Pro-Big Oil thugs threaten environmentalists’ lives in Congo

This video from Congo says about itself:

Virunga National Park: Oil, Conservation and Sustainable Development

13 March 2014

These local stories were filmed in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a five part series of films dealing with oil exploration in Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its potential environmental and human rights impact.

These films are intended to give a voice to local communities living in and around Virunga National Park. It is their voice, their fears and feelings about the oil developments in North Kivu.

“Virunga National Park: Oil, Conservation and Sustainable Development” highlights the value of the park and the challenges it faces. The oil developments planned in Block V have the potential to affect negatively the livelihoods of millions of persons and the long-term survival of the park.

After the collusion between Shell and other Big Oil corporations with violent gangs against environmentalists in Nigeria … the collusion of Shell with violent thugs against environmentalists in Ireland … now Congo.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

WWF Virunga campaigners ‘receive death threats’

Tuesday 13th May 2014

THE World Wildlife Fund (WWF) warned yesterday night that it had received “death threats” against staff fighting oil exploration in a Democratic Republic of Congo nature park.

“Unidentified callers have threatened two employees working in Goma,” a spokesman said.

WWF team members have been trying to block oil exploration by British company Soco International in Virunga National Park. The park is home to endangered mountain gorillas.

The organisation said there had been an increase in intimidating calls, text messages and notes since park director Emmanuel de Merode was shot in April.

“The callers said they had missed killing De Merode but would not miss WWF employees,” the spokesman said.

“WWF insists that DRC authorities bring the perpetrators of these threats to justice.”

There has been mounting worldwide opposition to oil exploration in Virunga.

Unesco says exploration would breach international conventions but fears laws could be changed by the government to allow oil concessions to be exploited.

The UK oil exploration company SOCO has agreed to withdraw from Virunga National Park, a World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following pressure from environmental campaigners: here.