Marc Santora writes for Business Day Live:
‘
When a British oil company began prospecting in Africa’s oldest national park, drawing worldwide concern and inspiring an Oscar-nominated documentary last year, the company was adamant in denying any wrongdoing.
Though soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo may have engaged in a campaign of intimidation and coercion against residents who were opposed to drilling in the park, the company said it could not be held responsible for their actions.
“We can’t tell the army to go and kiss off,” Roger Cagle, the deputy chief executive director of the oil company, SOCO International, told The Telegraph newspaper. He said the soldiers had been assigned by the Congolese government to keep the company safe.
But according to documents obtained by Global Witness, an advocacy group, SOCO appears to have paid tens of thousands of dollars to an army officer who has been accused of leading a brutal campaign against those objecting to the company’s oil exploration in the Virunga National Park.’
- Church of England divests from Soco oil firm over Virunga operations
- Soco International Accused of Paying Bribes for Congo Oil Exploration
- ‘Soco paid Congo major’ accused of Virunga oil intimidation
- Democratic Republic of Congo wants to open up Virunga national park to oil exploration
- Virunga film-makers ask viewers to join campaign against oil company Soco
- Soco halts oil exploration in Africa’s Virunga national park
Filed under: Africa, Congo, Energy, Environment, Nature, Oil & Gas
