Open letter to the President of the World Bank concerning the International Advisory Group

 

February 28, 2001

Dear President Wolfensohn,

We, the undersigned, representatives of Human Rights Groups, Unions, Environmental Protection and Development NGOs and Peasant Organisations in Chad and Cameroon, have been actively following the Chad/Cameroon pipeline project since its initiation. Meeting in Mbalmayo for a planning workshop for the monitoring of the pipeline project, we  wish to bring to your attention our concerns regarding the publication by the World Bank of the composition and terms of reference of the International Advisory Group created to “advise the Bank Group and the two Governments on overall progress in implementing the project, including the key objective of reducing poverty in Chad”.

The creation of the International Advisory Group was the World Bank’s response to the concerns and criticism of numerous civil society organisations and donor governments  who were all reluctant to approve the project because of the environmental, social and political risks, and its potential negative impact on human rights and corruption in both countries.  We appreciate the international character of the group, and the requirement to publish their reports. However reading the groups’ terms of reference, raises the following questions and concerns.

 

Human Rights

The disastrous human rights situation in each country is both well known and well documented.1 In Chad, the massacres of hundreds of civilians carried out by the Chadian army in the pipeline project area between 1997 and 2000, have never been the object of an investigation. The population of the Doba area continue to face  intimidation by the army and the political and administrative authorities, not a climate conducive to free and open discussions on the project. In this context, NGOs have requested that the question of human rights forms part of the mandate of the International Advisory Group. We are thus surprised to learn that there is absolutely no reference to this in the document.

Scope of the Work

Paragraph 6 of the terms of reference indicate that “the IAG will have purview over all activities related to the Projects and will directly observe progress in their implementation”. At the same time, “it is not expected to duplicate the field work on  monitoring to be carried out by the governments, WBG, and the project sponsors”.

We find it difficult to determine the areas to be monitored by the IAG, that are not already covered by other groups such as the External Compliance Monitoring Group (ECMG) It seems to us crucial that the IAG covers also the activities ( and also the monitoring)of the entirety of the other actors (Governments, WBG, sponsors).

Communication with local populations

Whilst we are very pleased that the IAG will “serve as another vehicle for the affected populations and citizens to channel their concerns  about the social, environmental and poverty related impact of the projects in Chad and Cameroon”, we must express our doubts as to the effectiveness of the IAG who will “visit Chad and Cameroon at least twice a year”.

Considering the time necessary for an adequate and effective consultation with local populations, we wonder what  the mechanisms for communication between the IAG and the population will be, and the practicality to monitor the day to day impact of the project on local populations. We are concerned that in its present form, the IAG will neither be able to “directly examine the progress of the project” nor to serve the interests of the affected people, but rather to calm the fears of international public opnion about the negative impacts of the project.

Independence

The terms of reference state  that the IAG independently defines its work program. It is meanwhile difficult to understand why the work plan needs be presented to the World Bank Group/WBG and the governments of  Chad and Cameroon, and wont be made public and carried out until after being reviewd by them. This attitude is contrary to our understanding of the role of the IAG, which was created in reaction to the inability of the governments and the World Bank to guarantee an independent monitoring of the project.

Mandate

The press release annonces that the IAG will “report periodically to the President and Board of Direstors of the World Bank Group”, and make recommendations on measures to be taken by the WBG and the Chad and Cameroon governments. We are concerned to know what leverage the IAG has to enforce its recommendations.

Leverage on the oil companies

Accordng to documents prepared by the WB2, the oil companies are the executing agencies of the project. The three companies involved have all a very bad reputation concerning environmental destruction and violations of human rights in their operations across the planet. The terms of reference of the IAG however, does not indicate that the group will monitor the activities of the oil companies in the consortium. Further, there is no mention of the possibility to held  the oil companies accountable for possible damaged caused by their activities.

These inadequacies in the setting up of the IAG follow on evidence of the inadequacy of the safeguards put in place by the WB to assure transparent management of Chad’s oil revenues.The discovery of payments outside the framework of the revenue management plan and their use to purchase weapons by the Chadian Government clearly shows, as we predicted, the powerlessness of the Bank to  prevent  the project from fostering corruption, human rights violations, and from failing to finally reduce poverty.

We, the undersigned, representatives of Human Rights Groups, Unions, Environmental Protection and Development NGOs and Peasant Organisations in Chad and Cameroon, believe that the issues we have raised must be  resolved to assure that the work of the IAG is effective, efficient and credible.

Sincerely

signatures

c.c
Members of the Board of Directors
Members of  the International Advisory Group

Raphael Yimga Tatchi
Samuel Nguiffo
Centre pour l‘Environment et le Development
Cameroun

Thang Dieudonné
Global Village Cameroon
Cameroon

Dupleix Fernand Kuenzob
Service Œcuménique pour la Paix
Cameroun

Amougou Adrien Didier
Planet Survey
Cameroun

Ndi Omgbwa Felix Devalois
Correspondant Bubinga Lolodorf
Cameroun

Paul Felix Mimboh
GICAF de Mbango
Lolodorf
Cameroun

Moyombaye Urbain
E.PO.ZO.P.
Moundou, Tchad

Laohingamai Golmai
Union des Syndicats du Tchad (UST)
Tchad

Laoudoulimadji Lalbe
Comité Permanente Petrol Local (CPPL)
Moundou, Tchad


Djeralar Miankéol
Coordinator
Comité Permantent Petrol Local
Moundou, Tchad

Yanyara Elie
Comite Executif du CILONG-
Coordinator de la CPP
Tchad

Edith Abilogo
Bubinga
Cameroun

Henri Bosko Djeuda
ERA Cameroun
Cameroun

Yedjibaye Yeningar
Justice et Paix
CEFOD
Tchad

Delphine K. Djiraibe
Association Tchadienne Pour la Pomotion et la Defense des Droits de l‘hommes (ATPDH)
Tchad