The Irrawaddy
Dec. 13, 2005

Chevron Dubbed “Rights Violator of 2005” for Burma Operations US-based oil and gas company Chevron has been listed as one of 14 “most-wanted corporate human rights violators of 2005” by San Francisco-based Global Exchange for activities including those conducted in Burma through its recent merger with Unocal. The oil giant this year became a joint investor in the Yadana gas pipeline, along with French company Total, when it took over Unocal in August. It came to an agreement to settle a case out of court earlier this year, in which Burmese villagers accused the company of complicity in human rights violations such as forced labor. “Despite the settlement, human rights abuses continue along the oil pipeline in Burma , which is still ‘secured’ by the Burmese military. Chevron is responsible for the risks associated with this pipeline,” the Global Exchange announcement said. Unocal claimed at the time of the settlement that it had not been responsible for any alleged wrongdoing and had improved living conditions along the route of the pipeline by funding social development programs.