wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 120

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (126
notes).

Note 126 by UMNS on May 29, 1997 at 16:14 Eastern (3125 characters).

<CENTER><H3>Oil companies' venture in Myanmar challenged by Methodists on both
sides of Atlantic</H3></CENTER>
<HR>

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.<P>

CONTACT: Thomas S. McAnally (Release #314)         Nashville, Tenn. (615)
742-5470              May 29, 1997<P>

                 by United Methodist News Service
<P>

     The involvement of French and U.S. oil companies in Myanmar
(formerly Burma) is being challenged by Methodist agencies on both
sides of the Atlantic.<P>

     The Central Finance Board of the British Methodist Church,
with offices in London, issued a statement May 28 announcing that
it has sold its shares in the French oil company, Total SA.  <P>

     At the same time, the United Methodist Board of Pension and
Health Benefits, based in Evanston, Ill., issued a statement
saying it is "closely monitoring" Total and Unocal Corporation of
California.<P>

     The British church agency said it is concerned that Total
appears to be increasing its involvement in Myanmar despite the
advocacy of trade sanctions against the country by both the
European Commission and the U.S. Government.<P>

      "We are particularly concerned by allegations of the use of
forced labor to clear the route of the gas pipeline which will
take natural gas from Total's Yadana gas field to Thailand," the
British statement said.  "We have come to the conclusion that it
would not be appropriate for us to continue to hold an investment
in Total."<P>

     United Methodist agency officials expressed sympathy with the
British Methodist action but said their Committee on Corporate and
Fiduciary Responsibility "currently is seeking to constructively
influence corporate management to reevaluate its strategic
business operations" in Myanmar.<P>

     The agency plans to vote its shares, during the June 2 annual
meeting of the Unocal Corporation, "in favor of the two
shareholder resolutions requesting that company management report
on the costs and benefits of doing business in Myanmar and the
alleged involvement of the government-owned Myanmar Oil and Gas
Enterprise in drug money laundering."<P>

     The $1 billion joint venture with the oil companies accounts
for approximately one-third of all foreign investments in Myanmar,
according to the United Methodist statement.<P>

     The British Methodists note that many Western companies such
as Heineken, PepsiCo and Levi Strauss have withdrawn from Myanmar
"because of that country's lack of democracy." Levi Strauss
officials are quoted as saying it is impossible to do business in
Myanmar without "directly supporting the military government and
its pervasive violation of human rights."<P>

                             <CENTER>#  #  # </CENTER>

     NOTE:  For further information, contact:

United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits -- Vidette
Bullock Mixon, Evanston, Ill., 847-866-5293; British Methodist
Central Finance Board, London, Geraldine Ranson, 0171-222-8010
(day) or 0171 821 8626 (evening).

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