Christian group accuses oil companies of complicity in Sudanese killings

Published March 18th, 2001 - 03:00 GMT

A Christian human rights group has accused foreign oil companies active in Sudan mass displacement and complicity in killing of thousands.

The group, which is called Christian Aid, said that tens of thousands of Sudanese citizens have been killed and displaced from the areas around oil fields in the country.

In its report, Christian accused the oil companies of involvement in the Khartoum government military effort against civilians living in the south of the country, saying the companies are protected by government forces and that they allow them to use their airstrips and roads.

Revenues from oil, the group added, are being used to fund the war effort.

Christian Aid's called on oil companies from China, Canada, Sweden, France and Austria to suspend their operations in Sudan, and it urged BP and Shell to divest their shares in firms whose parent company is involved.

Quoted in the London-based Guardian, BP said last night it had no intention of disposing of its interests Sudan, "because there is no reason why we should".

A subsidiary of the China National Petroleum Corporation, (CNPC) in which BP bought a $578m stake 12 months ago, is active in Sudan. For its part, Shell said it had no exploration or production interests in Sudan either directly or through its Chinese partner Sinopec. – (Albawaba-MEBG)