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Corporate social responsibility in genocidal regions

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... in genocidal regions. Darfur, Sudan in Africa and Burma (Myanmar) in Asia ... Burma, or Myanmar, with a population of 57.6 million, is S E Asia's poorest and ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Corporate social responsibility in genocidal regions


1
Corporate social responsibility in genocidal
regions
  • Darfur, Sudan in Africa and Burma (Myanmar) in
    Asia
  • By Benny Widyono

2
  • This year is the UN Convention on Genocides 60th
    anniversary. It also marks 60 years of abject
    failure of the international community to act in
    the wake of continuing genocide in many parts of
    the world
  • Today we will examine why many foreign
    corporations in Darfur, a region in the Sudan
    and in Burma, are directly and indirectly
    sustaining tyrannies who massacre their own
    people and continue the exploitation of the
    voiceless, human rights abuses, militarization,
    and environmental and cultural destruction.

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Darfur
  • Starting in February 2003, the genocide in
    Darfur, population 6 million, a region in Sudan,
    population 39 million, is the longest running
    genocide in the world
  • To suppress rebellion by liberation movements of
    the village tribes in Darfur, the Sudanese
    military, aided by Janjaweed militia,
    camel-riding Arab nomads massacred 500,000 while
    driving 2.5 million Darfurians from their
    villages into makeshift camps

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7
Burma
  • Burma, or Myanmar, with a population of 57.6
    million, is S E Asias poorest and most oppressed
    nation, and remains under forty three years
    tyranny of the military
  • The present military junta, headed by General
    Than Swe, came to power in 1988
  • When they massacred thousands of students in the
    street demonstrating for regime Change.
  • It has also continued its oppressive policies
    including the jailing of opposition leader Aung
    San Su Kyi

8
  • In September 2007, last year, monks, supported by
    students, took to the street by the thousands,
    but were cruelly suppressed and many were killed
    or simply disappeared

9
  • Burmas military regime sells off the countrys
    natural resources to foreign governments and
    corporations, thereby ensuring its own brutal
    existence
  • Foreign companies are lining up to partner with
    Burmas dreadful military junta to tap into the
    countrys lucrative resources in particular oil
    and gas. This provides a crucial source of
    support to the junta

10
Corporate Investments in Burma
  • Most of corporations in Burma originate in Asias
    fast growing economies of India, China, Malaysia
    and Thailand in search of cheap energy sources
    and other natural resources. The French Total and
    US Chevron oil companies also operate in Burma.
    There are a total of 13 countries investing in
    Burma

11
Corporate Investments in Darfur
  • In Darfur Big investors include Germanys
    Siemens, Switzerlands ABB, and French Alcatel
  • Russias Tatneft and Chinas Petrochina are
    important participants in Sudans oil

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13
Chinas role
  • Chinas role is particularly significant because
    it is one of the five veto wielding powers in the
    United Nations. Using this power China had
    undermined UNs efforts in both Darfur and Burma
  • In January 2007 it vetoed a resolution on Burma
  • Burmas military junta has amply rewarded China
    for its support by awarding China a 20 year
    contract for natural gas supplies at a lower
    price than the bid by India, another fast growing
    nation but without veto power in the United
    Nations
  • China has 26 multinational corporation in Burma
    involved in 62 hydropower, oil and gas and mining
    projects

14
  • China supports the regimes of Sudan and Burma for
    the following reasons
  • 1. It needs secure supplies of oil and natural
    gas to support its rapid economic growth
  • 2. It wants to counter US influence everywhere in
    its quest to become a world power
  • 3. It adheres to the principle of non
    interference in affairs of sovereign countries

15
What can we do
  • We can persuade mutual funds and pension funds to
    divest in companies investing in Sudan and Burma
  • We can boycott the Burmese trade in rubies and
    jade
  • We can persuade US companies to move out of Burma
    and Sudan
  • We can persuade banks to stop operations in
    Burma and Darfur

16
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  • We can persuade American universities and states
    to divest from investments in Sudan and Burma

17
Some Useful Websites
  • http//www.amnesty.org.uk/countries/myanmar_burma
  • http//www.amnestyusa.org/countries/myanmar_burma
  • www.global-unions.org/burma
  • http//www.hrw.org/reports/Burma
  • www.genocidewatch.org/Burma
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