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Gold/Mining/Energy : Lundin Oil (LOILY, LOILB Sweden) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tomas who wrote (1174)	7/5/1999 4:56:00 PM
From: Tomas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2742

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. canoe.com