Talisman: Calgary firm tied to Sudan 'atrocities' - National Post, Nov.17
UN targets Talisman: Civilians attacked to ease oil exploitation;
company's CEO calls report 'hearsay'
Steven Edwards, Claudia Cattaneo and Sheldon Alberts
UNITED NATIONS, KHARTOUM AND OTTAWA -
Canadian exploitation of Sudan's oilfields has been facilitated by a
scorched-earth policy by the Khartoum government, which has
used "bombers, helicopter gunships and artillery against unarmed
civilians," a new United Nations report concludes.
Khartoum has deployed its military to "clear a 100-kilometre area
around the oilfields" operated by Talisman Energy Inc. of Calgary
with Chinese, Malaysian and Sudanese partners, the report says.
The report, by Leonardo Franco, a special investigator for the
UN Commission on Human Rights, puts Ottawa in an acutely
embarrassing position, for although Canada is a vocal human
rights advocate at the UN, the Liberal government has resisted
pressure from Washington to order Canadian commercial interests
out of Sudan.
Mr. Franco writes that the 'long-term efforts by the various
governments of the Sudan to protect oil production have included
a policy of forcible population displacement in order to clear oil
producing areas and transportation routes' of people thought to
support the country's rebels.
Lloyd Axworthy, the Foreign Affairs Minister, is awaiting the
outcome of a special fact-finding mission to Sudan before deciding
whether to impose sanctions on Sudan and restrict Canadian
business operations there.
However, Jim Buckee, chief executive of Talisman, yesterday
launched a pre-emptive strike to protect his company's interests,
denouncing the report as 'hearsay.'
Speaking to the National Post in Khartoum, he said: 'At least two
of the facts are wrong. We will offer an additional contribution to
the UN rapporteur relating to our experience within a week or
two.'
But the report's findings are backed by comments from human
rights groups. Washington, which regards Khartoum as, among
other things, one of the world's most dangerous sponsors of
terrorism, has a trade embargo against Sudan.
While seeking to exploit its oil for the past two decades,
Khartoum has also imposed Islamic law on the Christian and
pagan populations of the south where the oil fields lie.
This has deepened fear and resentment based on generations of
oppression, during which the northern Arabs plundered the black
south for valuable commodities, including slaves. The 43-year civil
war there has killed nearly two million people and displaced
another four million.
The Canadian-Chinese-Malaysian-Sudanese consortium built a
1,610-kilometre pipeline from the oil fields north of Bentiu, a
southern regional capital, to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, and
began pumping oil last June.
Buoyed by the prospect of $200-million a year in oil revenues,
Khartoum revived its bid for victory on the battlefield, but to
achieve this, it must consolidate its control over the oil fields.
The section of the report disputed by Mr. Buckee says that in
May 'many villages on the eastern edge of Heglig were attacked
and burned to the ground by the Sudanese army, causing the
displacement of 1,000 to 2,000 civilians.'
Talisman has drilling rigs at Heglig.
Mr. Buckee also contests the report's account of how 23 Chinese
technicians working on the pipeline were taken captive on May 2.
This led to fighting between rebels, on the one hand, and
government troops and one of their proxy militia groups, on the
other.
'Fighting caused the massive flight of some 3,000 to 4,000
civilians towards the south,' says the report.
Mr. Buckee and other Talisman executives are currently taking
stock analysts and journalists to look at their operations in Sudan
in an effort to counter a campaign launched by human rights
groups.
The tour has quickly demonstrated the vast gulf in perceptions
about Sudan held by Washington and human rights lobbyists, and
those held by Canadian business people.
Robert Plexman, an analyst for CIBC World Markets, who is on
the tour, wrote to investors yesterday saying: "Sudan is a secular
state that is becoming more democratic.'
Khartoum aimed to use oil revenue to improve agriculture, Mr.
Plexman wrote.
But Mel Middleton, director of Freedom Quest International, an
advocacy group, took another view. Khartoum cleared civilians
from areas in which Talisman is operating, he said, adding: 'This is
fertile land in the middle of Africa and it's empty. What does that
tell you? To get a real picture you have to go into areas where the
atrocities are taking place. They're using famine and forced
displacement as one of their weapons.'
John Harker, the head of Ottawa's upcoming fact-finding mission,
said yesterday that he has seen the UN report and hopes to meet
its author before setting off for Sudan later this month.
"I am going with an open mind, not an empty one," Mr. Harker
said.
Mr. Axworthy warned last month that Ottawa would consider
sanctions against Sudan, including restrictions on Canadian
companies' operations there, if oil exploitation was found to have
contributed to human rights abuses.
Talisman's 25% stake in the Sudanese project is a political and
diplomatic nightmare for Mr. Axworthy, as the U.S. is increasingly
critical of Ottawa for allowing Canadian companies to do business
there. Madeleine Albright, the U.S. secretary of state, singled
Canada's involvement out for criticism last month.
Mr. Harker says Talisman has assured him it will give him access
to its properties in Sudan, and has also asked its Sudanese
government contacts to co-operate.
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