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TOTAL action in France



Four organisations took part to an action the day of TOTAL's shareholders
general assembly, in Paris on Monday, June 30. A demonstration was held in
front of the assembly building. A leaflet warning shareholders of the
nature of the Burmese regime was distributed to them. Finally, a couple of
persons from these organisations were shareholders themselves, and raised
the Burmese issue during the question session. (Needless to say, this had
no concrete consequences, but TOTAL was embarrassed.) The action had major
coverage in at least one daily.

This action is part of a broader strategy of "responsible shareholding",
initiated by Agir Ici, one of the organisers.

Below is a translation of the letter to shareholders (original: French).


A letter to TOTAL shareholders

Dear Madam, dear Sir,

You are a shareholder of the TOTAL company, the second French petroleum
company by its assets. As such, you are a co-owner of it and accept a part
of responsibility in its economic, social and environmental behaviour.
Today, during the General Assembly of TOTAL's shareholders, you will be led
to pronounce yourself on the past gestion and future orientations of this
company.

We wish to call your attention on some elements of this gestion and certain
business relations of your society which appear unacceptable to us and
fragilise your own interests.

Since 1992, in collaboration with UNOCAL, TOTAL has been an operator in the
exploitation of an important gas deposit located in the Martaban Gulf in
Burma (Myanmar). This State currently lives under an authoritarian military
regime headed by SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council). The
latter cancelled the 1990 democratic elections, has maintained in detention
Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Peace Nobel Price, and has multiplied Human
Rights violations (forced relocation of the population and forced labour).
These exactions have been several times condemned by the United Nations
and, in March 1994, by its Economic and Social Council. Let us add that the
Burmese regime is, moreover, considered as one of the biggest drug
traffickers of the planet. Finally, several testimonies agree that
companies linked to SLORC exploit local populations and impose forced
labour upon them. This is notably the case for the construction of the gas
pipeline which should transport the gas extracted by TOTAL in the Martaban
Gulf to Thailand. Inquiries held on site evaluate to more than 120,000 the
number of families currently subject to such forced labour.

This collaboration considerably tarnishes the image of your company and
exposes it to critics and international sanctions, which directly threaten
your interests. In the United States, boycott campaigns are developing
against companies which collaborate with the Burmese regime. UNOCAL,
TOTAL's partner, was thus strongly criticised by its hsareholders. 14.1% of
them voted a resolution asking to the Administration Council a complete and
detailed report on its activities in Burma.

The SLORC's repression, especially in the region bordering the pipeline's
planned location, leads to more and more serious disturbance. The military
regime has been spreading 15 new batallions in this area,  in an attempt to
protect its strategic interests.

Finally, the government democratically elected by 80% of the population in
1990, if its comes back to power, not cancel a contract signed by a
government that it considers illegitimate? For TOTAL, this operation
already represents an investment of at least US $ 1 billion and its
exploitation is not planned before 1997, a date when one can hope for the
return of a Law-abiding State and democracy.

As a shareholder, you have the right to be informed of the risks you are
taking and you can question TOTAL on its commitment with such an
undemocratic regime as SLORC.

Federation Internationale des Droits de l'Homme
14 Passage Dubail
75010 Paris

Reseau Jeunes Solidaires (Paris)
17 Place de l'Argonne
75019 Paris

Association France-Birmanie
21 Bd Henri IV
75004 Paris

Agir Ici
14 Passage Dubail
75010 Paris