Oil-Dependent Democratic Nations Keep Quiet
Democratic countries that espouse human rights find that they are dependent on the oil produced in unstable oil-rich countries. As a consequence, these democratic countries are pressured to excuse or ignore human rights abuses that occur in corrupt, oil-pumping nations.

• Saudi Arabia is the top oil exporter for nations like the U.S., France and Japan and is one of the top human rights abusers. The nation does not allow political parties, places serious limits on freedom of expression and provides horrific working conditions for migrant workers (often demanding 16 hour workdays without break). According to Human Rights Watch, hundreds of Saudis have reportedly traveled to Iraq to take part in current insurgent activities.

  In spite of Saudi Arabia receiving poor marks on numerous human rights studies conducted in the U.S., President Bush does not impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia. In 2005, the U.S. received over 1.5 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia.
  

• The government of Libya has banned political parties and imprisons and tortures individuals who criticize the current Libyan government headed by Colonel Muammar Qaddafi. Dozens and possibly hundreds of men and women have been imprisoned for participating in political activity. There is limited freedom of expression—there are no private radio or television stations in the nation and the state-run media unconditionally supports the Qaddafi regime.

  The U.S. has been steadily improving relations with Libya. According to Human Rights Watch, improved relations are in part driven by U.S. interest in Libya’s oil reserves. In spite of Libya appearing on the U.S. government’s list of countries that sponsor terrorism and being given a poor evaluation in the U.S. State Department’s 2004 human rights report, the U.S. imported over 500,000 barrels of oil in 2005 and has placed no sanctions on Libya.
  

• In Burma, extreme political repression reigns under the current government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). In 2002, there were 1,300 political prisoners being held in Burma. The SPDC intimidates, tortures and jails political opposition. In May 2003, a military offshoot of SPDC attacked an opposing political group known as the National League for Democracy and arrested NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi who is currently still imprisoned.

  Since the attack on the NLD by the current Burmese government, the U.S has placed sanctions on Burma. However, the U.S. government has continued to disregard human rights violations committed by western oil companies in compliance with the Burmese government.

  The Bush Administration attempted to dismiss a case brought against Unocal by Burmese villagers. The villagers charged Unocal (working with the Burmese military) with numerous counts of murder and torture while building the Yadana pipeline in the 1990s. Attorney General John Ashcroft filed a brief claiming that the villagers had no right to sue Unocal under the alien tort law. The case has since been settled and the Burmese villagers have been awarded compensation.

Richest Nations Arming Right’s Abusers
Human right’s organizations, such as Amnesty International, continuously call for the wealthiest nations in the world to stop perpetuating the circle of violence taking place in oil producing nations. Amnesty published the “A Catalogue of Failures: G8 Arms Exports and Human Rights Violations” in May 2003. The report states that five of the G8 member countries were responsible for 75 percent of the global arms transfers between 1997 and 2001, with the U.S being responsible for 45 percent of global arms deals. The study proclaims that, “The governments of the G8 authorize unparalleled levels of arms and related assistance to the world’s armed forces and law enforcement agencies, but often to those who persistently commit gross human rights violations - equipping them, emboldening them and rewarding them.” Amnesty has called for a Global Arms Treaty, opposition of indiscriminate, chemical and biological weapons, accountability, transparency, and curbing of the arms trade.

Please visit our Kick the Habit section to discover ways in which you can help end oil’s oppression of human rights.