Mujeres nigerianas toman otras cuatro plantas petroleras extranjeras
Por JORGE - Wednesday, Jul. 17, 2002 at 7:25 PM

De Clarin

17/7/2002 - 12:26
Mujeres nigerianas toman otras cuatro plantas petroleras extranjeras

Mujeres nigerianas tomaron otras cuatro instalaciones de la petrolera extranjera ChevronTexaco en protesta, informó un activista el miércoles. Las mujeres de la etnia ijaw tomaron las instalaciones, en el sudeste de Nigeria, en protesta por lo que califican como indiferencia de la empresa ante las penurias de la población local

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mas desde Nigeria IMC (ìngles)
Por raphihell - Wednesday, Jul. 17, 2002 at 8:23 PM

NIGERIAN WOMEN TAKE ON OIL GIANT

A stand-off caused by women protesters at a major oil facility of Chevron-Texaco in Nigeria entered its fourth day on Thursday, with the women demanding talks with the head of the company's operations in the country. Police and army boats patrolled the waters off the Escravos export terminal, but the situation in the facility remained unchanged as the blockade of the air strip, the helicopter pad and the dock continued. Increasing numbers of women have been joining the dramatic protest that began on Monday bringing the total involved now to about 2,000. More than 700 employees are stuck at the site. Officials said the security forces were under strict orders not to attack the unarmed women to avoid complicating what already appears a very delicate situation. But the Nigerian government and Chevron-Texaco are concerned about the likely adverse impact on oil exports if the situation was not resolved quickly Most of the crude oil produced by Chevron-Texaco in Nigeria is exported from the Escravos terminal. The company's $400 million Escravos Gas Plant is also located at the facility. This is the first such action taken exclusively by women at the site which has often been the scene of trouble. The people in the Niger Delta are among the poorest in Nigeria. The land they live on, however, is the source of Nigeria's $20 billion in annual oil exports. The people in the region are demanding that the multinationals pumping out the oil give them the roads, water service and electricity that the government has not provided. Anunu Uwawah, a spokeswoman for the protesters said that the women were tired of living in poverty in the shadow of the oil terminal. She said everyone in the area lives without electricity except for those in one village where Chevron-Texaco's Nigerian unit has an office. ``We will no longer take this nonsense and this is the beginning of the trouble they have been looking for.''

The women, who are also demanding jobs for their sons, arrived at the terminal, which is on an island in a swamp 190 miles east of Lagos, early on Monday after seizing a boat used to ferry in casual workers. Chevron-Texaco's Nigeria spokesman, Wole Agunbiade said the workers, who live at the terminal for weeks at a time, were not in any danger. However, the women had ``barricaded installations and restricted free movement,'' Agunbiade said. ``People cannot do their normal jobs. This is not a hostage situation, this is an occupation,'' Agunbiade said. Ten of the women have been flown to the nearby town of Warri for negotiations with the oil company and police. The women want direct talks with Chevron Nigeria's managing director, Jay Pryor. Company officials have said he is not in Nigeria at the moment.

Chevron Nigeria is a subsidiary of US oil giant Chevron-Texaco and Nigeria's third largest oil producer. It runs Escravos jointly with the state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The firm's production is estimated at around 500,000 barrels per day, with 450,000 normally passing through the besieged terminal.

Anunu Uwawah said. "Chevron has long been neglecting the Ugborodo community in all areas of life. They have not shown concern at all to involve our people in employment and provision of social amenities."
Sources: IRIN, This Day (Nigeria), Africana.com, BBC

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