Protesters occupy TotalFinaElf head's chateau
Date: 12-Dec-01
Country: FRANCE
Author: Emelia Sithole
A group representing victims of the September blast at TotalFinaElf's AZF factory in Toulouse, southern France, and the marine and coastal pollution caused by the sinking of its oil tanker Erika in 1999, said they would not leave the chateau southeast of Paris until the company paid up.
Around a dozen protesters, all claiming to have been affected by the two incidents, walked into the chateau at around 0630 GMT after the housekeeper left the main gate and doors open, a spokesman for the group said.
"We have lost our businesses. I have lost two years of business because of Erika," Alain Malarde of the victims' group, the Toulouse and the Maritime Confederation Collective, told Reuters by telephone from the chateau.
"We want Desmarest not only to take responsibility but to pay us. We want 1 billion euros ($891.3 million) for Erika victims and two billion euros for Toulouse."
Desmarest was not immediately available for comment but a spokeswoman said he was aware of the situation.
Malarde said the protesters had removed glass from windows and lifted doors off hinges at the chateau to mimick the damage wrought by the explosion in Toulouse to private homes and schools near the factory.
Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the blast, which killed 30 people and injured 2,500, destroyed hundreds of homes and blew out windows in city centre buildings. Many people are still living in temporary accomodation.
JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION
The factory was owned by Grande Paroisse , in which TotalFinaElf has an 80 percent stake.
Separately, the French oil giant was placed under judicial investigation in October over the sinking of its oil tanker Erika off the northwestern French Brittany coast in 1999.
Investigators say the probe is intended to ascertain whether TotalFinaElf failed to take the necessary action to avoid the accident and whether it could be charged with complicity in deliberate violation of safety rules.
It would also investigate allegations that TotalFinaElf did not do enough to limit pollution after the tanker broke in two, spewing out 15,000 tonnes of oil and harming marine and sealife.
Such a probe is a step short of formal charges but can end without charges. TotalFinaElf rejects the accusations, saying it was not told the ship was unsafe and cannot be held responsible.
But victims are in no doubt as to where the blame lies.
"Two years ago, Erika's oil polluted Brittany, less than three months ago the AZF factory killed 30 people, injured 2,500, destroyed the homes of hundreds of people. Two dramas, one responsible: TotalFinaElf. The same attitude: denial of responsibility," they said in a statement.
