May 25, 2010
{joomplu:2144}{joomplu:2128}{joomplu:2132}Oil giant, Chevron, today in Houston, United States, engineered the arrest of scores of environmental and human rights activists at its Annual General Meeting holding there. The tempestuous day began started when Chevron abruptly changed its rules for admitting proxies without informing unsuspecting activists who had obtained proxies from shareholders who could not make it to the AGM.
{joomplu:2144}{joomplu:2128}{joomplu:2132}Oil giant, Chevron, today in Houston, United States, engineered the arrest of scores of environmental and human rights activists at its Annual General Meeting holding there. The tempestuous day began started when Chevron abruptly changed its rules for admitting proxies without informing unsuspecting activists who had obtained proxies from shareholders who could not make it to the AGM.
Representatives of oil producing communities in such places as Myanmar, Ecuador, Nigeria, Richmond, California were denied the shareholders proxies access because Chevron claimed their "paperwork were not order".
Soon after, the proxies were escorted out of the building by Chevron security and members of the Houston Police Department.
Some of the activists however refused to leave the venue of the AGM, insetting that they had legitimate reason to be allowed in so that their voices could be heard by shareholders regarding Chevron's poor human rights records.
Two Nigerian activists came all the way from Nigeria to attend the AGM. Emem Okon of KEBETKACHE Women Development and Resource Centre, came from Nigeria to participate in the AGM but was among those who were turned down. She expressed disappointment at Chevron's action.
"I have not been at this meeting before, but I was shocked that Chevron did not not allow me to say my mind," she told Saharareporters. "This confirms that Chevron is an oppressive corporation despite their so-called human rights policy. This is definitely a direct contradiction of their human rights policy."
A handful of Nigerians in the Houston also joined the rally being held by activists outside the AGM.
Saharareporters learnt that some activists that made into the meeting were kicked out by Chevron security as soon as they made comments company executives considered unpalatable.
{joomplu:2127}{joomplu:2137}{joomplu:2140}{joomplu:2143}{joomplu:2145}{joomplu:2134}
Representatives of oil producing communities in such places as Myanmar, Ecuador, Nigeria, Richmond, California were denied the shareholders proxies access because Chevron claimed their "paperwork were not order".
Soon after, the proxies were escorted out of the building by Chevron security and members of the Houston Police Department.
Some of the activists however refused to leave the venue of the AGM, insetting that they had legitimate reason to be allowed in so that their voices could be heard by shareholders regarding Chevron's poor human rights records.
Two Nigerian activists came all the way from Nigeria to attend the AGM. Emem Okon of KEBETKACHE Women Development and Resource Centre, came from Nigeria to participate in the AGM but was among those who were turned down. She expressed disappointment at Chevron's action.
"I have not been at this meeting before, but I was shocked that Chevron did not not allow me to say my mind," she told Saharareporters. "This confirms that Chevron is an oppressive corporation despite their so-called human rights policy. This is definitely a direct contradiction of their human rights policy."
A handful of Nigerians in the Houston also joined the rally being held by activists outside the AGM.
Saharareporters learnt that some activists that made into the meeting were kicked out by Chevron security as soon as they made comments company executives considered unpalatable.
{joomplu:2127}{joomplu:2137}{joomplu:2140}{joomplu:2143}{joomplu:2145}{joomplu:2134}
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