education, and poverty alleviation projects in Africa.

Congressman Bernard Sanders is circulating a letter to Mr. Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank, protesting the use of development dollars for oil companies. Please add your signature to Congressman Sanders's Dear Colleague on the Chad Cameroon Pipeline. The contact person in Congressman Sanders office is Parisa Norouzi who can be reached at 225-4115.

Thank you for your support.

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Njoki Njoroge Njehû
Director
50 Years Is Enough Network
1247 E Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202/IMF-BANK or 202/544-9355
Fax: 202/544-9359
Email: wb50years@igc.org
Webpage: http://www.50years.org

The meek are getting ready!
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