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HUMAN RIGHTS
Cameroon’s NGOs criticize what’s happening on the work-site
Last month, a group of Cameroonian NGOs published a highly critical report on what’s taking place in the Chad-Cameroon pipe-line construction sites. The Ecumenical Service for Peace (ESP), the Centre for the Environment and for Development (CED), the Cameroonian Foundation for Women’s Environmental Action (FOCARFE), Environment, Research, Action-Cameroon (ERAC), backed up by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), all said they would «keep an eye on the entire 891 kms stretch of pipeline situated within Cameroon, so that the clauses of the contract dealing with social, environmental and political issues are honoured. At the same time doing everything possible to respect human dignity, justice and peace».
Complaints
The report straightaway pinpointed the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO)’s discriminatory practices. (COTCO is a consortium of the United States’ giant EXXON-MOBILE CHEVRON and the Malaysian company — PETROMAS which are responsible for building and maintaining the pipeline). The NGOs condemn the very real «apartheid» situation which exists between expatriate and local staff regarding accommodation. There’s more comfortable accommodation and facilities for the Europeans — including swimming pools and games rooms — all strictly separated from their local colleagues. It should be noted as well, that local staff are not allowed to have their families with them — this is a privilege reserved for the expatriate staff. Only European-style food is served — there’s absolutely no «local» food available for Cameroonian workers. And no change to this situation is foreseen!
As regards information on what’s happening, the NGO‘s called attention to a lack of clarity concerning the number and types of jobs offered to people living along the pipeline. Also, there’s little information regarding the steps people must take if they want a job. Consequently, village folk get frustrated, missing out on opportunities to get a job, whereas townspeople manage to secure employment.
The NGOs are likewise concerned that people are made to move from their homes — a practice which is called: «voluntary transfers». This took place in Kpockea, Bétaré-Oya District, in the east of Cameroon. The report emphasised that the Kpockea villagers, afraid of local officialdom, abandoned their homes which now lie in ruins. The NGOs said this goes clear against COTCOs promises not to move people without, first, informing them. Such «forced moves» are against World Bank Directive number 4.(30), and give the impression that «instead of caring for the poor, COTCO wants to profit from the peoples’ extreme poverty and ignorance — to drive them away without first offering adequate compensation».
The NGOs are adamant that the level of compensation offered for the destruction of plantations belonging to people living along the pipeline, is certainly not in line with what the World Bank and the government of Cameroon were expecting. The report emphasises: «You’ve only to look at the poor quality of the equipment offered by way of compensation. Often, in a village, one can see a grinding mill working badly». The general feeling is: «We’ve been “had”».
What’s more, the people haven’t always put to good use the compensation they did receive, because they haven’t been prepared properly for this eventuality. A survey of 357 households, living along the pipeline in the Central Province, shows that only 7% of families invested in improving their plantations, whereas 22% used the funds to buy items for their houses or involved themselves in «showy» expenditure. Some even took the opportunity to become polygamists.
The NGOs are disappointed that the pipeline project has not generated more jobs, and those which are available have no long-term certainty and are badly paid. Welders from Columbia are preferred to skilled local welders, regardless of the agreement drawn up between COTCO and the government, which stipulates that Cameroonians must be given first preference when it comes to employment. The fact is, the mega-project’s impact on the people’s socio-economic life has been minimal. On the contrary, areas close to the pipeline have become places where alcoholism and prostitution are the order of the day.
The NGOs drew up the following recommendations to ensure the peoples’ well-being:
- An independent inquiry regarding the compensation process is strongly recommended. This will bring to light areas of conflict and find lasting solutions.
- COTCO must explain controversial issues, such as the enforced moving of populations.
- The Consortium must take necessary steps to stop all discriminatory practices.
- There must be dialogue between the NGOs, the Consortium and the Government.
Background information
Oilfields were first discovered in Doba, southern Chad, in 1969. The oilfields were reckoned to be capable of producing some 150 million tonnes. Being a landlocked country, Chad asked Cameroon’s help to transit the crude. An Agreement was drawn up in February 1996 between Chad and Cameroon. There would be a 890 kms pipeline crossing Cameroon. (The pipeline’s total length would be 1,050 kms). The overall cost would be US $3 billion, to be financed by the Consortium for 80% of the costs, by Cameroon for 15% and by Chad for 5%.
The World Bank was to advance some US $370 million so that future investors would see that the project is a serious one. In October 2000, Chad’s President Idriss Déby, and Cameroon’s President Paul Biya inaugurated the Doba Basin Petroleum Project.
On the same subject, cfr ANB-BIA 384, 15/02/2002, pg i-ii (Dossier) et pg IV (Suppl.); ANB-BIA 395,01/06/2000, pg I (Suppl.); Jeune Afrique Economie, 16-29 Nov. 1998, in ANB-BIA, 357, 1/12/1998, pg 18.
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