32 oil workers arrested after protest in Sudan’s Upper Nile
November 20, 2007 (MALUT, Sudan) – Local authorities in Upper Nile state arrested thirty-two workers of the Petrodar Oil Company operating in Malut County after a protest they organised against what they described “mistreatment” by the multinational oil firm.
The representatives also said that Petrodar’s workers are Sudanese from all over southern Sudan, plus a few from Darfur and Blue Nile. They claim that county authorities resent their presence, which has also led to discrimination against them by the local community, the Nairobi based SRS reported from Malut.
They claim that 400 casual workers at Petrodar’s concession blocks 3 and 7 took part in the protests. They said that the workers blocked a road, hoping to stop an oil company official so they could make their demands. However, according to Malut County Commissioner Thon Juac, the workers were violent, beating people along the road, particularly those appearing to be of Arab origins.
Joint Integrated Unit soldiers were called in to break up the protest. According to the workers’ representatives, the soldiers began shooting, injuring two workers. Juac denied any shooting.
As the protest broke up and workers fled the scene, the soldiers managed to detain 32.
The workers, who asked that their names not be revealed, claim that the arrested were severely beaten by county authorities over the weekend, an allegation the county commissioner says is not true. Those arrested remain in detention.
Malut commissioner also denied the charge that the workers face discrimination. He said neither the oil company nor the local community has any problem with workers coming from other parts of Sudan.
He further said that the demonstration was broken up because it was illegal and said that no protesters were injured. He praised the JIU soldiers, saying they helped restore order. The workers are now calling on the Government of Southern Sudan to intervene and investigate the incident.
Petrodar is a multinational joint venture, incorporated under the laws of the British Virgin Islands on 31st October 2001, its majority-owned by Chinese and Malaysian companies. China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC.YY) owns 41% in the venture, Malaysia’s Petroliam National Berhad (PET.YY), 40%, Sudan-owned Sudapet Ltd., 8%, and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (0386.HK), 6%. While the African Arabian Petroleum Ltd (AAP), an oil and gas unit of Dubai-based Thani Investments, owns 5% in the project and is one of its joint-operators.
(SRS/ST)
Majok e Deng
32 oil workers arrested after protest in Sudan’s Upper Nile
Oil companies operating in Sudan should be regulated by law to work compatibly with the Sudanese people. The Sudanese people are great and therefore deserve to be treated with decency. I can sympathize with their frustration of four months in arrears and the harsh job they do for little money. They have every reason to protest for the right due to dishonesty of the foreigh oil contractors. I strongly condemn the brutal response of the alleged (jiu) to suppress the protest. I do not see any legal ground to arrest 32 good citizen of Sudan who were not paid for four months-they were motivated by their right to be paid.
Majok e Deng USA
ater amon
32 oil workers arrested after protest in Sudan’s Upper Nile
It was very unjust for the county commissioner to call in the JIU. This is the work of adminstration police. Mr. Juac should remember that SPLA took up arms to stop opression. Its the right of every Sudanese to demand for his or her rights. You can not work for four months without being paid. Those arrested workers should be release and their problems solve. The GOSS should regulates the foreign companies in its jurisdiction to prevent exploitation of its citizen.
Ater Amon
Cairo Egypt
Gatluak Latjor
32 oil workers arrested after protest in Sudan’s Upper Nile
The oil company petroDar must know that it is working in South Sudan that has laws and its failure of paying a worker is a crime as far as law books of south Sudan are concerned.The workers can protest peacefully to raise their voices and present their claim to the company and county authority that can investigate it, since it has the law enforcing sectors. But what is the logic behind the county ‘s call for joint units intervention? This was the work of the police which could investigate the claim of the workers and bring the guilty to justice.
Gatluak Latjor
South Sudan.