Sudan denounces Talisman's opponents - The Financial Post, July 5
'Political propaganda': Group staged recent protest outside TSE
By CAROL HOWES
CALGARY - Talisman Energy Inc. is the target of a small
group of Toronto supporters of the Sudanese People's
Liberation Army who are trying to raise funds to supply
weapons to rebel forces, says a Sudanese government
representative.
Abd Elghani Awad El Karim, charge d'affaires in Ottawa,
claims a protest last week in front of the Toronto Stock
Exchange against the Calgary-based oil company was
orchestrated by a group of about 30 supporters of the
SPLA, which has rejected the Sudanese government's offer
for a comprehensive ceasefire in its 16-year civil war.
Mr. Awad El Karim accused the Toronto group of
attempting to solicit Canadian political and financial support
in order to fund the military campaign of the SPLA.
"It's more political propaganda," he said. "These are
claims just to raise funds for the rebels to continue the war."
The group, the Southern Sudanese Community
Organization of Greater Toronto, has accused Talisman of
sponsoring genocide in Sudan through the Greater Nile Oil
Project, which Talisman acquired last year. The group
claims 1.9 million people have been killed in Sudan's civil
strife since 1983, mostly women and children. It also claims
Sudan's government will use money generated from oil
revenues from the project to fund its military efforts.
The Sudanese government denies the accusation, saying
the funds will be used for health, education and
development in the southern region. The government has
been seeking foreign investment to improve conditions in
the impoverished area.
Mr. Awad El Karim says the SPLA is using the
sympathies of some church supporters in Canada to fund
the conflict.
"This is only a very small minority belonging to the
Sudanese community [in Canada]," he said, pointing out
there are 8,000 Sudanese across the country, many of
whom do not have the same concerns about Talisman's
project.
He said it is puzzling that Talisman, one of many
international companies operating in Sudan, has been
singled out by protesters. The Sudan oil project is 40%
owned by China's national petroleum company, 30% by
Malaysia's national oil company, 25% by Talisman and 5%
by the Sudanese national oil company, Sudapet.
Mr. Awad El Karim said he also does not understand the
protesters' efforts to deter Talisman shareholders from
supporting its project in Sudan. "If Talisman is not there
somebody else would be there," he said. "Something is
going to fill the vacuum."
Canadian church groups and refugee organizations have
also been pressing Talisman and the federal government for
assurances the oil revenues from the project won't be used
for the war.
Talisman has attempted to stay out of the conflict and says
it wants to help improve the plight of the Sudanese.
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