wpjf blog

Wrexham Women for Peace and supporters held a demonstration in support of the people of Burma (Myanmar) this morning.

Campaigners targeted the TOTAL petrol station on the A483 Ruabon by-pass to draw attention to the links between French-owned TOTAL Oil and the Burmese military junta. Banners were hung on nearby bridges, placards displayed on the roadside and leaflets handed out to motorists on the petrol station forecourt in a peaceful action designed to raise awareness of this issue and to encourage a boycott of TOTAL petrol stations until the company severs its links with Burma.

Burma’s democratically-elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi - who has been under detention or house arrest for the past 12 years - has said that TOTAL is the biggest supporter of the Burmese junta and should pull out of Burma immediately. There is also a call for TOTAL to give up its interest in the Yadana natural gas pipeline to Thailand, constructed using forced labour, which it operates in conjunction with another oil giant: Chevron-Texaco.

Less than two weeks ago, European pension funds withdrew over £100 million of investments in TOTAL following protests over the company’s involvement in Burma.
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/nov/04/oilandpetrol.news)

A spokesperson for Wrexham Women for Peace said:

"Burma is a country rich in natural resources, yet its people are poor and hungry. Almost half of government spending goes on the military; very little is spent on health and welfare. There are more child soldiers in Burma than in any other country. Rape is used as a weapon of war. Many of Burma’s political prisoners are tortured by the regime.

The demonstration comes one week before a national day of action against Total’s involvement in Burma.

National protest 24 November: http://totaloutofburma.blogspot.com/

Readers can pledge their support for the campaign by signing a postcard to Total asking it to pull out of Burma. Visit this website:http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/total.html

To contact Wrexham Women for Peace or to join in the national day of protest, call 0845 330 4505 or email wrexhamwomen@yahoo.co.uk.