Talisman unmoved by threat. 'Nothing new' in Sudan - Calgary Sun, October 14
By GLEN WHELAN, CALGARY SUN
Talisman Energy Inc. shrugged off threats yesterday of a
bombing campaign by Sudanese guerrillas against a controversial
pipeline in which the firm owns a stake.
A northern Sudanese rebel leader warned he'd order regular
attacks on the pipeline if foreign companies like Calgary-based
Talisman didn't halt their operations in Sudan.
Brig.-Gen. Abdel Aziz Khaled said he would launch a sustained
campaign against the new pipeline -- first hit by a bomb last
month after it was officially opened -- if Canadian, Malaysian and
Chinese firms continued their involvement in Sudan's oil industry.
"We are trying to negotiate with them (foreign oil firms) to tell
them not to deal with the (Khartoum) regime," he said.
"If there is no change we will hit the pipeline every week or 10
days," said Khaled, commander of the Sudan Alliance Force, a
rebel group based in the north.
Sudan's fundamentalist government has been engaged in a
16-year civil war with the southern-based Sudan People's
Liberation Army.
Threats of violence are nothing new to Talisman, said spokesman
David Mann -- and they won't deter the firm from doing business
in Sudan.
"His threat wasn't the first and it won't be the last," he said.
"I'm assuming the government of Sudan, who are ultimately in
charge of security in the region, are aware of the comments. For
us, it won't change what we do."
Talisman owns a 25% interest in the 1,610-km pipeline, which
links the first major oil project in the war-torn country to a Red
Sea port for export.
Khaled said all rebel forces working under the umbrella
opposition organization, the National Democratic Alliance, were
capable of continuing to hit the pipeline.
"It's as easy as anything, it only takes a five-man team to blow up
the pipeline, we don't need to control it," said Khaled.
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